Accessible mobile apps are applications, or specialized programs, downloaded onto mobile devices for smartphones and tablets, that have accessibility built in or may be built to be compatible with screen reading or screen magnification software that are built into or installed on the device. Many of the apps listed here include optical character recognition (OCR), object recognition, GPS and route finding, or text-to-speech features.
AccessNote
First notetaker for the iOS platform designed particularly for VoiceOver users looking for an efficient, feature-rich notetaking experience. An inexpensive alternative to traditional notetakers, it allows users to combine efficient notetaking with the other features and functions of the iOS devices, allowing blind and visually impaired people in classroom or business settings to use the same popular iOS devices that their sighted peers are using.
AccessWorld
Free official app of AFB’s AccessWorld®: Technology News for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, an online magazine dedicated to technology and people with vision loss. The app has been optimized for iOS VoiceOver and accessibility features.
CareerConnect
App for CareerConnect, a free online resource center specific to career exploration, job-seeking skills, transition from school to work, e-mentoring, and navigating the employment process as a person who is blind or visually impaired. Allows user to do the following: Browse and utilize transition lesson plans; browse and read "Our Stories," firsthand accounts from CareerConnect mentors; browse and read blog posts from the CareerConnect Blog; and contact the CareerConnect team.
Airs-LA
Provides free, on-demand streaming audio access through the iPhone, iPod or iPad to the Audio Information Reading Service of Los Angeles. Users can navigate through app using VoiceOver functionality. Brief signup is required, and the service is designed to provide a wide range of audio content to users who are blind or visually impaired.
Alarmed ~ Reminders + Timers
A timer and reminder app for the iPhone accessible with VoiceOver. Features include pop-up reminder alerts with robust repeat scheduling, flexible snooze and full customization; pop-up timers with custom messages, countdown/countup and pause; iCloud syncing among iOS devices (Extras Package); and over 80 high-quality custom sounds. Users may use Siri to create reminders and import from the Reminders app into Alarmed.
Amazon Kindle
App that allows users to use their iPhones and iPads as a Kindle device and access their eBooks purchased from Amazon as well as directly download eBooks directly into their devices.
Amtrak Mobile App
Free Amtrak mobile app for the iPhone® and Android™ that allows users to do the following: Book one-way, round-trip and multi-ride tickets; check train status; show eTicket while onboard, including multi-ride and monthly passes; obtain station information; update reservations made online, through the app or in a station; connect to Amtrak Guest Rewards account; save trip information to a phone calendar; and load eTicket into Passbook™.
Awareness! The Headphone App
An app for headphones and earphones that allows users to listen to music without shutting out other noises in the environment (warnings, shouts, sirens, alarms or conversations). Works on iPhone 4/4S/5/5S/6/7, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4 or above, iPod touch 3 (with microphone headset), and all iPads running iOS7 and above. Will NOT work on iPhone 3G, iPod 2G or with Bluetooth or Wireless headsets.
BARD Mobile
App for National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) patrons who have BARD accounts. Allows users to download nearly 50,000 books, magazines, and music scores in audio and braille formats, with new selections added daily. With BARD Mobile, users can play the audio materials on their iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and if the device is connected to a refreshable braille display through Bluetooth, they can also read the braille materials available on BARD.
Be My Eyes - helping blind see
Free mobile app that connects blind and visually impaired individuals to sighted helpers who can provide assistance for a variety of tasks, such as finding lost items, describing pictures, paintings or other artwork, matching or explaining colors, reading labels on household products, etc. from all over the world through a live video call. A user logs onto the app and the main screen displays a button that allows the user to call a sighted volunteer and establish a video connection using the phone’s camera and microphone. The sighted helper will explain the things that a user points at the camera. Volunteers are called at random, and the technology matches are based on language and time zone. Most calls are answered within 60 seconds.
Capti Voice
Text-to-speech reading apps for iPhone and iPad that allows people to listen to web pages and other electronic content instead of reading the information from the screen. Individual users have the option of using Capti for free for an unlimited time but with limited functionality or subscribing for an individual premium plan that will enable all premium plan features. Users can subscribe after logging on.
