List of screen readers
Encyclopedia
Contemporary screen readers
| Screen reader | Creator | Supported platforms | License | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChromeVox | ChromeOS or, with a speech processor, Linux, Mac, Windows | Free | ChromeVox is a screen reader for Chrome OS, intended to bring the speed, versatility, and security of Chrome OS to visually impaired users. Because ChromeVox is built by Google, it's optimized for the web. It supports the latest web standards and excels at accessing the most modern interactive websites. | |
| VoiceOver | Apple Inc. | Mac OS X, iPhone, iPad, iPods, and Apple TV | Free, Commercial | Free and included with any Apple product. No installation or setup required. Available in over 30 language voices, which are also included for free. See Apple Accessibility for more information. |
| ClickHear | gh LLC | Windows and Mac | Commercial | Enables text to be read aloud at the reading comfort of the user. Choose from three high quality Nuance voices. Variable text and highlighting color options. Translates to several different languages: Spanish, French and German. Configuration settings saved per user. Click to hear any part of the web. Play/Pause, Previous, and Next playback. Set volume and speech rate to your needs. |
| ClickHear Mobile | gh LLC | Windows and Mac | Commercial | No software installation required. Enables text to be read aloud at the reading comfort of the user. Choose from three high quality Nuance voices. Variable text and highlighting color options. Translates to several different languages: Spanish, French and German. Configuration settings saved per user. Click to hear any part of the web. Play/Pause, Previous, and Next playback. Set volume and speech rate to your needs. |
| ReadHear | gh LLC | Windows and Mac | Commercial | Support for NIMAS 1.1 and DAISY/NISO 2005. Support for MathML-enabled NIMAS and Digital Talking Books. Additional navigation for escapable and skippable text. Easier book import. New navigation pane. SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) support. Roaming activation for greater portability. Concurrent licensing for institutions. Optimized for large books. Page-by-page display. Improved support for books on CD. Revised keyboard shortcuts and support for multi-media keys. New AT hardware support. Continuous playback without focus. Automatic update checking. Save As DAISY compatibility. |
| Recite Me | Recite Me Ltd | Web-based | Commercial | Recite is an online software as a service system that acts as a translation layer between the user and the website. |
| Project metalmouth | Alistair Garrison | ChromeOS, or via Chrome Browser, Linux, Mac, Windows | Free open source (Apache 2.0) | Project metalmouth is developing a free fully functioned open source voice browser as an installable extension for Chrome. The ambition is to give Chrome users the best possible experience when interacting with a spoken web - by voice commands or using the keyboard. |
| ClipSpeak | Daniel Innala Ahlmark | Windows | Freeware | A lightweight text-to-speech tool with a minimal user interface that speaks text copied to the clipboard. |
| Text to Speech | SpeakComputers.com | Windows | Freeware |
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| 95Reader | SSCT | Windows | Commercial | Japanese screen reader |
| BRLTTY | The BRLTTY Team | *nix and Windows console | Free and open source (GPL2) | Available to download; part of most Linux distributions |
| BrowseAloud Browsealoud BrowseAloud is assistive technology that adds text-to-speech functionality to websites. It is designed by Texthelp Systems, a Northern-Ireland based company that specialises in the design of assistive technology... |
Texthelp Systems Inc | Windows and Mac | Free for Users, Commercial | |
| Capture Assistant Capture Assistant Capture Assistant is a screenshot and screen scraping application that operates under the Windows operating system. It is distributed by Renovation Software, who also distribute TextGRAB SDK, and was first launched in 2008.... |
Renovation Software | Windows | Commercial | Multilanguage screen reader |
| Claro ScreenRuler Suite | Claro Software | Windows | Commercial | Provides a "strip" or "ruler" across the screen. |
| COBRA | BAUM Retec | Windows | Commercial | Supports Microsoft Active Accessibility Microsoft Active Accessibility Microsoft Active Accessibility is an Application Programming Interface for user interface accessibility. MSAA was introduced as a platform add-on to Microsoft Windows 95 in 1997... (MSAA) and the Java Access Bridge. |
| Edbrowse | Karl Dahlke | *nix console | Free and open source | Makes a complete audio desktop, including web access with JavaScript support. |
