# Expressive — AAC Alternative Communication > Assistive communication app with symbols and text-to-speech for speech impairments. (iPhone/iPad app by Smarty Ears.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expressive/id398345416 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Smarty Ears](https://appshunter.io/developer/348779167) - Category: Education, Medical - Price: $59.99 - Rating: 4.00/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 50 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 433 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2010-11-02 - Data updated: 2026-08-26 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expressive/id398345416/reviews.md ## What is Expressive? Introducing Expressive, a groundbreaking tool revolutionizing assistive communication. Developed by an award-winning speech pathologist, Expressive is an easy-to-use, potent app designed for individuals experiencing speech impairments or communication difficulties. As featured on the "Autism Hangout" Podcast and "TUAW.COM", Expressive is more than an app—it's a life-changing companion aiding effective learning and communication for people of all ages. From children learning their first words to adults overcoming communication difficulties, Expressive bridges the gap. It enables the expression of thoughts and needs through interactive symbols and pictures that generate sound with a single tap. xpressive Version 8.2 offers an array of powerful features: - Use a comprehensive symbol support system with over 14,000 Smarty Symbols for effective communication. - Enjoy four built-in text-to-speech voices, featuring both high-quality male and female options. - The new 'Type Words' feature allows users to input text that the app vocalizes using the iPad keyboard. - Easily customize your experience by adding your own images. - Modify the background color of your folders or images to suit your preferences. - Keep your settings secure with the lock feature, preventing unintended modifications. - Quickly find images with the search button feature. - Navigate with ease with our completely redesigned graphics and user-friendly interface. - Expressive supports both landscape and portrait modes for your convenience. - Rearrange titles to fit your communication style. - Adjust the speed of the text-to-speech voices to match your listening comfort. - Personalize your communication with a variety of font style options. - Ensure grammatically correct expressions with advanced Verb Agreement Support. - Experience a smoother user journey with advanced optimization of the application's features. - Choose from three icon sizes - Extra Small, Small & Medium, and for learners broadening their vocabulary, the 'hide icons' feature lets you keep icons out of sight without permanently deleting them. Whether you're a parent, an educator, a speech therapist, or someone seeking a better way to communicate, Expressive is your perfect partner. It's compatible with iPhone and iPad, ensuring effective communication is always at your fingertips. Embrace Expressive – your gateway to a world of enriched communication and learning. Start your journey today! ## Key features - Over 14,000 Smarty Symbols - Four built-in text-to-speech voices - Type Words feature - Add custom images - Customizable background colors - Search and lock features - Verb Agreement Support ## Recent user reviews (10 of 50) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expressive/id398345416/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Please update *2018-11-11* Love this app and wish you can update it. ### 1/5 — Fantastic comunica app(s) ( Expressive & Comunico) *2017-12-14* lI am Special Needs of the Emotional I can emote with eaš & Comunication wants needs & desires I am sorry that Rotsey took you over but keep your goođ work up I will stay with thru this thing I am sorry your product got messed up Your Prayers, Hang BraBra It is not they did but thanks for keep up & rubńing So people like me Can comunica . I wil wait on that Expressive Comunico Ingrátgived Bridge I willl become an Evanglistic tool. I promised BraB. Peach be with you. The Officer Babe todd Halbert-frye ( LPC todd type / $exual addiction couselor : Child of God ### 3/5 — Great idea but needs tweaking *2017-10-19* App crashes often when creating a new folder with images. I also wish the app would just open when selected without the Smarty Ears loge/intro song. It’s distracting & it causes a delay for access to the app. ### 5/5 — Most effective app to create your own communication boards *2017-09-17* I am an SLP always seeking for new AAC apps that are effective and efficient and since I purchased this app in a bundle with custom boards about a year ago, I have been extremely satisfied with how user friendly both apps are. My students love using expressive and have augmented communication using this app instead of those expensive devices that often times sit on shelf of a special education classroom unused. This app is so effective because once you purchase it you can download it to any ipad the buyer owns and use it with various students. Young and old students both love the pictures, and one enjoy using it to communicate. I pair it with communication books I make using custom boards and students answer questions from their communication notebooks using expressive. I thank the app creator who is a very knowledge and creative SLP because not only is app fun, but the app is often updated, and targets both core and fringe vocabulary. I highly recommend this app. For future improvement, I would recommend that this app works out of cloud system, that way any changes one makes could be made by the SLP from home and show changes when synched as does the app coughdrop (an app by another app developer). Expressive and coughdrop are my two favorite AAC apps to use in the public school setting and in the medical setting with both pediatrics and geriatrics. ### 1/5 — Don't buy *2016-10-23, version 4.2* All the