Apple’s text-to-speech (TTS) system on iOS and macOS platforms has made great strides in accessibility and user convenience. The company provides a selection of voices, many of which come pre-installed, while higher quality options—labeled as “Enhanced” and “Premium” voices—can be downloaded from system Settings. But for some users, these voices just aren’t enough. Whether due to quality constraints or the desire for more variety, there is a growing demand for custom voices on iPhone and Mac devices.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into all available options for enhancing your device’s TTS capabilities. From installing premium voices to creating personal voices, we’ll also explore the possibilities of streaming cloud-based TTS voices, such as those available through **Speech Central**.
Limitations of Built-In iPhone and Mac TTS Voices
Apple regularly updates its TTS voice library, but the most recent update happened two years ago. While the pre-installed voices and premium options are still robust, they don’t always meet the latest industry standards, especially for offline use. Users seeking the highest audio quality often find that these default voices don’t quite measure up, particularly when compared to the modern, lifelike voices powered by AI that some other services offer.
Moreover, Apple’s range of voices has always been somewhat limited in terms of variety. And while you can find a selection of high-quality voices under Settings, this selection may not be enough for users seeking a more personalized or diverse TTS experience.
Expanding Your iPhone’s TTS with Third-Party Voice Providers
With the release of iOS 16, Apple introduced a new feature that allows offline voice providers to distribute their apps through the App Store. This marks a significant step toward greater customization for iPhone users who want to integrate more voices into their devices.
As of now, third-party TTS apps from companies like **CereProc** and **eSpeak NG** are available, offering additional voices that can be used across the iOS ecosystem, including apps and accessibility tools. Despite these new options, many users are still looking for voices from well-known providers such as **IVONA**, **Acapella**, and **Neospeech**. Unfortunately, it seems these voices are no longer in active development, limiting their availability.
For Mac users, this capability has existed for a while, as macOS is less restricted in terms of voice installations. However, even on macOS, most available voices come from the same pool of developers, limiting the diversity of options for users seeking custom voices.
Custom TTS Voices with Apple’s Personal Voice Feature (iOS 17 and Beyond)
One of the most exciting updates from Apple is the **Personal Voice** feature, introduced with iOS 17. This allows users to create a completely custom voice based on large samples of recorded speech. This can be particularly helpful for users who want to hear their own voice or the voice of a loved one when using TTS functionality on their devices.
To create a Personal Voice, users are prompted to record a series of predefined phrases, which the system then uses to generate a TTS voice. Once the voice is created, it can be exported for use on other devices. While this opens up the door for more diverse and customized voices, there are some limitations. The quality of these voices is comparable to Apple’s standard TTS voices, not its higher-quality Enhanced or Premium voices.
In addition, Personal Voices are designed to function primarily in the foreground, meaning they cannot be used in the background. Apple cites potential security risks as the reason for this limitation, which may be a drawback for users who need background TTS functionality.
Unlocking the Power of Cloud-Based TTS Voices for iPhone and Mac
If you’re after the highest-quality custom voices for iPhone or Mac, cloud-based voice streaming is an option worth exploring. Cloud voices offer unparalleled realism and quality, as they leverage the latest advancements in machine learning and AI to generate speech that sounds highly natural.
However, there’s a catch. Most TTS apps on the App Store offer only a single provider’s voices and often resell these voices at higher prices. This is where **Speech Central** stands out. Instead of relying on a single provider, Speech Central supports multiple TTS providers, including **Microsoft** and **OpenAI**, with plans to add more. This allows users to buy directly from the providers, often at more competitive rates and with free-tier options.
Why Speech Central Is the Best Solution for Custom TTS Voices
Speech Central goes beyond just offering a wide range of cloud-based voices. It adds an additional layer of realism by analyzing text in real-time and sending non-uniform commands to the voices. This ensures that speech sounds more natural and expressive, creating a smoother and more lifelike TTS experience.
Whether you’re looking to enhance accessibility, improve productivity, or just want a more engaging experience when using TTS, Speech Central provides the perfect platform. By supporting multiple providers and offering high-quality voices at affordable prices, it ensures users get the best possible voice experience on both iPhone and Mac.
Where to Get Speech Central
You can try out Speech Central and explore all the custom voice options it offers by downloading the app on the App Store:
By taking advantage of Speech Central’s advanced TTS capabilities and the expanding list of providers, you’ll enjoy a richer, more customizable TTS experience on your iPhone or Mac.
Conclusion: Custom TTS Voices Are the Future
Apple has made significant strides in improving the TTS functionality on iOS and macOS. But with third-party providers, Personal Voice, and cloud-based options, the future of TTS is all about customization. Whether you’re looking for the perfect TTS voice for accessibility, entertainment, or professional use, there are more options than ever before. And with apps like Speech Central leading the charge in multi-provider support, you’re no longer limited to Apple’s default voice offerings.
So, if you’re searching for the best custom TTS voices for iPhone or Mac, now is the time to explore these new options and unlock the full potential of text-to-speech technology.