# Bookshare Reader

> Read and listen to books

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1605201737](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1605201737)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1605201737`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Benetech
- **Category:** Education
- **Rating:** 3.30 / 5 (67 ratings)
- **Version:** 1.41.0
- **Last updated:** 2026-08-11
- **First published:** 2023-01-05
- **Size:** 60 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-26
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bookshare-reader/id1605201737)
- **Website:** [https://www.bookshare.org/cms/get-started/bookshare-reader](https://www.bookshare.org/cms/get-started/bookshare-reader)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://www.bookshare.org/cms/privacy](https://www.bookshare.org/cms/privacy)

## Description

Bookshare Reader is the official app to access millions of ebooks from Bookshare, the world's largest library designed for readers with dyslexia, blindness, low vision, and other barriers. It lets you listen to books and read along, supporting diverse learning needs and helping users customize their reading experience.

Key features include high-quality audio, adjustable reading speed, font size and color customization, highlighted text to follow along, easy navigation by page or chapter, the ability to resume from where you left off, and offline downloads for reading anywhere. Membership with Bookshare is required to use the app.

## Rankings

- #177,911 — Overall

## Review summary

Users praise Bookshare Reader for easy listening and strong accessibility, especially on VoiceOver and Braille displays, plus cross-device continuity. However, recurring problems include stability crashes, login/accessibility hurdles, incomplete navigation with partial chapter loading, and unreliable audio features. The app shows clear improvements since launch, but stability and robust accessibility/navigation improvements remain top requests.

### Pros

- Background audio playback works well, making it easier to listen to books.
- The app provides a dedicated, easy-to-use reading/listening experience for Bookshare, including a strong interface for school use.
- Excellent accessibility support for visually impaired users (VoiceOver and braille displays) with cross-device continuity.
- Improvements since launch and generally user-friendly interface.

### Cons

- Frequent crashes and instability across many actions (opening books, searching, tapping), sometimes causing loss of work or content not loading.
- Accessibility/login friction: login fields and controls can be unresponsive to VoiceOver, making sign-in difficult for visually impaired users.
- Navigation and content loading issues: incomplete table of contents, only some chapters load, white screens, and intermittent download errors.
- Audio features unreliable: adjusting speech rate/voice can cause issues, and playback can stop when the app is backgrounded or when switching tasks.

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1605201737)