BARD Mobile vs Dolphin EasyReader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BARD Mobile
Access a vast digital library of audiobooks, electronic braille books, magazines, and music scores. This service is provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled to eligible US residents and citizens abroad who cannot read standard print.
- Tens of thousands of books
- Current best sellers and classics
- Popular magazines
- Music instruction and scores
- Audio and electronic braille formats
- New selections added daily
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CARRY A LIBRARY IN YOUR POCKET Access tens of thousands of books—from current best sellers to much-loved classics, popular magazines, and music instruction and scores—in audio and electronic braille, with new selections added daily. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? BARD Mobile is a service of NLS. NLS provides free audio and braille reading materials to residents of the US and American citizens living abroad who cannot read regular print. If you are blind or have temporary or permanent low vision or a physical or reading disability that prevents you from holding or reading the printed page, you may be eligible for this program. For more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/eligibility-for-nls-services. HOW DO I GET STARTED? This app allows access for eligible users who have enrolled in the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) at the Library of Congress. To enroll, call 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) and follow the prompts to find your state. Or to learn more at https://www.loc.gov/thatallmayread. If you are already an NLS patron, contact your cooperating NLS library to request a BARD account. You can find your library by visiting https://www.loc.gov/nls/find-a-local-library/. SUPPORT For support and help with BARD account issues, or to report bugs, email NLSDownload@loc.gov. For FAQ, visit https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/bard-access/nls-bard-frequently-asked-questions/. For the User Guides: https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/bard-access/bard-mobile-ios-version/
Dolphin EasyReader
This app provides accessible reading for individuals with print disabilities like dyslexia and vision impairments. It connects to global libraries and talking newspaper services, offering customizable text, audio playback, and support for various formats.
- Accessible book libraries
- Talking newspaper access
- Customizable fonts and colors
- Adjustable text size and contrast
- Text-to-Speech (TTS) audio
- Braille display support
- Multiple document format support
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Open a World of Accessible Books EasyReader removes barriers to reading, enabling anyone with a print disability to read independently. Global links to over 50 libraries connects you to millions of titles and empowers you to read in ways that work best for you. EasyReader offers a customisable reading experience and supports a wide range of accessibility needs including dyslexia and vision impairment. Download and read classic literature and bestselling fiction, textbooks and non-fiction, picture books and children’s stories and more. Access magazines, newspapers and periodicals or import files and read clipboard text. It’s easy to customise your reading experience so it suits your own reading needs and preferences. Easy Navigation Browse, download and navigate books easily, whether you read visually, audibly or with braille. You’ll move intuitively through content with EasyReader: skip pages, jump to chapters, add bookmarks and search keywords to find information instantly. Empowering Dyslexic readers: - Choose dyslexia-friendly fonts - Adjust text and background colours - Highlight words and sentences, read along to audio - Modify letter and line spacing, adjust lines visible to reduce distractions - Explore Tools are available to boost study and revision Blind and Partially Sighted readers: EasyReader offers an exceptional experience for readers with vision impairments: - Adjust text size with touchscreen gestures - Choose custom colour contrasts - Read using braille displays - Switch to linear reading mode for screen readers and braille - Access to premium image descriptions available Audio Books & Text-to-Speech (TTS) Listen to narrated audio books and use Text to Speech (TTS) to read books, newspapers and more. Speech synchronises perfectly with on-screen highlights for a perfect read-along experience. - Choose from a selection of reading voices - Adjust reading speed, volume and pronunciation - Adjust sentence and word highlights Read a Range of Formats Choose from the widest range of book and document formats. including DAISY 2 and 3, ePub, MathML, Microsoft Word (DOCX), PDF, HTML and text files. Help & Support The 'Ask a Question’ feature in EasyReader Help offers instant guidance. It uses built-in AI to search user guides, the Knowledge Base and training materials. Step-by-step help is also available on the Dolphin website. Share feedback or report a bug directly in the app to help Dolphin continue improving EasyReader. EasyReader Libraries List Global ABC Global Book Service Bookshare Project Gutenberg Bookshare Google Classroom Google Drive Microsoft Education Microsoft OneDrive UK: Calibre Audio RNIB Bookshare RNIB Newsagent RNIB Reading Services USA & Canada: Bookshare CELA NFB Newsline NLS Bard SQLA Sweden: Inläsningstjänst AB Legimus MTM Taltidningar Europe: Anderslezen (Belgium) ATZ (Germany) Bibliothèque Sonore Romande (Switzerland) Bookshare Ireland (Ireland) Buchknacker (Switzerland) CBB (Netherlands) DZB Lesen (Germany) DZDN (Poland) Eole (France) Getem (Turkey) KDD (Czech Republic) Libro Parlato (Italy) Luetus (Finland) NBH Hamburg (Germany) NCBI Overdrive (Ireland) NLB (Norway) Nota (Denmark) Oogvereniging (Netherlands) Passend Lezen (Netherlands) Pratsam Demo (Finland) SBS (Switzerland) TiBi (Norway) UICI (Italy) Unitas (Switzerland) Vereniging Onbeperkt Lezen (Netherlands) WBH (Germany) Rest of World: av3715 (Russia) Blind Low Vision NZ (New Zealand) ChildVision Online Bookshelf (Ireland) LKF (Russia) NSBS (Suriname) SAPIE (Japan) Sugamya Pustakalaya (India) Vision Australia (Australia) Please note: Library memberships can be set up on their websites, links are provided in-app. Terms of Service (EULA) https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BARD Mobile at none against Dolphin EasyReader's 2. BARD Mobile also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 35%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Dolphin EasyReader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. BARD Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.
Dolphin EasyReader holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 187 and 123 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 58% of BARD Mobile's written reviews are positive against 35% of Dolphin EasyReader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
BARD Mobile ships an update every 3 months, Dolphin EasyReader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BARD Mobile | Dolphin EasyReader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (187 ratings) | 4.0 (123 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 57.6% of reviews — better | 35.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 187 — better | 123 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Library Of Congress | Dolphin Computer Access Ltd |
Customer experience
BARD Mobile
Dolphin EasyReader
Bugs and requests
BARD Mobile
Reported bugs
20 issues- Login credentials cannot be decrypted error
- Device registration failed when logging in from different locations
- Downloads stuck in queue indefinitely
- App crashes on iOS 26 and recent iOS versions
- VoiceOver focus jumping unexpectedly
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- Braille books display gibberish or won't advance properly
- Search results disappear when switching apps or receiving calls
- Playback stops when screen turns off
- Wireless headset stop button not responding
- Sleep timer not working correctly
- Books not syncing across multiple devices
- Account marked as suspended without reason
- Password reset functionality broken
- Airplay 2 compatibility issues
- Siri commands inconsistent
- Playback lag and stuttering
- Books fail to extract after download
- Recent downloads cannot be cleared
- Braille display connection issues
- Tone adjustment button not functioning
Requested features
18 requests- Genre and category filtering for book browsing
- Cross-device synchronization of bookmarks and reading position
- Equalizer and pitch shifter controls
- More playback speed options
- Volume control within the app
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- Rewind/fast-forward button customization
- Favorites list feature
- Book request/suggestion feature
- Web browser access within the app
- Braille text display alongside audio
- Dark mode for reduced brightness
- Table of contents for short story collections
- Customizable reading lists
- Ability to cleanup recent downloads
- USB flash drive support for storage
- Better book series organization
- Faster book addition to library
- Book sharing feature between patrons
Dolphin EasyReader
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BARD Mobile
No in-app purchases
Dolphin EasyReader
- Premium Personal Monthly$4.991 Month
- Premium Personal Annual$49.991 Year
Questions
Is BARD Mobile free?
Is Dolphin EasyReader free?
Which has better reviews, BARD Mobile or Dolphin EasyReader?
Do BARD Mobile or Dolphin EasyReader have ads?
Which is updated more often, BARD Mobile or Dolphin EasyReader?
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