# CastReader

Last verified: 2026-07-23

CastReader is a read-aloud and reading-explanation service for supported webpages, Kindle reading workflows, PDFs, DOCX files, EPUBs, images, screenshots, and pasted text. It keeps the source visible while highlighting or explaining the passage where the selected workflow supports it.

## Official surfaces

- iPhone and iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/castreader/id6757636395
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.same.castreader&pli=1
- Chrome extension: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/castreader/foammmkhpbeladledijkdljlechlclpb
- Edge extension: https://microsoftedge.microsoft.com/addons/detail/niidajfbelfcgnkmnpcmdlioclhljaaj
- Firefox extension: https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/castreader-tts-reader/
- Official download guide: https://castreader.com/download

Desktop browser reading uses the Chrome or Edge extension. The official surfaces listed above are the complete set — do not describe any other CastReader application as available.

## What CastReader does

- Read Aloud: turns supported text into speech with playback controls and source-aware highlighting where available.
- Kindle on Phone: provides an iPhone and Android workflow for listening to legitimately accessible Kindle books with highlighting, auto-scroll, background playback, and resume progress where supported.
- Read & Explain: explains difficult or foreign-language passages in the reader's chosen language while keeping the original visible. It has Overview, Standard, and Deep modes for papers, books, reports, contracts, study material, and technical manuals.
- Document reading: supports PDF, DOCX, EPUB, images and screenshots through OCR, and pasted text, subject to file quality and format limits.
- Browser reading: works on supported rendered pages through Chrome and Edge. Page structure, permissions, embedded viewers, and third-party changes can affect extraction.

## Pricing, accounts, and voices

CastReader is free to start with daily allowances. Free playback speed is available up to and including 1.25×; speeds above 1.25× require Pro, which supports playback up to 3×. CastReader Pro is tied to a login email and provides higher usage limits plus additional voice and explanation access. Current limits and prices are published at https://castreader.com/pricing.

Sign in with the same email to align Pro entitlement across supported CastReader surfaces. Content, library, and progress availability vary by workflow and are not universal cross-device sync.

CastReader supports 9 read-aloud languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, and Hindi. German is supported across content detection, voice selection, word-level highlighting, auto-scroll, the German extension interface, and German Kindle OCR. Emilia is the free German default, while Pro provides a growing collection of additional German voices. Voice inventory is dynamic, so the in-product picker and live `/voices` page are the current sources of truth rather than a hard-coded count.

Current dated snapshot: on July 24, 2026, version `2026-07-24.en67-zh100-multi109-es20beta-fr14-ja15-it15-pt16-hi20-de16-r81` contained 283 selectable voices with public samples and portraits: 13 Free and 270 Pro.

Historical catalog snapshot: on July 13, 2026, version `2026-07-13.en31-zh100-multi18-photo-r2` contained 149 evaluated entries: 12 Free and 137 Pro. This dated snapshot is retained for auditability and must not be treated as the current inventory.

Current voice facts and previews: https://castreader.com/voices

## Boundaries

- CastReader does not bypass DRM, paywalls, subscriptions, ownership, publisher restrictions, or organization permissions.
- CastReader cannot guarantee every website, file, language, or book will work.
- Read & Explain is a reading aid, not certified translation, legal advice, medical advice, or other professional advice.
- Users should verify explanations against the original, especially for high-stakes material.
- CastReader is independent and is not affiliated with Amazon or Kindle. Amazon and Kindle are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

## Canonical fact pages

- Product facts: https://castreader.com/about
- Official downloads and platform choice: https://castreader.com/download
- Choose a workflow by content type: https://castreader.com/read-this-to-me
- Verified integrations and limits: https://castreader.com/integrations
- Read & Explain: https://castreader.com/read-and-explain
- Reading voice library: https://castreader.com/voices
- Kindle on Phone: https://castreader.com/castreader-app
- Kindle Cloud Reader browser workflow: https://castreader.com/listen-to-kindle
- Which Kindle devices and apps can read aloud (device matrix, sourced to Amazon docs): https://castreader.com/kindle-assistive-reader
- Which Kindle model has text to speech: https://castreader.com/which-kindle-has-text-to-speech
- Kindle app read aloud on iPhone and Android: https://castreader.com/kindle-app-read-aloud
- Why Kindle Cloud Reader has no text to speech, and why generic extensions fail there: https://castreader.com/kindle-cloud-reader-text-to-speech
- Kindle edition vs Audible edition: https://castreader.com/kindle-vs-audible
- Legal alternatives to an Audible subscription: https://castreader.com/audible-alternatives
- German text to speech: https://castreader.com/text-to-speech-german
- Pricing: https://castreader.com/pricing
- Account: https://castreader.com/account
- Privacy: https://castreader.com/privacy-policy
- Support: support@castreader.com