Be My Eyes - See the world together
Be My Eyes connects people who are blind or have low vision with a global community of volunteers and company representatives who are ready at a moment’s notice to lend their eyesight for everyday tasks.
FREE. GLOBAL. 24/7.
Be My Eyes is a support community millions strong, available globally day or night, and has volunteers answering calls in more than 185 languages. Join the community today!
Sign up as a user to get free visual support with tasks like reading labels, matching clothes, troubleshooting technology, setting up home appliances, or any other simple task a volunteer can complete over live video. If a task is too complicated or requires expertise, call one of our company partners for on-demand video customer support via Specialized Help.
If you have eyesight you want to share, sign up as a volunteer and answer calls from our blind and visually impaired users! Tasks are usually completed in just a couple minutes, and if you’re busy there’s no need to answer – someone else will get it.
HOW IT WORKS:
1. Anyone 17 or older may sign up as a visually impaired user or volunteer.
2. Calls are connected based on daytime timezone and language. Average wait time is about 15 seconds.
3. When a call is answered, a live one-way video (two-way audio) is initiated, allowing volunteers or company reps to see what’s in front of the user’s camera and provide verbal support.
Note: Specialized Help availability varies by region and company opening hours.
MOST POPULAR USES FOR BE MY EYES:
• Reading home appliances
• Reading product labels
• Matching outfits and identifying clothes
• Help in the kitchen
• Reading digital displays or computer screens
• Navigating TV or game menus
• Operating vending machines or kiosks
• Sorting music collections or other libraries
• Picking jewelry or crafts
SPECIALIZED HELP:
Visually impaired users can call for on-demand video customer support from professionals at any of our well-known partner companies, without leaving the Be My Eyes App. Providers vary by region and language, but include households names in the following categories:
• Web and Computer Technology
• Consumer Packaged Goods
• Health and Beauty Products
• Banking and Finance
• Blindness Organizations
WHAT’S NEW:
• We’ve just reached 3 million volunteers! Thank you for making Be My Eyes the biggest community support microvolunteering platform ever.
TESTIMONIALS:
We asked our users how their lives changed after joining Be My Eyes. Hear what they had to say.
“Be My Eyes has made me feel so much more comfortable and secure knowing that if I should need sighted help, I’ll be able to get it.” - Diane, user from USA
“It was just amazing that someone from the other side of the world could be in my kitchen and help me with something.” - Julia, user from USA
“The little bit of help they might give us over the course of a few minutes, it’s a big thing for someone that’s blind or visually impaired. And to have access to that personal contact… I couldn’t imagine life without it.” - Chris Fisher, user from UK
“This is the most incredible asset that I have come across since losing my vision. It is efficient, timely, and the helpers are so very warm and thoughtful.” - Chaim, user from New York
"I am a new iPhone user and was just able to download this app and use it for the first time. It is so comforting to know that I can have assistance when I am stuck, and to know that I am really never alone. This is fantastic! Thanks so much!" - Clarizza, user from Germany
SELECTED AWARDS:
Category : Lifestyle
Reviews (28)
Signed up to help around 2 years ago. Have received around 7 calls. 2 of which I did not get to in time. Great experience thus far. Hardest was assisting someone to find an email on their computer. The audio was great but the video quality made it very difficult to read their device screen. The number of volunteers far outweigh the number of clients. But it is a thrill to get the alert and have the opportunity to assist.
Really cool platform of you're looking for a way to do some good for other people. The app can be glitchy sometimes and has cause me to miss a call or lose signal, which is why I gave it 4 stars. Usually not a big deal as there's probably someone else in line ready to take the call. I've had calls about distinguishing packaging, choosing patterns, and researching HR initiatives. Once I even explained the purpose of the app to someone whose kid had installed it for them!
I am a volunteer and have been for many years, this is a great easy to use app that should get 5 stars, but unfortunately it is a very unstable platform. 4 out of 6 calls cannot connect and you get disconnected. Connected calls have poor audio & visual quality, often leaving you unable to assist the person. This happens even at home on fibre wifi that has excellent full signal strength. A ringtone qould be great, as unless you're looking at yourphone, you shouldn't know its calling.
The connection wasn't good at all. The person wanted me to check some information via google, but ended up hanging up because their connection kept breaking up. Sadly, the person apologised, which has left me deflated, thinking the person hasn't received the support they were originally looking for! Also, my phone didn't ring to alert me. I was messaging when the call appeared at the top of my screen - easily missed!!
A few times I have received a call but it would not connect. When they do connect the calls are stable and clear most of the time. I've had the app installed over a year, but I didn't get my first call for about 8 months. This my favorite app on my phone.
This app is the great example about usage of advanced technology for greater good of people in need. Finally received the call today. Someone called me and asked me to verify if there is phone number written on paper he was holding or not. And if there was then read it out loud. I was feeling so much fortunate to be the eyes for someone and it literally fulfilled one of the purpose of my life. GOD BLESS THE DEVELOPERS OF THIS AWESOME APPLICATION.
This app is amazing. I'm a volunteer and have helped so many wonderful people. It helps people who actually need it, and also gives people a way to give back. I'm a stay at home mom, but I love helping and community service type work. This gives me the chance to feel useful. It truly shows people to not take the little things for granted.
