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What is NV Access?
NV Access is the organization behind NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access), a free, open-source screen reader for Windows that speaks on-screen information aloud so blind and vision-impaired people can use a computer. Its stated mission is that every blind or vision-impaired person should be able to access a computer freely and easily, and it frames free access as the core issue: commercial screen readers can cost thousands of dollars, sometimes more than the computer itself.
The page positions NV Access in two roles: software maker and training provider. Beyond developing NVDA, it offers training and support materials, accessibility consultation services, and paid certification and learning products such as a basic training eBook, an expert certification, and a productivity bundle.
Who it's for
- Blind and vision-impaired computer users who need a no-cost screen reader, especially where commercial licences are unaffordable.
- Employers, schools and accessibility teams evaluating whether NVDA fits their environment.
- Trainers and consultants who want structured materials or certification to teach NVDA.
- Donors and volunteers who want to support free assistive technology.
What to expect
NVDA is free to download, which removes the licence barrier but shifts responsibility onto the user or organization for setup, training and ongoing support. The paid training and certification products exist for people who want guided learning rather than self-teaching, and they are separate purchases from the screen reader itself.
A practical next step: if cost is the deciding factor, download NVDA and test it with your actual daily tools—browser, email client, office suite—before buying training. If you need to train a team or prove competence to an employer, the certification path may be the better starting point. Related resources include Microsoft Accessibility for Windows-level accessibility settings and Apple Accessibility if you also use macOS or iOS devices.
How does the NVDA screen reader work for blind and vision impaired users?
NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access) is a free screen reader for Windows that converts on-screen information into speech, letting blind and vision-impaired users operate a computer with keyboard commands instead of a mouse. NV Access, the organisation behind it, describes it as software that "translates visual information verbally" so users can make sense of what is on screen — and it is offered at no cost, in contrast to screen readers that can cost thousands of dollars.
NV Access
What it does in practice
- Speaks the interface: Menus, buttons, dialogs, documents and web page content are read aloud as you move through them.
- Works by keyboard: You navigate with shortcuts and arrow keys, listening for the item you want, rather than pointing and clicking.
- Follows focus: As you tab or arrow between controls, NVDA announces what currently has focus, plus state information such as whether a checkbox is ticked.
- Runs alongside Windows: It is a Windows application, so it can be used with everyday programs rather than only a special-purpose environment.
Who it suits
A student who cannot see the screen can write essays in a word processor, browse research sources and read email on a standard laptop. An employee can use the same workplace software as colleagues. A new user with a limited budget can try a full screen reader without committing to expensive licences.
Trade-offs to weigh
| Consideration | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free to download and use, which removes the biggest barrier described on the site |
| Skill needed | Efficient use depends on learning keyboard commands and listening habits |
| Platform | Aimed at Windows, so Mac, ChromeOS or mobile users need different tools |
| Support options | Paid training materials and certification exist if you want structured learning |
| Quality vs. price | Free does not automatically mean basic, but you should test it against your own tasks |
A useful next step
Download NVDA and spend one session on a single task you already do daily — reading a web article or writing a short document — using only the keyboard. If speech output feels slow or confusing, adjust the voice rate and verbosity settings before judging it. For structured learning, NV Access offers training and support materials, including a basic training eBook and an expert certification, so you can decide whether self-teaching or a course fits your situation.
If you use more than one operating system, compare NVDA with the built-in options on each platform before standardising on one screen reader.
How can I download and install NVDA on my computer?
Download NVDA from the official NV Access website at NV Access. On that site, choose the "Download the NVDA Screen Reader" option, which takes you to the current stable release. The download is a small installer file (typically named something like nvda_YYYY.M.exe) that you save to your computer and then run.
Installation steps
- Run the downloaded
.exefile. - Accept the license agreement.
- Choose Install NVDA on this computer for a permanent installation, or Create portable copy if you want to run NVDA from a USB drive without changing the host machine.
- Select a install location (the default is fine for most users).
