Screen reader

NVDA (which stands for NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free, Windows open-source screen reader, meaning that it can be updated by anyone with new features. It reads whatever text in on the screen in a synthetic voice and is compatible with a range of refreshable braille displays. Plus, it can work directly from a USB stick, so you can use it on any computer. It also works in over 50 languages, including many that other screen readers often don’t. That means you can access your favourite sites and tools, such as emails, web browsers, Microsoft Word and Excel, with complete ease. Once installed, NVDA starts immediately when your computer starts. If you don’t need the system anymore, simply turn it off by pressing your insert key and Q at the same time. 

Microsoft Narrator is the built-in screen reader for Windows operating systems. It requires no installation and is ready to access in the computer settings. With a few different voices to choose from, Narrator is a fairly advanced and easy-to-use screen reader. It is easy to navigate and you can adjust it to your liking. It is compatible with refreshable braille displays. It works in over 40 languages and is compatible with refreshable braille displays.

You can try it now by:

• Window logo key + Ctrl + Enter (in Windows 10 and above)

• Windows logo key + Enter (older versions of Windows)

• Ease of access button in the lower-right corner of the sign in screen

Apple's version of a screen reader, VoiceOver, comes built-in as standard to most Mac computers and laptops, iPhones and iPads. The software will read aloud the text and anything else on your computer screen, including alt text, html code and dialogue boxes. You can pick from one of 70 voices and over 35 languages with customisable pronunciations, so you can really tailor the software to you.

VoiceOver is also compatible with refreshable Braille displays, so it can translate your screen to braille if you prefer. To turn it on or off, you can use one of the following methods:

• Activate Siri and say, "Turn on (or off) VoiceOver"
• Go to your Accessibility Settings, select VoiceOver, and then turn the setting on or off

Once Voice Over is turned on in settings, these are easy ways to toggle it on and off:

• The most common way is a three-finger double tap on the screen
• Triple-click the side button (on an iPhone with Face ID)
• Triple-click the Home button (on an iPhone with a Home button)

WebAnywhere is a web-based screen reader that’s easy to use as it doesn’t require any special software installed on your computer. This means that you can access the web from any computer, anywhere, no matter their level of accessibility. It works with popular operating systems, including Android and iOS for mobile and Firefox.

TalkBack is the standard screen reading software installed on most Android devices. It’s user-friendly and works alongside the majority of apps and internet sites. It’s built into your device so there’s no need to spend time downloading the software, although some devices may need to install it from the Google Play Store. You may see TalkBack listed as VoiceAssistant or Accessibility Suite on some devices. After enabling it in the Accessibility settings, you can turn it on and off by:

• Pressing both volume keys at once for 3 seconds
• Asking the Google Assistant to “turn on TalkBalk”
• Through the Accessibility settings menu

ChromeVox is a free built-in screen reader on all Chromebook laptops. You can turn the feature on or off using keyboard shortcuts:

• Pressing Ctrl + Alt + Z at any time
• Pressing the volume up and down buttons for five seconds when using a Google-powered tablet

ChromeVox is also available as a Google Chrome web browser extension which you can add to Chrome by visiting the Google Chrome Extensions Gallery and searching for “ChromeVox”.

The GNOME project created ORCA, a free, open-source screen reader, in 2006. You can tailor your ORCA profile by installing multiple configurations to get a readout style, voice and language that's right for you.

BRLTTY is a background process used in Linux machines. It offers access to the operating system console when in text mode for people with sight loss who use refreshable braille displays. It's designed so that you can easily add extra modules, such as other braille displays and speech synthesisers.

The screen reader, Emacspeak, allows you to interact with a Linux OS-based computer by reading out the different elements on your computer such as websites or messages. It often comes pre-bundled with the major Linux distributors.

SuperNova is one of the best-selling paid-for screen readers in the UK. You can often find in libraries and school computers. It comes in a variety of formats to suit different needs, including:

• SuperNova Magnifier
• SuperNova Magnifier & Speech
• SuperNova Magnifier & Screen Reader
• SuperNova Enterprise

The software provides touchscreen magnification that’s simple to use on tablets and mobile phones for personal use, but also comes with flexible licensing options for businesses. The SuperNova Magnifier and Screen Reader package is also compatible with braille displays, meaning you have a choice of how you have your read out delivered to you.

JAWS is a screen reader software for Microsoft Windows that allows you to translate your computer screen with a text-to-speech output or a refreshable Braille display. It's used most often in offices. JAWS was produced by the Blind and Low Vision Group of Vispero, so the navigation is well-designed and easy to use.

JAWS will turn on at start up and start speaking immediately. To get it to read everything accessible on the screen, hit the key combination of 'Insert + Down Arrow', which powers up the 'Say All' command. While using this, the left and right arrow keys can be used to rewind or fast forward through the text, making it easy to read entire pages seamlessly.

Although JAWS is more expensive than other options, it's often described as the most popular paid-for option by screen reader users thanks to its user-friendliness. It also has a choice of configurations so you can tailor it to your needs.

Fusion is a paid-for accessibility app created by Vispero. It combines the screen reading capabilities of JAWS with a screen magnification tool called ZoomText®, making screens more accessible for people with various visual impairments. By combining both tools into one package, Fusion provides:

• Flexible, high-quality speech
• Powerful keyboard access
• Web navigation
• A range of customisation options. 

Although the software is more commonly used by organisations such as businesses and schools, it does come as a professional and home package, so you must get the right version to have the correct licensing for your device.

There are numerous different ways you can get a screen reader. Remember, many computers, mobiles and tablets will have built-in options, so you should be able to follow the manufacturers guide to turn the software on with little to no installation. Examples of built-in screen readers include:

• VoiceOver (Apple)
• TalkBack (Google/Android)
• Narrator (Windows)

If your device doesn’t have a screen reader built in, or you want to use a specific software, you should be able to download one as a plug-in or app.

Some screen readers, such as those that are built-in to your laptop, tablet or phone are available completely free of charge. Others have optional upgrades which carry a small fee. Other options are only available on a paid-for licence.

The exact price of a paid-for screen reader like JAWS, depends on what kind of licencing you need (business or personal) and whether you’re combining it with any other software, such as a magnifier or text to speech. Typically, you’ll be looking at a price range of £735.00 – £840.00 for full licencing.

Paid-for screen readers are available to some people through the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Technology Grant Scheme.

You may also be eligible for the Access to Work grant scheme, which may help with the cost of a screen reader if you need one to do your job. You can find out if you’re eligible and learn more about what the scheme covers on the RNIB website.

Although screen readers are often a useful tool for people with sight loss or those with vision impairments that affect their ability to read digital displays, they cannot guarantee a smooth reading experience online. It is ultimately down to the web developers to ensure a website is screen-reader-friendly and has all the readable information you need to get the most from your online experience.

If you feel a screen reader would benefit you, make sure you look into the options that are compatible with your mobile, tablet or computer. It’s also a good idea to try out a few of the free options to see which works best for you before deciding whether or not you want a paid-for option.