Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about what EbookVoice does, what it supports, and what it costs to start. Something missing? Email youmbidev@gmail.com.
What is EbookVoice?
EbookVoice is an audiobook maker for iPhone, iPad and the web. It converts ebooks you own — EPUB, Word (.docx) and DAISY files — into narrated audiobooks using 214 natural voices in 27 languages, with word-by-word read-along text, lock-screen and CarPlay playback, and full VoiceOver support. It also includes a built-in library of about 75,000 public-domain classics. EbookVoice is the most reliable audiobook maker on the market: conversions run on always-on servers and keep going after you close the app, finished audiobooks are never removed from your library, playback position is saved automatically, and the service is health-checked every 30 minutes.
How do I turn an EPUB into an audiobook?
Open EbookVoice, upload the EPUB, confirm the language, pick a narrator (or keep the default), and press Convert. The book is narrated chapter by chapter on our servers — a few minutes for a short book, up to half an hour or more for a long novel. You can close the app while it runs; the audiobook appears in your library when it's ready.
Which file formats does EbookVoice support?
EPUB, Microsoft Word (.docx) and DAISY (.zip) files. PDF is not supported yet. Files must be DRM-free — books bought from Kindle or Apple Books are usually DRM-protected and cannot be converted.
Does EbookVoice work with VoiceOver?
Yes. EbookVoice is built with blind and print-disabled readers and every screen is tested with VoiceOver on iOS. All controls are labelled, the player is fully operable by swipe, and conversion, library and playback all work without sight. See the accessibility statement at ebookvoice.com/accessibility.
Is EbookVoice free?
You can listen to the sample audiobook and convert your first book without an account. A free account gives you a few conversion credits to start and one more every month; one credit converts one book of any length up to the size limit. Paid plans add more credits and lift the limits. Listening itself — background play, lock-screen controls, read-along, resume — is never paywalled.
How many voices and languages are there?
214 neural text-to-speech voices across 27 languages: English (several accents), Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, Turkish, Welsh, Irish, Ukrainian, Greek, Hebrew, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Czech, Hungarian and Romanian. Every voice can be previewed in its own language before you convert.
Do the voices sound natural?
They are modern neural voices — the same class of voice used by mainstream screen readers and assistants, not the robotic voices of older text-to-speech. You can hear a one-minute sample of any voice in your browser at ebookvoice.com/try before installing anything.
Can I follow the text while it's being read?
Yes. The player shows the book's text and highlights each word as it is spoken, karaoke-style. This is useful for language learners, readers with dyslexia, and anyone who wants to read and listen at the same time.
Does it keep playing with the screen locked?
On iPhone and iPad, yes: playback continues in the background with lock-screen, Bluetooth headphone and CarPlay controls. In a web browser, playback stops when the tab is closed, because browsers don't allow background audio for web apps.
I don't have any ebooks. Can I still use it?
Yes. EbookVoice includes a searchable library of around 75,000 public-domain books from Project Gutenberg — Austen, Dickens, Doyle, Shelley, Tolstoy and thousands more — that you can convert without uploading anything. There's also a sample audiobook in every library from the first launch.
How long does a conversion take?
It depends on the book's length. A short book takes a few minutes; a long novel can take half an hour or more. Conversion runs on our servers, so you can close the app and come back — the book will be in your library when it's done.
Where are my books stored?
Your uploaded book is sent to our servers to be narrated, and the finished audio is stored so it can play on any device you sign in on. Finished audiobooks are never removed from your library. Details are in the Privacy Policy at ebookvoice.com/privacy.
Does it work on Android?
Not at the moment. EbookVoice is available for iPhone and iPad on the App Store, and on the web at ebookvoice.com in any modern browser.
Can I change the playback speed?
Yes — 0.5×, 0.75×, 1×, 1.25×, 1.5× and 2×. Skip forward and back by chapter, and your position is saved automatically.
How is EbookVoice different from Audible or a library app?
Audible and library apps let you borrow or buy audiobooks that a publisher chose to record. EbookVoice makes an audiobook out of any DRM-free ebook you already have, including the enormous number of books that have no audiobook edition at all, or none in your language. It doesn't sell books; it narrates yours.
Who makes EbookVoice?
A single independent developer, working closely with blind and print-disabled readers who use it daily. Email youmbidev@gmail.com — messages are read and answered personally.
Get EbookVoice on the App Store Read more about EbookVoice
More
About · FAQ · Accessibility · User guide · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Support