AIM Explorer App vs Bookshare Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AIM Explorer App
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The AIM Explorer App is a free simulation that combines grade-leveled digital text with access features common to most text readers and other supported reading software. Magnification, custom text and background colors, text-to-speech, text highlighting, and layout options are presented in a logical sequence to help struggling readers decide which of these supports might help them to access and understand text. The AIM Explorer App is designed to be used by a reader working collaboratively with an educator, tutor, parent, or assistive technology specialist as a guide. AIM Explorer App is an iPad version of the Adobe-Air based AIM Explorer developed at National Center on Access Educational Materials at CAST, Inc. (aem.cast.org)
Bookshare Reader
Access a vast library of ebooks designed for individuals with reading barriers. Enjoy high-quality audio narration and customize your reading experience with adjustable fonts, colors, and speeds. Continue reading seamlessly from where you left off.
- Access millions of ebooks
- High-quality audio narration
- Customizable reading experience
- Adjustable font size and colors
- Follow along with highlighted text
- Offline reading
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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.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Bookshare Reader at every 3 weeks against AIM Explorer App's every 7 months. AIM Explorer App's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
AIM Explorer App ships an update every 7 months, Bookshare Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on May 17, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AIM Explorer App | Bookshare Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 3.3 (67 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 34.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 67 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ATWare Solutions LLC | Benetech |
In-app purchases
AIM Explorer App
No in-app purchases
Bookshare Reader
No in-app purchases
