Shmia vs Speechify
Shmia is a native Mac and Windows app with an unlimited free tier and a system-wide one-shortcut mechanic. Speechify is a mobile- and browser-extension-first service billed around $139/year. Here's how they actually differ.
Last updated July 17, 2026
| Shmia | Speechify | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Native Mac + Windows desktop app | Mobile-first, browser extension |
| Free tier | Unlimited listening, forever | Limited voices/features |
| Paid pricing | $19.99–$39.99/mo (optional) | ~$139/year (annual only) |
| Works offline / on-device | Yes, free tier | No, cloud-only |
| Reading mechanic | Select text anywhere + shortcut or bubble | App-specific / extension workflow |
| Playback speed | 0.75x–2x, pitch-preserved, instant | Adjustable |
| Premium AI voices | 8 ElevenLabs voices, 3–10 hrs/mo | Included in paid plan |
Pricing: unlimited free vs a forced annual plan
The starkest difference is the pricing model. Speechify is sold as an annual plan around $139/year — there's no month-to-month unlimited option at a comparable price, and while it does offer a free tier, it comes with more limited voices and features gated behind the paid plan. Shmia flips that structure: the free tier is genuinely unlimited, forever, with 10 built-in local voices, no credit card and no trial clock. If you later want the 8 human-sounding ElevenLabs premium voices — Brian, Jessica, Roger, Laura, Charlie, Lily, Alice, and Will — that's an optional $19.99/month for 3 hours of premium audio, or $39.99/month for 10 hours. You're never forced into a subscription just to use the app daily.
Platform: desktop-native vs mobile-first
Speechify's product story centers on mobile devices and browser extensions — reading on your phone during a commute, or listening to a webpage through an extension. That's a fine fit if most of your reading happens away from a computer. Shmia takes the opposite approach: it's a native desktop app built specifically for Mac and Windows, designed for people who work at a computer all day and want text read aloud without switching apps or windows.
The "read it right where it is" mechanic
With Shmia, you select text in literally any desktop application — a browser tab, a PDF, an email, a Word document, Slack, even a code editor — and either a small play bubble appears near your selection, or you press a global shortcut (⌥⌘R on Mac, Ctrl+Alt+R on Windows, both customizable in Settings). It starts speaking in about a second because it streams the first sentences immediately while generating the rest in the background, even on long documents. A small floating player with a live timeline and speed control stays on top without stealing keyboard focus. Speechify's workflow is generally tied to its own app or browser extension rather than working identically across every desktop application at once.
Privacy: on-device option vs cloud-only
Speechify is a cloud-based service with no offline or on-device mode — your text is processed on its servers regardless of which voice you use. Shmia's free tier is different: speech is generated entirely on-device using the 10 local voices, so that text never leaves your computer. Only if you opt into a premium ElevenLabs voice or an AI summary does Shmia send the selected text to its server, which forwards it to ElevenLabs or Anthropic and streams the result back — and Shmia states it doesn't store that text, only counting usage against your plan's limit.
Speechify is a solid choice if you mainly listen on your phone and don't mind an annual subscription. Shmia is the better fit if you work at a Mac or Windows desktop and want unlimited free listening, with an optional human-voice upgrade only if and when you want it.
Is Shmia cheaper than Speechify?
Shmia's free tier is unlimited and permanent, with no cost at all. Speechify runs about $139/year with no comparable month-to-month unlimited plan. If you want Shmia's premium human-sounding AI voices, that's an optional $19.99/month (or $39.99/month for more hours) — and you can skip it entirely and still get unlimited listening on the free local voices.
Does Speechify work on Mac and Windows desktop?
Speechify's positioning is mobile-first and browser-extension-oriented, without the kind of native, system-wide Mac and Windows desktop experience Shmia offers. Shmia is a native desktop app for both platforms — select text in any app and it reads aloud immediately, no browser extension required.
Can I use Speechify or Shmia offline?
Speechify is cloud-based only, with no offline or on-device mode. Shmia's free tier runs entirely on-device — speech is generated locally on your Mac or Windows computer and the text never leaves the machine.
Give your screen a voice.
Free, unlimited listening with Shmia's on-device voices — no credit card.