# Read for the Blind vs Bookshare Reader

The clearest difference is rating: Bookshare Reader at 3.3 against Read for the Blind's 1.6. Bookshare Reader also leads on ratings volume (68 vs 5) and review sentiment (36% vs 25%). Read for the Blind's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Bookshare Reader holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshare Reader has 68 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Read for the Blind's written reviews are positive against 36% of Bookshare Reader's.

Read for the Blind ships an update monthly, Bookshare Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read for the Blind | Bookshare Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-for-the-blind/id705499163/reviews) | **[3.3 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshare-reader/id1605201737/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **68** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **35.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 19 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thailand Association of the Blind](https://appshunter.io/developer/952508052) | [Benetech](https://appshunter.io/developer/425585906) |

## What reviewers say

### Read for the Blind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-for-the-blind/id705499163)

This app allows anyone to create audiobooks for the visually impaired by reading content from books, articles, or websites. Completed audiobooks are then shared through a free service for the blind to access.

**Highlights:** Create audiobooks from various sources, Record voices directly within the app, Support for multiple readers per book, Compile chapters into complete audiobooks, Contribute to a free service for the blind

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Bookshare Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookshare-reader/id1605201737)

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.

**Highlights:** Access millions of ebooks, High-quality audio narration, Customizable reading experience, Adjustable font size and colors, Follow along with highlighted text, Offline reading

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for dyslexic readers
- 👍 Realistic text-to-speech voices
- 👍 Offline book downloads
- 👍 Essential for blind users
- 👍 Significant improvements made

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Prolonged pauses in speech
- 🐛 Library not syncing across devices
- 🐛 Reading lists don't sync
- 🐛 Progress not saved across devices
- 🐛 Stuck on copyright page (manga)

**Reported bugs**

- Prolonged pauses in text-to-speech
- Library not syncing across devices
- Reading lists not syncing
- Reading progress not saved across devices
- Manga stuck on copyright page

**Requested features**

- Fix prolonged pauses in text-to-speech
- Sync library across devices
- Sync reading lists across devices
- Save reading progress across devices
- Fix manga page navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read for the Blind free?

Read for the Blind is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Bookshare Reader free?

Bookshare Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Read for the Blind or Bookshare Reader?

Bookshare Reader is rated higher. Read for the Blind averages 1.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Bookshare Reader averages 3.3 from 68 ratings.

### Do Read for the Blind or Bookshare Reader have ads?

Neither Read for the Blind nor Bookshare Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Read for the Blind or Bookshare Reader?

Read for the Blind ships an update monthly, and Bookshare Reader every 3 weeks. Most recently, Read for the Blind was updated on October 9, 2026 and Bookshare Reader on October 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*