CoughDrop vs FirstPaint
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CoughDrop
This app provides a modern communication and support tool for individuals with complex communication needs. It offers customizable boards with symbols, images, and audio, along with reporting features for support teams.
- Customizable communication boards
- Rich symbol set and image personalization
- User-recorded audio and speech synthesis
- Cross-device synchronization
- Support team access and collaboration
- Built-in reporting and messaging
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CoughDrop is a simple, modern AAC communication and support tool that empowers individuals and the teams around them. It is a full-featured communication app built for individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Rett syndrome, or other complex communication needs. CoughDrop is flexible and configurable enough to accommodate the access and comprehension needs of many communicators. CoughDrop users can install this app to access CoughDrop's communication and reporting features on their mobile device. The app includes starter boards for different levels of communication, and boards with large or small buttons can be personalized using the rich symbol set, user-provided images or camera photos, user-recorded audio, speech synthesis, etc. CoughDrop runs on multiple devices, so you can log in on your tablet, phone and computer and have access to the same communication tools and interface. In addition, users can be linked so parents, therapists and supervisors can access a communicator's boards from their own devices to better facilitate modeling, and to make it easier to modify boards without taking away the communicator's device. The built-in reporting and messaging tools also help the support team have a consistent strategy and know what's working across locations and times.
FirstPaint
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A simple to use, young learner's touch painting and coloring app from Sensory App House. FirstPaint contains no adverts and does not require a login or subscription. Sensory First Paint contains 4 groups of coloring templates, with 25 paintings to be completed, plus a blank canvas to paint freehand on. The paintings could also help with early word use and starting letter sound exploration. FirstPaint starts in fill mode, and you can change to freehand mode by pressing the top icon. There are two simple painting modes - freehand and tap to fill - and they can be combined to fill in your freehand paintings. You can also create a fun animation effect once the painting is completed. Pressing the Back arrow chooses the blank canvas, and each of the 4 modes of difficulty features a smaller brush. Switch Access and Adaptive XBox Controller: FirstPaint is an ideal first digital painting app, that can also be used with an XBox Controller or Microsoft Adaptive Controller with a joystick, the DPAD, inbuilt switch or suitable external switch. The joystick moves the onscreen cursor, A button selects/deselects painting and settings. FirstPaint is one of a series of Sensory painting and art apps, including Mandala, FunPainting and Coloco.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FirstPaint at none against CoughDrop's 2. FirstPaint also leads on iOS requirement (11.4 vs 17.6). CoughDrop's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 11 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. CoughDrop sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. FirstPaint asks for nothing beyond the download.
CoughDrop ships an update monthly, FirstPaint every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CoughDrop | FirstPaint |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (64 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 64 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 11.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CoughDrop, Inc. | Sensory App House Ltd |
In-app purchases
CoughDrop
- Supporter Access$44.99
- Communicator Access$294.99
FirstPaint
No in-app purchases









