How to Listen to Articles Online: 5 Methods (One Takes 60 Seconds)

You've got 15 browser tabs open. Three long articles you keep meaning to read. A PDF from this morning you haven't touched. And maybe 45 minutes of commute time that's going to waste.

There's an obvious solution here. Let us show you how to set it up — fast.

Why Listening to Articles Is Actually Better Than Reading Them

There's a reason podcasts blew up. Audio works during activities where reading doesn't. Commuting, cooking, exercising, walking, doing dishes — all of that dead time becomes productive if you're listening. Reading requires sitting down, focus, and nothing else competing for your hands and eyes.

Beyond multitasking, there's a retention angle too. Dual coding theory says your brain processes and retains information better when you receive it through multiple channels. If you read along while listening, you're encoding through visual and auditory pathways simultaneously. That's measurably better than reading alone.

And then there's eye fatigue. After hours of screen time, your eyes get tired. Your ears don't.

Method 1: Use ReadAloud (Easiest, Free)

This is the method we recommend for most people. No installation, no account, no friction.

That's it. Five steps, under two minutes total.

Method 2: Use a Chrome Extension

If you spend most of your time in Chrome and want a "read this page" button always available, a Chrome extension is the right move.

The best options: ReadAloud's Chrome extension, or Speechify's extension (which has a generous free tier via the extension even if the app is expensive). Both add a button to your browser toolbar that reads whatever page you're on.

How to set it up: Go to the Chrome Web Store, search "ReadAloud" or "text to speech," and click Add to Chrome. From then on, click the extension icon on any article and it starts reading. No copy-paste required.

The advantage over the web app: faster. You're already on the article. One click and it starts. No switching tabs, no pasting text.

Method 3: Use Your Phone's Built-in TTS

Both iOS and Android have built-in TTS that doesn't require any app install.

iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content. Enable "Speak Screen." Then on any page, swipe down with two fingers from the top — your device will read whatever's on screen. Also enable "Speak Selection" to read highlighted text.

Android: Go to Settings → Accessibility → Text-to-Speech Output. Make sure a TTS engine is enabled (most Androids have Google TTS preinstalled). Then use the share menu on articles to find "Read Aloud" options, or use an app like Google Play Books which has built-in TTS.

Voice quality on built-in TTS is decent but not as natural as ReadAloud or Speechify. It works fine for casual listening. For extended sessions, you'll notice the difference.

Method 4: Use a Dedicated Reading App

If you're a heavy reader who consumes articles constantly, a dedicated reading app might be worth it. Pocket, Instapaper, and Matter all let you save articles and have them read aloud.

Pocket Premium ($44.99/year) includes TTS. Instapaper is free and has basic TTS. Matter is free and has good TTS built in — possibly the best option in this category.

The advantage: you build a reading queue. Save articles as you encounter them. Listen when you have time. Your reading list becomes an audio library.

Method 5: For PDFs and Documents

If your "articles" are actually research papers, reports, or other documents in PDF format, the best approach is slightly different. See our full guide on how to convert PDF to audio.

The short version: ReadAloud handles PDFs directly — just upload the file and hit play. For longer documents, Adobe Acrobat also has built-in "Read Out Loud" functionality (Tools → Read Out Loud). The voice quality isn't great, but it's free and built in.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Listening to Articles

Queue articles when you find them, listen later. Don't try to listen to articles the moment you discover them. Save them — in a reading app, a folder, a browser bookmark — and batch your listening during commute or exercise time.

Speed up gradually. Start at 1x. After a few sessions, try 1.25x. After a week, try 1.5x. Most people can comfortably listen at 1.5x–2x once they're used to it, which doubles how much you can cover in a given time.

Use headphones in noisy environments. This sounds obvious, but listening to articles on speakers while commuting on public transit is frustrating. Headphones remove the background noise problem entirely.

Follow along when you can. For dense material — research papers, technical content — keep the text visible and read along while listening. The dual-input approach significantly improves retention for complex material.

Don't zone out. Audio is easier to zone out of than reading. If you catch yourself realizing you've been listening but not actually hearing, rewind. Some apps have "smart rewind" that backs up a few seconds when you resume — use that feature.

Which Method Should You Use?

FAQ

Can I listen to articles while driving?

Yes — connect your phone to your car via Bluetooth, start the audio through your phone's speaker or car speakers, and listen. Just set it up before you start driving.

What about paywalled articles?

If you can read it, you can listen to it. Copy the text that's visible, paste it into ReadAloud. If the article is fully paywalled (you can't read it), TTS can't help you access content you don't have access to.

Will listening instead of reading hurt my reading skills?

No. Reading and listening are separate skills. Using TTS doesn't cause your reading ability to atrophy. It just adds an additional way to consume content. Most TTS users continue reading in parallel — they just gain the ability to also consume content during times when reading isn't possible.