Old Kindle-format files do not need converting first. Drop a DRM-free .mobi and choose a narrator.
What happens to your MOBI file
MOBI (and its older PRC cousin) stores the book as a single flow of HTML with a hidden table of contents. Book2Speech unpacks it, restores the chapter boundaries from the TOC or from headings, and reads the book in order, so there is no detour through Calibre.
Where MOBI files usually trip up text-to-speech
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DRM: books downloaded from an Amazon account are protected and cannot be opened. Only DRM-free files (Calibre conversions, publisher downloads, Gutenberg) work.
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Hybrid files: some MOBI files contain both an old and a new (KF8) layout; the richer KF8 layout is used.
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Missing TOC: chapters are then detected from headings.
Narration built for whole books, not snippets
Generic text-to-speech reads one paragraph at a time. Book2Speech is tuned for long-form listening: chapters are detected and kept in order, front matter (title pages, copyright notices, tables of contents) is recognised so you can start at chapter one, and playback streams ahead so the narrator never stalls mid-sentence.
Pick from 260+ narrators in 40+ languages. Every narrator has a sample, and you can switch voices on a book you have already started.
Listen where you read
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Web: listen in the browser on any laptop or desktop, with read-along highlighting of the sentence being spoken.
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iPhone and iPad: the Book2Speech app plays in the background, supports a sleep timer and speed control, and accepts files from the share sheet or the Files app.
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Your listening position syncs across devices, so a chapter started on the laptop continues on the phone.
Your files, your rights
Upload files you own or have the right to use, up to 5 MB, without DRM. Books stay in your private library until you delete them; deleting your account removes them. Book2Speech does not resell, publish or train voices on your uploads.
Questions people ask
Can I upload a book from my Kindle library?
Not if it is DRM-protected, which covers most store purchases. Personal documents you sent to the Kindle and DRM-free purchases work.
Do I need to convert to EPUB first?
No. MOBI, PRC and AZW3 are opened directly.
Is it free?
The Free plan includes 5 minutes of narration to try any file; paid plans add hours of new narration every month (see Plans).