Read web pages aloud with your existing Cartesia voices
Free plan available, paid tiers aboveVisit WebsiteFreemiumVisit Website
Tracked since2026
The Bottom Line
- Price
- Free plan available, paid tiers above. Compare plans
Key facts
- Free Chrome extension that reads web pages aloud using your existing Cartesia voices with no additional subscription.
- Highlights the current passage and spoken word on the page, and provides exact audio-based progress tracking.
- Privacy-focused: no remote server, your data stays on your device until you initiate playback, and no analytics are collected.
Pros
- Free to use on top of your existing Cartesia plan with no additional subscription.
- High-quality, customizable voices from your Cartesia library, including cloned or designed voices.
- Privacy-conscious design with no analytics, telemetry, or data sent until you explicitly press play.
Cons
- Requires a separate Cartesia account and API key to function.
- Does not work on PDFs, Chrome's built-in pages, or the Chrome Web Store due to browser restrictions.
What is Lisen?
Lisen is a free Chrome extension that reads web pages aloud using the voices you already have in your Cartesia account. It requires no additional subscription or account creation beyond your existing Cartesia plan. The extension works on articles, blog posts, newsletters, documentation, Substack, Medium, and any page with a body of text.
When you click the icon, a small player appears. Lisen can stream audio instantly or generate the full article ahead of time, showing exact duration and a scrubbable progress bar, all measurements come from the audio, not estimates. As it reads, the current passage is highlighted and the spoken word is marked, helping you follow along. You can also download any article as a WAV file with embedded word timings that preserve read-along functionality when reopened.
Privacy is a priority: there is no Lisen server, your API key and settings stay in your Chrome browser, and page text is only sent to Cartesia when you press play on a page where you've opened the player. No analytics or telemetry are collected.
Key Features
- Works on articles, blog posts, newsletters, documentation, Substack, Medium, and long threads.
- Streaming playback starts immediately, or generate the full article ahead of time for exact duration and scrubbable progress.
- Word-by-word highlighting and passage tinting to help you follow along as the text is read.
- Download any article as a WAV file with embedded word timings for offline read-along.
- No server infrastructure, your API key and settings stay in your Chrome browser on your device.
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Oct 8, 2026
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free |
|
| Pro | Varies |
|
Is Lisen worth the price?
Fair value
The Free tier provides basic text-to-speech at no cost, which is fair for casual users.
The Pro tier's price is listed as 'Varies' without any specifics, making it hard to compare value against competitors like Speechify or NaturalReader. This pricing is best for users who want a free, no-commitment option for occasional article reading.
Reviews
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Lisen FAQ
How does Lisen help with reading long articles or newsletters?
Lisen reads web pages aloud using your Cartesia voices, allowing you to listen to articles, blog posts, newsletters, Substack, Medium, and any page with a body of text. It highlights the current passage and spoken word, helping you follow along while multitasking.
How does Lisen compare to Speechify?
Unlike Speechify, Lisen requires a separate Cartesia account and uses the voices you already have in that account, with no additional subscription beyond your Cartesia plan. Lisen also prioritizes privacy by keeping your API key and settings in your browser and sending page text only when you press play.
What kind of content does Lisen not work on?
Lisen does not work on PDFs, Chrome's built-in pages, or the Chrome Web Store due to browser restrictions. It is designed for web pages with a body of text such as articles, blog posts, newsletters, and documentation.
Which teams benefit most from using Lisen?
Teams that frequently consume long-form web content, such as researchers, writers, and knowledge workers, benefit from Lisen's ability to read articles aloud with high-quality, customizable voices. It is especially useful for those who already have a Cartesia account and want to repurpose their voices for listening without extra cost.
How is Lisen priced?
Lisen is available on a free tier, with paid plans for more usage and features. It requires no additional subscription beyond your existing Cartesia plan, so you only pay for the voice usage on Cartesia.
Can Lisen stream audio instantly or generate the full article ahead of time?
Yes, Lisen can stream audio instantly or generate the full article ahead of time, showing exact duration and a scrubbable progress bar with measurements from the audio. You can also download any article as a WAV file with embedded word timings that preserve read-along functionality when reopened.
Does Lisen collect any analytics or telemetry?
No, Lisen does not collect any analytics or telemetry. There is no Lisen server; your API key and settings stay in your Chrome browser, and page text is only sent to Cartesia when you press play on a page where you've opened the player.
How does Lisen integrate with Cartesia voices?
Lisen uses the voices you already have in your Cartesia account, including cloned or designed voices. It requires a Cartesia account and API key to function, and no additional account creation is needed beyond your existing Cartesia plan.
Source: chromewebstore.google.com