Apps to help people with vision impairment

• The app is free.
• You only need to record the route one way - the app will work out the reverse journey for you.
• You can save and return to the routes you use most often.

• It’s only available on Apple devices.
• You have to hold your phone in a certain way while using the app.

• Compatible with VoiceOver (Apple’s screen reader) and TalkBack (Google’s screen reader) and reads information like bus numbers and live bus times aloud. It’s also compatible with Siri, so you can search for your destination using your voice.
• Allows you to choose your preferred method of transport from walking to public transport. It will string together different modes of transport providing options and details as you travel. You can plan routes in advance by choosing your departure time or desired time of arrival.
• Google Maps provides turn-by-turn voice navigation in real time using both audio and visual cues and shows you a preview of your route before you commit. It tells you which direction you’re facing.
• You can search the app for nearby amenities and services, like supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants, as well as accessibility information for locations.
• You can download maps of specific areas to use if you don’t have data or WiFi connection. This is great to use on holiday if you don’t have data roaming.
• Free to use.

• The app’s instructions can be a bit delayed, so it could tell you when to get off the bus too late.
• Although the app is compatible with VoiceOver, Google Maps’ audio and the VoiceOver audio may speak at the same time.
• The blue dot that shows your location and the blue line that outlines your route are the same shade, which can be confusing.  

• BlindSquare was developed in collaboration with people with vision impairment.
• You have the option to change the radius of the app’s search, so you can expand or limit the search area depending on how far you want to walk.
• You can mark saved places, so you can access the places you want to visit quicker.
• Shake your phone for more information about what’s around you.
• The app uses GPS to determine your location, and then uses third party navigation apps, like Foursquare and OpenStreetMap, to provide detailed information.

• The information the app gives you is determined by algorithms, so it might not be exactly what you want to know.
• Only available on Apple devices.
• You have to pay to use this app and the Voice Command feature costs more on top.
• To use the app when your phone is locked, it must be carried in a portrait position.  

• The app is compatible with Apple’s built-in screen reader, VoiceOver and reads information such as locations and directions aloud.
• You can connect to someone who can give you information about your location.
• Using the Points of Interest tab, you can search for things like places to eat, shops, and banks.
• Your phone vibrates just before or at the point you need to make a turning.
• The app predicts your time of arrival.
• The app is free to use.

• The app isn’t up to date with destination or shop information. For example, it could direct you to a shop or restaurant that’s permanently closed.
• When giving directions, the app doesn’t take into account which side of the road you’re walking down.
• GoodMaps gives compass directions – such as “head southeast” – but that’s not always helpful. Although your phone will vibrate when you need to change direction, there’s no verbal signal and the vibration is easy to miss.
• It gives you instructions too early in some instances. For example, it might say “Turn left in 50 yards”, which could be confusing if there’s two left turnings close together.
• The indoor version of GoodMaps is a separate app to the outdoor version. They’re called GoodMaps: Indoor Navigation and GoodMaps Outdoors.

• WeWALK app links multimodal transport very effectively. For example, if you are walking to a bus stop and then getting a bus, the information will be seamless and switch over as you get onto the bus.
• The app is very accessible for low-vision users, with the ability to change colour and contrast. All elements of the app are labelled for VoiceOver and TalkBack users, too.
• Turn by turn directions, alongside next stop announcements / stop by stop when on public transport.
• As soon as you open the app, you can adjust the colour contrast and text size.
• It’s free when you connect the app to a WeWALK Smart Cane.
• The app works well even without the WeWALK Smart Cane.

• This app is subscription based if you aren’t connecting to a WeWALK Smart Cane – the monthly/ yearly subscription is costly.

• It’s available in over 300 cities globally, so you could use it abroad.
• You can save places you travel to often as shortcuts, like your home or place of work.  

• Ads pop up after you’ve hit the search button, meaning you need to scroll past the ad before you can see information about your journey.  
• After you press the search button, the interface becomes very busy, especially if there are multiple possible routes to the same destination.  

• When you set up your profile, you can state that you have vision impairment and a guide dog, as well as other sensory, mobility, or non-visible impairments.
• After you’ve sent a request, the train operator will arrange assistance for you.
• Some networks don’t need to receive a request in advance. For example, TFL provide a “Turn-up-and-go” service on the London Underground, Overground, and on the Elizabeth Line. Additionally, all TFL staff are trained to offer support.
• You can choose the app’s colour theme, with varying levels of colour contrast to pick from.

• If you request travel assistance too close to your time of departure, the station or train operators might not be able to accept your request for assistance.

• You can book train journeys in advance using a variety of payment methods.
• All your tickets are saved in the app ready to scan when you start your journey, and you can download them to your phone’s wallet.
• There are shortcuts to journeys you take regularly on the app’s home screen.
• You can contact customer support through the “Help and FAQ” section.
• The app displays your train’s departing platform and provides updates if your journey is likely to be disrupted.

• Trainline charges a booking fee for each journey – apps owned by the train operators themselves tend not to do this.
• The app screens include adverts which could be distracting.

• You can easily compare forms of transport to see which is the quickest.
• The app tells you the fare for your route.
• The app generates useful information, like leaving time, duration, predicted arrival time, and which bus stop or tube station you need.
• Once you’ve picked your method of transport, the app shows you a list of stops before your stop.
• Will read the bus numbers and tells you when to get off the bus via audio feedback as well as a message.
• You can send your location to others to let them know your arrival time – this is useful if someone is meeting you at a tube station or bus stop.  

