Research report
Survey #11: July to August 2026
1,780 responses
Reviewed: Oct 14, 2026

Screen Reader Survey 2026: What Changed Since 2024

WebAIM's eleventh Screen Reader User Survey (1,780 valid responses, July to August 2026) set against the tenth (1,539 responses, December 2023 to January 2024). Both values for every question asked twice, the percentage-point change, and the new questions on AI and documents.

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Headline finding

JAWS is back on top: 55.0% of respondents now use it as their primary desktop screen reader, up 14.5 points from 40.5% in 2024, while NVDA fell to 32.9% and VoiceOver to 6.5%.

Source: WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey #11. Self-selected sample, not a market share. © WebAIM, reproduced with attribution.

JAWS primary (2024)
55.0% (40.5%)
NVDA primary (2024)
32.9% (37.7%)
Headings first (2024)
67.8% (71.6%)
Use AI for alt text
60.1%

Executive summary

Two years, one big swing, and a new question about AI

In 2024 JAWS and NVDA were nearly level as primary screen readers, and more respondents used NVDA than JAWS overall. In 2026 JAWS leads on both measures. Headings are still how most people find their way around a page, but slightly fewer start there, and more respondents feel the web got worse over the past year.

All survey figures are © WebAIM and come from Survey #11 and Survey #10. The only number we add is the percentage-point difference between them.

01

JAWS overtook NVDA on every measure

Primary use 40.5% to 55.0% for JAWS, 37.7% to 32.9% for NVDA. Commonly used: JAWS 60.5% to 69.2%, NVDA 65.6% to 59.3%.

02

Geography still decides the answer

JAWS is primary for 72.5% in North America, NVDA for 77.4% in Asia and 83.0% in Africa and the Middle East. More North American respondents answered this time, which WebAIM says does not alone explain the shift.

03

AI is now part of how people read the web

60.1% use AI for image descriptions or alt text, and only 8.2% use none of the listed AI tools. 85.6% expect PDFs to cause accessibility problems.

This is a survey of volunteers, not a market share

WebAIM states plainly that the sample was not controlled and may not represent all screen reader users. People choose to answer, and the ones who do are more engaged with the accessibility community than average. Neither survey measures sales, licences or installations.

The mix of respondents also moved. North America rose from 47.2% to 54.1% of the sample and Europe fell from 30.7% to 27.7%. JAWS is far more common in North America, so some of its rise is who answered. WebAIM’s own note: “This survey had a slightly higher number of respondents from North America where JAWS is more frequently used, but this alone does not account for the notable increase in overall JAWS usage.”

Primary desktop screen reader, 2024 and 2026

"Which of the following is your primary desktop/laptop screen reader?" Percent of respondents. Rows marked Not listed were not in that survey's published table.

JAWS: 40.5% to 55.0% (+14.5 pp). NVDA: 37.7% to 32.9% (−4.8 pp). VoiceOver: 9.7% to 6.5% (−3.2 pp). Beyond JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver, all other primary screen readers totalled 5.5% (down from 12.2% in 2024).

  • 2024 (Survey #10) (striped)
  • 2026 (Survey #11) (solid)

Source: WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey #11 and #10

Screen readers commonly used

"Which of the following desktop/laptop screen readers do you commonly use?" Respondents could choose more than one, so totals exceed 100%.

In 2024 more respondents used NVDA (65.6%) than JAWS (60.5%). In 2026 the order flipped: JAWS 69.2%, NVDA 59.3%. Narrator is the primary screen reader of only 0.4% of respondents but is commonly used by 36.1%.

  • 2024 (Survey #10) (striped)
  • 2026 (Survey #11) (solid)

Source: WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey #11 and #10

JAWS and NVDA by region

Primary desktop screen reader share within each region in 2026. WebAIM published these figures in its commentary rather than as a table; 2024 values are in the table below.

