Speech Assistant AAC vs SymboTalk

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.

SymboTalk is an augmentative and alternative communication system in which people select symbols on boards to communicate. Selecting symbols can produce spoken output and add words to a sentence that can also be spoken. Users can create symbols or choose from an online library of more than 60,000 images, including ARASAAC, Mulberry, and Sclera symbols. Boards support sub-boards and multiple grid options. Profiles let editors configure boards for users, who can use a limited-access “me” mode. The service is available on Android and the web, and the Android app supports full offline use. Core app features are free; cloud sharing, synchronization, and backup are paid features. The app listing describes a ChatGPT integration and an AI Assistant that can generate full boards. Google Play reports the developer declares no data shared with third parties, but says the app may collect personal information, app information and performance, and device or other IDs. It also reports that data is not encrypted and cannot be deleted.