Free screen reader software for windows 10

#Free screen reader software for windows 10 windows 10#
#Free screen reader software for windows 10 software#

The previous 2015 survey reflected a significant dip in JAWS and NVDA usage in favour of Window-Eyes and ZoomText that isnвЂ™t repeated in the 2017 or 2019 results.

In 2015 its usage was so low that it wasnвЂ™t even mentioned by name, but because of significant improvements in Windows 10 it has been gaining users. In 2019, Microsoft Narrator usage increased to 30.3%. MicrosoftвЂ™s Narrator first made an appearance in the 2017 survey with 21.4% respondents reporting using it commonly on a desktop/laptop.

JAWS, though highly functional, is expensive software and can be out of reach for some who need screen reader technology. With built-in screen readers like VoiceOver on Mac, and free open source screen readers like NVDA вЂ“ both much improved in recent years вЂ“ many users are opting for these less expensive options.

This was the first year NVDA usage exceeded JAWS usage. The 2019 WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey notes that 72.5% of respondents used more than one desktop/laptop screen reader on a regular basis, with NVDA (72.4%), JAWS (61.7%), and VoiceOver (47.1%) in the lead. WebAIM has been conducting screen reader user surveys since 2009, with the latest results from October 2019 (as of this writing). Understanding screen reader usage patterns can help you decide which one(s) to test with. It is rarely possible to test with every screen reader available, so it is a good idea to choose the screen readers you use strategically. TTS programs generally only read text selected from content, while screen readers tend to read all elements of the operating system they run on, or all elements in web content. Important to Note: Many of the listings at this Wikipedia link are not actually screen readers, but rather Text-to-Speech (TTS) programs.

ChromeVox (Google, requires the Chrome browser)ДЇor a more thorough list of screen readers, see WikipediaвЂ™s Screen Reader entry.These features are not typically found in TTS applications. Screen readers also read content text, but they also read aloud elements of the browserвЂ™s interface and elements of the operating system, as well as provide ways to navigate the content, with features for listing headings, links, or tables, for example. Though both read text content aloud, TTS only reads content text, such as the text on this page, and not the menus or interface of the browser or reader application displaying the page. Screen readers should not be confused with Text-to-Speech (TTS) applications. The more common screen readers are listed below for reference. There are a variety of screen readers available for different operating systems, whether you are using Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android, and there are a few web-based screen readers.

#Free screen reader software for windows 10 windows 10#

#Free screen reader software for windows 10 software#