Claro MagX
App that turns an iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad or Android device into a powerful high-definition visual magnifier by making small items on the screen bigger. Makes small text in books and newspapers readable. Offers a wide range of magnification, high-contrast and color viewing options to make text easier on the eyes.
DiabetesPal
App for the DiabetesPal, a diabetes management software that enables user to track, analyze, and share blood glucose (BG), medication, and food data manually and automatically. All data is synchronized and viewable at https://mytelcare.com for free.
The built-in logbook is updated with a single tap to display all BG readings from the user’s Telcare BGM®, as well as manual blood glucose, medication, and food entries.
Provides user with the ability to see automatically generated graphs of trends over a selected period, including BG averages over time, averages based on meal tags, and breakdowns of highs and lows. An email report may be sent in PDF form to a doctor, caretaker, or loved one right from the app’s home screen.
Syncs via SSL with a secured web server. All protected personal data are stored on a secured, encrypted separate volume in a database behind a firewall.
Evernote
App that allows users to take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders and make these notes completely searchable. Basic storage is free, but a larger storage will require a subscription.
Facebook
App for Facebook, a free social networking website that allows users to see what friends are up to, share updates, photos and videos, be notified when friends like and comment on posts, text, chat and have group conversations, play games and use favorite apps. User registration required.
Fitbit
A companion app for all Fitbit devices. This digital app records and organizes all the data from the devices. The app allows users to sync a piece of Fitbit hardware with their smartphones to gain better fitness tracking abilities. There are quite a few physical characteristics that Fitbit can track depending on the physical model of the hardware, including calories burned, distance traveled, and even rankings compared to other Fitbit users. The app is easy to use and can be downloaded for any Android or iOS device, but it requires a piece of Fitbit hardware to function.
Glucose Buddy Diabetes Tracker
App for connecting with Glucose Buddy, a data storage utility for people with diabetes. Users can manually enter glucose numbers, carbohydrate consumption, insulin dosages, and activities and view all their data on their free glucosebuddy.com online account.
Hilton Honors
A tool for searching, booking, checking in and requesting extras at over 4,600 Hilton brands: Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria™ Hotels & Resorts, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton™, DoubleTree by Hilton™, Embassy Suites by Hilton™, Hilton Garden Inn™, Hampton by Hilton™, Tru by Hilton™, Home2 Suites by Hilton™ and Hilton Grand Vacations™. The app also includes additional features like allowing users to contact the hotel staff; unlock their rooms; use Hilton Honors Points toward free nights; plan upcoming trips with maps, directions, weather and more; checking in from anywhere and choosing the exact room; ordering extras like food, drinks, extra pillows and more to be in the room upon arrival; and providing stay feedback and accessing hotel receipts.
iDevices Connected
App that allows users to manage several devices in one convenient dashboard. Compatible with iPad 3 (and up), iPad mini, iPhone 4S (and up) or iPod touch 5 (and up). Provides an easy and secure way to control home's lights, thermostats, and more. Allows user to control connected home products, simply by using voice activation or through a mobile device.
IHG® Hotel Deals and Rewards
IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group) app for booking and managing accounts at IHG brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, EVEN Hotels and HUALUXE® Hotels & Resorts. Provides users immediate access to guest reviews from travelers, enroll in IHG®Rewards Club, redeem points for Reward Nights, get complimentary room upgrades, guarantee room availability, and priority check-in.
Indeed Job Search
App for Indeed, a comprehensive search engine for jobs. Offers free access to millions of jobs from thousands of company websites and job boards. Works with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices running iOS 10.3 or later. Allows users to Search apply, using one’s Indeed resume; personalize a message for each job for each job before applying; save or email favorite jobs; create a free Indeed account; remember job searches; follow favorite companies to get the latest jobs and updates; have the newest jobs delivered to one’s inbox; track which jobs one has visited, saved, and applied to; preview page displays and full descriptions of job posting; see how companies are rated by employees; read over 12 million company reviews; see photos of what it’s like to work at companies before applying; and review employers. See a review of this app in the April 2019 issue of AccessWorld.
iYomube
App for visually impaired users that reads aloud signs and written print using Apple's existing VoiceOver technology and camera feature.
