Read Aloud — Dyslexia Font, Bionic Reading & Reading Ruler for ADHD
Last updated: September 3, 2026
Read Aloud ("the Extension") is an open-source browser extension that reads web pages aloud and makes them easier to read. Everything in the free tier — system voices, dyslexia-friendly fonts, bold-first-half text, the reading ruler — runs entirely on your own device. The Extension never reads pages in the background: it only acts on text you select or on sites where you have turned it on.
There is no account unless you choose to sign in with Google for premium voices and settings sync. We do no cross-site tracking and show no ads. We collect anonymous, aggregate usage statistics to understand which features are used — and you can turn that off in the Extension's options at any time.
To understand how the Extension is used and where to focus improvements, we collect a small amount of anonymous, aggregate usage data through PostHog, a product analytics service. These events contain no personal data and are not linked to any real-world identity or to your Google account.
We explicitly do not send page addresses, page titles, page text, selected text, or your email address in any analytics event. No cookies are set and no session recordings are made. PostHog receives your IP address as a normal part of any internet request; we use it only for coarse country-level aggregation and do not store it against your events as an identifier.
Open the Extension's Options page and turn off "Send anonymous usage statistics." Once disabled, no further events are sent.
Premium voices and cross-device settings sync require you to sign in with Google. Sign-in is entirely optional and is triggered only when you click "Sign in". It uses your browser's standard OAuth flow with the scopes for your email address and basic profile (name and picture) only.
When you pick a premium voice and start reading, the Extension sends the text you asked to hear to our server, which forwards it to ElevenLabs to generate the audio and streams the audio back. We do not store the text; we record only the number of characters synthesized per account to enforce a fair-use quota. ElevenLabs processes the text under its own privacy policy. System (Web Speech) voices never contact our server.
While signed in, your voice, layout and shortcut preferences are stored on our server so they follow you to other devices where you sign in. Per-device data — the list of sites with auto-run on, the on/off switch, the analytics preference — stays on the device.
Your preferences (voice, speed, font, spacing, tint, focus mode, per-site auto-run list, the on/off switch, the analytics preference) are stored using the browser's extension storage on your device. They are removed when you uninstall the Extension or clear its data.
Anonymous analytics events are retained by our analytics provider for as long as needed for product analysis. Because they contain no personal identifiers, they cannot be tied back to you for individual deletion. Account data (email, Google identifier, synced settings, usage counters) is kept while your account exists. To delete it, email us from the address you signed in with and we will remove it within 30 days. Locally stored data lives on your device and is removed when you uninstall the Extension.
The Extension is a general-purpose reading aid and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
You can disable analytics in the options, sign out to stop any server-side processing, request deletion of your account data by email, and uninstall the Extension at any time. Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, you also have the rights to access, correct, port and restrict processing of your personal data, and to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. Contact us using the details below.
Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, we rely on: our legitimate interest in understanding and improving the Extension (for the anonymous, aggregate usage statistics described in Section 3, which you can switch off at any time); the performance of a contract with you (to provide premium voices and settings sync after you sign in); and your consent where required. You may withdraw consent or object to processing based on legitimate interest at any time, including by disabling analytics, signing out or uninstalling the Extension.
Our server, our analytics provider (PostHog) and our voice provider (ElevenLabs) process data on servers located in the United States or other countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your jurisdiction. Where such transfers involve personal data, we and our providers rely on appropriate safeguards (such as standard contractual clauses) as required by applicable law.
The Extension relies on a small number of third-party services described above — PostHog (anonymous analytics), Google (optional sign-in), ElevenLabs (premium voices) and Railway (server hosting). These services are operated by independent companies under their own privacy policies and terms, over which we have no control and for which we are not responsible. We are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, any website on which you use the Extension.
The Extension is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, and non-infringement. The Extension is a reading aid, not a medical device, and does not diagnose or treat any condition.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event will the developer be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of data, profits, or goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your use of (or inability to use) the Extension. Nothing in this Policy excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.
We may update this Privacy Policy as the Extension evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Extension after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
For privacy-related questions or requests, email us at [email protected].