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

	Screencastify	GPT Reader
	Screencastify is a popular Chrome extension for screen recording. It offers a range of features but has shifted many basic functionalities behind a paywall, affecting its overall value. Productivity	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. AI ChatGPT
Key Features	Record Desktop, Browser Tab, and Webcam: Capture any part of your screen. Edit Video: Trim, merge, and add text directly from your browser. Share Easily: Export as MP4, GIF, or MP3, and share via Google Drive or Classroom. Interactive Questions: Add questions to videos to engage viewers. Annotations: Draw on your screen in real-time to highlight key points. Captions: Add captions in multiple languages to make videos accessible.	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
Our Rating	7.8	9.0
Total users	6,000,000	9,543
Total ratings	11,733	86
Average rating	4.0 ⭐	4.2 ⭐
Entry Level Price	Free	Free
Chrome	4.0 11.7K+ ratings 6.0M+Users	4.5 67 ratings 8.0K+Users
Edge	-	-
Firefox	-	3.9 19 ratings 1.5K+Users
Safari	-	-
Features	8.8 Screencastify offers a robust set of features, including screen and webcam recording, video editing and interactive questions. Leaving aside the fact that many features are only available for a fee, it's fair to say that it offers a lot of features. While recording, you can easily add spotlights and draw on the screen. The drawing tools offer a nice range of options, so you should have everything you need: The subsequent editor also offers many functions where you can cut the video to your needs. Here is what the basic editor looks like: It recently also added an AI feature that automatically adds captions, transcripts, titles, and descriptions. Furthermore, Screencastify offers another video editor when clicking "Edit Video" in the top right corner. This will open up another editor where you can do some more video editing. Here is how it looks like: In our opinion, this editor isn’t necessary if you already have your own video editing software, but it could be useful for some people. We’re not entirely sure if this is just an older version of the original editor. However, we did discover that you can export videos to MP4 for free, thanks to an "Export" button that lets you do so without any limitations. We’re not certain if this is intentional, but at least it works for us.	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.
Performance	7.5 The speed has deteriorated considerably with the latest updates. This is probably because more and more functions, such as the AI function, are being added. The tool has become slower, and creating links or accessing older videos takes longer than before. Many users have also complained about the performance in the reviews.	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.
Design	9.0 The design is intuitive and user-friendly. We think that navigation is very intuitive despite the many functions.	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.
Value for Money	5.0 As already mentioned, we are somewhat shocked by the limitations of the free version. Especially if you have used the app in the past and can export videos for free. In addition, even with the starter package for $7, you are limited to 10 exports. We find that many other providers offer much more for the 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. At the moment, however, it is a very good offer in the text-to-speech sector.
Ease of Use	8.5 Screencastify is easy to use, with a minimal learning curve. Even beginners can quickly get the hang of it. However, we find that recent updates have introduced some complexities that are not absolutely necessary for a screen recorder.	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.
Security & Privacy	8.0 Unfortunately, an account is required, which in our opinion is not necessary for Screen recorder. However, Screencastify's privacy policy is very comprehensive and complies with standard data protection practices, including compliance with the GDPR and PCI-DSS certification for payment data. Screencastify takes reasonable security measures but, like all online services, cannot guarantee absolute protection.	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.
Conclusion	Screencastify was a fantastic tool in the past, and we used to use it daily. Unfortunately, recent updates have made it less user-friendly by hiding key features behind a paywall. For people who need a wide range of features, the tool is still an option. For others who just want to make a recording every now and then to export a video, Screencastify is unfortunately no longer an option.	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.
	Install Screencastify	Install GPT Reader
Our Recommendation	In our comparison between Screencastify and GPT Reader, GPT Reader came out on top, scoring 9. Screencastify is the most widely used, with over 6 million users and 12k+ 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 4.24, which supports its strong performance in our review. There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below. Looking for the richest feature set? GPT Reader stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.8. Need top performance? GPT Reader stands out with a rating of 8.3. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5. Both look and feel great: Screencastify and GPT Reader. In the Design category, Screencastify 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, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 5. If you hate complicated tools, GPT Reader stands out with a rating of 8.7. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5. With privacy and security becoming ever more important, GPT Reader stands out with a rating of 9.7. On the other hand, Screencastify lags behind in this area with a rating of 8. 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.