- Choose whether to start NVDA at Windows login and whether to create a desktop shortcut and Start Menu entry.
- Finish the wizard; NVDA starts and greets you with speech.
If you only want to try NVDA first, the temporary copy option runs it without installing anything, but you must re-run the installer each session.
After installation
- NVDA uses the Insert key (or Caps Lock) as its modifier. Press
Insert+Nto open the NVDA menu, then Help > User Guide for the full manual. - To change voice, rate or language, open the NVDA menu and go to Preferences > Settings > Speech.
- For extra structure, NV Access sells a Basic Training for NVDA eBook and an NVDA Expert Certification; these are optional paid learning materials, not required to use the screen reader.
Practical notes
- A portable copy is useful on shared or work computers where you cannot install software.
- If you use a laptop without a numeric keypad, enable the laptop keyboard layout in NVDA's settings so the modifier keys work as expected.
- Keep the installer file: reinstalling or making another portable copy later is easier if you still have it.
Next step: after NVDA is running, open the User Guide from the Help menu and work through the "Getting started" section, then practice basic navigation in a simple program such as Notepad before moving to a browser.
What training and certification options does NV Access offer for learning NVDA?
NV Access offers two main paid training products for NVDA, alongside free support materials. The free route is the NVDA screen reader download plus support and training materials; the paid route adds structured courses and a formal certification credential.
H3 Paid training and certification
- Basic Training for NVDA (eBook) — a self-paced written course aimed at new or returning NVDA users who want a structured introduction rather than piecing things together from scattered help pages. Listed at AUD $32.00.
- NVDA Expert Certification — a formal certification exam, listed at AUD $100.00. This is aimed at people who need to demonstrate NVDA competence to an employer, client or training provider rather than just use it day to day.
- NVDA Productivity Bundle — a discounted package combining the training and certification materials, listed at AUD $199.00 (reduced from AUD $225.00).
H3 How to choose
| Your situation | Sensible starting point |
|---|---|
| New to NVDA, no deadline | Free download and support materials first |
| Want structured self-study | Basic Training eBook |
| Need a credential for work or a client | NVDA Expert Certification |
| Want both and want to save | Productivity Bundle |
The practical decision criterion is what you need at the end. If the goal is personal fluency, the free materials plus the eBook are usually enough. If the goal is proof of skill for someone else, the certification is the part that carries weight, and bundling is only worth it if you would have bought the training anyway.
A concrete scenario: a workplace accessibility trainer preparing to deliver NVDA sessions would typically work through the Basic Training eBook, practise daily with the free screen reader, then sit the certification to give clients a verifiable benchmark.
Next step: download NVDA from NV Access and try it before buying anything, so you can judge how much structure you actually need.
How does NVDA compare to paid screen readers like JAWS in terms of cost and features?
NVDA is free; JAWS is commercial software. That single difference shapes almost everything else, because it changes who can try a screen reader, how often they can update it, and what kind of support they can expect.
Cost
NVDA is developed by NV Access and distributed at no charge, funded through donations, grants, training materials and certification rather than licence fees. The page evidence frames this explicitly: many screen readers cost thousands of dollars, "often more than the computer itself," and NVDA exists as a free alternative. JAWS is sold under paid licences, with different terms for personal, professional and institutional use; exact figures change, so check Freedom Scientific's own pricing rather than relying on second-hand numbers.
The practical consequence: with NVDA, the cost of a computer is the cost of the computer. A student, a jobseeker, or someone in a country where assistive technology budgets are thin can install it today without an approval process. With JAWS, cost is a recurring decision — and often an institutional one, which is why many schools and employers supply it rather than individuals buying it.
Features and trade-offs
Both are mature Windows screen readers with speech output, braille display support, web and Office navigation, and scripting or add-on ecosystems. The differences tend to show up in specific situations rather than in a headline feature list:
- Microsoft Office and enterprise environments. JAWS has a long history of deep, tightly tested support for complex Office documents and is widely assumed in workplace and government settings. That history is a real advantage if your job depends on intricate spreadsheets or legacy internal systems.
