# Bookshare Reader — Read and listen to books

> Library of accessible ebooks for individuals with reading barriers. (iPhone/iPad app by Benetech.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshare-reader/id1605201737 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Benetech](https://appshunter.io/developer/425585906)
- Category: Education, Books
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.30/5 from 67 App Store ratings · 55 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 60 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2023-01-05
- Data updated: 2026-08-13
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshare-reader/id1605201737/reviews.md

## What is Bookshare Reader?

Get the official Bookshare Reader app. Access millions of ebooks from Bookshare, the world's
largest library of ebooks for people with reading barriers like dyslexia, blindness, low vision, and
physical disabilities. Listen to books in high quality audio and customize your reading
experience in ways that work for you. Read bestsellers, new releases, textbooks and
educational books, children’s books, young adult, mysteries, biographies, and more.
Read your way with these customizable features:

• Listen to books in high quality audio
• Adjust reading speed, font size, and colors
• Follow along with highlighted text
• Navigate by page and chapter
• Stop reading and pick up from your last spot
• Download books and read offline

To use Bookshare Reader, you must have a Bookshare membership. Learn more by visiting the Bookshare website.

## Key features

- Access millions of ebooks
- High-quality audio narration
- Customizable reading experience
- Adjustable font size and colors
- Follow along with highlighted text
- Offline reading

## Recent user reviews (10 of 55)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshare-reader/id1605201737/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Amazing for dyslexic people

*2026-07-28, version 1.40.0*

The interface is great and this app helped me read all of my college textbooks. I’m so happy about the new voices for text to speech- they sound super realistic which is something that was lacking before. Also it’s nice to be able to download free books and read them offline too

### 1/5 — Recent update added problems

*2026-07-04, version 1.39.1*

Use previous versions of Bookshare reader. Recent update added prolonged pause at the end of each sentence. Even if the words are sped up, there’s a one second pause between paragraphs, sentences, and any page breaks. Attempted to navigate fixing it, and it is not fixable at this point. I will only be using website until next update. Hopefully it improves.

### 2/5 — Amazing app but it has a bit of a bug that makes it difficult to use

*2026-06-18, version 1.39.0*

I have been a user of bookshare since I was in 7th grade on the old read to go app and now as an adult on an individual membership. It’s the best thing to happen for blind people so that we can access books and information. However, there appears to be a new emerging bug. My library is not syncing across my devices. When I download a book on my ipad to read, it doesn’t download on my phone which is logged into the same account, I have to go manually go download it on my phone too. Reading lists also don’t sync. If I start reading a book on one device, I can’t pick up on another later, it also doesn’t save progress. I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable, but I feel like books should sync across devices and your most recent position in them should sync across devices. I had managed to keep syncing the read to go app to all my new devices until a couple of months ago via the icloud transfer, yes it survived until 2026, but it finally quit and I have to use the new bookshare version now. Book syncing across devices was never an issue on the old read to go app, even when I was on IOS 18 using an app intended for IOS 9. Lol. If you can get this syncing issue fixed on the bookshare reader app I will switch my review to five stars. Thanks.

### 2/5 — Help

*2026-06-11, version 1.39.0*

I like this app and use it a lot but after the most recent update it won’t work I opened a manga (I thing I spelled that wrong) and I can not go to the next page it is stuck on the copy right please fix

### 5/5 — Bookshare has made significant improvements

*2026-06-09, version 1.39.0*

In 2025 I would have described the Bookshare app as below expectations for an eReader app. In 2026 we’ve seen lots of improvements such as synced reading lists and so many other quality of life improvements that make the app easier to use. Creating accessible tech is hard and the Bookshare team is doing a good job addressing community concerns. As a blind person my mobile devices are my go-to in part because the screen reader and controls are easier to use, so the mobile version of platforms like Bookshare working as expected is expected. Already looking forward to half two of this year and what will come next.

