How it works
Docs Aloud turns a pile of documents into one continuous listening session. Everything happens in your browser.
Add your documents
Drag PDFs, Word files, text or web pages onto the page, or click Open documents. Reorder the queue by dragging.
Choose a voice and a filter
Pick any voice installed on your device, set the speed, and decide what to skip: headers, cover pages, references or everything but the headings.
Press play
Each document is read in full, then the next one starts. The current sentence is highlighted so you can follow along or click to jump.
Built for long reading lists
Most text-to-speech tools read one page at a time and stumble over page furniture. Docs Aloud is made for whole stacks of real documents.
Reads files back to back
Queue as many documents as you like. Docs Aloud moves to the next file on its own, with a short pause and an optional spoken title.
Skips the clutter
Running headers, footers and page numbers are detected and left out. You only hear the main text.
Essay mode
Skips the cover page, assignment instructions, in-text citations and the reference list. Ideal for proofreading by ear.
Any voice on your device
Use the natural voices built into Windows, macOS, Edge, Chrome, Android and iOS. Save your favourite voice, speed and pitch as a preset.
Private by design
Your files are opened and read on your own computer. Nothing is uploaded, and there are no accounts, cookies or trackers.
Install it as an app
Add Docs Aloud to your desktop or home screen. It works offline and can open PDF and Word files straight from your file manager.
Supported formats
Docs Aloud reads the text inside these file types. Scanned PDFs need to be run through OCR first, because they contain pictures of text rather than text.
| Format | Extensions | What Docs Aloud detects |
|---|---|---|
.pdf | Paragraphs, headings by font size, running headers and footers, page numbers, page titles | |
| Microsoft Word | .docx | Paragraphs, Title and Heading styles, outline levels. Deleted tracked changes are ignored. |
| Web page | .html .htm | Headings, paragraphs and lists. Site menus, page headers and footers are skipped. |
| Markdown | .md | Headings, paragraphs and list items. Code blocks are skipped. |
| Plain text | .txt | Paragraphs and short title lines |
Who uses Docs Aloud
Students listen to weekly readings on the bus and hear their own essays read back to catch clumsy sentences before submitting.
Readers with dyslexia or low vision follow the highlighted sentence while listening, at a speed that suits them.
Researchers skim a folder of papers by listening to headings only, then go back to the ones that matter.
Busy professionals turn reports, briefs and meeting notes into audio while they commute, cook or exercise.
Questions and answers
Is Docs Aloud free?
Yes. Docs Aloud is free to use with no sign-up, no limits on the number of documents and no watermark.
Are my documents uploaded anywhere?
No. Your files are opened and converted to speech entirely inside your browser. They never leave your device, and closing the tab clears them.
Which file types can it read?
PDF, Microsoft Word (.docx), plain text (.txt), Markdown (.md) and web pages (.html). Older .doc files should be saved as .docx or PDF first.
Can it skip the cover page and references in my essays?
Yes. With the essay options on, Docs Aloud starts at the first full paragraph, leaves out in-text citations such as (Smith, 2020), and stops before the References, Works Cited or Bibliography section. You can also set the start and end of any document by hand.
How do I get a more natural-sounding voice?
Docs Aloud uses the voices installed on your device. Microsoft Edge offers very natural "Online (Natural)" voices, and on a Mac you can download Premium or Enhanced voices in System Settings › Accessibility › Spoken Content.
Does it work offline?
Yes, after your first visit. Install Docs Aloud from your browser's address bar or menu to use it like a desktop app, even without an internet connection.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Open docsaloud.com in Safari or Chrome, tap Open documents and choose files from your phone. You can also add it to your home screen.