Wordcast

Free Dyslexia Reading Tool for Text and PDFs

Wordcast reads pasted text and text-layer PDFs aloud in your browser. It offers sentence highlighting and a 0.5x to 2x speed control, so you can listen while following the text on screen. It is a reading aid, not a medical treatment.

Paste text or add a text-layer PDF, then choose a voice and press Listen.

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What is a dyslexia reading tool?

A dyslexia reading tool helps a reader access written material in another way, most often by turning text into speech and showing where playback is happening. Different products offer different combinations of screen-reader support, typography controls, cloud libraries, and text-to-speech. Wordcast focuses on a smaller browser-based task: paste text or add a text-layer PDF, choose a voice available in your browser, and listen with sentence highlighting. It does not diagnose, treat, or claim to improve dyslexia, and it does not include specialist font, colour-overlay, or word-by-word highlighting controls.

  • Sentence highlighting follows the current spoken sentence.
  • Playback speed is adjustable from 0.5x to 2x.
  • Local files are parsed in the browser, up to 25 MB.
  • Scanned PDFs need a text layer or OCR before Wordcast can read them.

Listen while you follow the page

Reading aloud can be useful when a dense worksheet, article, or draft is easier to take in through both listening and looking at the page. Wordcast keeps the workflow simple: paste the passage, add a text-layer PDF, choose a browser voice, and start playback. The highlighted sentence can provide a visual place to return to after a pause. For typography, colour, classroom accommodations, or clinical advice, use the settings and support recommended by your school, accessibility team, or clinician.

Add a passage or text-layer PDF to start listening.

Dyslexia Reading Tool on Your Devices

Wordcast is a browser tool. Voice availability and background playback depend on the browser and device you use.

Dyslexia Reading Tool on iPad

Open Wordcast in Safari or another iPad browser, paste the text or choose a text-layer PDF from Files, then select an available voice.

  • No App Store download for Wordcast
  • Sentence highlighting stays in the browser tab
  • Use split view when your browser supports it

Dyslexia Reading Tool Comparison

Different reading tools solve different problems. This table distinguishes Wordcast's implemented browser controls from features that require another product.

FeatureWordcast (web app)Voice Dream ReaderNaturalReaderSpeechifyiOS Speak Selection
Free core reading
Runs in a browsern/a (system)
No Wordcast signup
Reads pasted text
Reads text-layer PDFs
Sentence highlighting
Speed control from 0.5x to 2x
Built-in OCR for scanned PDFs
Specialist typography controls
Word-by-word highlighting
Audio file export

Choose a specialist accessibility product when you need OCR, typography controls, word-by-word tracking, or a managed content library. Choose Wordcast when a simple browser reader for pasted text or text-layer PDFs is enough.

Common Reading Tool Problems

A few limits are best checked before starting a longer document.

  • The PDF is a scan with no selectable text

    A scan can be an image rather than a document with a text layer. Selecting a sentence in the PDF is a quick way to check whether text extraction is possible.

    Fix: Run OCR in a suitable PDF tool first, then add the searchable PDF to Wordcast.

  • The preferred voice is not in the list

    Wordcast only lists voices the browser makes available. Devices can have different language packs, voice downloads, and browser policies.

    Fix: Enable a suitable system voice, refresh the page, and test a short sentence before beginning a longer reading session.

  • A webpage URL does not extract cleanly

    Some websites block extraction or render their article text after the initial page load. URL extraction is handled by a server endpoint and is not the same as parsing a local file.

    Fix: Copy and paste the text into Wordcast, or use a local text-layer PDF when the source page cannot be extracted.

When a Simple Reading Aid Is Useful

  • Reviewing a worksheet at home

    Paste a short passage or add a text-layer handout, choose a comfortable pace, and follow the sentence highlight while you review the original material.

  • Checking a dense study passage

    Listen to a chapter excerpt while keeping the source document open. Break long material into sections and pause between them to take notes.

  • Proofreading a draft by ear

    Paste a draft into Wordcast and listen for missing words, repeated phrases, or sentences that sound unclear when read aloud.

How to Use Wordcast as a Reading Tool

  1. Open Wordcast in a supported browser

    Open the site on your device and check the available voices before loading a long document.

  2. Paste text or choose a text-layer PDF

    Pasted text and local files are handled in the browser. PDFs must be 25 MB or smaller and contain selectable text. A pasted URL is sent to a server extraction endpoint and its extracted text is not stored.

  3. Choose a voice, set the pace, and listen

    Select a voice, choose a rate between 0.5x and 2x, then press Listen. Sentence highlighting follows playback while the browser can keep the session active.

FAQ

  • Is Wordcast a dyslexia treatment?

    No. Wordcast is a browser text-to-speech reading aid. It does not diagnose, treat, or claim to improve dyslexia.

  • Does Wordcast read text aloud for free?

    Yes. You can paste text or add a compatible local file and use the browser voices available on your device without a Wordcast account.

  • Does this dyslexia reading tool need an app?

    No. Wordcast runs in a modern browser. Your school or device may still have its own rules about which accessibility tools are approved.

  • Can Wordcast read scanned PDFs?

    Not until they have a text layer. Run OCR first, then add the searchable PDF. Wordcast does not include OCR.

  • Does Wordcast offer specialist fonts or colour overlays?

    No. Wordcast offers speech, sentence highlighting, and speed control. Use a specialist accessibility product when you need typography or colour-overlay controls.

  • Does Wordcast highlight every word as it speaks?

    No. Wordcast highlights the current sentence, not individual words.

  • What speeds can I use?

    Wordcast supports playback from 0.5x to 2x. Start with a short sample and choose the pace that is comfortable for the material.

  • Can I use this on a school Chromebook?

    Wordcast is a website, so it can be opened where the browser and school policy permit it. Check local accessibility guidance for required accommodations.

  • Are files uploaded to Wordcast?

    Local files are parsed in the browser. URL extraction is different: the URL is sent to a server endpoint to extract readable text, and that extracted text is not stored.

  • Can I export the audio as an MP3?

    No. Wordcast plays speech through the browser and does not export audio files.

  • Why is my language not available?

    Voice availability depends on your browser and installed system voices. Enable a suitable voice on the device, refresh Wordcast, and test a short passage.

  • Can I read a long PDF with Wordcast?

    You can add a compatible text-layer PDF up to 25 MB. For long material, split the document into sections so you can pause and review notes between them.

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