Overview

Rating:
3.80 +2
(191)
Version:
2.2.6
Last updated: 2026-07-03
Ranking
#127,172 163
Overall

Features & Capabilities

BARD Mobile brings a portable library to your pocket. Access tens of thousands of titles—from best sellers to classics, magazines, and music scores—in audio and electronic braille, with new selections added daily.

BARD Mobile is a service of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) at the Library of Congress. Eligible users include US residents and American citizens abroad who cannot read regular print. To enroll, call 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) or visit loc.gov/thatallmayread; existing NLS patrons can request a BARD account through their local library. For support, guides, and FAQs, visit loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/bard-access/bard-mobile-ios-version/

User Growth & Download Statistics

By:
Library Of Congress
Rating:
3.80
(191)
2 new ratings
Version:
2.2.6 Last updated: 2026-07-03
Version code:
887605350
Creation date:
2013-09-19
Compatible devices:
Size:
22.04MB
URLs:
Website ,Privacy policy
Full description:
See detailed description
Source:
Apple Apps Store
Data ingested on:
2026-07-23
Compare stats and ranking:

Ranking

Other platforms

Android
BARD Mobile (v2.1.0)
238,904 4.08 (946)

Contact the developer

Chrome-Stats does not own this Apple app. Please use these information below to contact the Apple app developer.
Developed by:
Library Of Congress
Apple Apps Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bard-mobile/id705229586
Website:
https://www.loc.gov/nls/how-to-enroll/sign-up-for-bard-and-bard-mobile/

User Reviews

BARD Mobile is valued for its large title catalog, accessibility for blind/VI users, and offline downloads, plus ease of use. However, users report recurring login/authentication problems, downloads stuck in queue, and accessibility issues with VoiceOver and braille displays, particularly after iOS updates. Stability and cross-device syncing issues also detract from the experience and navigation challenges persist for search/browse tasks.
Pros
  • Large catalog of books with a vast selection of titles
  • Accessibility-focused design for blind/visually impaired users, including human narration
  • Offline access via downloading books for later listening
  • User-friendly, easy-to-use interface
Cons
  • Frequent login/authentication issues (account suspensions, password resets, cross-device login problems)
  • Download queue problems where items stay queued or fail to download
  • VoiceOver and braille accessibility issues, especially after updates (iOS 26) with navigation and braille displays
  • Stability and compatibility problems (crashes on launch, unreliable syncing, iOS compatibility)
Recent reviews
I've added books to my wish list, and frequently, when I go back, they've dropped off my wish list, though I can find them and re-add them. Sometimes they stay, sometimes they don't. This is a big problem when trying to put books from a specific series, or a type of book in your wish list so that you can have them available without having to search over and over again. I've had to start downloading them, which takes up a lot of room, just so that I don't forget what books I wanted to read, because of this problem. A wish list was supposed to alleviate that problem, but it doesn't.
by Mo*****, 2026-07-10

Sleep function is nice that it tapers volume down as timer end approaches. Sometimes after sleep timer is used, playback point goes back several minutes prior to timer initialization upon resuming. Search function very much limited in relevant results and does poor job overall. Category search extremely poor. Should have more speed and tone options. Offers poor selection of existing audiobook presentations, sometimes offering pre-1980 audio recordings when post-2000 recordings exist. Example of how much taxpayer-funded Library of Congress/library for the blind holds its users as priority: app in app store gives many images which could be removed and app presentation be equal for target audience, blind and visually impaired individuals.
by De*****, 2026-07-07
View all user reviews ›

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