A software box in white and blue with a shark fin graphic and text reading "Screen Reader" on top.

JAWS Professional

by Freedom Scientific

$1,003 every year, see price history

An ongoing cost: you pay it every year to keep using it. Price is what the vendor listed when last checked. Confirm it with the vendor before buying.

Other ways to buy

  • Perpetual license: $2,316.50, pay once
  • Schools and organizations: ask the vendor

Other licenses and prices are checked by hand and can change without notice. Confirm them with the vendor before buying.

Professional guidance helps A blind user can install it and get speech output right away, but becoming productive means learning a large set of keyboard commands and configuring it for specific applications. Trainer or rehabilitation support makes a big difference, and workplace use often needs professional setup, so professional support is recommended rather than required.

What it is

Summary

AI-generated from vendor-published content · September 29, 2026

JAWS is screen reader software for Windows that reads on-screen content aloud and can send it to a braille display, so someone who can't see the screen or use a mouse can work in their applications from the keyboard. It's built for people with significant vision loss, including blind users who depend on it for daily computer use. The Professional edition is the workplace-oriented licence. It is software only, and anyone who wants braille output will need to add a compatible display.

Getting it

Try before you buy

Devices like this are often available to borrow through your state's AT Act program — typically free or low-cost — so you can try it before buying or pursuing funding.

Find your state's lending program →

Where to get it

Freedom Scientific Visit
See prices above

This is the vendor WhatCanHelp tracks for this product — it may also be available from other retailers or a local supplier, and prices vary.

How to fund this

These are common places to ask about paying for equipment like this. Each one decides its own eligibility and what it covers, so start by asking them.

All funding programs, state by state →

Details

Quick Facts Catalog facts · auto-generated
Type
Addresses
Platform
Age range
Complexity
Professional guidance helps
Price
$1,003 every year
Funding
  • AT Act lending
  • Out of pocket
  • School district
  • Vocational rehab

What setup looks like

  • Out of the box
    Install the software on a Windows PC and it starts speaking as soon as it launches, so basic use can begin right away.
  • With a guide
    1. Work through the built-in tutorials and keyboard command references to learn navigation of the desktop, browser, and email.
    2. Plan on several weeks of regular practice before feeling fluent, since the keyboard commands take time to learn.
  • With professional help
    1. A vision rehabilitation teacher or assistive technology trainer can teach efficient keyboard navigation and set up JAWS for the applications used at work or school.
    2. For workplace use, an ATP can check compatibility with job-specific software, which may need scripting or settings changes, over one or more sessions.

View official support docs → (opens in a new tab)

Sources & fine print

Vendor facts (name, price, platforms, vendor link) sourced from Freedom Scientific — view on vendor site (opens in a new tab); last checked October 31, 2026.

Classification & description AI-generated from vendor-published content on September 29, 2026 · confidence: high. Vendor specs may lag; verify before relying on details in a clinical or funding artifact.

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