How many articles can I store in my library?

Your library size is limited only by your available iCloud storage. There is no cap imposed by speakeasy itself.

Are library items available offline?

Yes. Once an audio file has been downloaded from iCloud to your device, it plays without an internet connection.

Can I share library items with other people?

Library items are stored in your personal iCloud container and are not directly shareable from within the app. You can share the original article URL with others and let them convert it in their own speakeasy.

Guide

How to Build a Listening Library

Create a personal audio collection from the web's best writing

A listening library is more than a playlist — it is your curated collection of the ideas and stories you care most about, ready to play whenever you have a spare moment. speakeasy stores every article you convert as an MP3 in iCloud Drive, building your library automatically as you use the app. Over time, your library becomes a searchable archive of the content you have consumed, making it easy to revisit articles and track your reading habits. This guide explains how to build and manage an effective listening library. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, from the basic setup to advanced tips that most users miss. Whether you're new to text-to-speech or looking to optimize your existing workflow, following these steps will help you get the most out of speakeasy and save significant time in the process.

Steps

Convert articles consistently

Make it a habit to convert articles to speakeasy rather than bookmarking them. Every conversion adds to your library automatically.

Browse your library

Open the Library tab in speakeasy to see all your converted articles sorted by date. Each item shows the title, source, and duration.

Search your library

Use the search bar at the top of the Library tab to find specific articles by title, author, or keyword. speakeasy indexes article metadata for fast lookup.

Delete articles you no longer need

Swipe left on any library item to delete it. This removes the audio file from iCloud Drive and frees up storage.

Sync across devices

Your library syncs automatically via iCloud so any article you add on one device appears on all your Apple devices.

Why this matters

Understanding how to build a listening library isn't just about following a checklist — it's about fundamentally changing how you consume content. Most people spend 2-3 hours daily reading articles, newsletters, and blog posts on their phones. Converting that reading time to listening time opens up hours of productivity you didn't know you had.

The process is simpler than you might think: Convert articles consistently → Browse your library → Search your library. Once you've done it a few times, it becomes second nature, and you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. speakeasy handles the technical complexity behind the scenes, so you can focus on the content rather than the conversion process.

Common mistakes to avoid

When learning to build a listening library, there are a few pitfalls worth knowing about upfront. First, don't try to convert everything at once — start with a few articles you're genuinely interested in, and build your listening habit gradually. Second, make sure you're using the right voice and speed settings for the type of content you're converting.

Another common mistake is not taking advantage of speakeasy's iCloud sync. Your audio library syncs automatically between iPhone and Mac, which means you can queue articles on one device and listen on another. This is especially useful for articles you discover on your desktop but want to listen to during your commute.

Advanced tips for power users

Once you've mastered the basics, here are some ways to level up your workflow. Use the iOS share sheet to send articles directly from Safari, Twitter, or any other app to speakeasy — no need to copy-paste URLs. Set up a dedicated listening time each day, and queue articles the night before so your library is ready to go.

Experiment with different playback speeds for different content types: news articles work well at 1.5-2x, while technical or philosophical content benefits from 1.0-1.2x. You can also use speakeasy's voice preview feature to find the perfect voice for each type of content. Many power users maintain separate mental categories — a deep voice for serious analysis, a lighter voice for casual blog posts.

Getting the best results

The quality of your audio depends on several factors that are worth optimizing. speakeasy works best with well-structured articles that have clear paragraphs and headings. Most blog posts, newsletters, and news articles convert beautifully. Extremely visual content (infographics, charts-heavy pieces) may lose some context in audio form, but the text content still converts well.

For the best listening experience, use headphones or earbuds — the nuance in speakeasy's AI voices is more apparent with direct audio delivery. If you're listening through phone speakers, you might miss subtle intonation that makes the experience feel natural. Finally, don't forget to rate and organize articles in your library — this helps you build a personal audio archive you can revisit anytime.

Key takeaways

The setup process takes less than a minute once you know the steps
Start with content you're already interested in to build the listening habit
Use iCloud sync to seamlessly move between iPhone and Mac
Experiment with playback speed to find your optimal listening pace
The iOS share sheet is the fastest way to convert articles

Tips

Use the share sheet to quickly add articles from any app, keeping your library growing without friction
Regularly prune articles you have already listened to so your library stays focused on what you still want to hear
iCloud storage is shared across your Apple devices, so keep an eye on storage usage if you convert many long-form articles