No time to sit & read
Listen on the commute, in the gym, while cooking. Reclaim 40+ minutes a week of dead time.
New · Now reading 11 languages
Snap a page. Hear it read aloud.
ReadLens turns any photo of text (a textbook, a menu, a sign, a PDF) into a natural-voice audio reader, with every word lit up in sync so your brain stays locked in.
- Rating
- 4.9
- Languages
- 11
- To start
- Free
iPhone · iPad · Mac · Vision Pro · Android · No account needed
Snap a page
any language
any language
Voice ready
in seconds
in seconds
word
lit up in sync
Live demo
Watch the highlight follow the voice.
Reading a page should feel effortless, not exhausting.
What is ReadLens?
ReadLens is a photo-to-speech app for iPhone, iPad, Mac (M1+), Apple Vision Pro and Android that turns any printed or on-screen text into a natural-voice audio reader. You point your camera at a page (a textbook, restaurant menu, road sign, slide, handwritten note, or PDF on screen) and ReadLens runs OCR on the image, optionally translates the text into one of 11 supported languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic and Hindi), and plays the result back with a synced word-by-word highlight so your eyes and ears follow the same place on the page. The whole loop (snap, OCR, voice) typically finishes in under fifteen seconds. ReadLens is free to download on the App Store and Google Play, with weekly free snaps; an optional Premium subscription unlocks unlimited usage. Voices are generated by ElevenLabs and OpenAI. Built by Black Box Code LLC.
Made for readers who don't have time to read
40m
reclaimed per week, on average
2×
more reading finished per week
11
languages, translated & read
4.9
average App Store rating
Sound familiar?
Reading shouldn't feel like a second job.
The information you need is locked inside pages your eyes are too tired to read. Here's what ReadLens fixes, instantly.
Tired eyes, zoning out
Long texts make your eyes glaze over. Listening with words lit up keeps focus locked in.
Text in another language
Foreign menus, signs, slides? Point your camera. Hear it back in yours, across 11 languages.
Dyslexia, ADHD, low vision
Multi-sensory reading. The word-by-word highlight changes how dense text feels. Finally easy.
How does ReadLens work?
Three taps from page to playback.
No setup. No account. Just snap → process → press play.
-
Snap a photo
Camera or photo library. Book, menu, screenshot, even handwriting. Frame guides line up the page.
-
We read every word
High-accuracy OCR turns pixels into clean text. Optional translation into 11 languages, before the voice begins.
-
Press play. Follow along.
A natural voice reads aloud. Every word lights up on cue. Tap any word to jump to it. Like karaoke for reading.
Inside the app
Built for long, quiet reads.
Warm paper background. Espresso ink. Gold-leaf highlight. Designed to feel like a study lamp on a page.
Capture
Point. Frame. Snap.
Corner guides line up the page so the OCR nails it the first time.
One screen
One green button.
Pick your reading language once. Every snap shows up here, ready to listen.
Reader
Listen, word locked.
Karaoke-style highlight. Tap any word to jump. Speed and font-size controls.
Built for real readers
Everything you need to read 2× more per week.
Designed for long reading sessions: warm paper background, gentle motion, and zero junk between you and the page.
Word-by-word highlight
Each word lights up the instant it's spoken. Perfect for focus, study and accessibility.
11 languages, translated
English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi.
Natural AI voices
Powered by ElevenLabs & OpenAI. Choose Natural (richer) or Faster (lighter) on the fly.
Your personal library
Every snap is saved: rename, revisit, listen again. No re-scanning. Works offline once loaded.
Warm paper + dark mode
Designed for long reads: low-glare oat paper light theme, OLED-friendly dark theme.
Private by default
Photos never leave your device until you snap. No accounts, no ad networks, no selling of data.
Free to start
Free download. Free snaps every week.
Premium is optional. Only when you want unlimited. Start free, see if it fits.
Who it's for
A different superpower
for everyone.
Finish the chapter walking to class.