JAWS leads in North America and Australia, the two are level in Europe, and NVDA leads in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and South America. JAWS also gained inside North America (55.5% to 72.5%), so the shift is not only a change in who answered.

  • JAWS, 2026 (solid)
  • NVDA, 2026 (striped)

Source: WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey #11

Percent of respondents in each region whose primary desktop screen reader is JAWS or NVDA, Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), as published by WebAIM. Survey #10 did not report South America.
RegionJAWS 2024JAWS 2026NVDA 2024NVDA 2026
North America55.5%72.5%24.0%15.6%
Australia45.8%59.6%37.5%29.8%
Europe29.7%42.8%37.2%42.3%
Africa/Middle East23.3%13.6%69.9%83.0%
Asia22.9%17.0%70.8%77.4%
South AmericaNot reported18.8%Not reported67.2%

Has the web become more accessible?

"Which of the following best describes your feelings regarding the accessibility of web content over the previous year?"

22.9% now say the web became less accessible, up from 18.6%, while "more accessible" fell from 34.6% to 32.2%. Asked what would have the bigger impact, 83.9% still chose better web sites over better assistive technology (85.9% in 2024).

  • 2024 (Survey #10) (striped)
  • 2026 (Survey #11) (solid)

Source: WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey #11 and #10

Browser used most often with a screen reader

"When using your primary screen reader, which browser do you use most often?"

Chrome held at 52.3% and Edge rose to 23.6% (+4.3 pp). JAWS with Chrome is the most common pairing at 31.2% (24.7% in 2024). Windows is the desktop platform for 90.7%, and Apple devices are the primary mobile platform for 73.3% (70.6% in 2024).

  • 2024 (Survey #10) (striped)
  • 2026 (Survey #11) (solid)

Source: WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey #11 and #10

New in 2026: how screen reader users use AI

"In what ways do you commonly use AI to improve your online experience?" Asked in Survey #11 only, so there is no 2024 comparison. Respondents could choose more than one.

Only 8.2% of respondents did not indicate usage of AI in any of the listed ways. AI filling in for missing alt text is a workaround users have adopted, not a substitute for writing it: only the author knows why an image is there.

  • 2026 (Survey #11) (solid)

Source: WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey #11

PDF documents

85.6% said PDF documents are very or somewhat likely to pose accessibility issues, up from 75.1% in 2019. Survey #10 did not ask this question. Check a PDF before you publish it.

PDF documents likely to pose significant accessibility issues: “How likely is it that PDF documents will pose significant accessibility issues to you?” Asked in Survey #11 (2026) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Very likely81946.7%
Somewhat likely68338.9%
Somewhat unlikely1267.2%
Very unlikely653.7%
I don't know613.5%

Word documents

31.1% said Word documents are very or somewhat likely to pose significant accessibility issues (30.9% in 2019).

Word documents likely to pose significant accessibility issues: “How likely is it that Microsoft Word documents will pose significant accessibility issues to you?” Asked in Survey #11 (2026) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Very likely1679.6%
Somewhat likely37621.5%
Somewhat unlikely54231.0%
Very unlikely58633.5%
I don't know764.4%

What Survey #11 did not ask

Survey #10 asked respondents to rank their most problematic items. WebAIM published the order (weighted scores, not percentages). Survey #11 did not ask this question, so there is no 2026 ranking.Anyone quoting “CAPTCHA is the top problem in 2026” is quoting the 2024 survey. The Survey #10 order, most problematic first:

  1. CAPTCHA - images presenting text used to verify that you are a human user
  2. Interactive elements like menus, tabs, and dialogs do not behave as expected
  3. Links or buttons that do not make sense
  4. Screens or parts of screens that change unexpectedly
  5. Lack of keyboard accessibility
  6. Images with missing or improper descriptions (alt text)
  7. Complex or difficult forms
  8. Missing or improper headings
  9. Too many links or navigation items
  10. Complex data tables
  11. Inaccessible or missing search functionality
  12. Lack of "skip to main content" or "skip navigation" links

Also asked in 2024 only: age; different screen reader at work or school than at home; braille output; contacting website owners about barriers; accessibility of social media sites; describing appearance in virtual meetings. Asked in 2026 only: use of skip links; pdf documents likely to pose significant accessibility issues; word documents likely to pose significant accessibility issues; ways respondents commonly use ai to improve their online experience. The tables for all of them are below.

