Grid for iPad vs SAILS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Grid for iPad
This app provides a comprehensive Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution for individuals with diverse communication needs. It offers flexible tools, evidence-based resources, and customizable features that adapt as users' needs evolve.
- Evidence-based AAC resources
- Online community grid sets
- In-app and remote editing
- AI-powered design tools
- Multiple symbol libraries
- Multilingual support
- Pre-built communication resources
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Grid for iPad is a complete Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution designed for people of all ages and communication needs. It offers a range of resources, flexible communication tools, and options that can be adapted over time. Try it FREE for 30 days - voices included! Key features: ► A range of included content for people who need symbol or text based AAC, including Super Core, Voco Chat, and Text Talker ► Suitable for use with touch access or switches. ► Evidence-based symbol AAC vocabularies, created by experienced speech and language therapists and education professionals, with a focus on vocabulary for communicating within everyday routines and activities. ► Includes SymbolStix, PCS and Widgit symbols – choose the symbol library that is most suitable, to match the symbols already being used in the environment, or to support transition from other AAC systems. ► Voices and grid sets for over 20 languages to support communication in a range of languages. Ideal for multilingual families or classrooms. Why families and professionals choose Grid for iPad for children and adults with communication difficulties: ► In-app editing – Fast, intuitive editing makes it easy to add new words, personalise vocabulary, and adapt layouts to the needs of the individual. ► Remote Editing – SLTs, teachers and families can edit any time, without needing the device in their hands. ► Powerful voice technology – Choose from a range of voices, including the latest AI powered multilingual voices from ElevenLabs, or for those who are able to, record your own voice messages. ► AI Powered Tools - Make use of optional tools to correct typing errors, or support the user to change the tone or wording of their message. ► Talk to your Smart Speaker – Use Grid for iPad to speak instructions to smart home devices, request music, hear the latest news and weather, play games and ask questions. ► Online Grids – Do even more with Grid for iPad by searching and downloading FREE ready-made grid sets created by clinicians, educators, and the Grid community. What’s included: ► Super Core - Evidence-based core vocabulary focused on communication within everyday routines and activities. Designed for supporting AAC learners from single words to building full sentences. Available in 30‑cell and 50‑cell sizes, with simpler 12 and 20 cell learning grids for those just starting out. ►Voco Chat – Designed to enable users to communicate for a wide range of reasons, with supported message pathways and carefully chosen vocabulary, for fast and efficient symbol communication. ► Alpha Core - Offers a range of text-based layouts to support the communication of people with changing physical abilities, with quick access to predictive text and common phrases, alongside a keyboard of your choice. ► Text Talker - Enabling people to say what they want to say in the moment, or prepare and save messages in advance for faster conversations. ►Aphasia Duo - Designed specifically for people with aphasia and their communication partners to support participation in everyday life, including a range of word-finding and conversational supports, and whiteboard for writing and drawing. ► PODD (in-app purchase) - Created by Australian Speech Pathologist Gayle Porter, PODD organises language according to the reason for communication, designed to support spontaneous communication in any situation. ► And MUCH more - Grid for iPad also includes a range of interactive learning activities (just try Dilbert the Dog!), animated communication from Symoji, and educational resources. Simple, flexible pricing: Grid for iPad is available through a monthly subscription with a 30-day FREE trial or as a one-off purchase. You can cancel your subscription at any time. Contact our tech support experts any time at support@thinksmartbox.com For more details on our evidence-based vocabularies, visit the Smartbox Hub.
SAILS
This app helps children improve their speech clarity by listening to and identifying correctly articulated sounds. It offers interactive modules based on scientific research, showing accelerated progress in speech therapy when used alongside traditional programs. Available in multiple English dialects and French, with a free introductory module.
- Auditory discrimination of speech sounds
- Interactive learning modules
- Research-backed progress acceleration
- Multiple language dialects
- Free introductory module
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The Speech Assessment and Interactive Learning System (SAILS) is an app-based tool for presenting children with recordings of other children's speech. The recordings represent children's efforts to perceive difficult sounds, some articulated correctly, some misarticulated. The child's task is to determine if each auditory stimulus is a correctly articulated variant of the target word. Four published studies have shown that a child's rate of progress in speech therapy will be double the usual rate if the program is included as part of a typical speech therapy program. SAILS is available in North-American English (8 speech sounds can be tested and trained across 21 modules) and Australian English (5 speech sounds can be tested and trained across 10 modules). You can try SAILS with the CAT module that is free in each language. One module (GRIS) is available for free in French. Project initiated and directed by Susan Rvachew Software development by Alexandre Herbay Australian speech sounds development by Stephanie Hearnshaw More information at www.dialspeech.com
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Grid for iPad at 3.6 against SAILS's 3.0. Grid for iPad also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 33%). SAILS's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Grid for iPad sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month and SAILS sells 22 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Grid for iPad holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Grid for iPad has 18 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Grid for iPad's written reviews are positive against 33% of SAILS's.
Grid for iPad ships an update fortnightly, SAILS every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Grid for iPad | SAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (18 ratings) — better | 3.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 18 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.4 GB | 89 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Smartbox Assistive Technology | Susan Rvachew |
Customer experience
Grid for iPad
SAILS
In-app purchases
Grid for iPad
- Grid for iPad Subscription1 Month trial$10.991 Month
- Metacom Symbol Library$49.99
- PODD for Grid (English)$99.00
- Grid for iPad full licence$299.99
SAILS
- NAE - Sound K - Word CATFree
- Français(Qc)- Son R - Mot GRISFree
- NAE - Sound L - Word LAKE$1.99
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- NAE - Sound R - Word RAT$1.99
- NAE - Sound R - Word ROPE$1.99
- NAE - Sound R - Word DOOR$1.99
- NAE - Sound S - Word SOAP$1.99
- NAE - Sound S - Word SUE$1.99
- NAE - Sound S - Word BUS$1.99
- NAE - Sound K - Word COAT$1.99
- NAE - Sound SH - Word SHOE$1.99
- NAE - Sound CH - Word CHIN$1.99
- NAE - Sound L - Word LAMB$1.99
- NAE - Sound K - Word BOOK$1.99
- NAE - Sound TH - Word THUMB$1.99
- NAE - Sound L - Word NAIL$1.99
- NAE - Sound CH - Word CHAIN$1.99
- NAE - Sound SH - Word SHEET$1.99
- NAE - Sound TH - Word THIN$1.99
- NAE - Sound F - Word FAT$1.99
- NAE - Sound F - Word FEET$1.99
- NAE - Sound F - Word KNIFE$1.99