folders and pictures keep red is no phone number support line to call. ### 4/5 — Has excellent potential! *2015-07-06* Very nice start. We've seen other apps from Smarty Ears start out with a few kinks and then greatly improve with future updates to become definite 'must have' SLP apps. Benefit of investing in an app from such a solid company! Love that it incorporates familiar color-coding, a nice clean layout, and relatively simple editing. Might become my go-to rec for families who want to get something in place while we're working on the bigger AAC eval process. I'm very excited to see what they have planned for the future of this communication app. **Developer response:** MelanieSLP - Thank you so much for such positive feedback on Expressive. We always appreciate when people like you take the time to write to us. If you ever have any feedback feel free to send us an email. ### 2/5 — Bare minimum *2015-03-10, version 3.5.3* The organization is awkward. Black pepper is filed under vegetables? Corn (a grain) represents the category of vegetables? I understand some are confused and group it with vegetables, but to be the key icon isn't the best representation. One of the selected key verbs is to "paste" with an icon of toothpaste. If this were all that is available to a child, it could be used as a bare minimum until proloquo could be purchased. ### 5/5 — Great for SLPs! *2015-01-05* This app is very similar to Proloquo. Easy to use and individualize to fit a child's needs. I would like to be able to edit the buttons and folders a little easier (if you want to rename the button you essentially have to just delete and make another one) and be able to move/drag buttons in and out of folders. Other than that, I like it! Good app! I'm excited to see more updates coming soon! Thank you! ### 1/5 — Speech Pathologist *2014-11-10* Only giving this app a one because it is simple to figure out, HOWEVER, this app is not something I would suggest even with the low price tag. This app is unintelligible to listeners, it often gets stuck, and the voices available sound very robotic. Would spend the extra money for a more usable app. Wish I would have known this before going through the lengthy process to purchase an app in my setting. ### 1/5 — Not impressed *2014-05-23, version 3.2* Absolutely not worth the money. Poor models for literacy (with "I" not capitalized) and syntax (no way to formulate sentences using basic word order). Not impressed with digitized voice quality or symbol set either (not all users are Caucasian children)! ## Frequently asked questions about Expressive ### What is Expressive? Expressive is an assistive communication app designed for individuals with speech impairments or communication difficulties. It allows users to express themselves through interactive symbols and pictures that generate sound, and also includes a text-to-speech feature. ### What are the key features of Expressive? Key features include over 14,000 Smarty Symbols, four high-quality text-to-speech voices, a 'Type Words' function, the ability to add custom images, customizable folder and image backgrounds, and a search function for quick image retrieval. ### How much does Expressive cost? Based on the provided information, the app is a paid application. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or advertisements, indicating a one-time purchase model. ### What devices is Expressive compatible with? Expressive is compatible with both iPhone and iPad devices, ensuring effective communication is accessible across these platforms. ### Who can benefit from using Expressive? Anyone seeking a better way to communicate can benefit from Expressive. This includes children learning to communicate, adults overcoming communication challenges, parents, educators, and speech therapists. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 8.2 — 2023-08-01 On this version we have added new home vocabulary, improved the image library ### 8.0 — 2023-07-24 We have added 4,000 new images from the Smarty Symbols library and enhanced the code to make sure it keeps running smoothly! ### 7.0 — 2020-01-23 We have fixes some small bugs, updated Smarty Symbols and updated the app to the latest iOS. ### 6.0 — 2018-11-06 Great iOS 12 Update! We have new voices available. ### 5.2 — 2017-10-23 Fixes crashes on iOS 11 ## Apps similar to Expressive | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Electrique](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/electrique/id1533335486) | — | Free | Education | | [Personal Success Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/personal-success-lite/id985701251) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education | | [I See Speech](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/i-see-speech/id6469410571) | — | Free | Education | | [PixWriter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixwriter/id1462673649) | 5.0 (3) | $69.99 | Education | | [Clicker Communicator PCS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clicker-communicator-pcs/id1088241161) | — | $199.99 | Education | | [Linggo Coach](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linggo-coach/id1555358596) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education | ## More apps by Smarty Ears - [WhQuestions](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whquestions/id348905092) - [FonoLógico Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fonologico-pro/id353252255) - [iPractice Verbs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ipractice-verbs/id356668882) - [R intensive Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/r-intensive-pro/id371200389) - [Articulation Assessment ToolKt](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/articulation-assessment-toolkt/id371280343) All apps by Smarty Ears: https://appshunter.io/developer/348779167 ## Related topics [expressive](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/expressive) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*