KNFB Reader
App that turns text to speech or publishes it in braille with a refreshable display on iOS, Android and Windows 10 Devices. With the touch of a single button, it can read virtually any type of printed text, including mail, receipts, class handouts, memos and many other documents and can recognize and read printed materials in a variety of languages. Additional features include reading modes for single and multicolumn formats; synchronized text highlighting with braille and high-quality speech output; text navigation by line, sentence, word and character; viewfinder for live field of view; tilt guidance and report to assist with aligning the camera relative to the document; automatic text detection to enable hands-free operation or touch-free operation; ability to import, OCR and read image based PDF and JPG and export HTML and TXT files to cloud storage including Dropbox and Google Drive; and capture and read documents, brochures, pamphlets, and books.
Light Detector
App that transforms any natural or artificial light source into sound. Point the iPhone's camera in any direction and the app will emit a higher or lower sound depending on the intensity of the light. Also useful for identifying the location of a light fixture in a room and whether it is on or off. Can also be used to determine the location of a window in a room and whether the shades are drawn.
LowViz Guide - Indoor Navigation
App that uses voice activation to enable users to find their way around large meeting spaces and to always take shortest routes. Features include indoor positioning and presence detection, navigation and routing, location sharing, and location-based communication. User is guided by a combination of positioning algorithms, Bluetooth low-energy beacons, and a free mobile app on a smart phone. Routing-by-voice is available with the smartphone’s accessibility feature.
Monster Job Search
Free job search app that works on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch running iOS 10.3 or later. See a review of this app in the April 2019 issue of AccessWorld.
NantMobile Money Reader
Money reader that quickly and easily identifies currency and speaks the denomination. Supports 21 currencies: US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Bahraini Dinar, Brazilian Real, Belarusian Ruble, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Euro, Hungarian Forint, Israeli Shekel, Indian Rupee, Japanese Yen, Kuwaiti Dinar, Mexican Peso, New Zealand Dollar, Polish Zloty, Russian Ruble, Saudi Arabian Riyal, Singapore Dollar, and United Arab Emirates Dirham. Denomination is also displayed on the iOS device in high-contrast large numerals, for those having sufficient vision to make use of the display. Also provides VoiceOver support for several languages.
Nearby Explorer
Full-featured GPS app designed for people who are blind. Uses onboard maps, so no data connection is required. Includes U.S. and Canadian maps. Users select from among 18 different location-related options, such as street names and addresses and specialized options like approaching streets and nearby places and the distances and directions to them. All announcements are optional and are shown on the main screen and is available at any time. Onboard data is enhanced by data from Google Places when connected to the Internet. Includes a transit feature that provides detailed mass transit schedules for over 30 metropolitan areas in the U. S. and Canada. Shows a list of all the transit stops within 300 yards of user’s current location providing the distance and direction to each stop, along with the time and travel direction of the next bus or train serving that stop with a list of all the busses or trains serving that stop, what time they are scheduled to arrive, and the direction of travel, etc. The "Geobeam" feature lets user point the device and receive tone, haptic, and verbal feedback about points of interest either from the onboard maps or when data connection is available, from Google Places. The Compass lets user point in a direction and get both a directional announcement and the announcement of all the streets in that direction for one half mile.
NFB-NEWSLINE® Mobile
App that allows iOS users to download newspapers from NFB-NEWSLINE directly to an iOS device. Subscription to NFB-NEWSLINE required. User name and password required for the first time. NFB-NEWSLINE®, is a reading service by telephone that provides access to hundreds of newspapers, local TV listings, and several magazines.
Numbers
Created exclusively for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, Numbers includes support for Multi-Touch gestures and Smart Zoom, so users can create powerful spreadsheets using just their fingers. Users can start with one of over 30 Apple-designed templates for their home budget, checklist, invoice, mortgage calculator, and more. Features over 250 functions.