Snap textbook pages and slides. Listen on the commute. Re-listen at 1.5×. Finals week, but easier.
Read every menu, sign, ticket.
Point your camera at a French menu, hear it in English. Confident orders, no more guessing.
Dyslexia & ADHD friendly.
Multi-sensory reading reduces cognitive load. The lit-up word locks attention where it belongs.
Inbox PDFs, finally read.
Long memos, contracts, reports: snap, drive, listen. Back from the gym already through it.
See every way people use ReadLens, from studying to low vision and language learning →
What makes ReadLens different?
Not just text-to-speech.
Most TTS apps read at you. ReadLens reads with you, so your eyes stay on the page.
Feature
Other apps
ReadLens
Word-by-word highlight
Rare
Built in
Translate before reading
Usually no
11 languages
Real human-sounding voice
Robotic
ElevenLabs & OpenAI
Tap any word to jump
No
Yes
Free to start
Subscription only
Always
5.0 on the App Store
What early readers are saying.
"It helps me translate simple things like menus, but also more complex content like book pages and study materials into any language I need."
"I'm really busy to finish my favorite books. Since I found this app I've been able to snap and listen them on my way home! It's simply awesome 🚀"
"This app was what I didn't know I needed until I downloaded it. It makes my reading time so much easier and I can catch up on the news I had queued up much faster!"
Real reviews from the App Store. See ReadLens on the App Store
Guides
What will you listen to first?
Practical, step-by-step guides for everything people use ReadLens for: studying, travel, accessibility, and getting through the reading pile.
Basics
How to turn a photo into speech
The fastest way to convert any picture of text into natural audio.
Read the guide StudentsListen to textbooks instead of reading them
Turn any chapter into an audiobook and study on the go.
Read the guide AccessibilityA dyslexia reading app that highlights every word
Why hearing and seeing words together changes everything.
Read the guide TravelTranslate a menu by taking a photo
Understand any menu or sign abroad, and hear how it is pronounced.
Read the guide NotesConvert handwritten notes to audio
Yes, OCR can read clear handwriting. Listen to your notes.
Read the guide CommutersRead hands-free on your commute
Get through your reading pile in the car, on the train, or on foot.
Read the guide LanguagesHear pronunciation while you read
Connect written words to real pronunciation in 11 languages.
Read the guide FocusStay focused while reading with ADHD
Use audio plus word highlighting to anchor your attention.
Read the guideQuestions
Frequently asked
What is ReadLens?
ReadLens is an app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro and Android that turns photos of any printed or on-screen text into clear spoken audio. As the voice reads, every word is highlighted in sync so your eyes and ears follow the same place on the page. Perfect for studying, accessibility, language learning, and listening hands-free. Learn how photo to speech works →
Which languages does it support?
11 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, and Hindi. Snap text in one language, hear it in another, or turn translation off to stay in the source language. Learn how to hear pronunciation while you read →
Is it really free?
Yes. ReadLens is free to download with weekly free snaps. Premium is optional and only unlocks unlimited snaps, unlimited translation and an ad-free experience. You can see current pricing in the App Store or inside the app, and use ReadLens free as long as you like.
Does it read handwriting and menus?
Yes. ReadLens works on books, slides, handouts, menus, signs, screenshots, PDFs, and clear handwriting. The OCR engine is tuned for printed text first and tolerates moderate handwriting. Learn how to convert handwritten notes to audio →
Which devices does it work on?
iPhone, iPad, Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or later) and Apple Vision Pro (iOS 15.1 or later), plus Android phones and tablets via Google Play.
Is my data private?
Your photos never leave your device until you tap the shutter. The image is sent only to perform OCR and voice generation. No accounts, no ad networks, no selling data.
Read the full ReadLens FAQ, including offline use, voices, and canceling →
Your next page
is waiting.
Snap it. Hear it. Get back to your life. ReadLens is free on the App Store and Google Play. Most people are reading more by the end of the week.
Free · iOS & Android · No account needed