# Speak for Yourself — user reviews > 27 indexed App Store user reviews of Speak for Yourself by Speak for Yourself LLC, rated 4.60/5 from 401 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speak-for-yourself/id482508198/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speak-for-yourself/id482508198.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 309 · 4★ 51 · 3★ 15 · 2★ 11 · 1★ 15 ## What do users think of Speak for Yourself? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 User-friendly interface - 🗣️ Effective for communication - 🚀 Motor planning support - 💡 Vast vocabulary access - 🔍 Helpful search function - 💬 Enables expression and independence - 🛠️ Easy to edit and customize - 🤝 Excellent customer support - ✨ Life-changing for users - ✅ Grows with the child/user **Cons** - 💰 High price point - 🖼️ Limited custom picture options - 🤏 Small picture/button size - 🗣️ Voice options could be better - 🔄 Rigidity in page/folder structure - 🤔 Button organization confusing - 🚫 No word prediction in keyboard mode **Commonly reported bugs** - Accidental download without password - Buttons don't make sense (e.g., 'little' leading to flowers) **Most requested features** - Allow uploading personal pictures for words - Increase size of picture/buttons - Improve voice options - More flexibility in sub-page customization - Add word prediction in keyboard mode - Implement color-coding for navigation - Add alphabetical order for core words - Option for word-only buttons - Choice of different backgrounds for buttons and message window - Advanced word prediction feature - Minimum hold duration for buttons - Repeat delay option ## Newest reviews (11 of 27) ### 5/5 — Best AAC app available *2017-06-16, version 2.7* I'm a speech therapist and use this app with several clients. Best AAC app available. ### 5/5 — Fantastic AAC app *2017-06-16, version 2.7* This is a great aac app. The motor planning itself is worth it. Thank you' ### 5/5 — The best AC app I've found *2017-04-28, version 2.7* The simple usage paradigm of 2 touches to each word works for my girl. ### 5/5 — Congratulations! *2017-04-23, version 2.7* I have had this app on my daughter's iPad mini and my iPad Air for a year and we looooove it. I have had the app on my phone now for less than a full day and so far I find it amazing. I wasn't too surprised that I could navigate it as easily as the bigger versions because I am used to the iPhone keyboard, with keys similar in size. I plan to use the app on my phone primarily for modelling so was happy to see I could manage. I have to say that I WAS pleasantly surprised, however, to see that my 7-year old was quickly able to find an icon and accurately press it. This feels like quite a revolutionary development. Well done SFY!! ### 5/5 — Finally, a system that is user friendly and grows with the child *2017-04-15, version 2.7* The first 5 months: Within the first week, she was able to tell us a complete thought. She commented on a movie and was excited that she could find the words! Our daughter had a Dynavox for about 10 years. She used it less and less over time. Therapists thought that she just didn't have much to say. What they didn't realize is that the multi layers to access the words made using the device too complicated and slow. What we love about SFY is that it isn't pre-programmed speech (even though you can do that), but due to the babble feature, she can find the word she wants to use. She likes to emphasize with words like "exceptional" or "annoying". She found these words on her own and added them to her vocabulary. What makes this most remarkable is that she didn't get this device till she was 21. We are seeing a transformation in her. She is no longer isolated and forced to have one way conversations. As a parent, to hear "Mom, I love you" was pretty awesome. Finally, someone thought outside of the box and created something that user friendly, actually grows with a person and is affordable. Jess is now 25 she has not stopped talking! ### 5/5 — Sfy *2017-04-13, version 2.7* Our son has apraxia and this app has been a life changing device for us. He is able to learn and remember where the words are because of the thoughtful design of this program. He can communicate needs, feelings, and comment on his surroundings. We are forever thankful we bought this app. ### 5/5 — Love it! *2016-09-08, version 2.4* From the easy search functionality to the robust vocabulary to the incredible app support from SFY leadership, we LOVE this app! ### 5/5 — Amazing app for many, other options have advantages for some users *2016-05-10, version 2.4* Speak for Yourself is extremely easy to use, and pretty much impossible to break. It works out of the box without much customization. SFY allows access to a huge number of words without being overwhelming to new users. Much better support for independent exploration of vocabulary than any other app. There is an amazing search feature. Even non-readers can use search, if they are able to guess which letter it might start with. Search teaches you how to find the word. (This is good for users and also makes modeling much easier than on any other robust app.) In addition, editing is really easy. SFY is very easy to learn, and has many more words available than other options. (For instance PRC Unity devices and PRC LAMP are harder to learn and have fewer words.) That said, there are some drawbacks, and Proloquo2Go and Proloquo4text have advantages for some users. Proloquo2go has better support for alternative access. There are numerous ways to select buttons, including select on release and multiple forms of switch access. Proloquo2go also has more options for visual and aural feedback, which can be important for some users. If you are looking for an app to support your own communication, there are other options worth considering