CoughDrop vs Grid 3
CoughDrop
coughdrop.com
Grid 3
smartboxaac.comSide by side
| Figure | CoughDrop | Grid 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 0 |
| Spec score · AAC Communication Software | 8.9 (#3) | 7.8 (#11) |
| Access methods | CoughDrop supports switch-activated scanning with one or two switch actions and is compatible with eye trackers on Windows. | Grid supports eye gaze, touch, keyguards, switches, mouse or joystick pointers, and voice activation. |
| Platforms | CoughDrop lists iOS, Android, Kindle, web browsers, and Windows applications as supported environments. | Smartbox offers Grid 3 for Windows and Grid for iPad on iOS; its download page describes Grid 3 as Windows software and Grid for iPad as available on iPad only. |
| Purpose | CoughDrop is an augmentative and alternative communication platform for people with complex communication needs. | Grid is AAC software designed to support people with communication and access needs, with tools for communication, independence and learning. |
| Support | CoughDrop offers a help center with articles and guides, plus a support request form and logged-in request tracking. | Smartbox says its support team can be contacted by phone, email or online chat, and it offers training for schools and organisations. |
| Trial | The homepage offers two months free to try CoughDrop before purchase. | Smartbox offers a 60-day free trial for Grid 3 and a 30-day free trial for Grid for iPad. |
| Who it serves | The company says it serves communicators, families, therapists, educators, and care teams, including people with autism, cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, ALS, and other communication disorders. | Grid supports children and adults with disabilities that affect their natural speech. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
Grid 3
Grid 3 is AAC software from Smartbox for children and adults whose disabilities affect natural speech. It combines symbol vocabularies for different ages with text communication, including word prediction and AI-based assistance. The Fix tool can correct spelling and grammar, expand abbreviations, and fill missing letters or spaces. Speech output is available, and layouts are fully customizable. Access methods include eye gaze, touch with keyguards, switches, pointers, and voice activation. Grid can also provide access to email, SMS, social media, entertainment and streaming services, and web browsing. Computer Control operates a Windows computer, while Environment Control can operate technology around the home. The software supports more than 40 languages. Grid 3 requires Windows 10 or 11; Grid for iPad requires iOS 15 or later. Smartbox offers a 60-day Windows trial and a 30-day iPad trial. Pricing is by quote, with no free plan.