This ensures the security of the software from unauthorised changes and means that the final product available from is just as secure and well vetted as the closed source from another company. While anyone can propose a change and submit code, it’s still reviewed and approved by NV Access before it is included in anything anyone can download. Since NVDA is open source, anyone is free to review the source code and propose changes. Updates to NVDA are also free, and NV Access releases 3-4 updates per year that fix bugs and add new features. The obvious benefit is that a blind person can compete on a level playing field with sighted peers at no more cost than anyone else. NV Access does rely on donations, either from individuals or grants from large companies, so if you can donate, it is very much worth it to help this amazing project continue long into the future. It is offered free of charge to anyone in the world, meaning there is no longer a financial barrier for blind people to work, learn, or do anything else on a computer. The philosophy behind NVDA is extremely compelling. It offers many of the same features that JAWS offers and should be suitable for 99% of screen reader users. The organization behind the project is an Australian company called NV Access ( It has been around since 2006 and primarily competes with the JAWS for Windows screen reader produced by Freedom Scientific or Vispero as they are now known by. Nonvisual Desktop Access or NVDA for short is a free and open source screen reader for the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Hopefully by the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of each product and its individual strengths/weaknesses.

Both are powerful screen readers in their own right, but they have their strengths and weaknesses which I will discuss in more detail. The two that we will be discussing are Apple’s VoiceOver for macOS and the Nonvisual Desktop Access or NVDA for Windows. However, several free yet capable screen readers have emerged in the last 20 years. Traditionally, screen readers have been very expensive third-party programs that were very difficult to obtain depending on one’s financial status. One of the most important tools a blind user uses with modern computing devices is a screen reader. The modern era has brought many advantages for those who are blind or visually impaired.

Nvda screen reader vs jaws