OneTouch Reveal
Diabetes management app that works with the OneTouch Verio' Flex Meter, automatically transforming data into quick snapshots that connect user’s blood sugar with food, insulin and activity. Automatically sends user a notification on a smartphone when a high or low pattern or recurring pattern is detected, so action can be taken to avoid them in the future. Has a goal tracking functionality, so user can set up and track personalized goals and visualize progress over time. Its A1c comparator lets user compare lab A1c to the average blood sugar readings from the last 90 days. Personalized dashboard highlights patterns and provides 14-day visual summaries with ColorSure™ technology. Automatic pattern finder shows a timeline of important blood sugar events and activities, highlighting when person has been repeatedly out of range. Provides fourteen, 30, and 90-day result summaries of highs and lows.
Pages
Word processor for creating reports, resumes, and documents. Designed exclusively for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch with support for Multi-Touch gestures and Smart Zoom. Get a quick start by using one of over 60 Apple-designed templates or use a blank document and easily add text, images, shapes, and more with a few taps. Format using beautiful preset styles and fonts and use advanced features like change tracking, comments, and highlights to easily review changes in a document. With iCloud built in, documents are kept up to date across all devices or may be shared by linking directly from www.icloud.com using a Mac or PC browser.
Prizmo – Pro Scanner
Universal photo-based scanner app that for scanning and recognizing text documents, business cards, and images, and then exporting them as PDF/Text, vCard, or JPEG/PNG. Prizmo relies on state-of-the-art technologies, like a highly accurate OCR, real-time page detection, and beautiful image cleanup. Using iCloud, one can even shoot the picture on an iPhone and finish editing on an iPad or Mac.
Fully compatible with VoiceOver, it provides voice guidance to help position an iPhone when taking document pictures and will find the text orientation automatically if it is turned left, right or upside down. Its quick capture mode provides a fast path from picture to speech synthesis for an improved workflow, and it provides a high-quality voice reader (individual voices available as in-app purchases).
Read2Go
Accessible ebook reader for reading Bookshare titles. Bookshare (www.bookshare.org) has an accessible online library for people with print disabilities with over 345,000 titles. Features include access, browse, search and download books from the Bookshare collection; read words on the screen with synchronized text-to-speech (Read2Go audio on); read with highly natural Acapela voices and navigate with VoiceOver gestures (Read2Go audio on, VoiceOver on); read with Apple VoiceOver gestures and voice (VoiceOver on, Read2Go audio off); read with many choices of font size, color and backgrounds, and no voices (Read2Go and VoiceOver off); read with braille displays connected via Bluetooth; save books into Read2Go so you can read anywhere; adjust font size up to 70 pts; adjust text-to-speech audio, either on or off for text-only or text-to-speech mode; adjust rate of audio; view Table of Contents; set bookmarks; and read from where you left off (auto-resume reading position). support for all 6 levels of DAISY navigation built in to structure of book; supports DAISY 3.0 and 2.02; supports use of iTunes to transfer of non-Bookshare DAISY books to your device; supports "Open in Read2Go" for easy access to your books from the Bookshare website. Educational institutions wishing to purchase 20 licenses or more can get a discount through the Apple Volume Licensing Program for Education.
Seeing Eye GPS
Fully accessible turn-by-turn GPS iPhone app with all the normal navigation features plus features unique to blind users. Instead of multiple layers of menus, three important navigation elements are included on the lower portion of every screen: Route, POIs and Location. At intersections, the cross street and its orientation are announced. Intersections are described (e.g. four-way) with the clock face orientation of the streets. There are two choices for POI data (Google Places and Foursquare). Directions are configured appropriately for pedestrian and vehicle routes, including heads-up announcements for approaching turns, turn now, continue straight and upcoming turns. If one wanders off the route, it's automatically recalculated and updated turn information is announced.
Sero (formerly iBlink Radio)
App that provides access to global radio stations, podcasts and local and national reading services of special interest to people who are blind and visually impaired.
Spotify
App for an audio streaming platform that provides DRM-protected music and podcasts from record labels and media companies. As a freemium service, basic features are free with advertisements or automatic music videos, while additional features, such as improved streaming quality, are offered via paid subscriptions.