Every question, both surveys

25questions appear in both surveys. Each table shows WebAIM’s published percentage for 2024 and 2026 and the change in percentage points; nothing else is calculated. “Not listed” means the answer did not appear in that year’s published table. Two 2024 answer labels are shown in the 2026 wording: “app” and “web” as “Mobile app” and “Web site”, and “I Don’t Know” as “I don’t know”.

Region
Region: “Please select your region.” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
North America47.2%54.1%+6.9 pp
Europe30.7%27.7%−3.0 pp
Asia6.4%6.2%−0.2 pp
Africa/Middle East4.8%5.1%+0.3 pp
South America6.3%3.7%−2.6 pp
Australia and Oceania3.3%2.7%−0.6 pp
Central America and Caribbean1.3%0.5%−0.8 pp
Use a screen reader due to a disability
Use a screen reader due to a disability: “Do you use a screen reader due to a disability?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Yes89.9%94.8%+4.9 pp
No10.1%5.2%−4.9 pp
Disability types
Disability types: “Which of the following disabilities do you have?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Blindness76.6%83.2%+6.6 pp
Low Vision/Visually-Impaired19.9%18.0%−1.9 pp
Cognitive or Learning5.2%3.0%−2.2 pp
Deafness/Hard-of-Hearing6.8%7.5%+0.7 pp
Motor2.2%1.9%−0.3 pp
Other4.9%3.0%−1.9 pp
Screen reader proficiency
Screen reader proficiency: “Please rate your screen reader proficiency.” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Advanced58.3%57.8%−0.5 pp
Intermediate36.0%38.8%+2.8 pp
Beginner5.7%3.4%−2.3 pp
Internet proficiency
Internet proficiency: “Please rate your proficiency using the Internet.” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Advanced71.8%64.6%−7.2 pp
Intermediate26.4%33.0%+6.6 pp
Beginner1.8%2.4%+0.6 pp
Primary desktop/laptop screen reader
Primary desktop/laptop screen reader: “Which of the following is your primary desktop/laptop screen reader?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
JAWS40.5%55.0%+14.5 pp
NVDA37.7%32.9%−4.8 pp
VoiceOver9.7%6.5%−3.2 pp
ZoomText/Fusion2.7%2.1%−0.6 pp
Orca2.4%1.4%−1.0 pp
Narrator0.7%0.4%−0.3 pp
Dolphin SuperNova3.7%0.2%−3.5 pp
ChromeVoxNot listed0.1%n/a
Other2.7%1.4%−1.3 pp
Desktop/laptop screen readers commonly used
Desktop/laptop screen readers commonly used: “Which of the following desktop/laptop screen readers do you commonly use?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
JAWS60.5%69.2%+8.7 pp
NVDA65.6%59.3%−6.3 pp
VoiceOver43.9%42.0%−1.9 pp
Narrator37.3%36.1%−1.2 pp
ZoomText/Fusion7.5%7.3%−0.2 pp
Orca8.3%6.5%−1.8 pp
ChromeVox3.8%3.7%−0.1 pp
Dolphin SuperNova5.4%1.3%−4.1 pp
Other5.1%3.3%−1.8 pp
System Access or System Access to Go1.8%Not listedn/a
Window-Eyes1.2%Not listedn/a
Browser used most often with primary screen reader
Browser used most often with primary screen reader: “When using your primary screen reader, which browser do you use most often?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Chrome52.3%52.3%0.0 pp
Microsoft Edge19.3%23.6%+4.3 pp
Firefox16.0%15.9%−0.1 pp
Safari8.0%4.8%−3.2 pp
Other3.6%3.5%−0.1 pp
Internet Explorer0.9%Not listedn/a
Screen reader and browser combinations
