Screen readers are essential to web accessibility, and screen reader testing is a significant portion of our work at Allyant. While many screen reading devices are on the market, some are more widely used. This blog post will examine the most commonly used screen readers, according to the WebAIM 2024 Screen Reader User Survey.
JAWS
According to the WebAIM survey, JAWS (Job Access With Speech) is the most widely used screen reader. 40.5% of survey respondents said they use JAWS as their primary desktop or laptop screen reader.
JAWS, which requires a fee, has more configuration options than other popular screen readers. These options allow screen reader users to customize JAWS more than others.
JAWS does have a learning curve, partly because of its configuration options. JAWS is designed to be used on a Windows PC platform (Windows is by far the preferred operating system to use with a screen reader, as 86% of survey respondents indicated they prefer using Windows).
The 2024 WebAIM survey found that JAWS and Google Chrome were the most common screen reader/browser combinations. 24.7% of respondents said that they use JAWS with Chrome. 95.6% of respondents using JAWS said they were either very or somewhat satisfied with the software.
JAWS does use a lot of computer memory, so that is something to consider when deciding which screen reader to use.
NVDA
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is the second most popular screen reader. 37.7% of WebAIM survey respondents used NVDA as their primary screen reader.
Unlike JAWS, NVDA is free and open source, which is a significant advantage for the software.
It is regarded as the second-best screen reader for student testing, following JAWS, particularly regarding its compatibility with Windows. The WebAIM survey found that NVDA and Google Chrome comprise the second most common screen reader/browser combination, with 21.3% of respondents indicating they primarily use NVDA and Chrome.
Additionally, 97.6% of respondents using NVDA reported being either very or somewhat satisfied with the software.
NVDA can be downloaded to a USB stick for use on any Windows machine, while JAWS does not offer a similar option. This is why NVDA is preferred over JAWS when working on a public computer. However, JAWS is recommended for personal Windows computers (unless cost is an issue).
VoiceOver
VoiceOver, Apple’s built-in screen reader, is by far the most commonly used screen reader on mobile devices. 70.6% of WebAIM survey respondents reported using VoiceOver on mobile and tablet devices. VoiceOver ranked third in the WebAIM survey regarding users’ primary desktop and laptop screen readers, with 9.7% of respondents indicating a preference for VoiceOver on those devices.
In terms of screen reader and browser combinations, VoiceOver was found to be most commonly used with Safari, with 7% of survey respondents expressing a preference for using VoiceOver with that browser. Despite its popularity, VoiceOver does have a learning curve due to its numerous keyboard shortcuts.
Since VoiceOver is built into Apple products, the screen reader is free. 71% of respondents considered free or low-cost screen readers (such as NVDA or VoiceOver) viable alternatives to more expensive screen readers. 92.4% of respondents using VoiceOver said they were very or somewhat satisfied.
TalkBack
TalkBack is Google’s screen reader and is included with all Android devices. VoiceOver and TalkBack are the two most popular screen readers for mobile devices. 34.7% of WebAIM survey respondents reported that they prefer using TalkBack as their primary screen reader on mobile and tablet devices. TalkBack is not available for desktop or laptop computers.
TalkBack has some advantages over VoiceOver, such as requiring simpler user gestures to perform actions. However, VoiceOver has more customization options. Unlike VoiceOver, TalkBack does not have a help menu.
Narrator
Microsoft Narrator is bundled with recent versions of Windows. While Narrator can be helpful, it offers limited functionality, especially with browsers and web applications. 37.3% of survey respondents use Narrator as their preferred screen reader on desktop or laptop computers, and 88.9% said that they were either very or somewhat satisfied with It.
ChromeVox
ChromeVox is a screen reader bundled with Google Chrome laptops. While its voice is relatively intuitive and less jarring to some compared to other screen readers, it can only operate within the Chrome browser and experiences occasional glitches. Only 3.8% of WebAIM survey respondents indicated that ChromeVox is their preferred desktop or laptop screen reader.
Takeaways/Conclusion
Some screen readers, like JAWS and NVDA, are used more commonly than others. Ultimately, the choice of which screen reader to use depends on personal preference. At Allyant, we have many team members experienced with different screen readers, so feel free to reach out with any questions!
