Compare GPT Reader and Recall: Which Extension is the Best?

Transform any text into natural-sounding speech with this free ChatGPT-powered text-to-speech tool. We've tested its capabilities on short articles and lengthy PDFs.
With Recall, you can capture, summarize, and organize articles, PDFs, and videos with AI, spaced repetition, browser extensions, and strong privacy controls.
Key Features
  • Text-to-Speech Conversion: Natural-sounding AI voices powered by ChatGPT
  • Document Support: Handles PDFs, Google Docs, and web content
  • Audio Download: Option to save generated audio for offline listening
  • Playback Controls: Adjustable speed, pause, and rewind functionality
  • Multi-format Support: Works with pasted text, documents, and website content
  • AI Summarization: Instantly summarizes articles, PDFs, YouTube videos, and more.
  • Personal Knowledge Base: Saves and organizes your summaries for easy retrieval.
  • Spaced Repetition & Active Recall: Helps you actually remember what you save, not just store it.
  • Augmented Browsing: Highlights related content as you browse, surfacing connections in your knowledge.
  • Browser Extensions: One-click saving and summarizing directly from Chrome or Firefox.
  • Editable Notebook: Add notes, highlights, and customize your saved content.
  • Tagging & Organization: Automatic and manual tagging, with support for nested tags.
  • Cross-Platform Sync: Works on desktop and mobile, keeping your knowledge base up to date.
Our Rating
9.0
8.9
Total users
8,308
73,084
Total ratings
69
91
Average rating
4.5 ⭐
4.0 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
4.63
55 ratings
7.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.3
4.18
76 ratings
70.0K+Users
Edge
-
-
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.3
3.83
14 ratings
1.3K+Users
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
3.7
3.81
15 ratings
3.1K+Users
Safari
-
-
Features
9.2

The functional scope of GPT Reader is designed for a wide range of users and demonstrated many useful functions in the test. The voice quality is surprisingly good and offers a natural-sounding output. We particularly liked the comprehensive format support, which seamlessly processes everything from PDFs to web content. The control of the playback is also well implemented, making it easy to adjust the speed directly and individually. However, the function for downloading audio files stood out the most in the test. In theory, entire books can be converted and then downloaded as audio books. However, this was the only area where we had to make deductions, as the free ChatGPT version had limitations when processing longer texts or documents.
We tried to convert a 300-page PDF and were able to process 22% of it, which corresponded to around 2 hours of audio. After this 22%, the free quota of requests on ChatGPT was reached, and the request was canceled.

9.2

Recall's range of functions is impressive for a relatively new tool. The AI summary works on a wide range of content, from articles to YouTube videos with a running time of several hours. We particularly liked the personal knowledge base and the way Recall automatically links related content. Spaced Repetition and Active Recall are outstanding features for students. However, some features are still in beta or will be available soon. The functions in the free version are severely limited in the number of users per day, and there is an upper limit for free use.

Performance
8.3

The performance tests showed a mixed picture. For shorter texts and paragraphs, GPT Reader processes content quickly and delivers a smooth rendering. The application is fast and reliable for typical use cases such as articles or short documents. Here we tested self-written summaries for learning purposes. However, we encountered significant limitations with larger files, as it is not possible to complete processing due to the limited number of requests. The option of pausing and then resuming would help here. In addition, the process takes a very long time for larger files; the extension needed around 40 minutes for around 75 pages of a PDF. The limitations of the ChatGPT API particularly affect the processing of longer documents such as entire books. This is currently only possible with a premium version of ChatGPT.

9.0

Retrieval is fast and reliable in most cases. The summary is fast, even with very extreme examples such as a 9-hour news show that we had summarized in our test. Occasionally, we encountered errors or slowdowns, especially when asking further questions about the summarized content via the wizard. The team is actively working on performance improvements and there are regular updates. Overall, the tool feels stable and is suitable for everyday use.

Design
9.0

The design of GPT Reader is clean and professional, with an intuitive layout that makes navigation effortless. The fact that there is even a dark as well as a light mode shows that the different user preferences have been taken into account. The controls are logically arranged and easily accessible. Even though the extension is designed for functionality, the design is not forgotten.

9.0

The user interface has a clear and modern design. The focus is on user-friendliness. We found the browser extension intuitive and easy to navigate. The tagging and organization system can be used flexibly, and some users mentioned minor bugs in the user interface, but these were only minimally noticeable in the test.

