ReadAloud PDF Library
PDF to Audio Reader for Windows & Linux – Free
ReadAloud is a local library that reads your PDF books aloud and highlights the paragraph being spoken, so you can listen and follow the text at the same time. It reads in English, Spanish and German and detects each book’s language on its own.
Free · Windows 10/11 and Linux · no account · open source (MIT)
How to open it on Linux
- Download the file ReadAloud-x86_64.AppImage with the button above.
- Allow it to run: right-click → Properties → Permissions → “Allow executing file as program”. Or in a terminal:
chmod +x ReadAloud-x86_64.AppImage - Double-click it. The library opens in your browser; if it does not, go to http://localhost:8765.
Does it not open on Ubuntu? Install libfuse2 (called libfuse2t64 on Ubuntu 24.04):
sudo apt install libfuse2Made by dravvt · More projects · Contact
Hear how it sounds
What it does
PDF to audio with natural voices
Neural text to speech (Piper) in Spanish, English and German. It detects the book’s language and picks the voice.
Listen and follow along
The paragraph being read is highlighted. Click any paragraph to start reading from there.
Your books never leave your PC
Everything runs locally: no account, no cloud, no tracking. Works offline once the voice is downloaded.
Why local AI matters →Built for studying
Keeps code with its indentation, shows diagrams, separates margin notes and reads two-column papers in order.
What research says →Remembers where you stopped
Every book keeps its place. Adjust speed, text size, column width and color theme.
Free and open source
MIT license. The code is on GitHub and open to contributions.
How it works
- 1
Install ReadAloud and open it: your library opens in the browser.
- 2
Add a PDF (or drag it in). It is prepared once and stays in your library.
- 3
Press “Read” and listen. The first time, the voice is downloaded (about 60 MB).
Screenshots
FAQ
How do I convert a PDF to audio for free?
Install ReadAloud, add the PDF to your library and press “Read”: the book is read aloud while each paragraph is highlighted. It is free, with no ads and no limits.
Can I convert a PDF to an audiobook or MP3?
ReadAloud reads the PDF aloud on the fly, but it does not save the audio as an MP3 file yet. It is made for listening while you follow the text.
How do I read a PDF aloud on Windows 11?
ReadAloud works on Windows 10 and 11, and on Linux too. No Python or anything else to install: it opens in your browser.
Is it free with no sign-up? Does it work offline?
Yes: free, no account and open source. It works offline once the voice is downloaded (about 60 MB, only once). Your PDFs are never uploaded.
Which languages can it read?
Spanish, English and German, and it detects the book’s language by itself.
Does it work on Android, iPhone or Mac?
No, for now it is Windows and Linux only.
Does it use AI?
It uses neural voices (Piper) that run on your own PC. Nothing is sent to cloud AI services.
More about AI that runs on your computer →From the blog
Why reading while listening helps, according to research.
Local AI agents: how to run them on your own computer →ReadAloud’s voice is AI that runs on your computer. Here is why that matters.
All technology articles →Artificial intelligence, software development and tools.