Asterics AAC vs Speech Assistant AAC
Asterics AAC
grid.asterics.euSpeech Assistant AAC
asoft.nlSide by side
| Figure | Asterics AAC | Speech Assistant AAC |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · AAC Communication Software | 9.1 (#2) | 7.9 (#10) |
| Headquarters | Vienna, Austria | The Hague, Netherlands |
| Privacy | For online users, personalized data is end-to-end encrypted with the user’s password, and the foundation says it cannot access that data unencrypted. | The iOS app privacy policy says the app does not collect or share information, stores information locally and does not require an internet connection. |
| Purpose | Asterics AAC is a web-based application for augmentative and alternative communication that lets users create customizable grids. | Speech Assistant AAC is a text-to-speech communication app for people with speech impairments, including people with aphasia, MND/ALS or autism. |
| Support | The user documentation says users can open help at the relevant section by clicking the help icon or pressing F1. | The maker invites users to submit questions or requests for information through its contact form. |
Plans
Speech Assistant AAC
- Android basicFree
- Android full version upgrade$9.99, paid once
- iOS standardPrice not published
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.
Speech Assistant AAC
Speech Assistant AAC is a text-to-speech communication app for people with speech impairments, including people with aphasia, MND/ALS or autism. It can speak typed text or saved phrases, display a message in large full-screen type, and flip text for someone opposite the user. Phrases can be organized into categories and subcategories, with buttons that include photos or symbols from a set of 3,400 Mulberry symbols. The Android basic version is free; its full-version upgrade costs $9.99 as a one-time purchase, with no subscription. Listed upgrade features include unlimited categories, up to 250 phrases per category, backups and restore, colors, symbols, history, multiple conversations, voice recordings and user profiles. On iOS, voice options include iOS voices, Apple Personal Voice, recorded speech and ElevenLabs voices. The iOS app supports backups through iCloud, Mail or AirDrop. The app is available on Android, iOS and macOS; the iOS version also supports iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macs with Apple silicon. The Android version cannot be used during phone calls.