seriously. If you are a literate person looking for a primary AAC solution for yourself, Proloquo4text or another typing-based app is likely to be a better option. It may also be a better option for some literate children. Symbols aren't the best for everyone. If you basically think in words and know what you want to say, Proloquo4text and other typing-based apps are likely to be better. If your primary means of communication is typing or speech and you're looking for augmentative cognitive support in some situations, Proloquo2go might be a better solution. If you're looking for support in keeping your communication and remembering options or something like that, making pages and folders can be better than a flattened core approach like SFY. You can't make situation-specific pages or folders in SFY. (Which for language development is a good thing, but if you want AAC for a different reason, it can be a bad thing. ) Also, p2g uses a symbol set that is less childish and more effective for cognitive support. That said, some people find that the motor planning arrangement in SFY is really effective at helping them hold on to language. So your mileage may vary. Short version: Speak for Yourself is amazing and probably the best option for supporting language development for most users. For adults and older children who have language development already and need AAC to overcome physical barriers to speech, a typing-based approach like Proloquo4text might be better. For people who have good speech or good typing but need secondary augmentative support for cognitive reasons in some situations, Proloquo2go is likely to be better. For people with very severe motor impairments for need alternative access, Proloquo2go may also be better. But for most people who are learning to communicate, Speak for Yourself is likely to be best. ### 5/5 — Fantastic AAC app! *2014-04-24, version 1.5.1* My 7 year old son with autism uses this app as his talker. It takes only 2 touches to get to any word. I can easily add words that are not preprogrammed, like favorite toys and TV characters. It has an easy search feature if a word needs to be found. This app has done amazing things for my son and I can't praise it enough! ### 5/5 — A Witness to Success *2013-07-14, version 1.3.2* As an Educator who has the honor of working with 100's of special youngsters, it is a responsibility of mine to see that non-verbal students are given an opportunity to verbalize their wants and needs. Last year I was introduced to the Speak for Yourself Application for possible use as a communication tool for our students. With the assistance of an OUTSTANDING technical support department I was able to successfully download and utilize SfY for use in my Speech Department. In turn, many of our students are now able to communicate more effectively. I would highly recommend this tool to anyone who strives for better and more efficient communication. Give it a try and you too can be a witness to success.... ### 5/5 — Finally! *2012-03-31, version 1.1* At last we have a communication app based on motor learning principals that can grow with the user from their first words right through to complex communication. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — No *2021-01-01, version 3.9* Looks like Chinese bloatware compared to PODD Compass. ### 1/5 — Correction please! *2018-08-14, version 2.9.11* I was just looking through different apps for communication. I went to download the lite version, bumped the wrong key, it just downloaded without my password! Three hundred, I cannot afford. I wanted to try the lite version and if I liked it, insurance would cover it. I need an app but cannot afford this. Help! Please help! ### 1/5 — Ugh! *2014-06-16, version 1.6* I don't get it. Too many buttons. They don't make sense (e.g., "little"/mouse picture goes to page with about a hundred flowers???? What is that about?!!!!!). No word prediction in keyboard mode. Ugh!!! Give me my money back! ### 2/5 — Could be better *2017-01-01, version 2.5* My 3 year old is not even interested in this app because the pictures aren't motivators to him. That's to be expected. But what I don't understand is why when I go to edit, I can't put my own personal picture of a box of cereal (which he loves and is motivated by) in place of the generic, cartoon drawing of cereal (which doesn't even look especially like a box of cereal). It is INCREDIBLY important that I be able to upload my own pictures to the words and I can't seem to be able to. The next pretty significant issue I'm sure everyone's brought up is the SIZE of the pecs. They are ridiculously small. And one day when my sons vocabulary is larger and he's familiar with the app, I'm sure that size WONT matter, but for now, during the critical learning stage where with toddlers, especially autistic toddlers, it's all about the visuals, this app doesn't come ANYWHERE close to meeting those needs. What SHOULD happen is when the parent closes a bunch of pecs, the ones remaining should automatically get bigger. It's pretty simple to me and I don't understand why this wasn't done. I spent almost $300 on this app but only because it seemed slightly better than AAC word power and not by much. There aren't many options in this genre yet and clearly designers have a LONG way to go to meet some very critical needs. Please fix. I may be seeking a refund if a solution isn't found. ### 3/5 — speak for yourself *2012-01-19, version 1.0* When I read the rationale behind this app, I simply had to buy it-even at its over inflated price. I was soon very disappointed. The core word buttons are very small, this limits its usefulness for individuals with motor and visual impairments. The core word page is very hard to find specific words- there is no categorization according to word types for example verbs, prepositions