---
title: "ElevenReader vs SpeechBee (2026): audiobooks and AI voices, or your own text read on your Mac?"
description: "ElevenReader reads documents and audiobooks with ElevenLabs voices, free for 10 hours a month and $11 a month for Ultra. SpeechBee reads selected text in any Mac app with local voices and also dictates, at $79 a year or $99 once."
url: "https://speechbee.app/compare/elevenreader-vs-speechbee"
---

# ElevenReader vs SpeechBee

SpeechBee is our own app. ElevenReader is a listening app: import documents or pick an audiobook, and ElevenLabs voices read it. SpeechBee reads the text you select in any Mac app, with voices that run on your Mac, and also turns your speech into text.

By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Prices checked on 13 October 2026.

> ### The short answer
>
> - **Pick ElevenReader** if you want audiobooks, imported documents and a huge choice of voices, on the web, iPhone or Android, and a generous free plan.
> - **Pick SpeechBee** if you want to hear your own text in Mail, Word or a browser without importing it, keep that text on your Mac, and dictate as well.

## Side by side

| | ElevenReader | SpeechBee |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free 10 hours a month; Ultra $11/mo or $8.25/mo billed yearly (about $99) | $9/mo, $79/yr, or $99 once |
| What it reads | Imported documents, web pages, audiobooks | Text you select in any Mac app; pasted text on iPhone and iPad |
| Where the voice is generated | ElevenLabs' service; offline downloads on Ultra | On your device |
| On a Mac | Web app and Chrome extension | Native Mac app |
| Phones | iPhone, Android | iPhone, iPad |
| Audiobooks | Free titles; 20 hours a month of premium audiobooks on Ultra | No |
| Dictation | No | Yes, into any app |

**What it costs over time** Over three years, ElevenReader Ultra costs $297 on yearly billing. SpeechBee costs $99 once and dictates too.

| App | 1 year | 2 years | 3 years |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ElevenReader | $99 (Yearly) | $198 (Yearly) | $297 (Yearly) |
| SpeechBee | $79 (Yearly) | $99 (One-time) | $99 (One-time) |

Cheapest published way to keep each app: monthly, yearly or a one-time license. US dollars before tax, prices checked on 13 October 2026.

## Library or selection

ElevenReader works like a library. You add documents or open a book, and it reads them with more than 1,000 voices at up to 4x. Ultra adds unlimited listening to your imports, premium audiobooks, offline downloads and custom voices.

SpeechBee works where your text already is. Select a paragraph in any Mac app, press your reading key, and a natural voice reads it, with a small player to pause, skip and change speed. On the Mac it reads up to 200,000 characters at a time. There is no library and nothing to import.

## Privacy

ElevenReader generates speech on ElevenLabs' service, so the text you listen to is sent there. SpeechBee generates the voice on your Mac; the text you select is never uploaded or saved, and reading works offline.

## Price

ElevenReader's free plan gives 10 hours of audio a month. Ultra is $11 a month or $8.25 a month billed yearly, about $99 a year, with a 3-day trial. SpeechBee is $9 a month, $79 a year or $99 once, and includes dictation.

[Compare any apps in the interactive tool](https://speechbee.app/compare/tool)

## Questions

### Does ElevenReader work on a Mac?

On the web and through its Chrome extension. There is no native Mac app listed.

### Can SpeechBee read audiobooks?

No. It reads text you select or paste. For audiobooks, ElevenReader is the better choice.

### Which keeps my text private?

SpeechBee, because its voices run on your device. ElevenReader generates audio on its service.

## Keep comparing

- [ElevenReader vs Speechify](https://speechbee.app/compare/elevenreader-vs-speechify)
- [The best text to speech apps for Mac](https://speechbee.app/compare/best-text-to-speech-app-mac)
- [How to make your Mac read text aloud](https://speechbee.app/guides/text-to-speech-on-mac)

## More on reading aloud

- [Every read-aloud guide and comparison](https://speechbee.app/guides/read-text-aloud)
- [NaturalReader pricing](https://speechbee.app/compare/naturalreader-pricing)
- [NaturalReader vs SpeechBee](https://speechbee.app/compare/naturalreader-vs-speechbee)
- [Speechify alternatives](https://speechbee.app/compare/speechify-alternatives)
- [Speechify pricing](https://speechbee.app/compare/speechify-pricing)
- [Speechify review](https://speechbee.app/compare/speechify-review)
- [Every dictation guide and comparison](https://speechbee.app/guides/voice-typing-mac)

## Sources

Checked on 13 October 2026.

- [ElevenReader pricing](https://elevenreader.io/pricing) and [ElevenReader](https://elevenreader.io/)
- SpeechBee facts from our [homepage](https://speechbee.app/) and [privacy policy](https://speechbee.app/privacy)