# Live Read — Text Reader Blind & Low Vision > Camera-based text-to-speech reader for the visually impaired. (iPhone/iPad app by Ryan Anetsberger.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-read/id6749649547 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Ryan Anetsberger](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831593027) - Category: Utilities, Productivity - Price: Free - Rating: 4.86/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 1 MB - Languages: Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German and 32 more - Released: 2025-08-19 - Data updated: 2026-07-03 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-read/id6749649547/reviews.md ## What is Live Read? Live Read turns your camera into a personal reading companion. It instantly finds printed text and speaks it aloud, giving people with visual impairments an easy way to read independently. No setup, no clutter. Read anything around you From mail and books to signs, menus, and labels, Live Read makes everyday reading effortless at home or on the go. Designed for accessibility Every part of Live Read is built for ease of use. Just open the app, point the camera, and it starts reading automatically. Tap anywhere to stop or reset, or swipe to move between lines. Turning on VoiceOver will replace the swipe gestures with buttons. Features • Automatic reading: Text is detected and spoken aloud in real time. • Tap or swipe control: Tap to stop or reset. Swipe left to repeat a line or right to skip ahead a line of text. • Customizable speech: Choose from natural Apple voices and adjust speaking speed. • Works offline: Reads instantly without an internet connection. • Multi-language support: Recognizes printed text in 50+ languages. • Private and secure: Live Read never saves or sends anything you scan. All processing happens instantly and entirely on your device. Disclaimer: Live Read is not a medical device. Text recognition results may not always be accurate or complete. Please use your own judgment and verify information when needed. Testimonial "I am using it on my phone now. It works amazing! And I'm reading an Irish bagpipe music book so the words are unusual and the computer is getting it pretty much right on." - Vision Piping ## Key features - Automatic real-time text reading - Tap and swipe gesture controls - Customizable natural voice options - Offline functionality - Supports over 50 languages - Private and secure on-device processing ## Recent user reviews (6 of 6) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/live-read/id6749649547/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Incredible OCR and I can’t believe it’s free! *2026-03-19* Ryan clearly understands the low vision community well and the quality of this app speaks to that. It is intuitive and works very well. I wish he would even charge a $1 because the app is worth a lot more than that and he deserves it. ### 3/5 — Live read EXPERIENCE *2026-01-29* Just want to know, how much adjustment I have to do for the camera to recognize the text properly so the voiceover would not sound like it speaking giberige That’s my only issue, that’s the reason for my three star rating. ### 5/5 — Great for someone who is blind *2025-11-08* This a great app I’ve used it a few times and I love it so far!!! ### 5/5 — just one request. *2025-10-22* this is a very good product. If the text seems garbled, just adjust the phone a little bit, and things clear up pretty well. My only request is that there is an option to speed up the speech. I know that people who are not used to electronic speech, need to be a little slower, but those of us who are used to that kind of speech need it to read faster. **Developer response:** Check out the settings! The settings gear is in the top right corner. The first settings option is a slider that can make the speaking rate faster or slower. I hope this helps! ### 5/5 — Instant- Easy - Effective *2025-10-11* No searching for the app - just ask Siri to open the app and point your camera. No subtitles to try and manage. I give thumbs up on this amazing app. And FREE! ### 5/5 — This is amazing!!! *2025-08-19* Thank you so much for creating such an easy tool to aid in reading for those with low vision! ## Frequently asked questions about Live Read ### How does Live Read work? Live Read uses your device's camera to detect printed text and then speaks it aloud in real time. You can control the reading by tapping to stop or reset, and swiping to navigate lines. ### Is Live Read free to use? Yes, Live Read is completely free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements. ### Does Live Read require an internet connection? No, Live Read works offline. Text recognition and speech occur instantly on your device, meaning you don't need an internet connection to use it. ### What languages does Live Read support? Live Read supports over 50 languages, allowing it to recognize and read printed text from a wide variety of sources around the world. ### Is Live Read suitable for children? Live Read has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for younger users. Its intuitive design and accessibility features can be beneficial for children needing reading assistance. ### How often is Live Read updated? The latest version of Live Read is 1.2.1, last updated on November 4, 2025. Updates typically include improvements to text recognition accuracy and feature enhancements. ### Can I customize the voice and speed in Live Read? Yes, you can customize the speech output in Live Read. You can choose from natural Apple voices and adjust the speaking speed to your preference. ### Is my scanned text private with Live Read? Yes, Live Read is designed to be private and secure. All text processing happens on your device, and the app never saves or sends any scanned information. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.2.1 — 2025-11-04 - Bug and crash fixes - Improved Tutorial for VoiceOver users - Slight interface improvements ### 1.2 — 2025-10-18 • Faster speaking rates for advanced users • Expanded voice options with more natural voices • Skipping lines now works with VoiceOver • Added support for over 50 languages • General performance improvements and bug fixes ### 1.1 — 2025-09-04 - Slight update to app icon. - Improvements to settings and tutorial. - That's it! Enjoy! ### 1.0 — 2025-08-19 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Live Read | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [MyVoice - Speech Assistant](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/myvoice-speech-assistant/id6450155201) | 4.3 (3) | Free | Utilities | | [Talk For Me - Text to Speech](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talk-for-me-text-to-speech/id975096888) | 4.3 (119) | $1.99 | Utilities | | [RealTime Ai Cam](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/realtime-ai-cam/id6751230739) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Utilities | | [Echobatix Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/echobatix-lite/id6657991213) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Utilities | | [ML ASL Speech To Rec](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ml-asl-speech-to-rec/id6738796256) | — | Free | Utilities | | [Text Talker Subtitles Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-talker-subtitles-reader/id6751553758) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Utilities | --- *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 2026-07-03.*