TTS, which audio would you pick?

petrjahoda · 05-28-2026, 07:50 AM

Hello all, I am planning the next version and would like your opinion on which text-to-speech model would be best.

I tested multiple options and ended up with these three

1. Apple native: iOS Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices → tap a voice → preview button.
2. Piper: https://rhasspy.github.io/piper-samples
3. Kokoro: https://huggingface.co/spaces/hexgrad/Kokoro-TTS

Apple native is the easiest to implement with nothing extra to ship, Kokoro is hardest, but I think the best.

I have two question in here:
1. Are you using now, or would you even use, text to speech for book listening?
2. Which sounds the best for you? (Or is Apple native sufficient?)

Side note: there are even better models like Fish Audio, Qwen, Sesame, etc. but those are 1-2GB and demand latest hardware, so I would like to skip those.

Updated 28.5 14:46.

dandaman · 05-28-2026, 07:52 AM

Are you on iOS 26?

petrjahoda · 05-28-2026, 07:54 AM

Yes, I am.

dandaman · 05-28-2026, 08:01 AM

I don't know if there's a way to use Personal Voice in iOS 17+ from a seperate app...

Loosheesh · 05-28-2026, 08:07 AM

I use the Apple native voices in other apps and I find them to be decent.
Piper and Sherpa - absolute NO.
Kokoro is the best sounding.

(I like the voices the Readwise Reader app uses for its TTS; I think it's something called Unreal Speech.)

petrjahoda · 06-05-2026, 08:59 AM

Just an information: after email correspondence with some of you, Kokoro will be included (for the best quality) and Apple will be included (for the width in available languages).

I will be waiting with TTS implementation to happen after upcoming Apple WWDC, maybe there will be some news in this area from Apple itself (and maybe not).

DJUNGELSKOG · 06-05-2026, 03:16 PM

Not a user of (or a target audience for) the app - just wanted to add my two cents and say that Apple’s built-in voices are rather decent these days!

petrjahoda · 06-09-2026, 05:46 AM

Looks like there is nothing new about TTS after WWDC, so Apple's built in voices plus Kokoro it is.

pdurrant · 06-10-2026, 02:09 AM

It will be interesting to try out - being able to switch between reading and listening will be good, for times when I have ears free but not eyes.

05-28-2026, 07:50 AM	#1
petrjahoda Evangelist Posts: 413 Karma: 567890 Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Czech Republic Device: iphone, ipad	TTS, which audio would you pick? Hello all, I am planning the next version and would like your opinion on which text-to-speech model would be best. I tested multiple options and ended up with these three 1. Apple native: iOS Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices → tap a voice → preview button. 2. Piper: https://rhasspy.github.io/piper-samples 3. Kokoro: https://huggingface.co/spaces/hexgrad/Kokoro-TTS Apple native is the easiest to implement with nothing extra to ship, Kokoro is hardest, but I think the best. I have two question in here: 1. Are you using now, or would you even use, text to speech for book listening? 2. Which sounds the best for you? (Or is Apple native sufficient?) Side note: there are even better models like Fish Audio, Qwen, Sesame, etc. but those are 1-2GB and demand latest hardware, so I would like to skip those. Updated 28.5 14:46. Last edited by petrjahoda; 05-28-2026 at 08:49 AM.

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05-28-2026, 07:52 AM	#2
dandaman Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 220 Join Date: May 2026 Location: London, United Kingdom Device: Kindle PW3, Kobo Clara Colour	Are you on iOS 26?

05-28-2026, 07:54 AM	#3
petrjahoda Evangelist Posts: 413 Karma: 567890 Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Czech Republic Device: iphone, ipad	Yes, I am.

05-28-2026, 08:01 AM	#4
dandaman Groupie Posts: 188 Karma: 220 Join Date: May 2026 Location: London, United Kingdom Device: Kindle PW3, Kobo Clara Colour	I don't know if there's a way to use Personal Voice in iOS 17+ from a seperate app...

05-28-2026, 08:07 AM	#5
Loosheesh Wizard Posts: 1,745 Karma: 3177153 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Jianghu Device: PW5, iPhone 13 Pro, iPad Pro 2021, iPad Air 2025	I use the Apple native voices in other apps and I find them to be decent. Piper and Sherpa - absolute NO. Kokoro is the best sounding. (I like the voices the Readwise Reader app uses for its TTS; I think it's something called Unreal Speech.)

06-05-2026, 08:59 AM	#6
petrjahoda Evangelist Posts: 413 Karma: 567890 Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Czech Republic Device: iphone, ipad	Just an information: after email correspondence with some of you, Kokoro will be included (for the best quality) and Apple will be included (for the width in available languages). I will be waiting with TTS implementation to happen after upcoming Apple WWDC, maybe there will be some news in this area from Apple itself (and maybe not).

06-05-2026, 03:16 PM	#7
DJUNGELSKOG Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 585486 Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Belgium / Vlaanderen Device: Kobo Libra 2 + Vivlio Light HD + (ancient) iPad Pro	Not a user of (or a target audience for) the app - just wanted to add my two cents and say that Apple’s built-in voices are rather decent these days!

06-09-2026, 05:46 AM	#8
petrjahoda Evangelist Posts: 413 Karma: 567890 Join Date: Dec 2025 Location: Czech Republic Device: iphone, ipad	Looks like there is nothing new about TTS after WWDC, so Apple's built in voices plus Kokoro it is.

06-10-2026, 02:09 AM	#9
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 75,718 Karma: 320245586 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	It will be interesting to try out - being able to switch between reading and listening will be good, for times when I have ears free but not eyes.