etc. There is no colour coding scheme such as Goossens, Crain and Elder to help navigate the core words, and neither are they in any alphabetical order. Automaticity does not mean just presenting core words in any old specific location, you must assist it by incorporation of alphabetising, colour coding etc. Options such as the ability to have word only buttons should be available, as well as the choice of different backgrounds for the buttons and message window. Some form of advanced word prediction should be available at this price, as well as the ability to interact with the app in such a way to allow for a minimum hold duration of the buttons, and a repeat delay. My criticism of the app does not stop there, who says that "a" is always followed by a list of animals and the"but" core word leads to body parts, as this app gives you to believe, what has happened to people , place or things. I suggest the therapist go back to the drawing board, and give us more bang for the buck. ### 4/5 — Love it, but rigid *2013-02-14, version 1.3* I LOVE this app. I love how it is set up, how it only takes two taps to say anything, how it bounces you back to the main screen after you tap a button, I love the thought that was put into the organization. I adore the babble button and the search button is so handy. However, if I could change three things, it would be the voices, the rigidity, and the grammar. My boy is 4yo and while I can change the pitch and speed of the voice, it just doesn't do it for me like proloquo2go's "josh" voice does. It seems like a small deal, but when it's his VOICE that people will recognize him by, it makes a big difference. As for the rigidity, I understand the concept behind core words and how important they are, but (and I will be specific to our story here) when I get into the family folder, too much real estate is taken up by all the different relationship types and verbs that we have no place to put actual buttons for family members. I agree with keeping the core words on the first page locked, but I wish once we got into the second page we could have more freedom. I love how each verb has all the different tenses available. I have to say, though, that P2Go's feature of holding the button and having the tenses pop up is a huge real estate saver. Huge. In the end, it was worth it to me to pay for the app to get the template. The voice and the flexibility of the sub-pages were more important to me than the babble and search button, so I have set up P2Go to mimic SFY. If you ever change these things, I would use SFY exclusively. ### 5/5 — Amazing app *2025-01-19* My son has been using this app for over eight years. It is his freedom of expression. There is no predictive text or some AI generated sentences. Just a wide choice of vocabulary where he can write full sentences that are grammatically correct. And there is an easy to use edit function to add words , sentences, commands for Alexa and photo images. Even with limited hand function he can access the appropriate squares because he is motivated to communicated accurately to people who can’t understand. Would highly recommend. ### 5/5 — This is pretty good I gotta say. *2024-09-20, version 4.6* This is a wonderful app my child lost her voice for. This is the only reason that she should bring her iPad to school. She needs to speak and this year her brother isn’t in the class so we bought this 300 dollar worth it app. It speaks wonderfully nice for her and she can easily tell us what she needs just from this. I’d do anything for better updates too though. I’m Emma, a parent of a young girl who has a no speaking disease. I think if you have a sad story like this you should totally get this. Even if you can speak fine, it’s still wonderful for everybody. I hope you download but if your the owner then I think you should update! ### 5/5 — User friendly *2023-08-02, version 4.3* I am a parent of a nonverbal child. We have tried different APPs and this one is by far the easiest to use and model. I love the babble function and the search function. We purchased a voice that suits our son. We purchased a key guard as well to separate the buttons for our son with cerebral palsy. ### 5/5 — Life saving device, works a treat for us, *2021-07-17, version 3.12* Our son has autism and has really adopted this app. The first words he said were the one already in his sfy ## Most praised reviews (6 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Motor planning perks *2020-12-05, version 3.8* Our favorite thing is that my 8 year old can use this in each grade and it’s so functional that even people (teachers) who have never used AAC before can manage it just fine. Buttons also do not move between pages unlike LAMP and that was very important to us being that my son has apraxia of speech. His issues deal solely with motor planning. Lastly, customer service is insanely accessible. I was genuinely surprised when I needed help when we first got the app. We have had the app for three years now and I still actively recommend it to other parents within our Apraxia community. ### 5/5 — Asked for a refund but changed my mind *2020-10-11, version 3.8* Help!! My grandson uses this app regularly and I wanted this on my phone as well. We love this app. My grandson is 8 years old, non verbal. He knows sign and uses this app regularly. It is so worth the money. The school purchased this app for him on his device loaned from the school. I just wanted my own for my phone. My daughter says we shouldn’t need 2 ### 5/5 — Greatest app *2019-05-28, version 3.0* Without this app my two non verbal sons would not have a voice. And thank you for the search feature and simplistic motor plan ### 5/5 — Still the best for so many users! *2017-12-21, version 2.9.2* I still think this is the very best app for effective communication for so many users.