SpeechBeeGuide
Read aloud in Chrome on a Mac
You may not need an extension to have Chrome read to you. Chrome's reading mode can read a page out loud, and macOS can read any text you select. Extensions are worth adding when you want more voices or PDFs. Here is each option and how to set it up.
By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Checked on 12 October 2026
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Chrome's reading mode
Chrome on a computer has a reading mode that strips a page down to its text, and it can read that text out loud with a voice and speed you choose.
- Open the page in Chrome.
- Press Command-Option-R, or right-click the page and choose Open in reading mode. You can also find it under More, More tools, Reading mode.
- Use the play control to listen. Choose a voice and change the speed in reading mode's settings.
You can pin reading mode to the toolbar and view it in the side panel. Google notes it isn't available on every website. If Command-Option-R opens it by mistake, another app may be using the same shortcut.
macOS Speak selection in Chrome
macOS can read selected text in any app, Chrome included.
- Open System Settings, Accessibility, Read & Speak, and turn on Speak selection.
- Select text on the page.
- Press Option-Esc. Press it again to stop.
You can change the voice, highlight words as they are read, and show a controller for speed and skipping. See how to make your Mac read text aloud.
Read-aloud extensions for Chrome
| Extension | What it adds | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Read Aloud | Reads the current article with one click, 40+ languages, reads PDFs and Google Docs | Free with browser voices; cloud AI voices may need a purchase or your own API key |
 NaturalReader | Reads web pages and documents, AI voices | Free plan, paid from $79/yr |
 Speechify | Reads pages and documents, 1,000+ voices on Premium | Free plan, Premium about $139/yr |
Extensions are the better choice if you want natural voices for long articles or need to read PDFs and Google Docs in the browser. Keep in mind that extensions using cloud voices send the text to be spoken to a voice service. Check each one's privacy policy.
Outside the browser too
Chrome's tools work in Chrome. If you also want to hear text in Mail, Word, Slack or a PDF app, use something that works in every app. Speak selection is free. SpeechBee, which we make, reads selected text in any Mac app with a natural voice that runs on your Mac, so the text is never sent anywhere and it works offline. It reads up to 5,000 characters per selection, which suits articles read in parts, and it also does dictation.
Hi Maya, I'll send the revised proposal tomorrow morning.
Most people read faster than they speak. SpeechBee reads the sentence you selected out loud, while you keep working.
Hear text in any Mac app, privately. Free for 7 days.
Voice to text and Read Aloud on your Mac, iPhone and iPad. After the week, $9 a month, $79 a year, or $99 once. Every plan has every feature.
Questions
Does Chrome have a built-in read aloud?
Yes. On a computer, Chrome's reading mode can read the page aloud. Open it with Command-Option-R on a Mac, then press play.
What is the shortcut for reading mode in Chrome on a Mac?
Command-Option-R.
What is the best read aloud extension for Chrome?
It depends on what you want. Read Aloud is free with browser voices and reads PDFs and Google Docs. NaturalReader and Speechify offer more natural voices on paid plans.
Can Chrome read a PDF aloud on a Mac?
With an extension such as Read Aloud, yes. Or select the PDF's text and press Option-Esc with Speak selection turned on.
How do I make Chrome read selected text?
Turn on Speak selection in macOS, select the text in Chrome and press Option-Esc.
Keep reading
- How to make your Mac read text aloud
- How to read a PDF aloud on a Mac
- Speechify alternatives for Mac
- NaturalReader pricing
Sources
All checked on 12 October 2026.