VoiceX
Text to speech reader for WordPress — no API key
An accessible Listen button that reads your posts aloud with your visitors' own browser voices. No API key, account or speech service.
- Free on WordPress.org
What is VoiceX?
VoiceX adds a text to speech player to your WordPress posts and pages. When a visitor presses Listen, their browser reads the article aloud with the speech voices already built into their device, using the Web Speech API. There is no account to create, no API key and no per-character pricing: speech runs in the visitor's browser and the player sends nothing to a speech service. The player appears on single posts as soon as the plugin is active, reads only the article — skipping navigation, forms, scripts and hidden elements — and reads long articles one sentence at a time so browsers don't stop part-way through. Place it automatically before or after the content, or exactly where you want it with a block or the [wpxero_text_to_speech] shortcode. VoiceX Pro adds read-along highlighting, a Listen to selection button, more layouts and styling, a floating mini player, content rules and WooCommerce product pages.
VoiceX Features
Everything VoiceX can do — Pro additions are marked
Works Out of the Box
The Listen player appears on single posts as soon as the plugin is active. Play, pause, resume and stop, with an optional voice and speed choice for visitors.
No Speech Service or API Key
Speech runs in the visitor's browser with the voices built into their device. Nothing is sent to a speech provider, and there is nothing to sign up for or pay per character.
Accessible Controls
Real buttons with visible focus, keyboard support, status announcements for screen readers and 44 px touch targets.
Reads Only the Article
Scripts, navigation, forms, hidden elements and the player itself are skipped, and the title can be read first. Long articles are read one sentence at a time so browsers don't stop part-way through.
Automatic, Block or Shortcode
Insert the player before or after the content of posts, pages and other public content types, with a per-post opt-out — or place the Text to Speech Player block or [wpxero_text_to_speech] shortcode exactly where you want it.
Voice & Playback Settings
Set the reading language, preferred voice, default speed and pitch. If the preferred voice is missing on a device, the player picks another voice for the same language, then the device default.
Two Layouts
Standard, with the controls in a panel, or Button only — a single Listen button.
Live Preview Settings Screen
A setup checklist and a live preview that uses your unsaved changes and the voices in your browser.
Lightweight
One small script and stylesheet, loaded only on pages that show a player. React is used only in the admin screen.
Respects Visitors
No tracking and no external requests. A visitor's voice and speed choice is remembered only in their own browser.
Read-Along Highlighting (Pro)
The sentence being read is highlighted, and the current word when the voice reports word positions. A Listen to selection button reads any text a visitor selects.
VoiceX Pro
Expanded, Compact and Minimal layouts with custom colours and labels, a floating mini player, placement after paragraph N and rules by category, tag or word count, per-post overrides, WooCommerce product pages and settings import/export.
Why WordPress Users Choose VoiceX
What sets VoiceX apart from other WordPress plugins
No Usage Costs
Browser voices mean no API key, no account and no per-character pricing — long articles cost the same as short ones.
Built for Keyboard & Screen Readers
Visible focus, keyboard support and status announcements. In browsers without speech support the player says so instead of showing buttons that do nothing.
Loads Only Where It Plays
The player's script and stylesheet load only on pages that show a player.
Complete Without Pro
Automatic and manual placement, two layouts, voice and speed settings and accessible controls are all in the free plugin.
Who VoiceX Is For
The sites and teams VoiceX is built for
Bloggers
Give readers who prefer to listen a Listen button on every post.
News & Magazine Sites
Long articles read aloud one sentence at a time, without a paid speech service.
Documentation & Knowledge Bases
Let visitors listen to guides and help articles in the language you set.
WooCommerce Stores
With VoiceX Pro, the player also appears on single product pages.
Works With the Tools You Already Use
Editors, themes and plugins VoiceX is built to work with
How to Install VoiceX
From the WordPress dashboard to your first a text to speech Listen button in a few minutes
In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New and search for “VoiceX”, or upload the plugin ZIP there, then install and activate it.
Open a single post: the Listen player is already shown before the content.
Go to VoiceX in the admin menu to choose content types, placement, layout, voice and speed. The Overview screen has a live preview.
To place the player by hand, add the Text to Speech Player block or the [wpxero_text_to_speech] shortcode where it should appear.
VoiceX at a Glance
Version and requirement details come straight from WordPress.org
- Price
- Free · Pro from $19.99/year
- Download
- WordPress.org plugin directory
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about VoiceX
No. VoiceX uses the speech voices built into each visitor's browser and device. There is nothing to sign up for and no usage cost.
Install and activate VoiceX — the Listen player appears before the content of single posts straight away. Under VoiceX → General you can add it to pages and other public content types, or move it after the content.
Use the Text to Speech Player block, or the [wpxero_text_to_speech] shortcode. A post that contains the block or shortcode does not also get the automatic player.
In the block editor, open the VoiceX panel in the post sidebar and turn off Show the automatic player.
The preferred voice set under Voice and playback if their device has it; otherwise a voice for the reading language, then the device default. Voices and quality depend on the visitor's operating system and browser.
Yes, if you allow it under Player → Visitor controls. Their choice is remembered in their own browser only.
Any language for which the visitor's device has a voice. The reading language defaults to your site language; you can change it under Voice and playback, or per player with the shortcode's lang attribute.
The player stays hidden until its script runs, so there are no buttons that do nothing. In browsers without speech support the player says so.
No. The player makes no external requests and stores no visitor data on your server. A visitor's voice and speed choice is kept in their browser's local storage.
No plugin can do that on its own. VoiceX helps visitors who prefer to listen, but it does not by itself make a site conform to WCAG or any other accessibility standard.
VoiceX is complete on its own: automatic and manual placement, two layouts, voice and speed settings and accessible controls. VoiceX Pro is an optional add-on that adds read-along highlighting, selection reading, more layouts and styling, a floating mini player, content rules, per-post overrides, WooCommerce product pages and settings import/export. It requires VoiceX to be installed and active.
Ready to Get Started with VoiceX?
Install VoiceX free from WordPress.org, and upgrade to Pro when you need more.