# BARD Mobile — user reviews

> 131 indexed App Store user reviews of BARD Mobile by Library Of Congress, rated 3.83/5 from 187 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bard-mobile/id705229586/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bard-mobile/id705229586.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 74 · 4★ 22 · 3★ 24 · 2★ 11 · 1★ 22

## What do users think of BARD Mobile?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 📚 Massive library of audiobooks and magazines
- 👍 User-friendly interface with VoiceOver support
- 🎙️ Human narrators instead of text-to-speech
- 📱 Convenient mobile access to books
- ⚡ Ability to download books offline
- 🎧 Good playback controls and chapter navigation
- 💰 Free service for eligible users
- 🔄 Generally stable app performance
- ⏱️ Sleep timer functionality
- 📖 High-quality audiobook narration

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent login and authentication failures
- 🐛 Download queue issues and stalled downloads
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 📵 Poor braille display compatibility
- 🔌 Inconsistent VoiceOver and accessibility support
- ⚠️ Lack of metadata display (genre, narrator, publication year)
- ⚠️ No cross-device synchronization
- ⚠️ Removed website access from app
- ⚠️ iOS compatibility issues with recent updates
- ⚠️ Search functionality limitations
- 🔋 Screen stays on, draining battery
- ⚠️ Playback interruptions from notifications
- ⚠️ Wireless headset control issues
- ⚠️ Limited speed and tone adjustment options
- ⚠️ Account suspension errors

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Login credentials cannot be decrypted error
- Device registration failed when logging in from different locations
- Downloads stuck in queue indefinitely
- App crashes on iOS 26 and recent iOS versions
- VoiceOver focus jumping unexpectedly
- Braille books display gibberish or won't advance properly
- Search results disappear when switching apps or receiving calls
- Playback stops when screen turns off
- Wireless headset stop button not responding
- Sleep timer not working correctly
- Books not syncing across multiple devices
- Account marked as suspended without reason
- Password reset functionality broken
- Airplay 2 compatibility issues
- Siri commands inconsistent
- Playback lag and stuttering
- Books fail to extract after download
- Recent downloads cannot be cleared
- Braille display connection issues
- Tone adjustment button not functioning

**Most requested features**

- Genre and category filtering for book browsing
- Cross-device synchronization of bookmarks and reading position
- Equalizer and pitch shifter controls
- More playback speed options
- Volume control within the app
- Rewind/fast-forward button customization
- Favorites list feature
- Book request/suggestion feature
- Web browser access within the app
- Braille text display alongside audio
- Dark mode for reduced brightness
- Table of contents for short story collections
- Customizable reading lists
- Ability to cleanup recent downloads
- USB flash drive support for storage
- Better book series organization
- Faster book addition to library
- Book sharing feature between patrons

## Newest reviews (18 of 131)

### 4/5 — Bug while traveling

*2026-08-13, version 2.2.6*

This app has made such a difference to me. With low vision it has allowed me to continue reading, and the interface is intuitive to use with low vision. I especially appreciate that you can change the color contrast, but the font should be in bold, as thin fonts are more difficult to navigate.  One big problem is when traveling. I was going on a long international flight and downloaded several books to enjoy on the flight and during my travels. I lost them all when not connected to the internet and had a very long and boring flight. I could not reload them while abroad either. I thought these were downloaded to my phone and should have been accessible. Since then I’ve noticed that when I open the app it temporarily shows 0 books until the book’s load in. The loss of these materials for a long trip was heartbreaking since listening to the movies on board a flight are not as entertaining as listening to a good book.

### 4/5 — Every useful

*2026-08-03, version 2.2.6*

Doesn't have a lot of book but still was some good ones

### 4/5 — Download problem

*2026-07-25, version 2.2.6*

The audio titles and braille titles get put on the download cue.
Please fix the problem.

### 4/5 — Audio issue

*2026-07-23, version 2.2.6*

I have iPad 10th generation I’m running iPadOS 26.5.2 and the version of the app is 226 and the issue is when I closed the app out of the app switcher and then reopen it more often than not. It backs up the book 15 to 30 minutes.

