Comparison

Dyslexia Reader by MDA vs Clicker Writer

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

Head to head
About

Dyslexia Reader by MDA

This app uses OCR technology to convert printed text into a readable format, aiding children with dyslexia. It offers features like finger-tracking, multiple reading views, and hints to support independent reading and comprehension.

Highlights
  • OCR text capture
  • Finger-tracking word guidance
  • Multiple reader views (page, sentence, word)
  • Distraction-free modes
  • Reading hints and comprehension tools
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Dyslexia Reader by MDA provides evidence-based support and hints enabling children with dyslexia to read independently. This app uses the OCR technology to translate the text captured as a picture into a readable format and can be used to read any printed material – storybooks, textbooks, and newspapers. A clean, distraction-free interface packed with rich features makes the app an essential tool that can be used in tandem with other strategies for dyslexia. Try Dyslexia Reader by MDA free for 14 days & choose from our affordable subscription plans to continue using all of its exciting features. Why use Dyslexia Reader by MDA? + Use books you already have Use any age-appropriate books you have from your child’s school syllabus. You do not need any special PDFs or web resources and can add a page by simply capturing an image with text in it. Several pages can also be added at the same time. + Enables finger-reading The pencil icon on the reading page can be dragged with the help of a finger. With this, the child can track the words they are reading.This also lowers convergence difficulties while aiding hand-eye coordination. A red underline is used to mark the words already read to avoid rereading the same. An indicator shows the next word to be read. The pointer can be easily re-positioned by double-tapping the new word. + Promotes stress-free reading Multiple reader view gives the child the option to read only one part of the text at a time. There are three different reader views on the app. - Page view shows the entire page - Sentence view shows only one sentence at a time - Word view shows just one word + Promotes distraction-free reading Multiple features create a distraction-free reading experience for the child - Use Plain-text mode to remove background images to show only bare text - The Focus button highlights a single line on the page which contains the current word to read. This maintains the child's visual focus on the highlighted word, and helps avoid visual over stimulation. This feature works in both text and photo mode. + Hints to encourage reading When the child finds it difficult to read a particular word, they can tap the Hint button. This ensures that the child is not discouraged by a new or seemingly difficult word. Additionally, the use of Hints will also stimulate phonemic and conceptual understanding. A variety of Hints available on the app are - - Rhyming words and images - Word family hints - Hints for starting, middle and end blends + Build comprehension skills The Build feature helps in parsing the sentences in the text and focusing on the smaller syntactic units. When building, the app shows the text, one sentence at a time. Tapping the “Build more” button gradually builds up the sentence. This enables children to comprehend the text more effectively. + Key features - No active internet connection required after download - Import a PDF document quickly to your library - Share your already-reviewed pages with other MDA Dyslexia Reader users - Easily customize settings - Seamless keyboard integration for reviewing - User-friendly buttons for simple understanding - Prompt support on mail and chat - Real-life text analysis - High-quality text-to-speech feature - Screen-masking to aid focusing - Synchronized highlighting of text - Hints available as rhyming words and images - Colored overlays to assist readers with Irlen Syndrome - Breaking down words into syllables - Word families based on syllables - Configurable speed and progress - Independent and assisted user flows - Download exciting books from within the app Dyslexia Reader by MDA is developed by Madras Dyslexia Association. It is based on 20+ years of research carried out by the reputed Madras Dyslexia Association. We're always excited to hear from you! If you have any query or feedback, please email us at support@samartya.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Clicker Writer

This writing tool supports students of all abilities, from ages 5-11, to build confidence and improve their writing skills. It offers features like speech feedback, word prediction, and customizable grids with pictures to aid sentence construction and vocabulary development.