Great initiative and effort, can be improved. Sometimes, connection is lost when trying to read a longer text or when someone puts on hold.
*3/19/22 I have now gotten an additional six phone calls, perhaps because I have a good history of answering and having calls connect. It also seems to help if you occasionally open the app. I'm not sure why. Original review: Signed up July 2019 and got my first call this evening. I actually got a call a few months ago but nothing happened so I believe that means someone was faster than me. So glad to see the copious amount of volunteers!
This app is missing is the ability to choose the hours of availability making it limited to only some people who need assistance or are willing to offer assistance. For instance what is someone who is blind needs help outside of the 8am - 9pm times? What about people who work overnight hours and need assistance or want to be available to help someone during the night?
I have answered two calls,in one I helped a man install a washing machine. In the other I helped a lady with the apps on her tablet. Although the call quality isn't perfect it is good enough. So good to be able to help.
Great idea, but there really should be a way to set an "off hours" for when I can't receive calls. It's rare enough to get a call so it's much more disappointing to get the opportunity to help at the wrong time with no way to prevent this. Maybe a simple homescreen widget button that adds 1-hour of "off hours" for each taps.
I've only received around 5 or 6 calls.. I absolutely love the whole idea of this app, and feel amazing about myself evey time I help someone. I try to get everyone i know to sign up to help others. 5 stars is not enough for the service being offered.
I've had 2 calls that I've tried to answer and unfortunately each time the answer call button hasn't worked. The app freezes. I've a <1 yr old android phone and all systems/app up to date. "Give us feedback" button on app also won't allow me to press to let developers know so hoping they see this instead and help fix if it is a bug. Thanks 😊
If you're wanting to download this app to try and be able to help or do something right for once (like I did), don't. Whatever system they use to reach out to people clearly seems to favor selecting people who have successfully answered calls before. I've received (among their pointless emails talking about other people's success) one email detailing I missed a call (despite receiving no notification). And only had one call in which I stared at a 'connecting' alert for 15 minutes.
Great app, ran into audio issues on my first call. Person calling in couldn't hear my voice. Tried leaving problem comment and app would only allow success feedback. Hope fixed in future releases 👍🏾
Received 2 calls in 4 years. Kind of disappointing. And the calls i did recieve i could not see their camera. I only could take pictures and use the flash. The 2nd call i recived was in the middle of the instructional video, which made it glitch, making me force close which ended the call with the blind person.
This app is pure gold. It's a great example of technology being used to help people. It's an easy way to quickly connect with someone, and make up for inaccessible design of everyday objects and products.
A really simple way to help other people! I have had the app for a year and received 2 calls so far, one to help a man count his change and another to help an elderly lady identify what labels were on her canned food. I have not had any glitches in answering calls that others on Android have experienced. I think it's a wonderful use of technology and kudos to the app developers for their helpfulness
I am a volunteer. I enjoy using the app to be able to assist those who have difficulties with their sight. Being able to use video feature to know how I can help someone in need is rewarding.
I received my first call from a very polite individual, requesting assistance with reading an inscription on an envelope. It was a brief and very comfortable call, I requested some minor hand adjustments to enable the camera to clarify the message and soon read it out. Both parties satisfied, we exchanged pleasantries and ended the call. It's almost indescribable how one feels using technology in this way. I feel quite, wonderful. Thank you so much Be My Eyes. A perfectly splendid app.
Should have dropped this a long time ago. I love the app, I love that we're given an opportunity to help. I've received a total of about 5 or 6 calls and only one was disrupted. I most importantly love the feeling I have within myself everytime I'm able to help. Thank you for this opportunity
Very simple app with a powerful impact. I'm pretty lucky to get my call after a day of signing up. Connectivity was great and I was able to help out the recipient.
Update: happened again 02/11/2022 01/09/2022:"Trying to answer" I had just downloaded the app & was watching the instuctional video when I got a real call. The lady asked me a question & my screen was black & the screen read "trying to answer call" with a blue loading wheel. I was so excited to get to help someone so quickly but so sad that the call video didn't connect. We could hear each other. I just couldn't see anything. Fix this please. Seems like a lot of people are having the same issue.
Love the idea, would be great if they could maybe make a setting like other apps for drivers have where you can make yourself unavailable or available for calls. I always seem to recieve them when I'm driving and feel bad I have to decline.
I love the idea of this app, but I've had issues with not being able to hear people after trying to accept the call and also after accepting the call, only being able to speak with them and not see the video. I wish the software could be rewritten or that the app could be written better.
This app seems amazing and I was excited to be able to help others but the privacy policy stopped me from using the app because it said that you can't use this app if you are under 17. So sad that I have to uninstall😢 Edit: been 2 years since my comment and now i will be reinstalling it after become 17 :)
I really like this app and the way it can help other people, but I found a very annoying problem that is with its connection stability. my last few attemps with this app wasn't successful and I couldn't be helpful, since it is keep disconnecting every time and it cannot manage any interference in the internet connection. I can see that the others had the same experience. I hope this problem will be solved as soon as possible. Thanks again for your idea, and your amazing app