### 3/5 — It doesn't always add books to your wish list.

*2026-07-10, version 2.2.6*

I've added books to my wish list, and frequently, when I go back, they've dropped off my wish list, though I can find them and re-add them. Sometimes they stay, sometimes they don't. This is a big problem when trying to put books from a specific series, or a type of book in your wish list so that you can have them available without having to search over and over again. I've had to start downloading them, which takes up a lot of room, just so that I don't forget what books I wanted to read, because of this problem. A wish list was supposed to alleviate that problem, but it doesn't.

### 2/5 — Better than nothing

*2026-07-07, version 2.2.6*

Sleep function is nice that it tapers volume down as timer end approaches. Sometimes after sleep timer is used, playback point goes back several minutes prior to timer initialization upon resuming. Search function very much limited in relevant results and does poor job overall. Category search extremely poor. Should have more speed and tone options. Offers poor selection of existing audiobook presentations, sometimes offering pre-1980 audio recordings when post-2000 recordings exist.  Example of how much taxpayer-funded Library of Congress/library for the blind holds its users as priority: app in app store gives many images which could be removed and app presentation be equal for target audience, blind and visually impaired individuals.

### 2/5 — Voiceover screen reader not announcing books are added to list wish list along with haptic feedback

*2026-06-22, version 2.2.5*

I am using Apple‘s voiceover screen reader in the bard app. There is a bug in here where when you add things to your wish list, it is no longer providing the haptics and the speech that it did at one time we voiceover said book added to wishlist along with the haptic feedback associated with it please fix it. It’s broken thank you

### 4/5 — Great app, but needs better book organization

*2026-06-06, version 2.2.5*

Hello all, I love how far this app has come. I remember it when it looked like a website but now it looks really cool and neatly laid out. I do have one problem with it, though; I wish you could organize your library into folders, and then I wish you could put the books one downloads into said folders. I also wish the books would stay in the order that they were downloaded in. For example, book one of the Harry Potter series, and then book 2 of the Harry Potter series; However, that does not happen. Once I download a book, it throws it in some random order so for example, the first Harry Potter book would be there, and then the first Lord of the rings book, and finally the second Harry Potter book. It is rather annoying to have to swipe through an unorganized library. That is why I request folders and for the ability for the books to stay in the order of the book series.

### 3/5 — Keeps crashing since last IOS update

*2026-04-30, version 2.2.5*

Titlle

### 4/5 — Need more book info

*2026-03-19, version 2.2.5*

An older version of Bard used to show the genre and narrator on new books added and on searches. Now we see the title and author. I want to be able to see and search by genre and narrator. It’s very frustrating to wade through hundreds or thousands of titles hoping to find something suitable. Remember, we can’t see well. Please consider adding back genre and narrator. Publication year would be nice too. Surely this info is already part of the metadata, and it would make the app much more useful and user friendly.

### 2/5 — App Doesn’t work with braille

*2025-12-27, version 2.2.5*

I am deafblind so don’t use audio. I’m giving it two stars because I know it works better with audio files. But it does not work with braille books. I can download the books ok with a braille display, but it can’t read them. I’ve tried with multiple braille displays and settings. It shows varying levels of jibberish or it doesn’t allow you to advance (pan) to the next line without going down and hitting the line button which is just awful to have to do every 20 characters. I have asked for help and they just tell me to send back the ereader for replacement. But it is not the problem. I know this because the ereader will do fine to read bookshare books and kindle books. And I’ve tried other braille displays and it works the same. This is a BARD app problem. It has nothing to do with the ereader. But they act like I don’t know what I am doing. My partner and I own an adaptive tech company. I’m willing to look into whether I am missing something, but I don’t think its me. I think it is that they don’t have anyone who really is competent in braille on their staff to fix this. So I have to remember to download a book every (month? Six months? Year? It keeps changing) to keep the service, but am basically cut out of all the braille.Disappointing from a service FOR the blind.

