Comparison

Grid for iPad vs Hear Beyond

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Hear Beyond

Enhance your listening skills with a variety of auditory training games. Explore sound fundamentals for free, or subscribe for advanced training in areas like speech comprehension and sound localization. Ideal for improving focus and memory through engaging audio challenges.

Highlights
  • Free Sound Fundamentals games
  • Trichotic Processing training
  • Dichotic Listening exercises
  • Auditory Memory games
  • Sound In Noise challenges
  • Multiple user profiles (Pro Tier)
  • Diverse audio library
Read full description

Get up and running fast with Hear Beyond: Auditory Brain Training. Enjoy our Sound Fundamentals category COMPLETELY FREE (5-games) because your sound journey should start with opportunity, not a paywall. Download now and get going with localization, reverberation, stereo imaging, frequency identification, and volume-interval recognition. Access the next 20 auditory training games by subscribing to our Standard Tier ($2.99 USD/month or $24.99 USD/month): Trichotic Processing (4-games) Explore your ability to untangle and act on 3+ conversations at once. Dichotic Listening (6-games) Train your brain to follow voices in your left & right ears concurrently. Auditory Memory (5-games) Practice your listening and recall with games that challenge you to remember and repeat ever-longer sequences of spoken words. Sound In Noise (5-games) Pick out and remember key words and sounds in noisy environments. Try our Professional Tier ($8.99 USD/month or $74.99 USD/month) to set up 3 additional profiles for independent training sessions - ideal for different listening setups or structured use with others. All training activities have access to an audio library consisting of human voices, instruments, nature sounds and sound effects. Train with a variety of audio material to keep the challenges interesting and engaging. Read about each category and game in the app by clicking on the information icons. Hear Beyond iOS is written by humans in native Swift code to be fast, effective and low-latency. If you see any technical issues, please reach out to our team at hello@hearbeyond.app for assistance. It's your subscription support that will keep this auditory training tool growing and innovating new features! Engage your auditory system with Hear Beyond and introduce it to someone whose listening matters to you. Privacy Policy: hearbeyond.world/privacypolicy Terms of Service: hearbeyond.world/termsofservice

Screenshots

Hear Beyond4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Grid for iPad at none against Hear Beyond's shown. Grid for iPad also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Grid for iPad sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month and Hear Beyond sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.6 for Grid for iPad against 3.4 for Hear Beyond. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 7 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Grid for iPad ships an update fortnightly, Hear Beyond every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Grid for iPad versus Hear Beyond: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGrid for iPadHear Beyond
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (18 ratings) — better3.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings18 — better7
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.4 GB256 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmartbox Assistive TechnologySpheres Creative Inc.

Customer experience

Grid for iPad

All ratings18 ratings
Positive61.1%
Neutral5.6%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Hear Beyond

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Grid for iPad

Subscriptions1
  • Grid for iPad Subscription1 Month trial$10.991 Month
One-time3
  • Metacom Symbol Library$49.99
  • PODD for Grid (English)$99.00
  • Grid for iPad full licence$299.99
4 purchases

Hear Beyond

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Pro Subscription$8.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$24.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly Pro Subscription$74.991 Year

Questions

Is Grid for iPad free?
Grid for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hear Beyond free?
Hear Beyond is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Grid for iPad or Hear Beyond?
Grid for iPad is rated higher. Grid for iPad averages 3.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Hear Beyond averages 3.4 from 7 ratings.
Do Grid for iPad or Hear Beyond have ads?
Hear Beyond shows ads; Grid for iPad does not.
Which is updated more often, Grid for iPad or Hear Beyond?
Grid for iPad ships an update fortnightly, and Hear Beyond every 6 weeks. Most recently, Grid for iPad was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hear Beyond on October 14, 2026.

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