Screen Reader Rankings: The Best for 2025
One of the leading innovations in digital accessibility is the Screen Reader. This software helps enable low and no-vision users to access, navigate, and benefit from the online commerce and resources on which we’ve all grown reliant. But in a market saturated with options, which screen readers are the best and why? We’ve compiled an overview based on opinions from experts, users, and advocates to give you guidance on the top screen reader products for 2025.
And we delve into the critical piece of the accessibility puzzle that’s missing from most conversations about screen readers- how digital audits make the difference between a cool software product on a beautiful mission and a cool software product actually capable of accomplishing that mission.
Overview of Top Screen Readers
Given the different considerations that go into choosing the best screen reader for a particular user, we won’t pick just one. Instead, we’re highlighting four screen readers that most experts recognize as overall standouts in the field, each of which offers slightly different variables (like cost, operating systems, top benefit, and best browser).
NVDA
Non-Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) is screen reading software provided by nvaccess.org, a non-profit organization (NV Access) with the mission of enhancing online access and functionality for low and no-vision users. Users seem to appreciate the benefits touted by NV Access, such as affordability, simplicity, speed, functionality, and portability. open-source software, it is continuously evolving to incorporate process improvements and tech innovations by experts world-wide.
Top Benefit: Simplicity of install and use
Best With: Chrome, Edge, Firefox
Operating System: Windows 8.1 and on, and Server 2012 on, but pre-2022 not actively supported for either
Current Pricing: Free
JAWS
Job Access With Speech (JAWS) is screen reader software provided by Freedom Scientific, a company devoted to creating tech solutions to common problems facing people with low and no vision. While JAWS must be purchased, there are licensing purchase options available for different users, such as personal use, professional use, school use, etc.
Top Benefit: Customizable, Most popular screen reader currently
Best With: Chrome, Explorer, Firefox
Operating System: Windows 11 and on, and Server 2016 and on.
Current Pricing: Differs per package/license, ranging from $95/year to $1625 single purchase.
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is made by Apple and automatically installed on all of their products. So, if you’re operating an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, etc., you already have access to VoiceOver. However, you must switch-on VoiceOver on your devices in order to use it. Apple and others provide written and video tutorials on how to set up and optimize VoiceOver when you’re ready to get started.
Top Benefit: Immediate availability for use on Apple products
Best With: Safari
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 and on
Current Pricing: Free (but only available on Apple)
Dolphin
The eponymously named company that sells this screen reading software sells several other assistive tech products as well. Dolphin offers customizable speech settings, braille support, keyboard navigation, accessible reading, and more. Includes the EasyReader App, giving global access to library books, newspapers, and magazines.
Top Benefit: Natural-sounding speech with customizable options.
Best With: Chrome
Operating System: Windows 10 & 11
Current Pricing: $1105 base
The Future of Screen Readers & AI
AI is already playing a role in advancing digital accessibility across all products and platforms, but it is expected to play a more expansive role over time. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the primary focus of AI’s potential in this realm is in the nuance, the details, the fine-tuning. For instance, where AI is already being used for speech recognition, screen reading, and more, with advanced training of AI software, it is continuously moving toward a softer, more nuanced, and realistic interface.
Of course, AI is not without its problems, and currently it is still plagued by things like phantom facts, redundancies, and awkwardness. But as it improves, it is poised to be a clear ally for low and no vision users. One area that is already seeing some improvement is the use of AI to auto-generate ALT-TEXT. By handing over this aspect of web design and social media to AI, we can anticipate an online future in which all images are immediately and readily perceptible by low and no vision users relying on assistive technologies.
The Role of Digital Accessibility Auditing
As innovators and leaders in the accessibility auditing segment, we applaud the existence and continued advancement of screen readers and other technologies, including AI to assist low vision and blind users.
But it’s important to note that accessibility advancements are only as good as your website allows. In other words, if users can’t access or properly utilize new technologies because outdated impediments persist across your website (and most others), then the impact of these advancements may be sharply limited.
Digital accessibility auditing allows websites, including both fresh roll-outs that just went live and long-established brand favorites, to adequately and comprehensively assess where and how they fall short of meeting digital accessibility targets. The framework for analyzing this is whether your site meets Americans with Disabilities (ADA) compliance standards and WCAG global standards. If impediments exist in certain aspects of your site design and functionality (or even across your whole site), we identify them and offer concrete solutions. Your web design can implement the changes, or we can do it for you.
Whether your business is on the leading edge of the accessibility realm or you’re just being introduced to this concept for the first time, call us now to learn how we can help you. The best part is that digital accessibility doesn’t just foster equity and inclusion for low vision and blind people, it also brings a host of welcome and rewarding benefits to the businesses that lean in.
We’re your ally for ADA compliance.