Identification Apps

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated July 2, 2025
iOS devices such as the iPad and iPhone are powerful tools for increasing independence for individuals with visual impairments. The following apps assist with object, color, barcode, and light identification, enhancing accessibility and functional use across school, home, and community environments.

Object & Barcode Identification

App
Price
Key Features
Seeing AI (by Microsoft)
Free
Multi-feature app: recognizes text, objects, money, colors, people, and more using AI. Great for quick object identification and reading text aloud.
TapTapSee
Free (with in-app purchases)
Take a photo and hear a spoken description of the object. Works from any angle. Real-time object ID.
Lookout (by Google)
Free
Android-only equivalent of Seeing AI; provides object, food label, currency, and scene recognition. (Not available on iOS.)
Envision AI
Free basic; $2.99/month for full access
Take photos or scan barcodes to identify objects, text, people. Excellent for detailed scene description. Subscription unlocks advanced features.
Digit-Eyes
$9.99
Scan barcodes to identify products. Create custom QR labels that VoiceOver can read or that trigger your recorded audio. Widely used for organizing household items.
AudioLabels
$9.99
Scan QR or barcodes and link them with personalized audio descriptions. Great for labeling personal items, food, medications.
Seeing Assistant Home
$3.99
Identify barcodes, scan QR codes, recognize colors, detect light sources. Designed for general home navigation.
Accessible Barcode Scanner (by Vispero)
Free
Simplified barcode scanner with speech output, designed for JAWS and screen reader users (Windows platform only).

Color Identification

App
Price
Key Features
Color ID Free
Free
Announces the name of colors the camera is pointed at. Useful for identifying clothing or school supplies.
Seeing AI (Color Channel)
Free
Built-in color identifier with reliable accuracy and speech output.
Say Color
Free
Identifies the closest matching color and also announces the RGB values.
Color Inspector
Free
Detects colors in real-time with large print and speech output. Includes brightness and contrast options.
ColorVisor
$4.99
Describes color names and RGB values; supports color analysis in live view or from images.

Light Detection

App
Price
Key Features
Light Detector (by EveryWare Technologies)
$0.99
Translates ambient light into sound—higher pitch = brighter light. Great for identifying light sources or verifying if lights are on.
Seeing Assistant-Light
$0.99
Produces a tone based on light intensity. Good for assessing lighting in the environment or distinguishing brightness levels.
Seeing Assistant-Home
$3.99
Combines light detection, color recognition, and QR/barcode scanning into one versatile app.

​Custom Object Labeling & QR Systems

App
Price
Key Features
WayAround
Free app; tags sold separately
Use NFC-enabled tags to label clothing, food, medications, documents. Tags can be read with iOS or Android devices and customized with text or audio notes.
Envision ELI
Free app; 100 label pack = ~$20
Designed for the blind to create reusable, recordable QR labels for personal items. Great for home and school organization.
Digit-Eyes (Custom Labels)
$9.99
Print your own QR labels that can trigger audio or text-based descriptions when scanned. Highly flexible.

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