• Ads pop up on the screen, but you can pay to remove them.
• It can be tricky to navigate around the app or follow the map when Apple’s built-in screen reader, VoiceOver is activated.
• Citymapper potentially shows too much information and has a busy interface.  

• It’s free to download and easy to set up.
• In terms of recognition accuracy, Google Lookout is one of the best apps available.
• If you get stuck using the app, Google Disability Support service can help.

• It’s not available for Apple users.

• The app is compatible with Google’s screen reader, TalkBack.
• The app performs searches quickly and accurately.  
• The app is intuitive and doesn’t have a busy interface.  

• The technology isn’t as straightforward to access if you have an iPhone or iPad.

• You can take a photo by double tapping the screen – you don’t need to rely on pressing the camera button.
• It’s compatible with Google TalkBack.
• It’s available on Apple and Android devices.  

• You must enable VoiceOver in settings before the app will read anything aloud.
• The image descriptions aren’t always accurate.
• Users have reported that the app is underdeveloped.

• It’s freely available to both Apple and Android users.
• You can use the volume keys to work the app.  In magnify mode, you can invert the colours to improve contrast.
• Has a text recognition function and a PDF reader, so you can also use the app to read out short form and long form text.

• There’s a limit on the number of times you can use the PDF reader per day.
• Some functions, like face recognition, aren’t very accurate.
• The colour recognition feature relies on good lighting.

• The app is available to download for free on Android and Apple devices.
• The app is very versatile and includes several helpful features
• You can customise a lot of the app’s features in “Settings”.
• The app makes a noise so you can tell when it’s buffering or rendering information without needing to see the buffer icon.

• Some of the app’s features work at their best when paired with Envision Glasses, but these come at a cost.
• A few of the app’s functions need some finessing, like the batch scanning feature, QR scanner, and find objects feature.

• The app is free and it’s available on Apple and Android devices.
• The interface is simple.
• The uploading process is straightforward and intuitive.

• Certain file types are only supported with the paid version of the app.
• The app doesn’t use OCR (optical character recognition). 

Talking Books is possibly the most popular audiobook reading service for people with sight loss in the UK, giving people free access to over 30,000 books for children and adults.

You can use the Talking Books service with the Dolphin Easy Reader app via your smartphone or tablet. Alternatively, you can connect it to an Alexa smart speaker (Alexa will even remember where you got to in each story), or you can order a book on CD through RNIB.

Designed with accessibility in mind, the Dolphin Easy Reader gives people with visual impairment or dyslexia access to many libraries and book collections. Its accessibility features include its compatibility with screen readers and braille displays and the ability to change the size and colour of text. This app is available on Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. 

Apps like Brailliac: Braille Tutor and Braille Contraction Lookup can teach you to read braille. Brailliac: Braille Tutor teaches both sighted people and people with vision impairment how to read braille, and even has a Challenge Mode so you can compete with your friends.

Braille Contraction Lookup is aimed at more advanced braille readers and writers as it teaches people braille shorthand, where words are shortened to just a few characters.

Once you’ve downloaded Google Play Books from the Google Play Store, you can choose from millions of eBooks, audiobooks, comics, manga books, and textbooks. What’s more, the app recommends books based on what you’ve read before, so you’ll always know what to read next.

Google Play Books works seamlessly with Android’s screen reader, TalkBack. The app is free with no subscription fees, but you’ll need to buy most of the books you want to read. Also, Google Play Books is only available on Android devices.

Even if you don’t own a Kindle device, Amazon’s Kindle app gives you access to over 1.5 million books, magazines, and newspapers available to purchase. The app allows you to adapt the colours and font sizes, so you can tailor the text to your needs.

The app pairs well with screen readers like Apple’s VoiceOver or Android’s TalkBack, so you can use it on iPhones, iPads, or Android smartphones and tablets. However, Apple doesn’t allow you to buy products in the app unless you’re a Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime member. You can purchase eBooks via Amazon on desktop or the Amazon shopping app.

• You can change the text size to make a post’s caption more readable.
• Instagram provides an image description using object recognition technology.
• The content creator can edit this description to provide more detail if they like.
• In the accessibility settings, you can turn on closed captions. This means that, when you play a video, you’ll see auto-generated captions if they’re available.  

• TikTok’s text-to-speech function reads typed text in videos aloud. 
• Auto captions transcribe the audio content of a video. 
• In TikTok’s settings, you can remove photosensitive videos from your feed.
• You can adjust the text size to make it bigger or smaller.

• There’s an option to change the colour contrast.
• The app is compatible with screen readers like VoiceOver and TalkBack.
• Alternative text is automatically added to photos uploaded to the app, and content owners can also add more detail here. The alt text will be read aloud if you’re using a screen reader.

• You can change the text size to make posts easier to read.  
• You can toggle on dark mode in settings. 
• The app offers support with screen readers and refreshable braille displays.  

You can use FixMyStreet to report issues that are local to you. For example, if you encounter things like fly tipping, potholes, uneven paving slabs, tree roots raising the pavement, plants that obstruct pathways, or anything else, you can report it via the app. The app then sends the report to the council that’s responsible for maintaining the area.

Through our app, you can report a public space that you find inaccessible, or any access-related issue. Once you’ve reported the issue, a member of our Access Team will be in touch to discuss what happened, and to talk you through possible next steps. Guide Dogs app is available for Apple and Android devices.

Not all the apps we mention are available on iPads or Android tablets. It’s always best to check the App Store or the Google Play Store for more information.