### 2/5 — Amazing opportunity for print disabilities, horrible app 🤣

*2026-05-21, version 1.38.0*

I love what Benetech is doing here. It’s an awesome opportunity for people like myself with documented disabilities! This rating has nothing to do with that. The app itself is so bad. The website is awesome, with many different formats and accessible audio readers, like AvaMultilingual on Edge. However, this app has so many issues. Whenever I try reading, a glitch will happen which will cause the pages to disappear. So I have to exit the book to read again. And this happens quite frequently, every time I use the reading app, multiple times a session. I also occasionally have trouble downloading books that I already have access to. Besides that, I love Bookshare, and it’s just a great movement for disability rights and access!

### 3/5 — SUGGESTIONS FOR CREATORS

*2026-05-11, version 1.37.0*

PLEASE make highlighting available for textbooks!!! When it comes time to find something for a paper or quiz, I need access to highlights. 

Also, PLEASE make it easier to navigate the Contents menu! I have to scroll all the way down every single time. Where I am in the text should be highlighted in the contents and the menu should automatically be scrolled to my location. 

Also some of my textbooks in Bookshare are missing essential video content. 

Thanks!

### 1/5 — Book-share Reader

*2026-02-11, version 1.34.0*

I still can’t read a book from the app even newly downloaded books and I’m using the exact same password from the password I use on my Chromebook at school and I need to know if that’s what might be causing it not to work.

### 1/5 — Book-share Reader

*2026-01-22, version 1.33.0*

I keep trying to reed a book from the app on my phone and it won’t load, it’s been like this for three days

### 3/5 — Bugs

*2025-12-24, version 1.33.0*

I love it but constant bugs and crashes. Only way I get accessible books but it is so so buggy

## Frequently asked questions about Bookshare Reader

### What is Bookshare Reader?

Bookshare Reader is the official application that provides access to Bookshare's extensive library of ebooks. It is specifically designed for individuals with reading barriers, offering features like high-quality audio narration and customizable reading settings.

### What are the key features of Bookshare Reader?

Key features include access to millions of ebooks, high-quality audio listening, adjustable reading speed, font size, and colors, highlighted text for following along, chapter navigation, and the ability to download books for offline reading.

### Is Bookshare Reader free to use?

The Bookshare Reader app itself is free to download and use. However, to access the ebooks within the Bookshare library, users must have a Bookshare membership. More information about membership can be found on the Bookshare website.

### Who is the target audience for Bookshare Reader?

This app is designed for individuals who experience reading barriers due to conditions such as dyslexia, blindness, low vision, or physical disabilities. It aims to provide an accessible and personalized reading experience for these users.

### Can I read books offline with Bookshare Reader?

Yes, you can download books from the Bookshare library and read them offline using the Bookshare Reader app. This feature allows you to access your reading material even without an internet connection.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.41.0 — 2026-08-11

• The view now follows the highlighted sentence while in app TTS plays by default.
• New Auto-Scroll With Narration control in audio settings to turn it
  off; a two-finger tap brings you back to the highlight.
• Stability and reliability across the reader, natural voices, and your
  library.

### 1.40.0 — 2026-07-22

- Natural AI voices (beta)
- Sentence navigation while paused
- Improved bookmark / annotation experience 
- Bug fixes and accessibility improvements

### 1.39.1 — 2026-06-22

Bug fixes

### 1.39.0 — 2026-06-09

- Bug Fixes

### 1.38.0 — 2026-05-20

-Improved table of contents navigation and accessibility labeling.
-App performance improvements.

## Apps similar to Bookshare Reader

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Text To Speech – Audio Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-to-speech-audio-reader/id1621275140) | 3.9 (145) | Free | Education |
| [Voice Dream - Natural Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/voice-dream-natural-reader/id496177674) | 4.5 (14,096) | Free | Education |
| [WebOutLoud: Web Text to Speech](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weboutloud-web-text-to-speech/id917672170) | 4.6 (762) | Free | Education |
| [BrailleBuzz](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/braillebuzz/id1501555885) | 3.9 (7) | Free | Education |
| [Talking Typer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-typer/id992103463) | 3.9 (10) | Free | Education |
| [VO Starter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vo-starter/id6455786629) | 3.5 (2) | Free | Education |

## Related topics

[bookshare](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bookshare) · [bookshare reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bookshare-reader) · [easy reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/easy-reader) · [dolphin easy reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/dolphin-easy-reader)

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*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 2026-08-13.*