📚 Reading apps and reading coaches · 🔊 Reading aloud and accessibility · 🧩 Learning differences
Bookshare
By Benetech (nonprofit). Visit Bookshare
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Bookshare is a nonprofit online library of accessible ebooks for people with print disabilities such as dyslexia, low vision or a physical disability. Members can listen with text-to-speech while words highlight, enlarge text, or read in braille. Copyrighted books are open only to qualified members, but about 10,000 public-domain books are free to anyone. The free Bookshare Reader works in browsers, on phones and tablets, and on Alexa speakers.
Our take: A free, practical library for US students with a documented print disability; families without that need should use a public library app instead.
| Ages it suits | all ages (PreK-12 students through adults) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Members need a qualifying print disability. For students under 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete registration, and under-18 members cannot open books marked as adult content. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free for US students with a qualifying disability (funded by the US Department of Education); non-student adults pay a yearly fee (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android, Alexa |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI tutor; books are read aloud by computer text-to-speech voices. |
What's good
- Free for qualifying US students
- No due dates or wait lists
- Braille, large print and audio in one place
- Nonprofit, no ads
Watch for
- Proof of a print disability is required for most books
- Computer voices rather than human narrators
- Disability details are collected
- Free public-domain books are older titles
Data and privacy
Bookshare collects proof of a print disability (which may include medical details), plus school and grade information, and uses Google Analytics. It says it does not sell personal data and does not knowingly collect data from children under 18 without parent consent. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent study of Bookshare's effect on reading found; the maker describes features and reach.
In the Big Index
Alternatives to Bookshare
Desk researchFree
Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes · ages 18+ only
Useful for blind or low-vision adults, including parents; children should not use it, by the maker's own terms.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Bloom Library
SIL Global · ages mostly early readers; some books for adults (health, farming)
A standout for families reading in a home or heritage language; parents should filter by topic, since religious and adult titles mix with children's books.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
C-Pen Reader
C-Pen (sold in the US by Scanning Pens) · ages school-age readers and adults
Worth a look for a child with dyslexia who reads paper books and worksheets; ask the school first, since many lend them.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Cboard
Cboard (Comunicacion Aumentativa Chile SpA) · ages all ages (children and adults who need AAC)
A low-cost way for families and therapists to try AAC on existing devices; families who need a fully supported, ad-free system funded through insurance may prefer a dedicated AAC product.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kami
Kami (Kami Limited, also maker of Book Creator) · ages grades K-12 (about 5-18), plus adults
A practical school tool for marking up and turning in work, especially for kids who need read-aloud or translation; parents rarely need it at home.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Learning Ally
Learning Ally, Inc. (nonprofit) · ages grades PreK-12, plus college and adults
A strong choice for a child with dyslexia or a print disability who needs grade-level books; check first whether the school already provides it free.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.bookshare.org/
- https://www.bookshare.org/parents-and-students
- https://www.bookshare.org/help-and-learning-articles/how-can-i-add-an-individual-membership-to-my-students-account
- https://www.bookshare.org/legal
- https://www.bookshare.org/privacy
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.