Use case
A reading tool for dyslexia, ADHD & tired eyes.
When reading is effortful, hearing the words helps. Readwave reads text aloud anywhere on Windows with one hotkey, so long articles, assignments, and emails become something you can listen to. It's free to start, needs no account, and runs privately on your own machine.
Free tier · no account · Ctrl+Alt+R
How it works
Three steps, then listen
Listen instead of pushing through
Select a paragraph or a whole page and press Ctrl+Alt+R. A natural voice reads it while you follow along — or rest your eyes entirely.
Works in the tools you already use
Your LMS, PDFs, the browser, email, Google Docs — Readwave reads them in place, so there's no copying text into a separate app.
Go at your own pace
Slow down dense passages, speed up familiar ones, and queue longer readings to break them into manageable sittings.
Why Readwave
What makes it different
Low-friction and always there
One shortcut across every app means no setup each time you hit something hard to read — it's ready the moment you need it.
Private — no account, no upload
Nothing is uploaded on the free path and there's no sign-up, so it's a reading aid you can use without handing over personal data.
Free, with 20,000 words / week
The free tier is a real tool, not a teaser. Pro adds unlimited reading and Smart Reading — simplify complex text before it's read aloud (14-day free trial).
FAQ
Good to know
- Can it simplify hard text, not just read it?
- Yes — Pro's Smart Reading can simplify or summarize a passage before reading it aloud, which can make dense or jargon-heavy material easier to take in.
- Does it follow along word by word?
- Readwave focuses on natural, comfortable audio playback with adjustable speed and a listen-later Queue. It reads your selection aloud so you can listen rather than push through the text.
- Is it really free?
- Yes — a permanent free tier with natural voices and 20,000 words / week, no account or card required.