- Remote access and virtualised desktops. This is a common pain point. Test whichever reader you rely on against your organisation's specific remote setup before committing.
- Braille. Both support braille displays, but behaviour with particular models and translation tables varies. If braille is your primary mode, test with your own display.
- Add-ons and extensibility. NVDA has a large, active add-on community and is open source, so behaviour can be inspected and modified. JAWS offers scripting, but the codebase is closed.
- Updates and pace. NVDA releases frequently and free of charge, so new Windows and browser changes are usually addressed quickly. With JAWS, staying current depends on your licence or maintenance agreement.
- Language and locale coverage. NVDA is translated into many languages by volunteers, which matters if you work outside English-speaking markets.
- Support. This is the clearest trade-off. JAWS customers typically get formal vendor support with defined response expectations. NVDA relies on community lists, documentation, and paid training or certification from NV Access if you want structured help.
Which to choose
If cost is a barrier, if you want to install a reader on any machine you touch, or if you value open-source flexibility, NVDA is the obvious starting point. If your employer or university already provides JAWS, or your work hinges on a specific application that has been validated with JAWS, that existing support and testing may outweigh the licence cost.
Many experienced users run both rather than choosing permanently. Screen readers are tools, and having a second one is a genuine troubleshooting strategy when a particular website or application misbehaves.
A useful next step: pick the two or three tasks that actually fill your day — a web app, a spreadsheet, a video call — and run each one in NVDA and in a JAWS demo or trial. Feature lists rarely settle the question; your own workflow does. If you want structured NVDA training, NV Access publishes its own materials, and general screen reader guidance is available from American Foundation for the Blind.
How can I get involved or support NV Access and the NVDA project?
You can get involved with NV Access in three main ways: use the software, buy the training and certification products that fund the work, or join the community where users and contributors share knowledge. NV Access describes itself as creating a free screen reader, NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access), and states that over 15 years of development have already enabled more than 250,000 people to gain freedom, education and employment.
Start by using and sharing NVDA
The lowest-effort contribution is adoption and word of mouth. Download NVDA from NV Access, install it on a computer you or someone you know uses, and pass it along to a school, library, employer or community organisation that supports blind and vision-impaired people. The page notes that screen readers often cost thousands of dollars, so simply demonstrating that a free, high-quality option exists is a concrete form of support. If you work in IT, accessibility or education, testing NVDA against your own website or internal tools is a practical next step: you find real barriers and produce useful feedback at the same time.
Buy training or certification
The page lists paid materials whose proceeds support the organisation:
| Product | What it appears to be for |
|---|---|
| Basic Training for NVDA (eBook) | Self-paced introduction for new users or trainers |
| NVDA Expert Certification | Formal credential for professionals who support NVDA users |
| NVDA Productivity Bundle | Combined training package at a discounted price |
If you are an individual learner, the eBook is the natural entry point. If you are a teacher of the visually impaired, an assistive technology trainer or an employer building internal expertise, certification is the more relevant purchase because it signals competence to others. These are the clearest ways to convert support into a transaction, and the training materials are also useful in their own right.
Join the community
NV Access points to an official NVDA user email list, regional NVDA communities, and social accounts on Mastodon, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and BlueSky, plus RBlind and Discord. Joining the user list is worthwhile if you want help troubleshooting or want to hear how others configure NVDA for study, work or programming. Contributing translations, documentation or code is a further step, though the page's own emphasis is on access, quality and competition rather than a detailed contributor pathway.
If you represent an organisation
The page mentions accessibility consultation services and lists supporters. For a company or institution, the most useful support is often a combination: pay for consultation or training, then commit to making your own digital products work with NVDA. That turns a one-off donation into a lasting reduction in barriers.
A reasonable next step: download NVDA, spend an hour using it with a screen reader user or a tutorial, and then decide whether your contribution is money (training or certification), time (community participation) or influence (advocating for accessible software where you work).
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