### 4/5 — I love BARD Mobile, but when I go places, it won’t let me login

*2025-12-26, version 2.2.5*

I just tried to login at a different house than mine and it didn’t work. It just kept saying device registration failed and I can’t read the books that I read every night. Super annoying because at this house, I can’t watch TV because there’s no streaming services. please just send some kind of update to iOS 26.1 that stops this because this is really driving me nuts

### 4/5 — Download problem

*2025-12-12, version 2.2.5*

Could y’all please fix the problem with the downloading of the books, and magazines on your app? I downloaded up to 20, and I tried to download another, and it said that you were download Q is full. Now I am waiting, and all the books that I have downloaded referring to the audiobooks, are still on the queue for download mode. No, I’m not on Wi-Fi, I’m on cellular data. I think your app has a problem, and it is taking forever for the books referring to the audiobooks to be downloaded. I wonder if this download problem is also happening with audio magazines, even though I haven’t done it. Please fix this as issue from now on. Thank you. I believe them that your app is excellent! But please fix the issue from now on. Thanks. Sorry for the mistakes in the review. The phone acts up. Sometimes.

### 2/5 — Can't download books

*2025-12-11, version 2.2.5*

The new update seems to have broken this app entirely. Every time I try to download something it says queue for download but never actually downloads. I followed instructions from the rail Library to DEELATE the app and reinstall it and that got rid of the existing books I had downloaded too. So now I have nothing to read. The brand Library did say that other people were having the same issue. I hope it's fixed soon so I can start reading again.

### 3/5 — Not working with IOS26

*2025-11-11, version 2.2.2*

Crashes within seconds of opening or doing anything. Please fix.

### 2/5 — Log in on apple

*2025-10-23, version 2.2.2*

There are constant issues lately trying to log in on apple. I have the newest IOS and update. Normally the app rocks, but things like this basically kick you out indefinitely. It wants you to reset password but won’t let you do it on the app. Online it works, but then won’t log in either way. Sounds a system error.

### 4/5 — IOS 26 Braille Book Reading Problems, Please Examine This and Address

*2025-10-18, version 2.2.2*

Braille used to work fine, but in ios26 it keeps going out of the book and doing the vertical scroll bar thing, and you can't move it. Autoscroll does not help. Please look into this and figure out a workaround so I can read freely again. Thanks.

### 3/5 — Clear books from Previous downloads, read books on web and problem with reading Braille on iOS

*2025-09-30*

Hello. I'd like to be able to read/listen to books on the web because Apple is not letting me reset my password. Until Apple  does not make this a big problem, I would like to use Bard on web. I have a device with the app, but it would be nice to use the web on my other device to listen to a book. Also, on iOS, Attempting to read a Braille book is broken. It just shows nonsence. Also, Why can't we cleanup our Recent downloads?

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Broken Bard

*2026-01-19, version 2.2.5*

Since the last update, Bard is impossible to navigate with SiRI and with VoiceOver. In the main catalog of the Music Library: 1. I cannot search or select for titles and download them. 2. I’m unable to retrieve previous downloads because of lag time with voiceover. And the titles are no longer in alphabetical order or chronological order by date.  3. I’m unable to work with the Bookshelf List for the same reasons. 
What happened?

### 1/5 — Can’t download

*2025-12-24, version 2.2.5*

I have not been able to download an audio book for a while now. It just says that it is in the que to download. I have deleted the app and reinstalled to no avail. Can’t listen to books anymore. Real bummer!

### 1/5 — Not Working on iPad

*2025-11-18, version 2.2.2*

I can’t access the app.  It will not recognize my email.  Very disappointed. I cant get the Zoomax ereader to work also.

### 1/5 — My Account is suddenly Suspended. Why?

*2025-09-21, version 2.2.2*

Hello. I logged into BARD today to get a book, but it says "Account Inactive / Suspended" I did nothing wrong so How do i get my account to work?

