Text-to-Speech for Android — limitations and a better alternative

Voice and Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology have been around for a while now. Until recently, they were mostly used for simple tasks like asking Alexa or Siri to read a Wikipedia article or an email. Just a few years ago, TTS voices sounded clearly robotic, which made it difficult to engage with audio content for longer periods. 

But now that — thanks to AI — TTS voices can be indistinguishable from human speech, more people are starting to use them for everyday tasks like listening to the news and reading books, and to take advantage of its accessibility features. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at Text-to-Speech for Android limitations and share a better alternative to make your listening experience way more enjoyable. 

What is Text-to-Speech for mobile apps?

Text-to-Speech converts written text into spoken words. It allows apps to "read aloud" content, making them more accessible and user-friendly. Whether you're listening to an article, an audiobook, or your messages while driving, TTS makes it easy to consume information without looking at the screen.

Many apps use Text-to-Speech to help users with visual impairments, language learning, or multitasking. It’s also great for voice assistants and smart features like real-time translations. Today’s TTS technology sounds more natural than ever, thanks to AI-powered voices that mimic human speech with different tones, accents, and emotions.

Ready to get started? Try Eleven v3, our most expressive text-to-speech model yet.

Why is this technology popular?

Text-to-Speech (TTS) is taking off lately because it makes digital content easier to access, more convenient, and just overall more user-friendly for a lot of people. The growth in demand for TTS is clear when you look at the numbers. 

The global market for TTS software was worth about $2.74 billion in 2023, and it’s expected to reach $10.66 billion by 2032, growing at a rate of 16.3% a year. 

Much of this growth is driven by advances in AI-powered voices and a growing need for better accessibility, especially for people with visual impairments. 

Inclusivity — helping millions with disabilities

Around 1.3 billion people worldwide — about 16% of the global population — live with some form of disability. Many of them face challenges with reading due to visual impairments, dyslexia, or cognitive conditions. People with disabilities are more likely to be excluded from education due to inaccessible materials and learning environments. 

TTS helps level the playing field by making textbooks, articles, and study materials available in audio form. Students with dyslexia, for example, can listen to their coursework instead of struggling with large amounts of text. This technology enables more independent learning and helps ensure that education is accessible to everyone.

People are busier than ever

Today, we’re often in a rush, and we don’t always have time to sit down and read. Text-to-Speech for Android allows users to listen on the go, whether commuting, exercising, or cooking. It transforms static text into an interactive, hands-free experience which is perfect for multitaskers who want to stay informed without staring at a screen.

A better digital experience for everyone

Beyond accessibility and convenience, TTS enhances the overall user experience. It’s useful for language learners, audiobook lovers, and anyone who prefers listening over reading. Plus, thanks to AI advancements, TTS voices now sound more natural than ever, making apps feel more engaging and lifelike.

As more apps integrate TTS, it’s clear that this technology isn’t just an accessibility tool, it’s shaping the future of how we consume content.  

What are the limitations of Text-to-Speech for Android?

Text-to-Speech for Android is a built-in feature that allows mobile devices to convert text into spoken words, enhancing accessibility and user interaction. However, it has certain limitations:​

Voice quality: Sometimes, the default voices can sound a bit mechanical, which messes with the natural flow of the speech. This can make it harder to really get into long texts, like books or articles, especially if you're expecting something that feels more human-like and smooth.

Customization options: The ability to tweak things like pitch, speed, and tone is pretty limited. This means you can't really personalize the voice to fit your preferences, which can affect how clear or comfortable the listening experience is for you.

Language support: Although multiple languages are supported, the voice quality can vary, and some languages might not have the same high-quality options. This can be a bit frustrating for multilingual users who might not get the same smooth and natural listening experience across different languages. It's a small hiccup that can affect the overall flow, especially if you're switching between languages and expecting consistency in clarity and tone.

Performance with large texts: When dealing with big chunks of text, things can slow down or even glitch. This means the TTS might take longer to process or cut off parts of the speech. If you’re trying to listen to a long document or book, it can definitely disrupt the flow and make things less enjoyable.

Dependency on an internet connection: While Android devices let you install offline speech data for certain languages and voices, not all languages have high-quality offline options. This can be a pain if you travel a lot or live somewhere with spotty internet access. Without a reliable connection, the TTS feature might not work when you need it most.

