Top Mobile Apps Every Dyslexic Should Know About

Your phone isn’t just a distraction; it’s a powerful support system in your pocket.

If you’re dyslexic, the right mobile apps can make a massive difference. From capturing ideas on the go to listening instead of reading, these tools help you work, learn, and manage life more easily, wherever you are.

And despite what most people assume, many of the best dyslexia-friendly tools are completely free.

These are 10 mobile apps I use or recommend regularly to dyslexic professionals. Most are free. All are practical. And everyone makes daily life that bit easier.

🗣️ Tools That Help You Get Words Out (Without the Stress)

1. Voice Typing Tools (e.g., Google Voice Typing, iOS Voice Dictation, Otter AI)

Use it for: Dictating notes, emails, messages, or full documents across your phone.

Cost: Free

Platform: Android, iOS (built-in)

Voice typing isn’t just for Google Docs. It works across your whole phone, from messaging apps to emails, notes, and even social media. If you process thoughts better by speaking, this is a brilliant way to get your ideas down quickly and clearly. It removes the stress of spelling and lets you work at the speed of thought.

Pro tip: Once you’ve dictated your message or idea, use ChatGPT to tidy it up, like having a pro editor check your work before it goes out, removing so much stress.

✅ Why it helps: Bypasses spelling and motor barriers while capturing ideas naturally.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Faster, clearer communication, especially in fast-paced roles.

2. Grammarly Keyboard

Use it for: Instantly improving what you write, anywhere you write it.

Cost: Free / Premium from £10/month 

Platform: Android, iOS

The Grammarly mobile keyboard gives you real-time writing support in your messages, emails, documents, or social posts. It checks for grammar, clarity, tone, and spelling as you type, helping your writing feel polished without feeling robotic. Whether you're writing something casual or important, it’s like having a trusted editor in your pocket.

✅ Why it helps: Gives you instant feedback and confidence.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Boosts clarity and professionalism with less editing.

🎧 Tools That Help You Learn and Absorb on the Go

3. Speechify

Use it for: Listening to articles, PDFs, and emails like an audiobook.

Cost: Free version / Premium from ~£10/month

Platform: Android, iOS

Speechify turns written text into audio, so you can listen to important content while you walk, cook, or rest your eyes. For people who find dense reading exhausting, this tool makes learning and working more flexible. Adjust the reading speed and voice to match your preference and reduce the mental load of decoding long documents.

✅ Why it helps: Reduces reading fatigue and improves focus.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Makes long documents more accessible to more people.

4. Otter.ai

Use it for: Recording conversations or meetings and turning them into searchable text.

Cost: Free 300 mins/month / Paid from ~£8/month

Platform: Android, iOS

Otter records spoken conversations and converts them into written notes, perfect for meetings, workshops, or lectures. One of the hardest parts of work used to be taking notes while trying to stay present. Otter removes that completely. You can fully engage, then revisit the transcript later.

✅ Why it helps: Stops you from missing details while multitasking.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Clearer documentation, better follow-up.

5. Texthelp Read&Write (iOS/Android)

Use it for: Reading support, screen masking, and writing tools, all in one.

Cost: Free trial / Paid from ~£80/year

Platform: Android, iOS

This app is like a Swiss Army knife for literacy. Whether you need text read aloud, a screen mask to help you focus, or vocabulary support to break things down, it offers multiple tools in one place. It’s especially useful when reading technical documents or working through complex instructions.

✅ Why it helps: Breaks complex information into manageable parts.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: More independent and accurate reading.

✅ Tools That Keep You Organised and On Track

6. Trello

Use it for: Visual task management from your phone.

Cost: Free / Paid upgrades

Platform: Android, iOS

Trello is a visual productivity app that uses drag-and-drop cards to help you organise tasks, ideas, or projects. I use it for everything from content calendars to to-do lists. It wasn't introduced to me as a dyslexia tool, but it’s one I now recommend constantly.

✅ Why it helps: Makes complex to-dos visual and manageable.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Helps teams stay aligned and prioritise clearly.

7. Google Calendar

Use it for: Structuring your week and managing routines.

Cost: Free

Platform: Android, iOS

Google Calendar brings structure to your week with events, reminders, and colour-coding. You can use voice commands to add appointments and block time for focused work. It even helps me remember people’s birthdays, something I’ve always been awful at.

✅ Why it helps: Brings structure and predictability to your day.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Boosts reliability, focus, and time awareness.

8. Google Keep

Use it for: Storing notes, ideas, voice memos, and checklists in one place.

Cost: Free

Platform: Android, iOS

Google Keep is a professional-grade note-taking tool. Unlike a traditional notebook, it’s searchable, colour-coded, and instantly available across all your devices. You can pin key notes, set reminders, or even use voice to capture ideas when you're on the go, without ever flipping through pages to find what you need.

✅ Why it helps: Lightens cognitive load and keeps you organised.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Faster access to relevant notes and ideas.

🧠 Tools That Support Focus and Emotional Balance

9. Headspace

Use it for: Quick, guided mindfulness and focus sessions.

Cost: Free trial / Paid from £5.99/month

Platform: Android, iOS

Headspace offers quick mindfulness tools for those moments when your brain won’t switch off. Just a few minutes of guided breathing or focus can help reset your thinking, improve your emotional balance, and create mental space to focus better.

✅ Why it helps: Reduces stress and improves focus.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Supports emotional regulation and resilience.

10. Daylio

Use it for: Tracking mood, habits, and mental patterns.

Cost: Free / Paid from £3/month

Platform: Android, iOS

Daylio is a no-typing mood journal. You track how you feel and what you’re doing using icons and categories, and over time, you can spot patterns that help you understand what affects your energy, confidence, or focus.

✅ Why it helps: Builds self-awareness and supports wellbeing.

✅ Why workplaces benefit: Encourages healthier routines and boundaries.

🚀 Final Thought: You’re not just coping, you’re customising your success.

The right mobile apps aren’t “cheats”, they’re enablers. They help you stay present, communicate clearly, and manage life in a way that suits your brain. And the workplaces that understand that? They’re the ones getting your best work.

At Pro Dyslexic, we believe support should be simple, practical, and powerful. Our Support Hub helps businesses create environments where dyslexic professionals can thrive, with real training and practical tools like these. Our Walk a Mile Workshops give employers the insight they need to understand the value of offering meaningful support and reasonable adjustments.

You don’t have to do things the hard way to prove anything. You just need tools that let your thinking shine.