| Spoken Web | Eyal Shalom | Windows | Free Web Site | A free web portal managing a wide range of articles |
| Emacspeak Emacspeak Emacspeak is a free computer application, a speech interface and an audio desktop employing Emacs, which is written in C, Emacs Lisp and Tcl and developed principally by T. V. Raman and first released May 1995; it is portable to all POSIX-compatible OSs... |
T. V. Raman | Emacs (on *nix) | Free and open source | Turns Emacs into a "complete audio desktop". |
| Fire Vox Fire Vox Fire Vox is a free and open source extension for the Mozilla Firefox web browser that transforms it into a self-voicing application. Easy to install and operate, it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can work independently, or together with screen readers such as Orca. Since its debut in 2005,... |
Charles L. Chen | Unix, Linux, Windows, OS X | Free and open source | For browsing with Firefox only (plugin) |
| Gnopernicus Gnopernicus Gnopernicus is a free GNOME desktop application that provides Assistive Technologies for blind and visually impaired users.SRCore is the component of Gnopernicus screen reader, that gathers information from all input sources, organize it and then presents it to the three outputs: Braille, Speech,... |
BAUM Retec AG | GNOME GNOME GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software... /Linux |
Free and open source | Used to be bundled with GNOME, but now replaced by Orca. Includes a screen magnifier. Supports AT-SPI and the Java Access Bridge. |
| HAL | Dolphin Computer Access Dolphin Computer Access Dolphin Computer Access is a British company that designs, creates and sells software for people who are blind or have vision and print impairments, Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. The company was set up in 1986 and now has offices in the UK, US and Sweden... |
Windows | Commercial | Supports MSAA, the Java Access Bridge, and PDF. 30 day Free Trial available for download. |
| HT Reader | HT Visual | Windows | Commercial | Includes support for MSAA and PDF. |
| iZoom | Issist | Windows | Commercial | Screen magnifier with low-vision speech capabilities. Includes support for Mozilla Firefox Mozilla Firefox Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers... . |
| JAWS | Freedom Scientific Freedom Scientific Freedom Scientific is a corporation which researches, creates, and sells technology intended for people who are blind or have low vision and those with learning disabilities. The company's Blind and Low Vision Group's products include software and hardware to help people with low vision work with... |
Windows and DOS | Commercial for Windows; freeware for DOS | Includes support for MSAA, the Java Access Bridge, and PDF. |
| Leitor de Telas | MC / CPqD | Windows | Free | Brazilian Portuguese screen reader. MSAA support. |
| Lingspeak | Lingit | Windows | Commercial | A visual screen reader, which highlights the object and text being read. Supports MSAA, Java Access Bridge (OpenOffice), per line reading from Win32 classes "Edit"(Notepad) and "RichEdit"(Wordpad), MS Word. UIA and IAccessible2 is being worked on. One-month trial version available. |
| Linux Screen Reader (LSR) | GNOME/Linux | GNOME/Linux | Free and open source | Supports AT-SPI. |
| SodelsCot | Sodels Factory | Windows | Commercial | Spanish screen reader. Converts copied or typed text to speech in any Windows program. Includes voices in Spanish and can use others compatible with SAPI5. It can create wav and mp3 files. |
| LookOUT | Choice Technology | Windows | Commercial | Also available integrated with a screen magnifier. |
| MAGic | Freedom Scientific | Windows | Commercial | Speech magnifier with low-vision speech capabilities. It can be used together with JAWS. |
| Microsoft Narrator Microsoft Narrator Narrator is a light-duty screen reader utility included in Microsoft Windows. Narrator reads dialog boxes and window controls in a number of the more basic applications for Windows.... |
Microsoft | Windows | Commercial | Bundled with recent versions of Windows, this basic screen reader makes use of MSAA. |
| Mobile Speak Mobile Speak Mobile Speak software are full-fledged screen readers and Braille interfaces that let the blind and visually impaired access their mobile phone.-General description:... |
Code Factory | Symbian OS, Windows Mobile Windows Mobile Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is... |
Commercial | Full-fledged screen readers and Braille interfaces that let you access your mobile phone. One-month trial version available. |
| Model T Reader | Dolphin Computer Access | DOS | Freeware | |
| NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) NonVisual Desktop Access NonVisual Desktop Access is a free, open source, portable screen reader for Microsoft Windows. The project was started by Michael Curran in 2006. The latest stable version is 2011.3NVDA is programmed in Python... |
NonVisual Desktop Access project | Windows | Free and open source (GPL2) | Programmed and scriptable in Python. Supports Mozilla Firefox Mozilla Firefox Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers... , Microsoft Internet Explorer, Word, Excel and Outlook Express, and Mozilla Thunderbird. Supports web content using JavaScript. Supports Java Access Bridge. IAccessible2 IAccessible2 IAccessible2 is a new accessibility API for Microsoft Windows applications. Initially developed by IBM under the codename Project Missouri, IAccessible2 has been placed under the aegis of the Free Standards Group, now part of the Linux Foundation... is supported. |
| Orca Orca (assistive technology) Orca is a free and open source, flexible, extensible assistive technology for people with visual impairments. Using various combinations of speech synthesis, braille, and magnification, Orca helps provide access to applications and toolkits that support the AT-SPI .The development of Orca has been... |
GNOME/Linux | *nix | Free and open source | Bundled with GNOME. Supports AT-SPI and the Java Access Bridge. |
| PC-Talker | Kochi System Development | Windows | Commercial | Japanese screen reader. Supports MSAA and Flash |
| PCVoz | EzHermatic | Windows | Commercial | Available to buy or download trial. Supports MSAA. |
| Proloquo | AssistiveWare | Mac OS X Mac OS X Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems... |
Commercial | Includes a license for Infovox iVox. 15 days trial. |
| Read:Outloud | Don Johnston Inc. | Windows and Mac OS | Commercial | Incorporates reading guide for easy note taking and outline construction. Supports Daisy, NIMAS, PDF, RTF, HTML and TXT. |
| ReadSpeaker Readspeaker ReadSpeaker is a suite of web-based applications that uses the latest text-to-speech technology to speech-enable web sites, mobile sites, RSS feeds, mobile apps like iPhone, Android or Blackberry apps, as well as online documents and forms. ReadSpeaker products help people that suffer from reading... |
ReadSpeaker Holding B.V. | Web-based | Free for Users, Commercial | Available in 35 languages and 90 voices. Device-independent and no downloads required by end-user. Synchronized highlighting of the text being read. |
| Read & Write | Texthelp Systems | Windows and Mac OS | Commercial | Support toolbar designed to assist users who require extra assistance when reading or composing text. |
| Simply Talker | EcoNet International | Windows | Commercial | Trial download available. |
| SUSE-Blinux | Novell | Linux Linux Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds... |
Free and open source | |
| Supernova | Dolphin Computer Access Dolphin Computer Access Dolphin Computer Access is a British company that designs, creates and sells software for people who are blind or have vision and print impairments, Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. The company was set up in 1986 and now has offices in the UK, US and Sweden... |
Windows | Commercial | Includes a screen magnifier and output to Braille devices. 30 day Free Trial available for download. Supports MSAA, the Java Access Bridge, and PDF. |
| System Access | Serotek | Windows | Commercial | Trial download available. Supports Microsoft Internet Explorer (including DHTML/Ajax and Flash), Outlook Express, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype, and Adobe Reader. No support for Java yet. |
| TalkBack | Android 1.6+ | Opensource | Use with SoundBack and kickback | |
| Talks | Nuance Communications | Symbian OS Series 60 or 80 | Commercial | Presentation and free Trial Version to be found on the site. |
| Thunder ScreenReader | Sensory Software | Windows | Freeware | Supports MSAA. |
| SpeakEasy Media System | NDU | Windows | Commercial | Specialized suite of vocalized programs designed for ease of use |
| Virtual Vision | MicroPower | Windows | Commercial | Brazilian screen reader. Supports MSAA. |
| WebAnywhere WebAnywhere WebAnywhere is a free web-based open source screen reader, created at the University of Washington.-Features:Since WebAnywhere is web-based, it is available on all operating systems. Users simply go to the WebAnywhere site and the screen reader begins working.-History:WebAnywhere was originally... |
University of Washington | Web | Free and Open Source (new BSD) | Doesn't require any software installation to run so can be used at any public terminal that has sound available - works on any platform. |
| WinZoom | Clarity | Windows | Commercial | Screen reader with magnifier. USB version does not require any installation and can be used on any public computer. |
