FREE & OPEN SOURCE

Point your phone.
Hear it read.

myReadOut turns your phone into a universal screen reader. Any screen. No install on the thing you're reading.

Open the app View on GitHub

Works in Chrome on iPhone and Android

What is myReadOut?

Most screen readers only work on your own phone or computer. They can't read a public kiosk, a hotel TV, your friend's laptop, or a printed menu.

myReadOut is different. Your phone is the reader. You point it at anything with text on it — any screen, any sign, any surface — and it reads it out loud.

"Like having someone whisper in your ear what everything says."

No install needed on the thing you're reading. Just open myReadOut in Chrome on your phone and go.

Who it helps

Low vision & blindnessRead any screen, not just your own phone.
DyslexiaHear it instead of struggling through it.
Non-native speakersListen and understand in your own time.
Older adultsNo complicated setup. Point and tap.
AnyoneBright sunlight, small print, screen too far away.

How to use myReadOut

You'll need about 10 minutes the first time. After that, it's just open and tap.

1

Get an Anthropic API key

myReadOut uses Anthropic's AI to read text from your camera. You need your own key — it's like a personal access pass.

Go to console.anthropic.com, create an account, click API Keys in the sidebar, then Create Key. Copy the key — it starts with sk-ant-. Save it somewhere, you only see it once.

What does it cost? Anthropic charge per use, not a monthly fee. Each capture costs roughly a few pence — the only cost to you is your own use. You top up credit on their site and it draws from that. myReadOut itself is completely free.
2

Open myReadOut in Chrome

Tap Open the app in Chrome on your phone. When prompted, paste in your API key and tap Get started. Allow camera access when your phone asks.

You can also add it to your home screen like an app — tap the share icon in Chrome and choose "Add to Home Screen".

3

Point and tap

Point your camera at any screen, sign, menu, or printed text. Tap the big camera button. Wait a moment — the app will read the text aloud automatically and show it on screen.

Tips for best results Hold the camera steady · Make sure the text is well lit · Works best on clear printed text · Use the speed slider to slow down or speed up the reading · Tap the speaker icon to replay the last result
4

That's it

Your key is saved in your browser so you won't need to enter it again. Every capture is private — nothing is stored, recorded, or shared with anyone.

Frequently asked questions

Does this work on iPhone? +
Yes — open it in Chrome on iPhone. Safari may have camera limitations so Chrome is recommended on both iPhone and Android.
Why do I need an API key? +
myReadOut uses Anthropic's AI to understand what's in your camera image and extract the text. That's what makes it smart enough to read almost anything. Anthropic charge for that service directly, so you bring your own key and pay them — nothing goes through us.
How much does it actually cost? +
Each capture costs roughly £0.002–0.005 — less than half a penny. If you captured something 100 times a day you'd spend about 20–50p. Most people use it far less than that. The only cost to you is your own use.
Is my camera footage stored anywhere? +
No. A single still frame is captured when you tap the button, sent to Anthropic's API for text extraction, and that's it. No video is recorded. Nothing is stored by myReadOut. Anthropic's privacy policy governs how they handle API requests.
Can other people use my API key? +
No — each person needs their own key. The app stores your key only in your own browser. Nobody else can see it, and any charges go to your own Anthropic account only.
What if I get an error? +
First check you copied the full API key including the sk-ant- at the start. If the error says "authentication" your key may be wrong or your credit may have run out — check your balance at console.anthropic.com. If the camera won't start, make sure you've allowed camera access in your browser settings.
Can I use this offline? +
The camera works offline but the text reading needs an internet connection to call Anthropic's API.
Can I build on this or fork it? +
Yes — please do. myReadOut is open source under the MIT licence. Fork it, build on it, make it better. That's the whole point.

Everyone can DIY with code — but wouldn't you rather have it DFY?*

Work with us →

*DIY = Do It Yourself, meaning the code is open source and free to use or build on yourself · DFY = Done For You, meaning we build it for you so you don't have to touch a line of code

Ready to try it?

Free and open source. Works in Chrome on any phone.

Open myReadOut GitHub