How is ElevenReader different? 

ElevenReader (which you can download from Google Play) offers several advantages over Android’s native TTS:

• Natural, expressive voices: Powered by AI, ElevenReader’s voices are more lifelike and contextually aware, unlike the robotic tone of native TTS.
• Customization: Users can adjust age, accent, and tone for a personalized listening experience. They can even create new AI voices on their own. 
• Multilingual support: ElevenReader supports 32 languages, broadening accessibility for global audiences.
• Convenience and ease of use: The ElevenReader app truly “gets” the different user scenarios and context for using Text-to-Speech. On top of manual copy/pasting of text, you can also drop a link, upload a PDF, or even take a photo of text with your phone. This flexibility beats built-in Android TTS features.
• Ideal for content creators: ElevenReader is also a great tool for creators – not only listeners. It’s great for creating audiobooks and video voiceovers, which can be read in the person’s own voice or with one from the library.

Here’s what users say about ElevenReader:

“I'm usually in the camp of ‘I hate everything AI’, but I downloaded this app this morning and am a little shocked how well it works. I loaded up an ePub of a book that is not available in audiobook format and let it do its thing. So far I am very impressed.”

“The seamless maintenance of tone and voice across extensive articles is a testament to the app's sophistication, distinguishing it from its counterparts in the market. It's absolutely outstanding to be able to have a voice that keeps its consistency and tone even through very long text.”

“I've been installing and uninstalling Text-to-Speech apps to find one I can listen to really long books on but all have maximum text limitations, horrible voice options, and time or page limit forcing you to add payment. This app doesn't have all that mess and the ai voices have the most natural flow that's enjoyable to listen to. Generating a podcast episode from text; stroke of genius! It adds a whole nother level of entertainment to the text”.

How does the ElevenReader Android app work? 

The ElevenReader Android app uses ElevenLabs' advanced AI to turn text into natural, expressive speech. You can personalize the voice by adjusting things like tone, accent, and even age. Plus, you can stream stories narrated by iconic voices from our licensed collection, giving your content that extra bit of character. It supports multiple file formats, like PDFs and eBooks, and turns them into high-quality audio. You can choose from thousands of AI voices, or even create your own from scratch.

It's a great option for people who prefer listening to content or have visual impairments. The app also offers a hands-free experience, which makes it super convenient for listening on the go.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Download the app: Open the Google Play Store and search for “ElevenReader”’. If you’re reading this article on your phone, you can also simply use this link. Tap ‘Install’ to begin downloading.
   
2. Create an account: Once installed, open the app. You’ll need to sign up for an account, which is quick and free. For convenience, you can sign in using your Google account.
   
3. Explore the interface: After logging in, you'll see the home screen. At the bottom, there are several options, including a ‘+’ button in the center. Tapping it allows you to add the content you’d like to listen to.
   
4. Add your content: You can:

• Paste a link
• Copy and paste text into the editor
• Import a file
• Scan a document with your phone camera.

Once you've added the content, tap ‘Listen’ to play it. The default settings include the standard voice at 1.0x speed.

5. Customize the voice and adjust the playback: If you’d like to listen to a different voice, click the ‘Voices’ button at the bottom to explore other options. We particularly recommend checking out the ‘Iconic Voices’ subsection for well-known voices like John Wayne and Judy Garland.

What can you listen to with ElevenReader Text-to-Speech for Android? 

With ElevenReader for Android, you can listen to a great selection of literary classics, newsletters, and articles, all brought to life with AI voices. And if you want to import your own content like web pages, PDFs, and ePubs, you can do that too and enjoy them in 32 languages. 

And there’s more — you can even create your own smart podcasts with GenFM by turning any content into personalized audio. It's a fun and easy way to enjoy content, whether you're on the go or just prefer listening over reading. 

Download on the Google Play Store 

At the moment, ElevenReader offers up to 1 hour of TTS for free every week, which adds up to 4 hours of high-quality TTS per month. This is a great deal, especially when compared to other apps like Speechify for Android, which only offers 100 minutes of free TTS monthly. 

Get started today by downloading ElevenReader on the Google Play Store.

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