| Window-Eyes Window-eyes Window-Eyes is a screen reader for Microsoft Windows, developed by GW Micro. The first version was released in 1995. The latest version of Window-Eyes is 7.2, released in 2010. and version 7.5.1 was realsed on march 14 2011-Features:... |
GW Micro | Windows | Commercial | Available to buy or download 30-minutes per Windows session demo. Supports MSAA. |
| Screen Access for All | National Association for the Blind, New Delhi | Windows | Open source | |
| ZoomText ZoomText ZoomText is a screen magnifier for Microsoft Windows, developed by Ai Squared. The first version was released for DOS in 1988, and the first version for Windows was released in 1991... |
Ai Squared | Windows | Commercial | Includes a screen magnifier. Trial download available. |
| Screen reader | Creator | Supported platforms | License | Notes |
Unfinished Screenreader Projects
| Screen reader | Creator | Supported platforms | License | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screenful | Screenful Team | Windows | Open source | Concept is done. Due to problems finding skilled developers, the project is idling |
| The Longhorn Screen Reader Project | OSSRP Team | Windows Vista | Open source | Concept ideas have been made. Latest news said that the project had not succeeded. Whether or not they will continue or let it die is not known at the moment. |
Historical interest
| Screen reader | Creator | Supported platforms | License | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASAW (Automatic Screen Access for Windows) | MicroTalk | Windows | Commercial | |
| Blindows | BAUM Retec (formerly Audiodata) | Windows | Commercial | Substituted by COBRA |
| DRACULA family | Eurobraille | Windows | Commercial | |
| Enable Reader Professional Speech System | Enable Talking Software | DOS | Uncertain | |
| Enhanced PC Talking Program | Computer Conversations | DOS | Uncertain | |
| Pocket Hal | Dolphin Computer Access Dolphin Computer Access Dolphin Computer Access is a British company that designs, creates and sells software for people who are blind or have vision and print impairments, Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. The company was set up in 1986 and now has offices in the UK, US and Sweden... |
Windows Mobile Windows Mobile Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is... PDA and PDA Phones |
Commercial | |
| PROVOX | Kansys, Inc. | DOS | Uncertain | |
| Screen Reader | Research Centre for the Education of the Visually Handicapped (RCEVH) | BBC Micro and NEC portable | ||
| Screen Reader/2 | IBM | OS/2 OS/2 OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal... |
Commercial | |
| Smart Hal | Dolphin Computer Access Dolphin Computer Access Dolphin Computer Access is a British company that designs, creates and sells software for people who are blind or have vision and print impairments, Dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. The company was set up in 1986 and now has offices in the UK, US and Sweden... |
Windows Mobile Windows Mobile Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is... and WM Smartphone |
Commercial | |
| Soft Vert | TeleSensory Systems Telesensory Systems Telesensory Systems, Inc. was an American corporation that invented, designed, manufactured, and distributed technological aids for blind and low vision persons... |
DOS | Commercial | |
| Tinytalk | OMS Development | DOS and perhaps Windows | Shareware | |
| Virgo | BAUM Retec AG | Windows | Commercial | Substituted by COBRA. |
| Window Bridge | Syntha-voice Computers (now out of business) | Windows | Commercial | |
| WinVision | Artic Technologies | Windows | Commercial | Not officially discontinued, but there has been no further release since 1997. |
Software aids for people with reading difficulties
- Penfriend from Penfriend Ltd
- ClaroRead from Claro Software
- EasyTutor from Dolphin Computer Access
- EnVision: basic multi-featured Windows accessibility tool
- Read & Write, Screenreader from TextHelp Systems
- yRead from Spacejock Software
- ReadPleaseReadPleaseReadPlease is text-to-speech software from ReadPlease Corporation. It has a commercial version and a free version....
from ReadPlease Corporation - TextAloud from NextUp.com
- Alvin Kurzweil 1000 (for the visually impaired) and Kurzweil 3000 (for those with reading difficulty) from Kurzweil Educational SystemsKurzweil Educational SystemsKurzweil Educational Systems, Inc. is an American based company that specializes in providing reading and writing software to assist people who are blind or partially sighted, or who have learning disabilities, such as dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder...
- Read:OutLoud from Don Johnston, Inc.