### 1/5 — Keeps saying login failed account suspended

*2024-08-21, version 2.2.2*

I am also having the issue where it will not log me in and keeps telling me my account is suspended

### 1/5 — Nothing but problems

*2024-07-19, version 2.2.2*

I am constantly having problems with this app. I am told I have been suspended for too many login attempts, but I am not logging in, merely listening to books. I could not recommend this app if it were the last book listening app on the planet. Highly dissatisfied!

### 1/5 — Updates have ruined this app

*2024-06-19, version 2.2.2*

Bard mobile was at one time a great app for visually handicapped people. Now after the last few updates, nothing works with voice over on apple. 

Some things are impossible to click on, while other things have moved entirely. I’m no longer able to navigate and use this app on my own and now have to rely and depend on a seeing person to do it for me. At this point I might as well use any app since it no longer makes any difference for me.

### 1/5 — problems downloading books, viewing my wishlist, and previous downloads from the app

*2023-10-21, version 2.2.1*

Since updating my iPhone 12 Pro Max's operating system to IOS 17.0.3 earlier this month, when I press any button in the app, I get a message stating that the login credentials cannot be decrypted. At one point it told me that there was no connection to the network. so while I can log into the BARD website, see my wishlist, previous downloads, and search the book collection, I can't do any of that in the app. It also doesn't allow me to download books because the same message always appears. I have already uninstalled and reinstalled the application, I have changed my password, I have restarted my iPhone, I have called Apple technical support, I have emailed nls, I have sent registry diagnostics, I have received recommendations. nothing works. I suspect the app needs updating to be fully compatible with IOS 17.0.3.

### 1/5 — Downloading issues in iOS

*2023-04-18, version 2.2*

Installed the app this afternoon and have had minimal success with downloading selected items.  I have four books on my bookshelf but have only been able to successfully download one of them - after have a dozen or so attempts. I’ve tried the other three items dozens of times, to no avail.

Having the same issue with magazines.

### 1/5 — Broken App

*2023-03-03, version 2.0.0*

Completely broken.  Can’t get passed login screen. Pop up keeps saying that there’s an issue with token verification.  I have done all the appropriate troubleshooting steps, but the problem persists.  Support (LoC) keeps blaming the problem on me, but it is just a badly programmed application.   I am a software engineer myself, trying to get this to work for my nearly blind aunt.  This is unacceptable.  Try programming in error codes to assist with troubleshooting, and make sure those supporting the blind with this app know what they are doing.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — The best app I have on my phone!

*2026-06-15, version 2.2.5*

Hello, I have been using bard since I was 11. So for like four years now. As a fully blind individual, BARD Mobile has made it possible for me to read without buying books or spending an outrageous amount of money on a subscription. Although Audible still Has Its Pl., BARD Mobile is extremely helpful and life-changing for me. I spent almost all of my time reading, and I’m probably the biggest bookworm out of all my friends. And because BARD Mobile lets me have access to the audio versions and braille versions of books for free, I have been able to read pretty much every book I’ve wanted to. The selection on board is amazing, and the accessibility is phenomenal. I’ve seriously never ever found an accessibility issue on this app. One thing I especially love about Bard is that when there is about to be an update ran on it or when bar will be down for a few hours too a few days, they always send out a service message. Also, I love how often this app is updated with new books and just all out new features. There was only one suggestion I would make for this app. When I am looking through books and searching for titles, I can only search for specific titles. I wish there was a tab that let you discover books kind of like Audible, and you could pick young adult or whatever genre you want to look at. And then it would show you all the books categorized in that genre. It would make discovering books way easier, and it would just be really helpful in my opinion. I’ve tried just searching for young adult books, but it hasn’t worked since it thinks. I’m talking about a book with that specific title. Thank you for taking the time to read this, sorry if the typing is weird because I’m using dictate. And I hope that you take my feedback in consideration when making updates to this app. Thank you for providing an amazing app that lets blind people of all ages read and access literature!

