CastReader
AI read-aloud browser extension that also explains what you're reading in your own language — and works on Kindle Cloud Reader and WeRead, where other TTS tools fail.
Features
Properties
- Lightweight
- Privacy focused
Features
- Text to Speech
- No Tracking
- Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
- No registration required
- Ad-free
- Read Aloud
CastReader News & Activities
Recent activities
- vinxu updated CastReader
jan-software added CastReader as alternative to ListenDock
calberty added CastReader as alternative to EbookAloud
phisch added CastReader as alternative to OpenReaderI've tried Speechify, NaturalReader, and Read Aloud. They all fail on the same thing — Kindle Cloud Reader. The text is rendered with custom font glyphs so every other extension just returns blank.
CastReader actually reads it. I don't know how they did it but it works. Press the extension icon on read.amazon.com and it starts reading with paragraph highlighting. Same with WeRead which renders everything on Canvas.
For regular web pages it's also the cleanest extraction I've used. It...
- vinxu added CastReader
- vinxu liked CastReader
vinxu added CastReader as alternative to Speechify, ElevenReader and Read Aloud Extension
CastReader information
Developed by
UnknownLicensing
Proprietary and Free product.Alternatives
6 alternatives listedBadge
Get an embeddable badge for CastReaderSupported Languages
- English
What is CastReader?
CastReader reads webpages, PDFs, EPUBs, DOCX files, images and Kindle Cloud Reader books aloud with real-time paragraph highlighting. It can also explain a difficult or foreign-language passage in the language you choose, while keeping the original text visible on the page.
It intelligently extracts article content, stripping away navigation bars, ads, and sidebars, so you hear the actual content — not the clutter.
What makes CastReader unusual is support for platforms most TTS tools cannot handle. Kindle Cloud Reader renders text using custom font subsets that appear as unreadable glyphs in the DOM — CastReader uses OCR-based glyph decoding to extract the real text. WeRead, one of China's largest reading platforms, renders everything on Canvas with no text in the page — CastReader intercepts chapter data before it reaches the Canvas.
Key features:
- Reads any supported webpage with one click, highlights the current paragraph and auto-scrolls
- Read & Explain: Overview, Standard and Deep modes for papers, books, reports, contracts and technical manuals — explanation appears alongside the source, it does not replace it
- Works on Kindle Cloud Reader, WeRead, Notion, Google Docs, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Substack, Gmail, Yuque, Feishu and more
- Document reading for PDF, DOCX, EPUB, screenshots and pasted text
- Click any paragraph to continue from that position; adjustable playback speed and voice
Reading languages: CastReader reads aloud in 9 languages — English, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian and Hindi. Content language is detected automatically. Read & Explain works across a wider set of languages, since it explains rather than narrates.
Free and Pro: CastReader is free to start with daily allowances — currently 20 minutes of read-aloud and 3 AI Explains per day. CastReader Pro raises those limits and adds premium voices and faster playback. Current limits and prices: https://castreader.com/pricing
Available on: iPhone and iPad, Android, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Desktop browser reading uses the Chrome or Edge extension.
Boundaries: CastReader does not bypass DRM, paywalls, subscriptions, or publisher restrictions — it reads content you can already access. Not every website, file, language, or book will work. Read & Explain is a reading aid, not certified translation or professional advice. CastReader is independent and is not affiliated with Amazon or Kindle. Amazon and Kindle are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Comments and Reviews
I've tried Speechify, NaturalReader, and Read Aloud. They all fail on the same thing — Kindle Cloud Reader. The text is rendered with custom font glyphs so every other extension just returns blank.
CastReader actually reads it. I don't know how they did it but it works. Press the extension icon on read.amazon.com and it starts reading with paragraph highlighting. Same with WeRead which renders everything on Canvas.
For regular web pages it's also the cleanest extraction I've used. It strips out nav bars and ad blocks before reading. Other tools read "TRENDING NOW" and "SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER" before getting to the article. CastReader skips all that.
The free tier gives 30 minutes a month which is enough for casual use. Voice quality is good, not Speechify-premium level, but natural enough. Speed control works well at 1.5x.
Only downside: no mobile app. Chrome/Edge/Firefox/Safari only. If you mostly read on desktop this is the best option I've found.