NVDA vs. JAWS: Which Screen Reader Should You Actually Support?

The Myth: You Only Need to Support One Screen Reader

You've probably heard that testing with one screen reader is enough. That's wrong. In WebAIM's 2024 Screen Reader User Survey, 71.6% of respondents use more than one screen reader (WebAIM). If you're only testing with JAWS because it's the 'industry standard,' you're missing a huge chunk of your audience. And if you're only testing with NVDA because it's free, you're ignoring the folks who've paid for JAWS. The reality is that you need to support both. But that's not the whole story. The question isn't just 'which one?' but 'which one first?' and 'how do you do it without losing your mind?' Let's break it down.

The Contenders: NVDA and JAWS

NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free, open-source screen reader for Windows, developed by NV Access since 2006 (NV Access). It's been translated into over 55 languages and is used in more than 175 countries (NV Access). JAWS, on the other hand, is a commercial product from Freedom Scientific, with a price tag that can exceed $1,000. In the same WebAIM survey, JAWS held 40.5% of primary desktop screen reader use, while NVDA had 37.7% (WebAIM). But when you look at overall usage, NVDA is actually more common: 65.6% of respondents use NVDA, versus 60.5% for JAWS (WebAIM). So the free one is winning in popularity, but JAWS is still a major player.

Criteria 1: Cost and Accessibility for Your Team

If you're a developer or tester on a budget, NVDA is a no-brainer. It's free, so you can install it on every machine without asking for a purchase order. That means you can test more often, on more machines, and even encourage your whole team to try it. JAWS, on the other hand, requires a license, which can be a barrier. But if you're a large enterprise, the cost might be negligible. The real question is: what's the cost of not testing? The WebAIM Million 2026 analysis found that 95.9% of home pages have detectable WCAG 2 failures, averaging 56.1 errors per page (WebAIM). That's a lot of potential lawsuits. And those errors are not abstract—they're things like low contrast text (83.9% of pages), missing alt text (53.1%), and missing form labels (51%) (WebAIM Million). So, if you're not testing, you're likely failing. NVDA lowers the barrier to entry, making it easier to start testing today.

Criteria 2: Feature Set and User Base

JAWS has been around longer and has a reputation for being feature-rich, especially for complex applications. But NVDA has caught up, offering a robust set of features, including braille output. In fact, 38% of WebAIM survey respondents use braille output with their screen reader (WebAIM). Both support braille displays, but NVDA's open-source nature means it's constantly evolving with community contributions. When it comes to mobile, you might also consider VoiceOver and TalkBack, but this is about desktop. The user base matters: if your product is used by government agencies, they might be using JAWS because it's been the standard for years. But if you're building a consumer app, you're more likely to encounter NVDA users. The survey shows that NVDA is the most commonly used screen reader overall (WebAIM), so ignoring it means ignoring the majority of screen reader users.

Criteria 3: Ease of Testing and Automation

Testing with a screen reader is not just about keystrokes; it's about understanding how the user experiences your site. NVDA has a steeper learning curve if you're not used to it, but it's free to practice. JAWS has a more 'traditional' feel, but it can be clunky. For automated testing, you might use tools like axe or Lighthouse, but those can't catch everything. The WebAIM Million analysis shows that the most common errors are detectable automated checks, but 96% of errors fall into just six categories (WebAIM Million). That means you can fix a lot with automated tools, but you still need manual testing to catch nuanced issues like screen reader order or focus management. In my experience, NVDA is easier to get started with because you can install it on your own machine and start playing. JAWS, on the other hand, might require a license and a bit more setup. But if you're testing a complex enterprise app, JAWS might be more representative of your actual users.

Head-to-Head Comparison

That table is the hard data from WebAIM's 2024 survey (WebAIM). Both are excellent tools, but they serve different needs.

Who Should Use Which?

If you're a startup or a small team with limited resources, start with NVDA. It's free, so you can install it on every developer's machine and run tests without asking for a budget. If you're a large enterprise with a dedicated accessibility team, you might already have JAWS licenses. But even then, you should test with NVDA too, because your users are likely using it. And if you're a freelancer or independent developer, NVDA is your only realistic option unless you want to shell out for JAWS. The bottom line: you should test with both, but if you have to pick one, pick NVDA because it's free and more widely used. However, don't ignore JAWS entirely—it's still a major player, especially in government and corporate environments.

How to Decide: A Practical Approach

Here's a blunt, practical recommendation: install NVDA today, and use it as your primary testing tool. If you're working on a product that targets enterprise or government clients, also get a JAWS license—it's worth the investment because those clients will likely be using it. But don't stop there. Remember that 91.3% of screen reader users use a mobile device, so you also need to test with VoiceOver and TalkBack (WebAIM). The key is to not get stuck on one tool. Test with as many as you can, because your users are diverse. And if you're feeling overwhelmed, start by fixing the most common errors: low contrast, missing alt text, and missing labels. Those six categories account for 96% of all detected errors (WebAIM Million), so you can make a huge impact by focusing on those first.

Bottom Line

The single best move is to start using NVDA now, because it's free and the most widely used screen reader. Then, if you can, add JAWS to your test matrix to cover the enterprise crowd. Don't let cost be an excuse—NVDA is right there. And remember, the goal is to make your software work for everyone, not to tick a checkbox. The legal landscape is shifting, too: the DOJ has adopted WCAG 2.1 AA for state and local governments (ADA.gov), and the European Accessibility Act applies from June 2025 (European Accessibility Act). So, testing with screen readers isn't optional anymore. Start with NVDA, and you'll be on your way.

Sources

• WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey - https://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey10/
• WebAIM Million - https://webaim.org/projects/million/
• NV Access - https://www.nvaccess.org/about-nv-access/
• ADA.gov Web Guidance - https://www.ada.gov/resources/web-guidance/
• European Accessibility Act - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019L0882