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.

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

so useful and helpful!! i can actually retain so much more info in my head now. thanks man, you are so awesome and i appreciate all the kind words. thank you. :)

A Google User

A Google User

Helperbird user

Amazing Extensions in chrome. I Installed in my parents computer, because my dad have a poor vision, due to bad eye surgery. this extension really helps to have able to manipulate the font and font size for more comfortable use instead of chrome zoom feature. Because the chrome zoom feature is its overly zoom will cause the page looking super weird.

Kai Tam

Kai Tam

Helperbird user

Helperbird is a very useful and smartly designed tool that will most definitely make the browsing life of any user suffering from from dyslexia or is even remotely visually impaired a lot easier. It’s very easy to use, has the ability to synchronize settings on multiple devices, and is very efficient thanks to a useful set of straightforward customization options.

Vladimir Ciobica

Vladimir Ciobica

Helperbird user

Really makes reading easier for dyslexics.

Máiréad Jones

Máiréad Jones

Helperbird user

Helperbird is an excellent extension supporting a range of learning differences. Aside from providing many evidence-based dyslexia-assistive tools, the extension also functions as an easy-to-use, feature-rich web experience customization tool suitable to support a wide range of cognitive differences (i.e., color blindness and ADHD-related focus concerns, among others). Also, the developer is a very good person who supports the various learning-different communities in many ways, including by designing the free version of Helperbird to provide enough functionality to be beneficial to people who cannot afford to subscribe to the full-function version.

Kirk Smith

Kirk Smith

Helperbird user

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

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