Supplier landscape

The screen-reader market is characterized by multiple commercial and open-source offerings. Many major device or operating-system manufacturers also offer built-in screen-reader software. In recent years, the market has consolidated, with many previously popular screen-reader offerings becoming defunct, obsolete, or inactive. Each screen reader has differentiating features. No all-in-one solution exists. Many users have more than one screen reader. Nearly 40 per cent use three or more.

It is difficult to estimate the comparative uptake between open source and commercial solutions, due to challenges in market-size estimation. According to the user surveys conducted by WebAIM (for ‘Web Accessibility in Mind”, a non-profit organization based in the United States) the three preferred desktop-based screen readers are: Job Access with Speech (JAWS), NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA), and VoiceOver. JAWS is a leading commercial screen reader for Windows. NVDA is the leading open-source software. VoiceOver is an integral part of the iOS and macOS ecosystem, and a popular choice for its integration across Apple devices.

According to the same survey, JAWS reported usage had been declining since 2009 and in 2019, NVDA took over as the most popular choice. However, since then, JAWS seems to have regained their lead. Primary usage varied greatly by region. JAWS usage was much higher than NVDA in Australia and North America. NVDA usage was higher in Europe, Africa/Middle East, and Asia (see figure I).

Figure I: Historical trends in primary screen reader usage

line graph

Image Description

The image is a line graph showing the usage trends of three screen readers over time: JAWS, VoiceOver, and NVDA. The x-axis represents time, with data points from October 2009 to June 2021. The y-axis represents the percentage of users, ranging from 0% to 70%.

- The blue line represents JAWS. It starts at around 65% in October 2009, gradually declines to about 40% by January 2014, and then fluctuates before dropping to around 30% by June 2021.

- The red line represents VoiceOver. It starts at around 5% in October 2009 and steadily increases, peaking at around 40% by October 2017, before declining slightly to about 30% by June 2021.

- The light blue line represents NVDA. It starts at around 5% in October 2009, remains relatively flat until around 2014, and then gradually increases, reaching about 50% by June 2021.

Source: WebAIM User Survey (2021)

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Commercial solutions often ensure compatibility with a wide array of software, have frequent updates for optimal performance and are backed by dedicated development teams that ensure regular support. Further, commercial solutions offer advanced functionalities, including support for complex applications and superior customization options.

Open-source solutions rely on community contributions, potentially leading to varied update frequencies. A stable and active community is thus a critical factor. Some screen-reader and assistive-technology communities15 have noted that certain open-source offerings like NVDA, backed by a strong community, are just as robust as commercial products like JAWS (Job Access with Speech). Open-source alternatives might have customization limitations since they focus on simple and essential functions, but they offer greater transparency and community-driven improvements. Users of both commercial and open-source solutions are dependent on regular updates and maintenance to ensure their ongoing compatibility with the latest systems, creating a notable sustainability risk, even when manufacturers provide ‘lifetime’ offerings. The consequences are varied but involve an increase in health inequity, accentuated by pre-existing disparities in technological readiness, such as those reflected in the digital divide experienced in various LMICs. Major manufacturers have broad screen-reader offerings for desktops and mobile phones, with commercial and open-source offerings (see table 9).

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Table 9: Leading commercial screen-reader manufacturers

Manufacturer Product Compatibility Key features Indicative price (in United States dollars)

Freedom Scientific

(USA)

JAWS

Computer only

Windows

Primarily screen reader with Text to Speech and Braille output,

Built-in DAISY player; skim reader; text analyser; pearl camera (print-to speech add on)

90 / year

1,475 (lifetime)

ZoomText

Computer only

Windows

Primarily screen Magnifier for computer screen (focused on low vision as opposed to blind users), echoes your typing and essential programme activity, and automatically reads documents, web pages, email.

85 / year

800 (lifetime)

ZoomText Fusion

Computer only

Windows

Combines JAWS with ZoomText, offering a dual solution with both screen reading and magnification.

Integrated solution, screen reading, and Magnification

Available, 170 / year

1,540 (lifetime)

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Manufacturer Product Compatibility Key features Indicative price (in United States dollars)

Dolphin Computer Access

(UK)

Dolphin ScreenReader

Computer only

Windows

Screen reading, Windows compatibility; customized speech settings; Scan & Read printed text; navigate with a keyboard or braille display; natural voice reading Lifetime: 1,105 to 1,200
Supernova

Computer only

Windows

Screen reading, magnification, Windows compatibility; intelligent reader and magnifier; scan and read paper (print to-speech); natural voice reading Lifetime: 1,195 to 1,435

Cambium Learning Group

(USA)

Kurzweil 3000 (+Read the Web extension)

Computer only

Windows and MacOS

Educational software with text-to-speech support, aiding students with various learning needs.

Educational software, text-to-speech; customized reading rate; Natural Text-to-Speech voices in 13 languages; OpenDyslexic font, text magnification; OCR capability.

Single-user license 1,065 to 1,200 (Bulk- purchase tiered pricing available)
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Manufacturer Product Compatibility Key features Indicative price (in United States dollars)

VisioBraille GmbH (BAUM Retec)

(Germany)

COBRA

Computer Only

Windows

Screen reader (voice and braille)

Magnification up to 32x Edge

Smoothing and extra- large mouse pointer

Obsoletei 849

Serotek

System Access

Computer Only

Windows

Speech and Braille output, accessibility features

Obsolete

Trial download available

Upward Spiral Software

TalkButton

Computer Only

Microsoft Word on Windows and Mac

Primarily geared towards individuals with speech difficulties

TalkButton works together with Microsoft Word to create an extensive text-to- speech environment, highlighting of spoken text and keyboard echo.

Obsolete

Trial download available

iListed as obsolete if company is defunct or listed website is unavailable, or no pay links are currently available. However, the software was reportedly in use as of 2021. ↩︎

Note: Listed by popularity if known.

Table 10: Leading open-source and in-built screen readers

Manufacturer Product Compatibility Key features Type
NV Access (Australia) NVDA

Computer Only

Windows

Speech synthesizer in 50 languages; textual formatting report; Braille- display enabled; optional audible mouse tracker Open source
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Manufacturer Product Compatibility Key features Type
BRLTTY team (Online collective) BRLTTY

Computer Only

Linux/Unix

Basic text to speech support; support for multiple braille codes; can integrate with other braille displays and speech synthesizers; Open source
GNOME project i (USA) Orca

Computer Only

Linux

Screen reader (braille/ speech); magnifier with auto-focus; different voice types Open- Source
Microsoft (USA) Narrator

Computer Only

Windows

Text-to-speech, Braille output; pick and read sentence; verbosity level adjustment; scan mode; narrator key Built-in
Apple (USA) VoiceOver

Computer and Mobile

iOS + macOS

Text-to-speech, Braille support. Audio screen reader; swipe and flick- through; double-tap; select icon and buttons with voice commands Built-in
Google (USA) TalkBack

Mobile only

Android

Android compatibility, spoken feedback, navigation support; swipe and flick-through; double-tap; select icon and buttons with voice command; activate with different gestures Built-in / Free (Built into Android)
ChromeVox

Computer and Mobile

ChromeOS

Web-based extension for Chrome – audio screen reader for content displayed on the web (HTML5; CSS; JavaScript) Open source / Free (Web based, built into Google Chrome)

i Initially offered by Sun Microsystems. After the Oracle acquisition, the software became community driven. ↩︎

Notes: Listed by popularity if known. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and HyperText Markup Language (HTML) are coding languages.

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