Stitcher for Podcasts
App for playing podcasts, news, comedy, sports and talk radio shows on demand from an iPhone or iPad. Offers the best of NPR, CNN, Fox, BBC, WSJ, Adam Carolla, Joe Rogan, Rachel Maddow, Rush Limbaugh, Fresh Air, Freakonomics, Radiolab and over 25,000 shows, podcasts and live stations. stations.
Talking Goggles - a camera with speech
An app that can recognize images and speaks out what it finds. Recognizes almost any image within seconds--logos, landmarks, books, products, artwork, text and more. Shows the description of the image and speaks it out using the correct accent of the selected language.
Talking Scientific Calculator
Designed for a wide range of users, this calculator has large colorful buttons, optional high contrast, full VoiceOver support, and the option to use speech for answers, buttons names and formulas, a feature that is unique to this calculator.
Talking Tuner
Hands-off, sound-activated, talking musical instrument tuner. It talks to tell you if you are in tune or not, so you don't even have to look at it. Uses built-in speech synthesis, so does not require that VoiceOver be enabled. Can assist in tuning a musical instrument without requiring user to look at or touch the iPhone's display. With the Auto-Speak switch turned on, Talking Tuner will listen for a note to be played, and then, after waiting for the end of the sound (so as not to talk over it), will speak the note name, and how many cents sharp or flat the end of the note is estimated to be. Using headphones may help make it easier to hear what this app is saying while tuning.
TapTapSee
Camera app designed to help the blind and visually impaired identify objects they encounter in their daily lives. By simply double tapping on the screen, the phone will to take a photo of anything, at any angle, and the app will speak/identify the object. (Note: Spoken identification requires VoiceOver to be turned on).
VisionConnect™
A free, accessible app for iPhones and iPads from for rehabilitation professionals, teachers, doctors and other health care professionals. Provides information about vision rehabilitation services to individuals with vision loss and/or their families. Has a directory of services searchable by service, zip code, and distance, available in the U.S. and Canada, resources and tips for living independently with a visual impairment, links to useful information on VisionAware and FamilyConnect websites, information on products and technology, and a way to save directory search results and email them.
VisionSim by Braille Institute
App for iPhone or iPad with digital filters that allow people with healthy vision to see the world through the eyes of a people experiencing one of nine degenerative eye diseases. Using sliding touch-screen controls, the user can manipulate the severity of the symptoms. Still images from the simulations can be saved by the user and stored or shared.
Voice Dream Reader
Text-to-speech app with a configurable screen layout. Supports reading PDF and Word documents, DRM-free EPUB and DAISY eBooks, web pages and more. Directly integrated with Bookshare, Dropbox, G-Drive, Evernote, Pocket, Instapaper, and Gutenberg. Thirty-six built-in iOS voices are available for free (iOS 7) and 146 premium voices from Acapela, NeoSpeech and Ivona in 24 languages available through in-app purchase. Available in the following languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian, Czech, Catalan, Polish, Turkish, Greek, Arabic, Romanian, Icelandic and Welsh.
Voice Dream Writer
Text-to-speech proofreading app designed for people with reading disabilities. Also useful for anyone who needs a little help proofing in reducing mistakes. Phonetic and meaning search help in using the right words, and an active outline helps in organizing and improving writing.
WeatherBug
Weather app that offers some level of support with VoiceOver. Offers up-to-date weather reports and a forecast for the next 24 hours or the next week. Also provides information on barometric pressure, dew point and humidity.
Yahoo Fantasy Football & more
Fantasy sports mobile app for football, baseball, basketball, hockey and tourney. Users can switch between sports and games and focus on drafting teams, setting lineups, live scoring updates, news, and stats.
Features include One Day Fantasy Baseball; Apple watch support; mobile video integrations; improved league invite tool; Rotoworld and Yahoo Fantasy experts; mock drafts on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad; message boards to talk smack with other managers; and instant scoring updates and breaking player news.
Yahoo News Digest
App that provides a summary of all the important, need-to-know news. Digests are delivered twice a day--once in the morning and once in the evening. All the top stories are summarized and presented with the key information one needs to stay on top of what’s happening.