Highlights
  • Speech feedback for reviewing writing
  • Clicker Grids for sentence building
  • Picture-enhanced word banks
  • Intelligent word prediction
  • Voice notes for prompts
  • SuperKeys for accessibility
Features
Read full description

THE WRITING TOOL FOR SCHOOLS Develop students’ writing skills and build struggling writers’ confidence with Clicker Writer - the writing tool that provides differentiated support for students of all abilities. Continuously developed by Crick Software for over 30 years, the Clicker product range is used in thousands of schools around the world. REVIEW WRITING WITH CLEAR SPEECH Students use the child-friendly keyboard to type into the simple word processor, and a range of speech options encourages them to review what they have written. This helps students find and correct errors for themselves, enabling them to become more independent writers. BUILD WRITING CONFIDENCE WITH CLICKER GRIDS Clicker Grids provide students with point and click access to whole words and phrases. Beginner writers build sentences word-by-word, while developing writers use topic-based word banks to complement their keyboard writing. Browse LearningGrids directly from the app to access hundreds of free sets of Clicker Grids on a wide range of topics - or use the built-in editor (which now includes Cai, our amazing AI assistant) to create your own in seconds! USE SYMBOLS AND PICTURES FOR EXTRA SUPPORT Clicker Writer’s Picturize tool makes it easy to add symbols or pictures to support understanding and writing across Clicker Grids, the spell checker, the word predictor, and your document. It includes 10,000 Widgit symbols and 4,500 curriculum pictures, and you can also add your own images. DEVELOP VOCABULARY AND SPELLING WITH WORD PREDICTION The intelligent word predictor suggests words that fit the context of students’ writing, helping them to use good vocabulary and create flowing text with accurate spelling. CHECK WORDS BEFORE THEY ARE USED Learners can listen to words before they write them, helping them to find the word they want and achieve writing success. Any word in a Clicker Grid or the predictor can be heard before it is used by using our unique Sound Shift tool. ADD VOICE NOTES Voice Notes are a simple yet highly effective way for students to add their own prompts, so they don’t forget their train of thought – add them to the document at any time. WRITING TO BE PROUD OF The child-friendly Sassoon font included in the app makes Clicker documents look great. Save and print your documents directly on your device, or share them with Clicker Writer on your PC, Mac or Chromebook via Google Drive or OneDrive. Whatever your students’ current level, you’ll watch their confidence grow and their motivation soar as they experience writing success! ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL To make access easier for those with physical challenges, the unique SuperKeys option groups the letter keys into clusters, creating just six large areas to target. Just select the cluster containing the letter you want, then choose the letter in the enlarged cluster. Colors and font sizes can be customized for enhanced visibility. ORGANIZE IDEAS WITH CLICKER BOARD Organizing ideas is an important first step in the writing process, and one that many learners struggle with. Clicker Board is a child-friendly mind mapping area that makes it easy to capture and organize thoughts using words, Voice Notes, and pictures.

Screenshots

Dyslexia Reader by MDA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Clicker Writer at 4.5 against Dyslexia Reader by MDA's 3.5. Clicker Writer also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Dyslexia Reader by MDA's advantage is review sentiment (60% vs 43%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Dyslexia Reader by MDA sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Clicker Writer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Clicker Writer holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Dyslexia Reader by MDA's written reviews are positive against 43% of Clicker Writer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dyslexia Reader by MDA ships an update every 3 months, Clicker Writer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Dyslexia Reader by MDA versus Clicker Writer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDyslexia Reader by MDAClicker Writer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (4 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews — better42.9% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size203 MB174 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAvaz, Inc.Crick Software

Customer experience

Dyslexia Reader by MDA

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

Clicker Writer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Dyslexia Reader by MDA

Subscriptions3
  • Reader 1 Month Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Reader 6 Months Subscription$9.996 Months
  • Reader 1 Year Subscription$14.991 Year
1 purchases

Clicker Writer

One-time1
  • Clicker Writer In-App Purchase$350.00

Questions

Is Dyslexia Reader by MDA free?
Dyslexia Reader by MDA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Clicker Writer free?
Clicker Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dyslexia Reader by MDA or Clicker Writer?
Clicker Writer is rated higher. Dyslexia Reader by MDA averages 3.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Clicker Writer averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Dyslexia Reader by MDA or Clicker Writer have ads?
Neither Dyslexia Reader by MDA nor Clicker Writer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dyslexia Reader by MDA or Clicker Writer?
Dyslexia Reader by MDA ships an update every 3 months, and Clicker Writer every 2 months. Most recently, Dyslexia Reader by MDA was updated on November 2, 2026 and Clicker Writer on November 3, 2026.

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