Comparison

SnapType vs Snap&Read Universal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SnapType

This app allows students to easily complete school worksheets by adding text to images of their assignments using their device's keyboard. It's a helpful tool for those who struggle with handwriting, enabling them to share their completed work via print, email, or other sharing options.

Highlights
  • Add text to worksheet images
  • Import worksheets from device
  • Use device keyboard for input
  • Print completed worksheets
  • Email completed worksheets
  • Share completed worksheets
Features
Read full description

SnapType helps students keep up with their peers in class even when their penmanship holds them back. Students can easily complete school worksheets with the help of an iPad or iPhone. With SnapType, students can take a picture of their worksheets, or import worksheets from anywhere on their device. They can then use their iOS device keyboard to add text to these documents and print, email, or share their creations. It is the perfect solution for kids, and even adults, who struggle with their handwriting. Just read a few of our amazing testimonials: "Dear Amberlynn, Thank you so much for creating this app. You have changed the way my 12 year old son with dyspraxia functions in school. He is more independent and I cannot thank you enough. Please continue to help kids like my son. You are changing lives. Thank you." "Thank you for this ! I am going to talk to my sons teachers about this -you are a blessing ! I can honestly tell you that I have spent many hours crying inside an Hurting watching my son struggle to write pages of sentences and spelling words and other homework - to the point that I have stopped him and honestly wrote for him left handed to make it look more like a neater version of his because I could not take it anymore ! Thank you" "I just wanted to personally thank you for creating it, as this is an app that I use nearly every day with my son to do his homework. You have created an app with a simple interface, but with an incredibly powerful impact. Thank you." "It is wonderful and something so simple yet so so so important for little guys like mine who cannot write BUT is learning to type and has so much to say and SHOW." "We trialed SnapType with an 8-year old who is receiving school-based occupational therapy due to visual motor and visual perceptual issues. The biggest complaint from teachers about handwriting for this student was related to illegible answers on worksheets. The student quickly learned to take images of the worksheets with her iPad, upload them to the device and type in her answers. In addition to making her writing legible and eliminating issues with visual perceptual skills, the child's interest in the task was greatly improved, as was her pride in her work." "Thank you so much Amberlynn. What a wonderful idea and gift to those kids that struggle with dysgraphia. I have converted many a workbook page for my son. This is WONDERFUL!" "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm a mother of twins. My son is autistic and my daughter has cerebral palsy. They are still only 2 and a half... but I'm sure they will both need and use this. The fact that you have also made it free and are paying for it out of pocket is just the sweetest thing ever. I read about this last night and cried tears of joy. You are amazing! And I'm going to be telling everyone who will listen about you, this story, and your app. Thank you again, I truly appreciate it!!”

About

Snap&Read Universal

This app reads text aloud from various sources like websites, images, and PDFs. It can simplify complex vocabulary, translate text into over 100 languages, and annotate documents. Offline access to saved images is also available.

Highlights
  • Reads text aloud from images, PDFs, and websites
  • Simplifies complex vocabulary
  • Translates text into over 100 languages
  • Annotates PDFs and images
  • Offline access to saved images
Features
Read full description

Snap&Read Universal reads both accessible and inaccessible text aloud from websites, images, photographs, PDFs, and more. Snap&Read also adjusts complex text to be more readable, and can translate text into over 100 languages. You can even take a picture and have the text within that picture read aloud. Snap&Read has both an App (for reading aloud, translating, simplifying, and annotating PDFs and Images) and a Safari extension (for reading, simplifying, and translating websites). If difficult vocabulary is too challenging, Snap&Read can dynamically level the text. Essentially, Snap&Read will pick out the difficult words/phrases and swap them out for easier to comprehend vocabulary/phrases. To see the original word, just tap on it to toggle between the original word and the simplified word. THIS... "The Time Traveller was expounding a recondite matter to us." BECOMES... "The Time Traveller was explaining​ a unknown​ matter to us." Finally, if you have paper, magazine, book, etc... you can use the Camera feature to take a picture and read. If you’re on the go and don’t want to bring your books… you can save the images to your picture library and access them all later right from the Snap&Read App even if you have no internet connection.

Screenshots

SnapType4 screens
Snap&Read Universal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SnapType at 4.5 against Snap&Read Universal's 2.7. SnapType also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 40%) and ratings volume (366 vs 10). Snap&Read Universal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SnapType sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $49.99 per year. Snap&Read Universal asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SnapType holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SnapType has 366 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of SnapType's written reviews are positive against 40% of Snap&Read Universal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SnapType ships an update every 4 weeks, Snap&Read Universal every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SnapType versus Snap&Read Universal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSnapTypeSnap&Read Universal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (366 ratings) — better2.7 (10 ratings)
Positive reviews64.3% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings366 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB93 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSNAPTYPE, LLCDon Johnston Incorporated

Customer experience

SnapType

All ratings366 ratings
Positive86.3%
Neutral4.4%
Negative9.3%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive64.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.7%

Snap&Read Universal

All ratings10 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

SnapType

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Location is never where you tap
  • Boxes don’t move when you want it to
  • Automatic blur problem
  • Upgrade doesn't restore
  • Crashes when trying to install on iPad
Show 5 more
  • Keeps crashing
  • Will not let me delete more than 3 documents
  • Bought pro and when I tap restore it crashes
  • Can not save
  • Having issues getting the desired document or pic of worksheet to open

Requested features

5 requests
  • Fix automatic blur
  • Add erasing function for Apple Pencil
  • More space for documents (basic version)
  • Ability to write on SnapType (free version)
  • Enable text-to-speech for worksheet directions

Snap&Read Universal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SnapType

Subscriptions1
  • Everything Unlocked14 Days trial$49.991 Year
None

Snap&Read Universal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SnapType free?
SnapType is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Snap&Read Universal free?
Snap&Read Universal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SnapType or Snap&Read Universal?
SnapType is rated higher. SnapType averages 4.5 out of 5 from 366 ratings, while Snap&Read Universal averages 2.7 from 10 ratings.
Do SnapType or Snap&Read Universal have ads?
Neither SnapType nor Snap&Read Universal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SnapType or Snap&Read Universal?
SnapType ships an update every 4 weeks, and Snap&Read Universal every 3 months. Most recently, SnapType was updated on September 18, 2026 and Snap&Read Universal on June 1, 2026.

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