Screen reader and browser combinations: “Most common screen reader and browser combinations” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
JAWS with Chrome24.7%31.2%+6.5 pp
NVDA with Chrome21.3%17.3%−4.0 pp
JAWS with Edge11.4%17.0%+5.6 pp
NVDA with Firefox10.0%9.1%−0.9 pp
NVDA with Edge5.0%5.4%+0.4 pp
JAWS with Firefox2.6%5.0%+2.4 pp
VoiceOver with Safari7.0%4.3%−2.7 pp
VoiceOver with Chrome2.0%1.6%−0.4 pp
Orca with Firefox1.9%Not listedn/a
Dolphin SuperNova with Chrome1.6%Not listedn/a
ZoomText/Fusion with Chrome1.2%Not listedn/a
ZoomText/Fusion with Edge1.1%Not listedn/a
Other combinations10.2%Not listedn/a
Operating system with primary screen reader
Operating system with primary screen reader: “What operating system are you on when using your primary desktop/laptop screen reader?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Windows86.1%90.7%+4.6 pp
Mac9.6%6.3%−3.3 pp
Linux2.9%1.6%−1.3 pp
Other1.4%1.4%0.0 pp
JavaScript enabled
JavaScript enabled: “JavaScript Enabled” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Yes99.8%99.7%−0.1 pp
No0.2%0.3%+0.1 pp
Main reason for using primary screen reader
Main reason for using primary screen reader: “What is the main reason for using your primary screen reader?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Existing Comfort/Expertise45.8%49.3%+3.5 pp
Features26.5%24.3%−2.2 pp
Availability11.7%11.0%−0.7 pp
Cost9.2%9.3%+0.1 pp
Support6.9%6.1%−0.8 pp
Satisfaction with primary screen reader
Satisfaction with primary screen reader: “How satisfied are you with your primary screen reader?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Very satisfied63.8%66.3%+2.5 pp
Somewhat satisfied31.4%28.8%−2.6 pp
Slightly satisfied3.7%4.1%+0.4 pp
Not satisfied1.2%0.8%−0.4 pp
Free or low-cost screen readers are viable alternatives
Free or low-cost screen readers are viable alternatives: “Do you see free or low-cost desktop screen readers (such as NVDA or VoiceOver) as currently being viable alternatives to more expensive commercial screen readers?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Yes78.1%74.6%−3.5 pp
No12.1%14.7%+2.6 pp
I don't know9.9%10.7%+0.8 pp
Use a screen reader on a mobile device
Use a screen reader on a mobile device: “Do you use a screen reader on a mobile device?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Yes91.3%91.8%+0.5 pp
No8.7%8.2%−0.5 pp
Primary mobile/tablet platform
Primary mobile/tablet platform: “Which of the following is your primary mobile/tablet platform?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Apple iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch70.6%73.3%+2.7 pp
Android27.6%24.0%−3.6 pp
Chrome OS0.5%0.5%0.0 pp
Other1.3%2.2%+0.9 pp
Mobile/tablet screen readers commonly used
Mobile/tablet screen readers commonly used: “Which of the following mobile/tablet screen readers do you commonly use?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
VoiceOver70.6%72.2%+1.6 pp
TalkBack34.7%29.5%−5.2 pp
Commentary/Jieshuo10.1%8.2%−1.9 pp
Voice Assistant6.0%5.4%−0.6 pp
VoiceView5.9%4.2%−1.7 pp
Other4.7%5.0%+0.3 pp
Mobile Accessibility for Android4.9%Not listedn/a
Mobile Speak1.0%Not listedn/a
Nuance Talks1.0%Not listedn/a
IDEAL0.5%Not listedn/a
Primary mobile web browser
