OpenReader: Web EPUB and PDF Text to Speech Document Reader

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March 20, 2025

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3 min read

The way we consume stories is evolving. For those who love the written word but struggle with lengthy reading sessions, the ability to convert eBooks into audiobooks has always been a coveted feature. Now, innovative AI tools like OpenReader are making this a seamless and accessible experience, allowing you to unlock the audio potential of your entire eBook collection

What is OpenReader WebUI?

OpenReader WebUI is a document reader with Text-to-Speech capabilities, offering a TTS read along experience with narration for both PDF and EPUB documents. It can use any OpenAI compatible TTS endpoint, including Kokoro-FastAPI.

OpenReader WebUI Features

Audio Narration: It utilizes TTS APIs (like OpenAI or Kokoro) to generate high-quality voice narration for documents.
Offline Functionality: Stores documents locally using IndexedDB, allowing for offline reading. Users can also upload documents to a server for sharing.
Interactive Reading: The “Read Along” feature synchronizes the narration with highlighted text.
Wide Document Support: Supports EPUB, PDF, and DOCX files.
Audiobook Creation: Allows users to create and export audiobooks in m4b format from PDFs and ePubs.
Cross-Platform: Works on mobile devices and can be deployed as a Progressive Web App (PWA).
Personalization: Offers extensive customization, including:
- TTS API configuration
- Playback speed control
- PDF text extraction margin adjustments
- Multiple voice options
- Customizable app themes

Install OpenReader WebUI using Docker

Installing OpenReader WebUI is straightforward. Use the following Docker Compose configuration below.

services:
  openreader-webui:
    container_name: openreader-webui
    image: ghcr.io/richardr1126/openreader-webui:latest
    environment:
      - API_BASE=http://host.docker.internal:8880/v1
    ports:
      - "3003:3003"
    volumes:
      - docstore:/app/docstore
    restart: unless-stopped

OpenReader is a truly exciting tool, but it’s important to be aware of its processing speed. To avoid waiting days for an entire eBook to convert to audio, we strongly recommend using a GPU. Even with powerful hardware, conversion times can be significant.

Final Notes and Thoughts

OpenReader offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of reading. While patience is required, the ability to convert your eBooks to audiobooks represents a powerful and accessible tool. We’ll be watching its development closely and excited to see how it continues to evolve.

You can follow the OpenReader project on their Github repo. Be sure to give the project a star!