Xarra!
Turn articles, books, and documents into audio you can follow.
iOS
iPadOS
macOS
visionOS
Import an article, PDF, DAISY book, document, or your own text, and Xarra turns it into natural-sounding audio with synchronized highlighting. Read along line by line, listen hands-free, or move between the two. Bring content in from Safari, Files, the clipboard, a URL, or Project Gutenberg. Downloaded content remains available offline, while your library and listening progress can sync through your private iCloud.
Xarra (pronounced "CHA-rra") comes from a Valencian/Catalan word meaning "to chat" or "to talk".
Featured in
"The app developed by Daniel is well integrated into the system. (...) Accessibility runs through the whole experience rather than sitting on top of it."
- Create with Swift Weekly Newsletter #101 (Indie App of the Week)Features
Follow along and stay oriented
Synchronized highlighting
As Xarra reads, the current line is highlighted. Optional word highlighting can use a background or underline, so you can choose the style that is easiest to follow.
Chapters and navigation
Detected headings become chapters you can jump between, making longer articles, DAISY books, and documents easier to explore.
Resume anytime
Xarra saves your listening position automatically and can sync it through your private iCloud. Control playback from the Lock Screen or Control Center and continue when it suits you.
At home across Apple devices
Tailored to each Apple device
Xarra is tailored for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro: resizable iPad windows, Mac tabs and drag-and-drop, and Focus Mode on Vision Pro. Your library and progress can sync through iCloud.
Quick system integration
Share pages and documents from Safari, Notes, and other apps; import from Files; paste from the clipboard; type text; or add a URL. Once imported, Now Playing keeps playback close on the Lock Screen and in Control Center.
Smarter listening with Apple Intelligence
On supported devices, Apple Intelligence can summarize content, suggest tags and categories, and turn code blocks into natural, audio-friendly explanations. Imports and listening continue to work when those models are unavailable.
Accessibility, front and center
Designed to work beautifully with assistive technologies
Xarra works thoughtfully with VoiceOver, Voice Control, Switch Control, and Full Keyboard Access. Navigation, playback, and reading remain usable across different interaction methods.
Adaptive by default
Xarra respects Dynamic Type and Larger Text, Bold Text, Increase Contrast, Differentiate Without Color, Reduce Motion, and Light or Dark appearance. Choose System, OpenDyslexic, Atkinson Hyperlegible, or Lexend as your reading font.
Accessibility, made explicit
Accessibility shapes importing, reading, and listening rather than appearing as a separate mode. When an article supplies image alt text or captions, Xarra preserves that information in the readable and spoken content.
Listening, your way
Text, links, and documents
Add articles and PDFs, import DAISY books, browse Project Gutenberg, share from another app, paste text, or enter a URL. Xarra extracts the readable content and prepares it for listening.
Voices and languages
Xarra detects the document language and lets you choose a preferred system voice for each language. It also guides you to Premium and Enhanced voices available through Apple settings.
Playback speed and preferences
Set the reading speed to match your pace, or ask Xarra to follow your device's assistive-technology voice and speech-rate settings.
Why Xarra!?
Xarra is built to be helpful, respectful, and easy to trust. Downloaded content works offline, and your documents and listening progress can sync through your private iCloud when enabled. There are no ads, analytics, trackers, or separate Xarra account to create. The app stays focused on helping you engage with text in the way that works best for you.
Support & Contact
Having trouble getting the most out of Xarra? We’re here to help you turn your text into the perfect audio experience!
