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The ElevenLabs Reader Chrome extension turns any article, PDF, or newsletter in your browser into natural-sounding audio with 1,000+ voices across 90+ languages. It is free with 10 hours of monthly listening, and the Ultra plan ($11/mo) adds unlimited voice design and longer sessions. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
Students get extra listening time through ElevenLabs for students, and the extension reads pages aloud in any of the 29 languages in our Multilingual V2 guide; developers can also pipe text through the streaming guide for live audio.
QUICK VERDICT
Best for: anyone who prefers listening to reading — commuters, students, and professionals who consume long articles and PDFs.
Not for: Firefox or Safari users — this is a Chrome-only extension, and offline listening needs the mobile app.
Starting price: Free $0 with 10 hours/mo (checked 5 Nov 2026); Ultra $11/mo or $8.25/mo billed annually (checked 5 Nov 2026).
What is the ElevenLabs Reader Chrome extension?
The ElevenLabs Reader Chrome extension is a browser add-on that reads web content aloud using ElevenLabs’ AI voices. Click the extension icon on any article, blog post, PDF, or newsletter, and it converts the page text into audio you can listen to while you work, commute, or exercise. It is the browser companion to the ElevenReader mobile app.
The extension uses the same voice library as the main ElevenLabs platform: 1,000+ voices across 90+ languages. You can pick a narrator voice, adjust playback speed, and follow along with highlighted text as it reads. For PDFs and long documents, it extracts the text and reads it in order, skipping navigation menus and ads.
ElevenReader itself is a separate product from the main ElevenLabs subscription. It has its own pricing: a Free tier with 10 hours of monthly listening, and an Ultra tier at $11/mo (or $8.25/mo billed annually) with expanded limits. Our ElevenLabs Reader guide covers the mobile app and full feature set.
How to install the extension in 5 steps
Step 1: Open the Chrome Web Store. In Chrome, go to the Chrome Web Store and search for “ElevenLabs Reader” or “ElevenReader.” Look for the official listing from ElevenLabs. Cost: 0 credits — the extension is free to install.
Step 2: Click “Add to Chrome.” On the extension listing, click the “Add to Chrome” button, then confirm by clicking “Add extension” in the popup. The ElevenReader icon appears in your Chrome toolbar. Cost: 0 credits.
Step 3: Sign in to your ElevenLabs account. Click the extension icon and sign in with your ElevenLabs credentials. If you do not have an account, create a free one — the Free tier includes 10 hours of monthly listening. Cost: 0 credits to sign in.
Step 4: Open any article or PDF. Navigate to a web article, blog post, newsletter, or PDF in Chrome. The extension works on most text-heavy pages; it automatically detects the main content and ignores menus, sidebars, and ads. Cost: 0 credits to open pages.
Step 5: Click play and choose your voice. Click the ElevenReader icon, pick from 1,000+ voices, set your playback speed, and press play. The extension reads the page aloud with text highlighting. Your listening time counts against the 10-hour monthly Free limit or your Ultra plan. Cost: listening time billed against your ElevenReader plan, not your main ElevenLabs credits (checked 5 Nov 2026).
Extension vs mobile app: what is different
The Chrome extension and the ElevenReader mobile app share the same account, voices, and listening limits, but they serve different moments. The extension is for content you discover while browsing — click and listen without leaving Chrome. The mobile app is for content you save for later, with offline downloads for commutes and flights.
| Chrome extension | Mobile app | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Reading articles while browsing | Listening on the go, offline |
| Content source | Current browser tab | Saved articles, PDFs, ebooks |
| Offline mode | No (needs internet) | Yes (downloads) |
| Voices | 1,000+ (same library) | 1,000+ (same library) |
| Listening limit | Shared 10 hrs/mo Free | Shared 10 hrs/mo Free |
| Platform | Chrome only | iOS and Android |
Your 10-hour Free monthly limit is shared across the extension and the app — listening in Chrome counts the same as listening on your phone. Ultra subscribers get expanded limits on both.
