September 17, 2025 | Updated November 11, 2025

36 iPad Apps For Struggling Readers & Writers? [Updated]

by TeachThought Staff

Whether you’re the parent of a child with a reading disability or an educator that works with learning disabled students on a daily basis, you’re undoubtedly always looking for new tools to help these bright young kids meet their potential and work through their disability. While there are numerous technologies out there that can help, perhaps one of the richest is the iPad, which offers dozens of applications designed to meet the needs of learning disabled kids and beginning readers alike.

Here, we highlight just a few of the amazing apps out there that can help students with a reading disability improve their skills not only in reading, writing, and spelling, but also get a boost in confidence and learn to see school as a fun, engaging activity, not a struggle.

What Are The Most Popular iPad Apps For Struggling Readers And Writers? 2025 Update

Selection criteria: iPad compatibility, active availability, clear support for foundational literacy skills, accessibility features for reading and writing difficulties, practical use in classrooms and at home.

1) Read To Me, Text To Speech, And OCR

Voice Dream Reader

Readable formats include PDF, EPUB, and web pages. Text to speech with word and line highlighting and adjustable visual settings.

Why we like it: Includes synchronized highlighting and offline voice support. Offers font, spacing, and color controls to support dyslexia and attention needs.

NaturalReader

Reads PDFs, images, and web pages aloud. Supports cloud file import and simple voice controls.

Why we like it: Integrates OCR for images and scanned pages. Provides a straightforward interface for quick access to text to speech.

Read&Write for iPad

Toolkit for reading and writing support that includes text to speech, picture dictionary, and word prediction.

Why we like it: Combines multiple accommodations in one app. Works with common classroom file types.

Prizmo

Camera based OCR that converts print to selectable text. Reads recognized text aloud.

Why we like it: Provides reliable document scanning and voice output for handouts, books, and worksheets.

Microsoft Lens with Immersive Reader

Captures documents and sends text to Immersive Reader for layout simplification and read aloud.

Why we like it: Offers line focus, spacing controls, and picture dictionary through Immersive Reader.

Seeing AI

Reads short text and documents and identifies objects in real time.

Why we like it: Quick access to live reading for labels, signs, and short classroom materials.

Voice Dream Scanner

Scanner that recognizes text for use with Voice Dream Reader or in app reading.

Why we like it: Pairs with Voice Dream Reader to streamline scanning and reading in one workflow.

2) Human Narration And Leveled Libraries

Bookshare Reader

Accessible ebook library for qualified students. Supports synchronized highlighting and navigation by heading and word.

Why we like it: Offers a large catalog of textbooks and literature in accessible formats.

Learning Ally Audiobooks

Human narrated audiobooks with highlighting for many school texts.

Why we like it: Provides human voice recordings and reading tools that align with classroom curricula.

Epic!

Children’s digital library with Read To Me titles and basic progress tracking.

Why we like it: Supplies high volume reading opportunities that support reading stamina and choice.

Newsela Student

Nonfiction articles available at multiple reading levels with comprehension checks.

Why we like it: Allows teachers to assign the same topic at different levels for access and shared discussion.

3) Structured Literacy, Phonics, And Early Skills

OgStar Reading

Orton Gillingham aligned lessons that combine phonics, handwriting, and speech feedback.

Why we like it: Provides cumulative structured practice with explicit routines for decoding and encoding.

Nessy Reading And Spelling

Practice in phonemic awareness, phonics, and spelling with adaptive pathways.

Why we like it: Targets core skills for dyslexia with repeatable activities and built in review.

Simplex Spelling

Spelling sequences organized by phonics patterns with audio support and error feedback.

Why we like it: Uses structured word lists that map directly to phoneme to grapheme patterns.

Ultimate Phonics

Large set of decodable lessons for older beginners and struggling readers.

Why we like it: Presents explicit sequences that separate instruction and practice for clarity.

Lalilo

Adaptive phonics lessons and decodables with a teacher dashboard.

Why we like it: Provides student level data that supports small group instruction.

LetterSchool

Letter formation with letter sound connections and visual guidance.

Why we like it: Connects motor patterns with sound symbol knowledge for early writers.

Writing Wizard

Customizable letter and word tracing with audio cues and progress tracking.

Why we like it: Allows custom word lists to align tracing with phonics patterns and vocabulary.

Word Wizard

Talking movable alphabet and spelling quizzes that pronounce letters and words.

Why we like it: Supports phoneme blending and segmenting through immediate audio output.

OG Card Deck

Digital phonogram card deck for daily review of letter sound correspondences.

Why we like it: Fits short review routines that precede decoding and dictation.

Sound Boxes For Word Study

Elkonin boxes for phoneme segmentation and blending activities.

Why we like it: Provides a consistent template for hearing and mapping sounds to letters.

4) Reading Practice And Fluency

Reading Eggs

Phonics based lessons and decodable texts with built in practice and review.

Why we like it: Combines short lessons with immediate reading application in controlled texts.

Bob Books Reading Magic

Interactive activities tied to Bob Books decodable sequences.

Why we like it: Keeps practice aligned to a known decodable series for consistency.

See Read Say

High frequency word practice with games and repeated exposure.

Why we like it: Targets automaticity with common words to reduce cognitive load during reading.

Reading Trainer

Exercises for pacing, attention, and chunking during reading.

Why we like it: Offers discrete fluency drills that can complement phonics and comprehension work.

5) Writing, Spelling, And Composition Supports

Co:Writer Universal

Word prediction, topic dictionaries, and speech to text for composing.

Why we like it: Reduces keystrokes and supports grammar choices during writing.

Snap&Read Universal

Read aloud, vocabulary support, and text simplification for source texts.

Why we like it: Provides access to complex text while students plan and draft responses.

Keedogo

Early writer keyboard with simplified layout and large keys.

Why we like it: Minimizes visual clutter for students developing keyboarding.

Keedogo Plus

Early writer keyboard with prediction and configurable vocabulary.

Why we like it: Adds prediction to support spelling and word choice without switching apps.

Notability

Note taking with handwriting, audio recording, and handwriting to text conversion.

Why we like it: Supports multimodal drafting and captures teacher explanations for later review.

Goodnotes

Structured notebooks with handwriting to text and shape tools.

Why we like it: Provides templates for graphic organizers and sentence frames.

Sound Literacy

Instructor toolkit for phoneme and morpheme instruction activities.

Why we like it: Supplies manipulatives for word building and spelling generalizations.

AppWriter

Text editor with word prediction, text to speech, and OCR import.

Why we like it: Combines reading and writing accommodations within a single workspace.

iWordQ

Reading and writing support that includes word prediction, proofreading speech, and a simple editor.

Why we like it: Offers feedback during revision and supports planning with topic dictionaries.

6) Dysgraphia, Math Notation, And Worksheets

SnapType

Turns a photo of a worksheet into a typeable document on iPad.

Why we like it: Removes handwriting barriers for written responses on printed materials.

ModMath

Math editor with lined and gridded workspace for typed equations.

Why we like it: Supports alignment and legibility for computation and multi step work.

Implementation Notes

Pair access tools with instruction. Use text to speech and OCR for access while maintaining daily decoding and encoding lessons.
Use short routines. Example sequence: phonogram review, letter or word dictation, decodable reading, and a short writing response.
Configure iPad built ins. Enable Speak Selection, Speak Screen, Reader view, and Dictation to extend these apps.
Review app settings. Set fonts, spacing, and highlighting to match student needs and IEP accommodations.
Monitor progress. Use teacher dashboards when available and record brief running notes after sessions.