### 5/5 — Amazing!!!

*2026-06-09, version 2.2.5*

This app has changed my life! I am not exaggerating when I say I don’t remember a day for the past few years when I haven’t used this app! I can now read in an accessible format and I don’t have to buy any books. Thank you so much!

### 5/5 — Love This App

*2026-06-06, version 2.2.5*

I’ve used Bard Mobile for a few years and I have been really enjoying it. The app has a wide selection of audiobooks to pick from and it’s nice that I can open the app and listen to a good book while I’m occupied with something else. As of the date of this review, I currently have over 80 books on my account.

### 5/5 — More updates for the app and the DA two player

*2026-02-21, version 2.2.5*

I have a question about this is there any possible way that when you update the app you can fix a search problem for like when you search for a book you want and as you’re going through the list of books after you click search as your swipe in your finger through all of the books if you get it, incoming phone call and then when you hang up, is it possible to fix it to where it can stay where you left off instead of having to research all over again because when you get an incoming phone call, it seems like it just goes back to the main search page and you lost all your listing of books that you can swipe through after searching now about the DA two player, I love it a lot. I really do. I love the fact that you can download books from the site. or still use cartridges but I was wondering if it’s possible if another software for the machine will be released maybe another new update keep up the good work, I enjoy it a lot if it’s possible, even if it’s not, that’s no big deal. I still love it but if it’s possible within the next software release update if there would be like a feature that were, we can actually create an ad to favorites list. I know you have the bookshelf button on the player and that’s good too but what I’m getting at is like when you get so many books inside the player if there’s a way that you can actually favor a book like maybe hold one of the buttons down to enter favorites list or something like that I know it’s gonna take time but I’m just making a suggestion for a new feature and I don’t know how to contact and make a suggestions directly on the web so I’m actually putting this in my review here on the App Store and since we already have a bookshelf button on the DA two player, I was suggesting maybe the place stop button having a new feature like how you hold it in to enter the book bookshelf that way, cause there’s two different ways to enter the bookshelf, but if it would be possible and then after you get it all figured out maybe put that little section inside your user‘s God because we have a regular bookshelf button so it would be neat to actually take and hold down on the plane and stop button and it’ll enter like some kind of maybe favorites list you can go through your favorite books without scrolling through them all I meant to say play stop button sorry for the misspelling or whatever I’m using dictation so NLS thank you I really appreciate you guys, but if it is kind of possible, that would be a real neat feature because like I was saying, we do have the bookshelf button on the player so if you can change the play stop button into like some kind of favorites. We would all have to figure that out and I don’t know how you guys would put that effort into it, but that would be a great neat little feature. Thank you guys. I mean, I get it you give us two different ways to enter the bookshelf. One is to hit the bookshelf button directly. The other is to hold down on place stop but I would suggest you maybe take place stop and hold it down to go through your favorites list had the voice prompt say entering flavors list and then you use your right left arrow to scroll through your favorite books and click click play on the book that you want or when you hit the bookshelf button as your list of books come up and it tells you the name of that book have it come on after it’s done telling you the name of the book and how long it is and everything have it come on and say add to favorites list hit info to confirm or any other key to cancel thumbs up NLS thank you guys if there’s anyway you can maybe reply to my review and say well yeah that would be possible or no. We don’t think it’d be possible but either way I still love it. I love the app. I love the book player machine, but I was just making a suggestion. Hopefully, you can read this review because that would definitely definitely be a five star feature that would be great. i’m gonna go ahead and end my review hopefully to hear from you guys soon. Thank you guys again. thank you, Library of Congress for bringing talking books and services for The Blind and visually impaired.

### 5/5 — Book request

*2026-01-09, version 2.2.5*

Hello, I have started using the BARD Mobile app for maybe a few months now and I find it very nice but I beg of you please put in a feature to where we can suggest books to add to the app or just please add the trapped in the video game series that has the books trapped in a video game, trapped in a video game the invisible invasion trapped in a video game for robots revolt, etc. please add D0 Chronicles, which include the books 0G dragon planet and stargazer and please add the book interview with the robot because so far I’ve only been able to find these books on audible or learning ally, but I think this app is a lot better than the other others, but please add these books to the app and make a feature to where we can request books to be added to the app without having to go to the App Store where you like this please and thank you Joseph a.k.a. blind goose

### 5/5 — Great library app

*2025-11-27, version 2.2.5*

A great resource with a huge number of books. Very easy to use.

