JAWS Screen Reader License

The verdict

JAWS (Job Access With Speech), from Freedom Scientific, is a commercial screen reader for Windows that reads the screen aloud and lets you control the computer entirely from the keyboard, with both speech and braille-display output. The Home Annual license costs $104.50 per year for noncommercial use on up to three personal computers, sold in the US, and always includes the latest version.

JAWS Screen Reader License — about $105 per year at the Freedom Scientific store · star rating unverified in our research · Blind pick (no sight needed) — the Windows screen reader that has been the workplace standard for three decades, now sold as an annual home license.

It works with Edge, Chrome, and Firefox, has deep support for Microsoft Office and enterprise software, includes the JAWS Script Language for customizing how it handles specific apps, and ships with FSCompanion, an AI assistant that answers how-to questions inside JAWS.

Specs

  • Windows-only screen reader with speech and braille output
  • Home Annual license: $104.50 per year, noncommercial, up to 3 personal computers
  • Home Annual license sold in the US only
  • Works with Edge, Chrome, and Firefox; deep Microsoft Office support
  • JAWS Script Language for customizing app behavior
  • FSCompanion AI assistant built in (Insert+Spacebar, F1)
  • JAWS 2026 is the current version, with regular update releases
  • Professional subscription starts from $926 per year

Blind details

Blind pick means the core task — setup, daily use, and maintenance — can be completed entirely without sight, and this product stands out. For a blind computer user, JAWS is the tool workplaces expect: if your job runs on SAP, an older CRM, or a Java-based company system, JAWS is often the only screen reader that handles it reliably, and its scripting lets employers tailor it to their own software. Try it against NVDA, which is free, on your own daily tasks first — for everyday web browsing and basic Office work the two are close, and JAWS earns its price where work software gets complicated or where you need documented vendor support behind you.

Support: Reachable by phone — Freedom Scientific software technical support at 727-803-8600 (Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–7 PM ET) or customer service at 1-800-444-4443.

Honest caveats: JAWS is Windows-only — Mac users need VoiceOver and there is no mobile version. The Home Annual license is US-only and noncommercial; work use requires the Professional edition, which starts around $926 per year as a subscription, and perpetual licenses run higher still. The learning curve is steeper than NVDA's, with more commands and modes to learn, and Freedom Scientific's phone technical support is tied to a current subscription or maintenance agreement, so a lapsed license means lapsed support.

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Last reviewed: October 2026.