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Helperbird iOS vs Desktop - What's Different?

Compare Helperbird iOS vs desktop features. Understand platform differences and capabilities Support accessibility for everyone. Understand the differences between Helperbird on iOS (iPhone/iPad) and desktop browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox). Learn which features are available on each platform.

Helperbird works on both iOS (iPhone and iPad) and desktop browsers, but there are some differences due to platform limitations. Here's what you need to know.

Features Available on Both Platforms

These core features work on iOS and desktop:

  • Text to Speech
  • Dyslexia Fonts
  • Reading Mode
  • Immersive Reader by Microsoft
  • Font Customization
  • Letter and Word Spacing
  • Line Height Adjustments
  • Color Overlays
  • Translation
  • Picture Dictionary
  • Magnifier

Desktop-Only Features

Some features are only available on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox due to iOS Safari limitations:

Voice Typing - Speech-to-text input is not available on iOS Safari extensions.

Word Prediction - Typing predictions only work on desktop browsers.

Screenshot Tools - Browser screenshot capture is desktop-only.

Extract Text from Images (OCR) - Image text extraction is limited on iOS.

Auto Scroll - Automatic page scrolling is a desktop feature.

Cursor Customization - Custom cursor options are not available on iOS.

Some Keyboard Shortcuts - Desktop has more keyboard shortcut options.

iOS-Specific Notes

Accessing Helperbird On iOS, you access Helperbird through the Safari extension menu (tap the aA button or puzzle icon). On desktop, you click the Helperbird icon in your browser toolbar.

Performance Some features may run slightly differently on iOS due to Safari's extension architecture. If you notice any issues, try refreshing the page.

Settings Sync Your Helperbird settings sync across devices when you're logged in with the same account. Changes made on desktop will appear on iOS and vice versa.

Pro Features Your Helperbird Pro subscription works on all platforms. Log in with the same account to access Pro features everywhere.

Why Are Some Features Desktop-Only?

Apple's Safari extension system has different capabilities than Chrome, Edge, and Firefox extensions. Some features require APIs that aren't available on iOS, which is why they're limited to desktop browsers.

We're always working to bring more features to iOS as Apple expands what Safari extensions can do.

Video Tutorial

Need Additional Help?

Have questions about feature availability? Reach out to our Helperbird support team and we'll help you out!

What People Are Saying

Join over 1,000,000 people who use Helperbird every day.

Read All Reviews

This extension has been an absolute lifesaver. I have that fantastic combo of ADHD and Dyslexia while trying to go through college. I have difficulty keeping letters in order, seeing the gaps between words, and with ADHD on top, I lose focus A LOT. The immersive reader has been my new best friend. It drowns out the rest of the content on the page, changes the font to something I can read, and highlights the word as it reads to me. My eyes are forced to keep going in the right direction. I can slow down and pay attention to what I'm reading. I don't even have to go back and read the same paragraph 5 times to understand it! The screen overlay has been outstanding for eye strain and being able to distinguish between words and spaces. The custom font and spacing for research articles have been an enormous advantage! I can actually read the research papers now and not have this daunting 2 column fine print page to squint over.All around, this has been the best purchase I've ever had. I use this every day, with every assignment. I don't even struggle with story-based questions anymore. The immersive reader helps me read, listen, and understand the question all at once. I am still exploring what I can use this with and how it can make my academic career, and I keep getting impressed with every new way I find to use it. Seriously, try it out. You won't regret it at all. Even if you don't have dyslexia or ADHD, just try it out. You might find that it helps you understand the content you're trying to learn even better!

Mason Hunter

Mason Hunter

Helperbird user

I am an assistive technology consultant for 30 school districts. I am adding Helperbird to the list of reading resources that I have available.

Denise Young

Denise Young

Parent

Have an amazing collection of assistive tools that have benefits for everyone. For me, the combination of Microsoft's Immersive Reader and Apple's reading machine voice (US Alex) makes Helperbird my first choice for processing web content.

Jim Sprialis

Jim Sprialis

Assistive technology specialist

wonderful

Ayman Mahrous

Ayman Mahrous

Helperbird user

The best in its class - SUPERB - It does everything I need for my aging eyes.

Jen Ridge

Jen Ridge

Helperbird user

It was helpful at all times for me! I love this tool!

Heather Shepard

Heather Shepard

Helperbird user

Helperbird logo: Stylized owl with large yellow eyes and a beige face, against a green background.

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