### 5/5 — BARD Mobile

*2025-11-24, version 2.2.5*

Good morning BARD Mobile NLS team Ulises is here. I just recently downloaded the app to the bard 2.0 and I love it. Thank you for providing this new update within iOS 26.1 keep the updates coming. I really enjoy the NLS BARD Mobile application a lot. Thank you once again a proud NLS customer and reader sincerely Ulises I give this app a total of five stars because it is one of my favorite applications for the blind and visually impact community. Thank you once again keep up the great work sincerely Ulises.

### 5/5 — Syncing Problem

*2025-11-18, version 2.2.2*

Hello. For some reason BARD MOBILE isn't syncing my Downloads across my iOS devices. Both are signed in to the same Bard account and I reset my Apple ID password successfully, which allowed me to get the app on my new device. This is where the problem occured. My history never synced. Books and magazines gotten on 1 device would not show on the other. I am logged into the same BARD Account, so I thought my data would be stored in my account, but it's not. Please fix this, as I'm frustrated that My history isn't synced. I don’t get why Information like Book Position and other info isn't synced through the your account. I hope this issue can be fixed and BARD MOBILE Data can sync on all signed in devices. Thank you for reading, and Thank You For The App :)

### 5/5 — BARD Mobile

*2025-09-22, version 2.2.2*

I love the app, but an equalizer feature would be nice, as well as a pitch shifter to raise or lower the pitch as well as more speed options. what does tone mean when listening to a book? is it possible to update the app to be compatible with iOS 17? this app is so fun and neat and amazing and awesome and cool and super and phenomenal. please don’t ever get rid of the book Breakthrough by Joyce Smith because it is an inspiring and true story. thank you so much for finally adding this book because I’ve been waiting to download it for a long time. it would be even more cool if you could set the speed to 0%. Please don’t ever get rid of this app because I love it so much and it’s so nice and handy and convenient. Thanks. I love how the books are read by actual humans who are expressive instead of text-to-speech. Now I can’t even adjust the tone of the book I am listening to like I used to be able to do. thanks so much for updating the app so that I can adjust the tone of the books again like I used to. Please keep the updates coming if possible. is it possible to update the app to be compatible with iOS 26? There’s nothing wrong with the app, but I was just curious. It would be super awesome, cool, fun and funny if there was an option to slow down the playback speed to 0%. I have a Brailliant BI 40X Braille display that got an update where I can download audiobooks from the built-in bard app, but I can’t find the download button anywhere once I find a book? How do I find it? Do I have to turn something on or off? Thanks.

### 5/5 — BARD Mobile

*2025-07-18*

I love the app, but an equalizer feature would be nice, as well as a pitch shifter to raise or lower the pitch as well as more speed options. what does tone mean when listening to a book? is it possible to update the app to be compatible with iOS 17? this app is so fun and neat and amazing and awesome and cool and super and phenomenal. please don’t ever get rid of the book Breakthrough by Joyce Smith because it is an inspiring and true story. thank you so much for finally adding this book because I’ve been waiting to download it for a long time. it would be even more cool if you could set the speed to 0%. Please don’t ever get rid of this app because I love it so much and it’s so nice and handy and convenient. Thanks. I love how the books are read by actual humans who are expressive instead of text-to-speech. Now I can’t even adjust the tone of the book I am listening to like I used to be able to do. thanks so much for updating the app so that I can adjust the tone of the books again like I used to. Please keep the updates coming if possible. is it possible to update the app to be compatible with iOS 17.4.1? There’s nothing wrong with the app, but I was just curi. It would be super awesome, cool, fun and funny if there was an option to slow down the playback speed to 0%.

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-06.*