CorviRead aloud on a Mac: listen instead of reading
Last updated: 2026-10-29
A Mac can read text aloud in two ways: word for word, with the built-in Spoken Content or a read-aloud app, or as a spoken summary. With Corvi you tap the Fn key in any app and hear the gist of the article, e-mail, chat or video in a few sentences, in your own language. Double-tap to ask a follow-up question.
Why listen instead of read
Reading a screen is slow work for your eyes and your attention. An adult reads non-fiction silently at about 238 words per minute on average (Brysbaert, 2019), so a 3,000-word report takes more than twelve minutes before you've decided whether it matters. Listening frees your eyes: you can look away from the screen, stand up, or keep working in another window while you hear what a text is about.
There are two kinds of listening, and they solve different problems:
| Word-for-word reading | Spoken summary | |
|---|---|---|
| What you hear | Every word of the text | The gist in a few sentences |
| Good for | Books, articles you want to read fully, proofreading | Deciding fast, long threads, reports, videos |
| Time for a 3,000-word text | About as long as reading it | Under a minute of listening |
| On a Mac | Spoken Content, Speechify, ElevenReader | Corvi |
Option 1: the Mac's Spoken Content
macOS can read selected text aloud for free. Turn it on in System Settings › Accessibility › Spoken Content, choose a voice, then select text and press the shortcut. It reads every word, which is ideal for proofreading or for listening to something you want in full. It doesn't summarize, it doesn't answer questions, and long texts take as long to hear as to read.
Option 2: a read-aloud app
Apps like Speechify and ElevenReader read text and documents in natural voices, at adjustable speeds, across devices. Speechify's paid plan also has AI summaries and chat. Listening to a whole document this way takes about as long as reading it. See Speechify vs Corvi on the Mac.
Option 3: a spoken summary with Corvi
Corvi works the other way round: it tells you the gist first, and you ask for more only if you need it.
- Open anything: a web article, a Mail thread, a Slack channel, a PDF, a YouTube video.
- Tap Fn once. Within seconds Corvi says what matters in 3–5 sentences.
- Want more? Double-tap Fn, ask your question out loud ("What's the deadline?", "What do they want from me?"), and tap again. Each answer goes deeper; if the text doesn't contain the answer, Corvi searches the web and names the source.
Corvi decides what to read by itself: the text you selected, a YouTube video's transcript, the message or paragraph under your pointer, or the main content of the page. Menus, ads and sidebars are skipped.
It also works across languages: an English article can be summarized aloud in German, Turkish or any of 35 languages. More in listen in your own language.
Stop typing. Stop reading. Talk and listen.
Corvi is free during early access. Setup takes a minute; if you don't like it, drag it to the Trash.
Download free for MacWhere listening saves the most time
- E-mail threads: hear what's being asked of you and the deadline first. See listen to your e-mails.
- Long videos: a lecture or a conference talk, summarized from the speaker's words. See summarize YouTube videos.
- Reports and documentation: decide in a minute whether you need to read the whole thing.
- Chats you joined late: a 120-message Slack thread, in a few sentences.
Frequently asked questions
Can Corvi read a whole text word for word?
No. Corvi summarizes; it doesn't read everything aloud. For word-for-word reading, use the Mac's Spoken Content or a read-aloud app.
Does it work in PDFs?
Yes, in any app that shows text on screen, including PDF viewers. If an app hides its text, Corvi reads it from a screenshot.
Can I stop it while it's speaking?
Yes. Press Fn while Corvi is speaking and it stops.
Does Corvi watch my screen all the time?
No. It reads the screen only at the moment you press the key, and only that content.
What does it cost?
Corvi is free during early access, with every feature included.