How do I use text to speech on my iPhone for free?
Go to speechma.com in Safari, paste or type your text in the box above, choose a voice and tap generate after entering the 5-digit code. When it finishes, tap the download button. Safari saves the MP3 to the Files app, and you can play it, share it or drop it into a video editor.
Nothing needs to be installed, and it works the same on an iPad. Copying long text from Notes, Mail or a web page is easy: press and hold, tap Select All, tap Copy, then paste into Speechma. Each conversion reads up to 2,000 characters, which is about two minutes of audio.
How to save a text to speech MP3 on iPhone
- Open Speechma in SafariAdd it to your Home Screen from the Share menu if you will use it often. It then opens like an app.
- Paste your textCopy from Notes, Pages, Messages or a website and paste it into the text box.
- Pick and preview a voiceTap the voice list, filter by language or country and play a preview. Star the ones you like as favorites.
- GenerateAdjust speed or pitch if you want, enter the 5-digit code and tap generate.
- DownloadTap download. If Safari asks, confirm. The file lands in Files > Downloads.
- Use itOpen the file from Files to play it, tap Share to AirDrop or text it, or import it into iMovie, CapCut or GarageBand.
Where do downloaded MP3s go on an iPhone?
Open the Files app, tap Browse, then open the Downloads folder. By default it sits in iCloud Drive, so the file also shows up on your Mac or iPad. You can change where Safari saves downloads in the Safari section of the Settings app. If you used Chrome on iPhone, downloads may open in Chrome first; tap the file and use “Open in” or Share to save it to Files.
To use the MP3 in a video, open iMovie or CapCut, add audio, and choose it from Files. Our guides for iMovie and CapCut walk through it step by step.
Speechma vs the built-in iPhone reading feature
iPhone has a built-in accessibility feature that reads selected text or the whole screen aloud. It is great for listening; it is not built for making audio files.
| iPhone built-in reading | Speechma in Safari | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Read text on screen to you | Create a saved audio file |
| Saves an MP3 | No | Yes |
| Voice choice | Apple system voices | 1,700+ voices, 75+ languages |
| Works offline | Yes, with downloaded voices | No, needs an internet connection |
| Good for | Reading articles and messages hands-free | Voiceovers, Reels, class audio, greetings |
On recent iOS versions the built-in options are under Settings > Accessibility > Read & Speak (called Spoken Content on older versions). Menu names can change between updates.
Tips for better results on a phone
- Turn your phone sideways if the voice list feels cramped.
- Add real pauses with the pause buttons in Voice Effects (they insert tags like [break 1s]), and use commas for short breaths.
- Long document? Split it into parts of about 2,000 characters and number the files.
- Your history stays in your browser, so download anything you want to keep before clearing Safari data.
- Making Reels or TikToks? See Reels voiceovers and TikTok voices.
Need longer audio from your phone?
SpeechmaPRO.com also runs in Safari and takes 10,000 characters per conversion, with no captcha or ads.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Speechma iPhone app?
Is text to speech on iPhone free with Speechma?
Why can’t I find my downloaded MP3?
Can I use the audio in an Instagram Reel or TikTok?
Can I make my iPhone read text aloud without saving a file?
Does it work on iPad too?
Make better voiceovers, faster
- New voices and features the day they launch
- Script templates and tricks that make AI voices sound human
- Creator stories, community picks and early access