Value for Money
8.9

Currently, GPT Reader offers a very good price-performance ratio, as all functions are available completely free of charge. We found no hidden costs or unexpected limitations in the free version.
The features should be sufficient for most users; the only thing to note is the limited number of requests per hour that ChatGPT allows. If you need to convert entire books into one, you will need a premium version of ChatGPT.
It should also be mentioned that the extension already indicates that the download function may be offered in a paid version in the future, which could influence this rating in the future.

future premium function

At the moment, however, it is a very good offer in the text-to-speech sector.

8.1

The free tariff is suitable for infrequent users who do not need all the functions, as you will quickly reach the map limit. However, if you want to use the extension on a day-to-day basis, you cannot avoid the
extension. The paid plan is competitively priced, especially with the student discount. We appreciate that some features will remain free forever, and the team is open to feedback on pricing. Compared to alternatives, Recall offers good value for money for those who need advanced knowledge management features, but casual users may find the limitations too restrictive and stop using the extension.

Ease of Use
8.7

In terms of user-friendliness, GPT Reader scores very well. Users of all technical levels should have little problem simply converting text to audio. The user interface is self-explanatory, and all functions are displayed immediately.
The only negative point is that a separate ChatGPT registration is still required, and an error message appears if the ChatGPT requests are exceeded, which can lead to confusion.

8.0

An account is required to use Recall. However, due to the integration with a Google and Apple login, this should be easy for everyone.
Saving and summarizing content is a one-click process that is well explained at the beginning. However, mastering all functions (e.g., nested tags, links, and spatial repetitions) requires some time and some searching, which can lead to many users not being able to exploit the full potential.

Security & Privacy
9.7

In our security analysis, GPT Reader showed a strong commitment to protecting user privacy. The extension only collects data from user-reported bugs and feedback. We appreciated the transparent privacy policy, where the user can read specific points.

9.9

Recall is characterized by its privacy-friendly approach. User data is not used by the extension for advertising, profiling, or AI training. All content is stored securely, and users retain full control over their data. Data can be exported for inspection or deleted at any time. The data protection guidelines are transparent, and support is always available to answer questions about data protection. We were unable to identify any uncertainties during our review.

Conclusion

GPT Reader is a promising text-to-speech extension based on ChatGPT voices. The easy-to-understand voices, combined with the fact that it is completely free, set it apart from conventional TTS tools.

The extension can process various document formats. Both PDFs and copied web articles can be converted, but it has its limitations with longer texts. For example, a 300-page PDF was only partially converted in the text due to ChatGPT's limitations, which still resulted in about 2 hours of audio.

The tool is very user-friendly and supports multiple languages. This extension is a must for anyone who wants to listen to texts.

Recall impressed us with its useful intelligent use of AI and its focus on helping users in their everyday lives, especially when learning. The browser extension makes it easy to capture content, and the revision features with auto-generated questions are a real bonus for learners.

For occasional users, the free version may be enough, but if you want to use the extension, you can't avoid the paid version. The extension is not yet perfect and has small bugs, but the team reacts quickly to these and feedback, and many new functions are currently being introduced.

Overall, Recall is a good choice for anyone looking to do more than just bookmark cards and build a personal knowledge base. If you're tired of forgetting what you've read online and want to save time, it's a must!

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between GPT Reader and Recall, GPT Reader came out on top, scoring 9.

Recall is the most widely used, with over 73k users and 91+ reviews, but GPT Reader outperformed it in our review. User reviews reflect our findings.

Notably, GPT Reader has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.52, which supports its strong performance in our review.

In the end, the differences between these extensions are minimal, so your choice may come down to personal preference or specific features.


  • Can't decide on features? It's a close call: GPT Reader and Recall. In the Features category, GPT Reader has scored an excellent 9.2. It includes a comprehensive set of features that cater to most needs.
  • Need top performance? Recall stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, GPT Reader lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.3.
  • Both look and feel great: GPT Reader and Recall. In the Design category, GPT Reader has scored an excellent 9. The design is both attractive and highly functional, making it stand out.
  • Want to get the most for your money? GPT Reader stands out with a rating of 8.9. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.1.
  • If you hate complicated tools, GPT Reader stands out with a rating of 8.7. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Recall stands out with a rating of 9.9. On the other hand, GPT Reader lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.7.

If you want a quick recommendation, GPT Reader is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.