Pricing: Free vs Ultra
ElevenReader pricing is separate from the main ElevenLabs text-to-speech plans. The extension itself is free to install; what you pay for is listening time.
| Plan | Price (checked 5 Nov 2026) | Listening | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10 hours/mo | 1,000+ voices, 90+ languages, Chrome extension + mobile app |
| Ultra | $11/mo or $8.25/mo billed annually | Expanded (see official page) | Everything in Free, plus unlimited voice design, longer sessions |
The Free tier’s 10 hours per month covers roughly 20–30 long articles, enough for casual listeners. Heavy users — students working through papers, professionals consuming reports — will hit the cap and should consider Ultra. Note that ElevenReader plans do not draw from your main ElevenLabs API credits; they are a separate product with separate billing.
Real-world use cases
Students use the extension to listen to research papers and long Wikipedia articles while taking notes, effectively doubling their study throughput. Professionals listen to industry newsletters and reports during commutes. Language learners listen to articles in their target language to train their ear, switching voices to hear different accents.
Accessibility is another major use: readers with dyslexia, visual impairments, or attention difficulties use the extension to consume web content by ear. The text highlighting that follows the narration helps readers track along visually at the same time.
Pros
- Free to install with 10 hours of monthly listening on the Free tier.
- 1,000+ natural voices across 90+ languages — far beyond browser built-in TTS.
- Works on articles, PDFs, newsletters, and blog posts with smart content extraction.
- Text highlighting follows the narration for read-along.
- Adjustable playback speed for skimming or careful study.
Cons
- Chrome-only — no Firefox, Safari, or Edge extension.
- No offline mode in the extension; the mobile app is required for downloads.
- 10-hour Free monthly cap is shared with the mobile app.
- Content extraction can miss complex page layouts or paywalled articles.
- Separate billing from main ElevenLabs plans — credits do not transfer.
Who should NOT use it
Skip the Chrome extension if you do not use Chrome — there is no Firefox or Safari version. Skip it if you need offline listening; get the mobile app instead. Skip it if you only listen occasionally and the built-in browser read-aloud is enough. And if you need API access or voice generation (not just listening), you want the main ElevenLabs platform, not Reader.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ElevenLabs Reader Chrome extension?
It is a free Chrome add-on that reads web articles, PDFs, and newsletters aloud using ElevenLabs’ AI voices. You get 1,000+ voices across 90+ languages, playback speed control, and text highlighting. The Free tier includes 10 hours of monthly listening. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
How do I install the ElevenLabs Reader Chrome extension?
Open the Chrome Web Store, search for “ElevenLabs Reader,” click “Add to Chrome,” and confirm. Then click the extension icon and sign in with your ElevenLabs account. The whole process takes under two minutes and the extension is free to install.
Is the Chrome extension free?
Yes, the extension is free to install and the Free tier includes 10 hours of listening per month (checked 5 Nov 2026). The Ultra plan at $11/mo (or $8.25/mo billed annually) adds expanded limits and features. Listening time is billed against your ElevenReader plan, not main ElevenLabs credits.
Does it work on PDFs?
Yes. The extension extracts text from PDFs opened in Chrome and reads them in order. It handles long documents, though very complex layouts with tables and figures may not extract perfectly. For the best PDF experience, the mobile app offers additional document management.
Is there a Firefox or Safari version?
No. The Reader extension is Chrome-only as of 5 Nov 2026. Firefox and Safari users can use the ElevenReader mobile app (iOS/Android) for listening, or the main ElevenLabs web platform for text-to-speech generation.
How is this different from the ElevenReader mobile app?
The Chrome extension reads the current browser tab — ideal for articles you discover while browsing. The mobile app is for saved content and offline listening with downloads. They share your account, voices, and the 10-hour Free monthly limit.
Sources checked
- ElevenReader official site — https://elevenreader.io/ (checked 5 Nov 2026)
- ElevenReader Chrome extension listing — Chrome Web Store (checked 5 Nov 2026)
- ElevenLabs pricing — https://elevenlabs.io/pricing (checked 5 Nov 2026)
Last updated 5 Nov 2026. Prices checked on the official ElevenReader and pricing pages on that date; confirm at checkout. The extension receives regular updates adding new voices and improving content extraction for complex page layouts. If the extension fails to extract text from a specific website, try opening the article in Reader mode first, or save it to your ElevenReader mobile app library where extraction may work better. For schools, universities, or teams deploying Reader at scale, the official ElevenReader site lists education pricing and volume options — these are separate from standard consumer plans and may offer additional listening hours. Checked 5 Nov 2026.