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.

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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.

It is simply amazing, Helperbird helps you find out from everything from the Readermode feature, color changes and so much more. It has really changed my life!!

John Mc Carthy

John Mc Carthy

Helperbird user

Helperbird offers a wide range of customization in one easy to navigate spot. Computers and dyslexia don't always mesh, the features like ruler makes reading text heavy web pages easier. Tech support is amazingly responsive should you need any help.

Fiona Wren

Fiona Wren

Helperbird user

Awesome! I don't suffer fatigue when I use this extension. Highly Recommended

G OA

G OA

Helperbird user

Huge fan of the zoom feature. It trumps the native zoom in your browser since the zoom level you set actually stays with you no matter what page you go to, which is very helpful and meshes well with the other features the app offers.

Taylor Kirkpatrick

Taylor Kirkpatrick

Helperbird user

It's easy to use with every webpage since it's just an extension. You can access lots of different functions to declutter a page (show only the relevant text and not ads, for example). You can add post it notes to annotate, and it has things like text-to-speech.

Harmony M.

Harmony M.

Program Manager

This is my first google review ever! I have to share that the accessibility and support for independent access for students that Helperbird provides, is a game changer. It is constantly being updated with new features based on feedback and it is extremely user friendly. The ability to customize the settings allows students to have control over their own learning, aligning with Universal Design for Learning. Looking forward to sharing with students and fellow educators on a daily basis. Thanks, Helperbird team!

Kelli Suding

Kelli Suding

Assistive technology specialist

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

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