EyeNote vs Live Read
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EyeNote
This app helps blind or visually impaired individuals identify U.S. Federal Reserve currency denominations. It uses your device's camera and image recognition to announce the note's value through voice, beeps, or vibrations. It works offline and supports multiple languages.
- Identifies U.S. Federal Reserve currency
- Uses device camera and image recognition
- Voice, beep, or vibration feedback
- Works offline
- Supports English and Spanish
- Continuous scanning
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EyeNote® is a free mobile device application developed by BEP as an aid for blind or visually impaired individuals to identify U.S. Federal Reserve currency denominations from Series 1996 to the present. The app uses image recognition technology and the device’s integrated camera to recognize a note and communicate its denomination back to the user, via voice or unique auditable beeps or vibration patterns for privacy. * Utilizes VoiceOver for vocal and gesture feedback, if it is turned on. * Does not require a data connection to work. * One touch, hand-held operation. * Identifies note face and back in any orientation, including portions of the note. * Continuous scanning once application is open; taking a photo with the camera is not required. * Quick response time. * Supports English and Spanish languages. * Compatible with Apple mobile devices iOS11 or greater. EyeNote does not authenticate U.S. Federal Reserve notes as being either genuine or counterfeit. Please refer to the Apple AppStore℠ license agreement for additional information.
Live Read
This app uses your device's camera to instantly read printed text aloud. It's designed for individuals with visual impairments, offering an accessible way to read mail, signs, books, and more without internet or setup. Enjoy customizable speech and offline functionality for independent reading.
- 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
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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
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Live Read at 4.9 against EyeNote's 3.4. Live Read also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 46%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 18 months). EyeNote's advantage is ratings volume (52 vs 7) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Live Read holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EyeNote has 52 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of EyeNote's written reviews are positive against 83% of Live Read's.
EyeNote ships an update every 18 months, Live Read every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on July 24, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | EyeNote | Live Read |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (52 ratings) | 4.9 (7 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 52 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bureau of Engraving and Printing | Ryan Anetsberger |
Customer experience
EyeNote
Live Read
In-app purchases
EyeNote
No in-app purchases
Live Read
No in-app purchases
