Asterics AAC vs CoughDrop
Asterics AAC
grid.asterics.eu
CoughDrop
coughdrop.comSide by side
| Figure | Asterics AAC | CoughDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $9/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · AAC Communication Software | 9.1 (#2) | 8.9 (#3) |
| Notable limitation | If an online user loses their password, the password and the account data cannot be recovered; the documentation recommends downloading backups. | The release notes state that Android app syncing requires an internet connection and offline syncing is unavailable. |
| Purpose | Asterics AAC is a web-based application for augmentative and alternative communication that lets users create customizable grids. | CoughDrop is an augmentative and alternative communication platform for people with complex communication needs. |
| Support | The user documentation says users can open help at the relevant section by clicking the help icon or pressing F1. | CoughDrop offers a help center with articles and guides, plus a support request form and logged-in request tracking. |
| What it does | Asterics AAC is a browser-based augmentative and alternative communication tool for building grid communicators with symbols, text and speech. | CoughDrop is an augmentative and alternative communication platform for people with communication challenges. |
Plans
In their own words
Asterics AAC
Asterics AAC is a free, web-based augmentative and alternative communication app for building customizable grids. Grid elements can display labels or images, speak labels or custom text, collect selected words into sentences, and offer word predictions. Users can select elements with touch, mouse, keyboard, an external switch, scanning, hovering, microphone input, or AsTeRICS Framework events such as eye or head movement. Computer voices are supported, with availability dependent on the browser and platform. Grid actions can control AsTeRICS Framework models, openHAB devices, and programs or devices with an HTTP REST API. It also supports web radio, YouTube control, and podcasts. After the first browser visit caches the app, it can be used offline. Registered users can synchronize grids across devices; online personal data is encrypted with the user’s password, while offline data remains in the browser. Online data is deleted after 365 days without login, and lost passwords cannot be recovered.
CoughDrop
CoughDrop is an augmentative and alternative communication platform for people with complex communication needs. It provides customizable vocabulary sets, built-in supports, assessment tools and vocabulary progression, with speech output. Users can share pages, send two-way messages and use remote modeling. Access methods include switches and eye or head tracking. The service runs on Android, iOS, web and Windows, and supports offline use with cloud backup; however, Android app syncing requires an internet connection, so offline syncing is unavailable there. Teams can collaborate on pagesets, and reports and goal-setting tools help practitioners and staff track progress. Site licenses add organization management, license reassignment, centralized reporting and optional single sign-on support. The homepage offers two months to try the product before purchase and describes one-time, annual site-license and month-to-month payment options without prices. The listed Communicator Access plan costs $9 a month per communicator. CoughDrop serves communicators, families, therapists, educators and care teams.