Comparison

Smart Steps Mobile vs Bookshare Reader

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

Head to head
About

Smart Steps Mobile

This app guides individuals with disabilities through challenging everyday situations with step-by-step instructions and helpful prompts. It offers customizable decision trees, safety tips, and emergency contact features to foster independence and reduce anxiety.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step decision trees
  • Read-Aloud buttons
  • Profile screen for information sharing
  • Map button for directions
  • Emergency contact features
  • Customizable decision trees with images (upgrade)
Features
Read full description

Take the next step with confidence. Smart Steps helps teens and adults with disabilities handle tricky moments—one tap at a time. Whether it’s starting a new job, getting around campus, or asking for help, this app walks you through what to do. Designed by a teacher, Smart Steps is built for neurodivergent users, including those with autism, ADHD, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Down syndrome, or brain injuries. With simple Decision Trees and just-in-time tips, it’s like having a calm coach in your pocket. How it works: Pick a Decision Tree and follow one step at a time. You’ll get reminders, social cues, and safety tips when you need them most. End with a Success screen—or call for Backup if you need extra help. Features include: • Read-Aloud buttons (great for speaking out loud too!) • A Profile Screen to share helpful info • A Map Button for directions • Emergency Contacts for calls/texts (with upgrade) • A Decision Tree Maker to customize steps and add images (with upgrade) Plans available: Free Plan – Try it out! Includes built-in Decision Trees, Profile Screen, Map, and Read-Aloud. Monthly/Annual Plan – Unlock tree editing, image uploads, contact storage, and color customization. Group Plans – Share trees with a classroom, workplace, or family (2+ licenses). Build independence, reduce stress, and support problem-solving—one small win at a time. Learn more or sign up at SmartSteps4me.com Watch a quick intro: bit.ly/SmartStepsMobileIntro

About

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.

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
Read full description

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

Smart Steps Mobile4 screens
Bookshare Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Steps Mobile at 4.3 against Bookshare Reader's 3.3. Smart Steps Mobile also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Bookshare Reader's advantage is review sentiment (35% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Smart Steps Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookshare Reader has 67 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Smart Steps Mobile's written reviews are positive against 35% of Bookshare Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Smart Steps Mobile ships an update every 8 months, Bookshare Reader every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Smart Steps Mobile versus Bookshare Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmart Steps MobileBookshare Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better3.3 (67 ratings)
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews34.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings367 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB60 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperSmartStepsBenetech

Customer experience

Smart Steps Mobile

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

Bookshare Reader

All ratings67 ratings
Positive52.2%
Neutral13.4%
Negative34.3%
Written reviews55 reviews
Positive34.5%
Neutral21.8%
Negative43.6%

In-app purchases

None

Smart Steps Mobile

No in-app purchases

None

Bookshare Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Smart Steps Mobile free?
Smart Steps Mobile 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, Smart Steps Mobile or Bookshare Reader?
Smart Steps Mobile is rated higher. Smart Steps Mobile averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Bookshare Reader averages 3.3 from 67 ratings.
Do Smart Steps Mobile or Bookshare Reader have ads?
Neither Smart Steps Mobile nor Bookshare Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Smart Steps Mobile or Bookshare Reader?
Smart Steps Mobile ships an update every 8 months, and Bookshare Reader every 3 weeks. Most recently, Smart Steps Mobile was updated on September 20, 2026 and Bookshare Reader on August 13, 2026.

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