Primary mobile web browser: “Which of the following is your primary mobile web browser?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Safari58.2%56.0%−2.2 pp
Chrome27.9%28.2%+0.3 pp
Firefox4.6%5.2%+0.6 pp
IE or Edge Mobile2.7%2.1%−0.6 pp
Other3.9%8.4%+4.5 pp
Android Browser1.6%Not listedn/a
Samsung Browser1.1%Not listedn/a
Screen reader used most often on desktop or mobile
Screen reader used most often on desktop or mobile: “Do you use a screen reader most often on a desktop/laptop computer or a mobile/tablet device?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Desktop/laptop40.2%42.6%+2.4 pp
I use mobile/tablet and desktop/laptop screen readers about the same49.5%49.0%−0.5 pp
Mobile/tablet device10.2%8.3%−1.9 pp
Mobile app or web site for common tasks
Mobile app or web site for common tasks: “When performing common online tasks such as banking or shopping are you most likely to use a mobile app or the web site?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Mobile app58.0%54.8%−3.2 pp
Web site42.0%45.2%+3.2 pp
Accessibility of web content over the previous year
Accessibility of web content over the previous year: “Which of the following best describes your feelings regarding the accessibility of web content over the previous year?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Web content has become more accessible34.6%32.2%−2.4 pp
Web content accessibility has not changed46.8%44.9%−1.9 pp
Web content has become less accessible18.6%22.9%+4.3 pp
Bigger impact on improving web accessibility
Bigger impact on improving web accessibility: “Which of the following do you think would have a bigger impact on improvements to web accessibility?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Better assistive technology14.1%16.1%+2.0 pp
Better (more accessible) web sites85.9%83.9%−2.0 pp
Navigating by landmarks/regions
Navigating by landmarks/regions: “How often do you navigate by landmarks/regions in your screen reader?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Whenever they're available17.9%15.5%−2.4 pp
Often13.9%12.8%−1.1 pp
Sometimes31.5%32.7%+1.2 pp
Seldom20.6%23.4%+2.8 pp
Never16.1%15.6%−0.5 pp
First method for finding information on a lengthy page
First method for finding information on a lengthy page: “When trying to find information on a lengthy web page, which of the following are you most likely to do first?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Navigate through the headings on the page71.6%67.8%−3.8 pp
Read through the page6.4%9.7%+3.3 pp
Use the Find feature13.6%12.5%−1.1 pp
Navigate through the links of the page4.8%6.7%+1.9 pp
Navigate through the landmarks/regions of the page3.7%3.4%−0.3 pp
Usefulness of heading levels
Usefulness of heading levels: “When navigating a web page by headings, how useful are the heading levels (e.g., "Heading 1", "Heading 2", etc.) to you?” Percent of respondents in Survey #10 (2024) and Survey #11 (2026), and the change in percentage points.
Response2024 (Survey #10)2026 (Survey #11)Change
Very useful57.0%51.9%−5.1 pp
Somewhat useful31.8%36.4%+4.6 pp
Not very useful7.5%7.1%−0.4 pp
Not at all useful1.8%2.2%+0.4 pp
I don't know1.9%2.4%+0.5 pp

