These Apps are designed to read any notification you receive on your phone. This could include text messages, social media notifications, emails, phone calls, and more.

These apps offer additional features to the built-in screen reader functions available on your mobile device. Some of these apps will also read out the full message and allow you to dictate a response. 

Access Needs:

• Cognitive
• Vision
• Physical

1.     Built-in Voice Notifications for Apple Devices

Apple iOS has a built-in feature that will speak your notifications as they come in. For iOS versions before iOS 13 this can be enabled through the VoiceOver feature. You can also adjust the style, speed, and volume of the VoiceOver as well as enable many other accessibility features.

To enable: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Turn on VoiceOver and Turn on Always Speak Notifications

For iOS 13 users, there is the additional feature of having Siri, the Apple personal assistant, to automatically read your messages aloud as they come in. This feature also allows you to transcribe and reply a message without having to directly touch the device.

To enable: Go to Settings > Notifications > Announce Messages with Siri > and Turn on Announce Messages with Siri. This feature requires you to be using second generation AirPods

2.     Built-in voice Notifications for Android phones

For Android phones you can activate the Talkback option after downloading the Accessibility Suite from the play store. Talkback will read out loud notifications as they arrive along with everything on your screen (not just notifications). However, this changes the way you interact with your phone, which might be a drawback if you are looking for app to only read out loud notifications.

Another alternative is to ask your Google Assistant to read new notifications to you.

3.      Voice Notifications Apps for Android Phones:

For Android users, there are many options for apps that will read out your notifications for you. Below is a selection of six as an example.

a.   Shouter - Notification Reader

This app reads notifications, caller names, missed call announcements, and text messages out loud without you having to be on your mobile device. You can select which apps you would like the receive the notifications for, whether you would like to hear the name or contents, allocate ‘silent hours’ with no notifications, and read text messages out loud.

Compatibility: Requires Android 4.3 and up

Prices: Free

You can download this device from the Google Play Store.

b.  Speaki – Voice Notifications

Speaki allows you to select which apps you receive out loud notifications for, whether both the title and content is read or just the title, hear the Caller ID of an incoming call, and stop Speaki from reading by shaking your device or double pressing the power key.

Compatibility: Requires Android 4.4 and up

Prices: Free

You can download this device from the Google Play Store.

c.  Caller Name Announcer

Caller Name Announcer speaks the name of caller and speaks the incoming SMS with name and contents. It is highly customisable, allowing you to also set the speech volume, sound pitch, and reading speed to meet your needs. 

Compatibility: Requires Android 4.1 and up.

Prices: Free

You can download this device from the Google Play Store.

d.   WD Spoken notifications

Spoken notifications let you listen to your email, WhatsApp, messages and be notified of who is calling, even when your phone is locked. Voice Commands lets you control your device, make calls, and send text messages.

Compatibility: Requires Android 5 and up.

Prices: Free

You can download this device from the Google Play Store.

APP918 - Voiced Notifications Apps - Version 2