Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about ReadItToMe's AI-powered text-to-speech converter
Is ReadItToMe free to use?
Yes! ReadItToMe is 100% free and open source. You only need your own OpenAI API key, which you can get from OpenAI. You pay OpenAI directly for usage at their standard rates (typically $0.015 per 1,000 characters).
Do I need to create an account?
No account required! Simply enter your OpenAI API key and start converting text to speech immediately. Your API key is encrypted and stored only in your browser.
Is my data private and secure?
Absolutely. Your API key is encrypted with AES-256 and stored only in your browser's local storage. Text-to-speech requests go directly from your browser to OpenAI. PDFs are temporarily processed on our server for text extraction (using pdf-parse) and immediately discarded - we don't store any files or data permanently.
What voices are available?
We offer 6 premium OpenAI voices: Alloy (neutral), Echo (clear), Fable (expressive), Onyx (deep), Nova (friendly), and Shimmer (bright). All voices are natural-sounding and high-quality.
Can I convert entire webpages to audio?
Yes! You can paste any URL and ReadItToMe will automatically extract the main content and convert it to speech. You can also use our URL shortcut: just add 'readittome.io/' before any URL to instantly load it.
Is there a limit on text length?
No hard limit! ReadItToMe automatically chunks long texts and generates them seamlessly. You can convert entire articles, books, or documents of any size.
Can I download the generated audio?
Yes, every generated audio file can be downloaded as an MP3. Your audio is also automatically saved to your Collections for easy access later.
Does it work offline?
The app itself can work offline as a PWA, but generating new audio requires an internet connection since it needs to call OpenAI's API.
Which browsers are supported?
ReadItToMe works on all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. For the best experience, we recommend using the latest version of your browser.
How do I get an OpenAI API key?
Visit platform.openai.com/api-keys, sign up or log in, and create a new API key. Copy it and paste it into ReadItToMe. Your key is encrypted and stored only in your browser.
Can I use this for commercial purposes?
Yes! ReadItToMe is open source under the MIT license. However, check OpenAI's terms of service for any restrictions on commercial use of their TTS API.
How accurate is the pronunciation?
OpenAI's TTS models are state-of-the-art and handle pronunciation, intonation, and natural speech patterns extremely well. They work with multiple languages and handle technical terms accurately.
Still have questions?
Try ReadItToMe for free - no account required!