Asked in one survey only

PDF documents likely to pose significant accessibility issues (2026 only)
PDF documents likely to pose significant accessibility issues: “How likely is it that PDF documents will pose significant accessibility issues to you?” Asked in Survey #11 (2026) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Very likely81946.7%
Somewhat likely68338.9%
Somewhat unlikely1267.2%
Very unlikely653.7%
I don't know613.5%
Word documents likely to pose significant accessibility issues (2026 only)
Word documents likely to pose significant accessibility issues: “How likely is it that Microsoft Word documents will pose significant accessibility issues to you?” Asked in Survey #11 (2026) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Very likely1679.6%
Somewhat likely37621.5%
Somewhat unlikely54231.0%
Very unlikely58633.5%
I don't know764.4%
Ways respondents commonly use AI to improve their online experience (2026 only)
Ways respondents commonly use AI to improve their online experience: “In what ways do you commonly use AI to improve your online experience?” Asked in Survey #11 (2026) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
To generate image descriptions / alternative text1,06960.1%
To provide in-depth analysis or description of complex images88549.7%
To generate text or other alternatives for multimedia content51028.7%
To generate audio alternatives of text content31817.9%
To provide summaries of webpages or documents66037.1%
To provide guidance in performing an online task72240.6%
To perform accessibility evaluations of content34719.5%
Other29016.3%
Age (2024 only)
Age: “Please indicate your age.” Asked in Survey #10 (2024) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Below 20946.1%
21 - 4058437.9%
41 - 6055335.9%
60+30820.0%
Different screen reader at work or school than at home (2024 only)
Different screen reader at work or school than at home: “Do you use a different screen reader at work or school than at home?” Asked in Survey #10 (2024) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Yes26618.6%
No1,16581.4%
Braille output (2024 only)
Braille output: “Do you use braille output with your screen reader?” Asked in Survey #10 (2024) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Yes51038.0%
No83362.0%
Contacting website owners about barriers (2024 only)
Contacting website owners about barriers: “How often do you contact a website owner about an accessibility barrier that you encountered?” Asked in Survey #10 (2024) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Very often1379.2%
Somewhat often37024.8%
Not very often66144.3%
Never32421.7%
Accessibility of social media sites (2024 only)
Accessibility of social media sites: “In general, how accessible are social media web sites to you?” Asked in Survey #10 (2024) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Very accessible17311.8%
Somewhat accessible82456.3%
Not very accessible27118.5%
Not at all accessible251.7%
I don't know17111.7%
Describing appearance in virtual meetings (2024 only)
Describing appearance in virtual meetings: “Should a person describe what they look like during a virtual meeting or webinar?” Asked in Survey #10 (2024) only.
ResponseRespondentsPercent
Yes36331.8%
No77968.2%

What this means for testing

Test with JAWS and NVDA on Windows, plus VoiceOver on iOS for mobile. Which desktop reader matters most depends on your audience’s region, and most users run more than one. Start with the screen reader testing guide, then the JAWS and NVDA walkthroughs. For the wider numbers, see web accessibility statistics.

Data Sources

Sample Size

1,780 (2026) and 1,539 (2024) valid responses

Date Range

December 2023 to January 2024 and July to August 2026

Limitations

  • Every table was parsed from the raw HTML of both WebAIM results pages, not retyped. Regional JAWS and NVDA shares, and figures such as the PDF and AI totals, come from WebAIM's published commentary and are labelled as such in the dataset.
  • WebAIM states that the sample was not controlled and may not represent all screen reader users. Respondents self-select, so these are shares of survey respondents, not market share, sales or installations.
  • The regional mix changed: North America went from 47.2% to 54.1% of respondents. Shifts in overall shares partly reflect who answered. WebAIM says this alone does not account for the rise in JAWS.
  • The only figure we calculate is the percentage-point change (2026 minus 2024). We do not re-weight, combine or estimate anything, and where an answer appears in only one year's table we show it as Not listed rather than zero.
  • Survey #11 dropped several 2024 questions, including the problematic items ranking that placed CAPTCHA first, and added questions on AI, skip links and documents. Single-survey questions are shown separately.
  • Totals may not equal 100% because of rounding, and not every respondent answered every question, so the base for each percentage differs slightly.

Last updated: 2026-10-14

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WebAIM permits reproduction of its content only at no cost to recipients, with full credit, a link to webaim.org and the © WebAIM notice intact. Keep that attribution when you reuse these figures.

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The PDF contains the primary screen reader, commonly used, navigation, progress and regional tables with the source note. The CSV contains every question asked in both surveys, the regional split, and the single-survey questions.

Cite this report

Accessibility.build. (2026). Screen Reader Survey 2026: What Changed Since 2024. https://accessibility.build/research/screen-reader-survey-2026. Data © WebAIM, https://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey11/

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Questions about the data

Frequently asked questions

What the two surveys support, and what they do not.

