Top 20 Dyslexia and Reading-Support Apps for Learners

Dyslexia affects how a person processes written language, but it does not reflect intelligence, creativity, or potential. The right app cannot replace thoughtful teaching, assessment, or individual support; it can, however, reduce barriers and help learners practise with greater independence. This guide groups 20 widely used dyslexia and reading-support apps by the tasks they can help with, so students, families, and teachers can choose tools based on real needs rather than a one-size-fits-all list.

How to choose a reading-support app

Start with the learner’s most frustrating moment. Is decoding text slow? Is it difficult to stay focused on a page? Are ideas strong but spelling and writing get in the way? A useful tool should address a specific obstacle while keeping the learner in control.

• Check accessibility: Look for text-to-speech, adjustable font size, color settings, highlighting, and keyboard or voice input.
• Try before committing: Many tools offer free versions, trials, or school access. Test them with an actual homework task.
• Protect privacy: Parents and schools should review account, voice-recording, and data-sharing settings before students sign up.
• Build a routine: One or two tools used consistently are often more helpful than a crowded device full of apps.

Apps for reading, decoding, and listening

1. Learning Ally

Learning Ally provides human-narrated audiobooks, including many textbooks and literature titles, for eligible students with print disabilities. Its synced text and audio can help learners follow along without losing their place.

2. Bookshare

Bookshare offers a large library of accessible ebooks for qualifying readers. Books can be read with speech, enlarged text, braille displays, or customized visual settings.

3. Audible

Audible’s audiobook library can make novels, biographies, and assigned reading more accessible. Pairing an audiobook with a print or digital copy can support vocabulary and comprehension discussions.

4. Libby

Libby connects users to ebooks and audiobooks through participating public libraries. It is a practical option for families seeking reading material without purchasing every title.

5. Epic

Epic offers a digital library aimed at younger readers, with read-to-me books and leveled content. Teachers can use it to provide choice while monitoring reading activity.

6. Nessy Reading and Spelling

Nessy uses short, structured activities to practise phonics, spelling patterns, and reading skills. Its game-like format may suit elementary learners who benefit from frequent, focused practice.

7. Reading Eggs

Reading Eggs provides literacy activities for younger children, including phonics and early reading practice. Adults can use progress information to spot skills that may need more direct instruction.

8. Voice Dream Reader

Voice Dream Reader is a flexible text-to-speech reader for documents, webpages, and ebooks. Learners can adjust voices, pace, highlighting, and display settings to make dense text more manageable.

Apps for writing, spelling, and clear expression

9. Microsoft Immersive Reader

Available in several Microsoft tools, Immersive Reader can read text aloud, change spacing, highlight parts of speech, and reduce visual clutter. It is especially useful when a student already works in Word, OneNote, or Teams.

10. Read&Write

Read&Write combines text-to-speech, word prediction, picture dictionaries, highlighting, and speech-to-text features. It can support students as they read online material and draft assignments.

11. Co:Writer

Co:Writer offers word prediction and speech recognition to help writers get ideas onto the page. Its topic dictionaries can be useful when students need subject-specific vocabulary.

12. Grammarly

Grammarly can flag spelling, punctuation, and sentence-level issues while a student writes. It works best as an editing aid: learners should review suggestions and decide whether they match their intended meaning.

13. Ghotit

Ghotit is designed for people with dyslexia and dysgraphia, offering advanced spelling and word-prediction support. It may be helpful for students whose spelling attempts differ substantially from conventional spellings.

14. Dragon Anywhere

Dragon Anywhere is a mobile dictation tool that allows learners to speak drafts instead of typing every word. Dictation works best when students still plan, review, and edit their spoken text.

15. Google Docs Voice Typing

Google Docs Voice Typing is a built-in, low-barrier way to dictate notes and drafts. Students can use it for brainstorming, then revise the transcript with a teacher, parent, or checklist.

Apps for focus, organization, and accessible study

16. Claro ScanPen

Claro ScanPen lets users photograph printed text and hear it read aloud. It can be useful for worksheets, library pages, or short passages that are not already available digitally.

17. Seeing AI

Seeing AI can read short printed text and describe parts of the visual environment. While developed primarily for blind and low-vision users, it may also help a learner access labels, handouts, or unfamiliar print quickly.

18. Notability

Notability supports typed notes, handwriting, audio recording, and annotation in one place. Students can revisit recorded explanations while viewing their notes, which may reduce pressure to copy everything perfectly in real time.

19. Goodnotes

Goodnotes is a digital notebook for annotating PDFs and organizing handwritten or typed notes. It can help students keep subject materials together and use visual layouts that make sense to them.

20. COSMIQ

COSMIQ is a voice-driven AI tutoring platform that students can use to talk through confusing concepts, rehearse explanations, and ask for step-by-step support. For learners with dyslexia, speaking a question before writing it can be a useful way to demonstrate understanding; as with any AI tool, students should check important answers against class materials and teacher guidance.

Make the tools work together

The most effective setup is usually simple. A learner might listen to a chapter through Learning Ally or Libby, use Immersive Reader or Voice Dream Reader to revisit difficult passages, dictate a first draft in Google Docs, and use a spelling or editing tool during revision. Teachers can normalize these options by offering accessible formats to the whole class, rather than treating support as an exception.

Assistive technology is most useful when it helps a student spend more energy on learning and less energy on avoidable barriers.

Review the setup every few weeks. Ask what saves time, what feels distracting, and what the student can now do more independently. With a small, well-chosen toolkit and patient instruction, reading and writing tasks can become more approachable without lowering meaningful expectations.