In short: Paste
<script src="https://speechma.com/widget/read-aloud.js" defer></script> into your page template. A player appears above the article and reads it aloud with the visitor’s own device voices, with a speed control. It is free, sends no data anywhere, and adds less than 5 KB to your page. Try it on this page: the player is right above this text.Add it in 30 seconds
Copy this line and paste it just before </body> on your article pages:
<script src="https://speechma.com/widget/read-aloud.js" defer></script>
By default the widget reads the first <article> or <main> element. To choose the exact part of the page, add a CSS selector:
<script src="https://speechma.com/widget/read-aloud.js" data-target=".post-content" data-theme="light" data-label="Listen to this post" defer></script>
Options
| Attribute | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
data-target | Which element to read aloud (CSS selector) | .entry-content |
data-theme | Light or dark player | dark |
data-label | The title next to the play button | Listen to this recipe |
Where to paste it on popular platforms
- WordPressAppearance → Theme File Editor → single.php (or use a plugin like “Insert Headers and Footers” and paste it in the footer box). For the block editor, a Custom HTML block at the top of a post works too.
- Shopify blogOnline Store → Themes → Edit code → article template (main-article.liquid). Paste the line at the end of the file and use
data-target=".article-template__content". - BloggerTheme → Edit HTML. Paste the line before
</body>and usedata-target=".post-body". - Wix, Squarespace, WebflowAdd it as custom code in the page or site footer settings.
- Plain HTMLPaste it before
</body>. Done.
Why site owners add it
Accessibility
Helps visitors with dyslexia, low vision or reading fatigue.
Longer visits
People listen while they cook, commute or work, and stay on your page.
Fast
Under 5 KB, loads after your page, never blocks your content.
Private
Uses the visitor’s own device voices. No tracking and no data sent to Speechma.
Want studio-quality voices instead?
Device voices differ between phones and computers. For the same natural voice on every device, generate MP3 files with Speechma Text to Speech and add them as audio players, or automate it with the Speechma API from $9/month.
Frequently asked questions
Is the read aloud widget really free?
Yes. There is no account, no limit and no cost per play, because the reading happens in the visitor’s own browser.
Does it slow down my website?
No. It is under 5 KB, loads with defer after your content, and does nothing until a visitor presses play.
Which languages does it read?
Any language the visitor’s device has a voice for. It picks a voice that matches your page’s language (the lang attribute on your html tag).
Can I remove the “Read Aloud by Speechma” link?
The small credit link is what keeps the widget free. Please keep it visible.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and Chromebook browsers that support speech synthesis, which is nearly all modern browsers.
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