What is the most popular screen reader in 2026?

JAWS. In WebAIM's Screen Reader User Survey #11 (July to August 2026, 1,780 valid responses), JAWS was the primary desktop or laptop screen reader for 55.0% of respondents, NVDA for 32.9% and VoiceOver for 6.5%. JAWS also led on screen readers commonly used, at 69.2% against 59.3% for NVDA. These are shares of a self-selected survey sample, not sales or installation figures, so treat them as a picture of engaged screen reader users rather than a market share.

Did JAWS gain users between 2024 and 2026?

Among survey respondents, yes: JAWS primary use rose from 40.5% in Survey #10 to 55.0% in Survey #11, while NVDA fell from 37.7% to 32.9% and VoiceOver from 9.7% to 6.5%. Part of this is who answered. North American respondents rose from 47.2% to 54.1% of the sample, and JAWS is far more common there. WebAIM says the larger North American sample alone does not account for the increase, and JAWS also gained inside North America, from 55.5% to 72.5%.

Should I test with JAWS or NVDA?

Both, if you can. Which one dominates depends on where your users are. In 2026 JAWS led NVDA in North America (72.5% against 15.6%), the two were level in Europe (42.8% against 42.3%), and NVDA led in Asia (77.4%), Africa and the Middle East (83.0%) and South America (67.2%). 70.3% of respondents use more than one desktop screen reader, so a site that only works in one will fail real users.

How do screen reader users use AI?

Survey #11 asked this for the first time. 60.1% of respondents commonly use AI to generate image descriptions or alternative text, 49.7% for in-depth descriptions of complex images, 40.6% for guidance through an online task and 37.1% for summaries of pages or documents. Only 8.2% reported none of the listed uses. Users working around missing alt text with AI is not a reason to skip writing it: the description they get is a guess, not the author's intent.

Do screen reader users still navigate by headings?

Yes, by a wide margin, though slightly less than before. 67.8% said headings are the first thing they use to find information on a lengthy page, down from 71.6% in 2024. Landmarks were the first choice of only 3.4%. 88.3% find heading levels very or somewhat useful. A correct heading outline remains the single most useful structural fix for screen reader users.

Do screen reader users think the web is getting more accessible?

Fewer than in 2024. In Survey #11, 32.2% said web content had become more accessible over the previous year, 44.9% said it had not changed and 22.9% said it had become less accessible. In Survey #10 the figures were 34.6%, 46.8% and 18.6%. WebAIM describes perception as decreasing slightly from 2021 to 2024 and again from 2024 to 2026.

Is CAPTCHA still the biggest problem for screen reader users?

Survey #11 did not ask the problematic items question, so there is no 2026 ranking. The most recent answer is Survey #10 (December 2023 to January 2024), where CAPTCHA was the most problematic item by a notable margin, ahead of interactive elements that do not behave as expected, links or buttons that do not make sense, and screens that change unexpectedly. Survey #11 did ask about documents: 85.6% said PDFs are very or somewhat likely to pose accessibility issues, up from 75.1% in 2019.

How reliable is the WebAIM screen reader survey?

It is the largest recurring public survey of screen reader users, but WebAIM states that the sample was not controlled and may not represent all screen reader users. Respondents choose to take part, so it over-represents people engaged with the accessibility community. The regional mix also moved between surveys: North America went from 47.2% to 54.1% of respondents and Europe from 30.7% to 27.7%. Compare the two surveys as two snapshots of similar communities, not as a measured trend in the whole population.

Get the data

Every number on this page is available as CSV and JSON. The survey figures are © WebAIM and are reproduced under WebAIM's terms: free reuse with full credit to WebAIM, a link to webaim.org, and the © WebAIM notice intact. Cite Accessibility.build for the comparison. Last updated .

Whole dataset (JSON)

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