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.

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

Helperbird has helped me with school work.

Heather Zuniga

Heather Zuniga

Helperbird user

Fantastic! Great software and simple to use even for kids new to the computer. Provides the option to tailor every variable to make any page easier to read. Really excellent. Super helpful support too. Great job!

Rebecca Meldrum

Rebecca Meldrum

High School teacher

Great features on the free side.

bookmouse

bookmouse

Helperbird user

I am very happy with this application has been very helpful for my studying I recommend this application for the people that have concentration problems like me!

Nuria E Rivera R

Nuria E Rivera R

Helperbird user

This chrome extension is absolutely amazing. I'm a Primary school teacher and it helps children with a broad range of needs. It's so easy to set up. I love the way it syncs across devices so set up is seamless across all the children's computers. The customizable features are a game changer for allowing children to enjoy reading and accessing the web in our school. The best application I have ever seen for school children. Looking forward to trying the iPad application soon.

Luke Mccarthy

Luke Mccarthy

Teacher

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

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