Comparison

Grid for iPad vs Splingo

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

Splingo

Engaging educational games designed by speech and language therapists to help children develop essential communication skills. Features interactive gameplay, bright visuals, and motivating reward systems. Targets various language areas from early words to complex directions.

Highlights
  • Therapist-designed games
  • Targets receptive language
  • Early words development
  • Following directions
  • Interactive gameplay
  • Reward games
  • Language assessment tool
Features
Read full description

Speech and Language apps for children Designed by Speech and Language Therapists/Pathologists, Splingo apps are fun and engaging educational games to help your child develop their speech and language skills. Specially designed by Speech and Language Therapists/Pathologists to target different areas of language development Fun and interactive gameplay with an emphasis on learning Bright, colorful images and animations In-built reward games to engage and motivate Recommended by Speech and Language Therapists/Pathologists Splingo games target all these areas of language development – Following Directions/Receptive Language Actions/verbs Pronouns Early Words development Past Tense Categories Adjectives / Describing Words Language Assessment Splingo also includes a professional’s Language Assessment tool designed to assess children’s receptive language skills. As Speech and Language Therapists / Pathologists with over 40 years experience between us we know what it takes to support children’s speech and language development! We’ve designed these Splingo games to be fun and educational by using bright, colorful images and animations. Splingo games can be customized to target specific language skill areas so you can be certain that your child is playing the right games at the right level. We’ve added high-quality, in-built reward games to motivate your child to keep on learning. The games also have an option to select between US voice and UK voice. Children love playing Splingo and parents and professionals tell us it’s an app that children ask for over and over again – they’re having fun whilst they’re learning! Used for over a decade by Speech and Language Therapists all over the world, Splingo is a go-to app for developing children’s language skills. **Frequently listed as a Top 10 Speech and Language App (Speech Sisters; District Speech; Therapy Tree; The Sped Guru; TechBooky**

Screenshots

Splingo3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Grid for iPad at none against Splingo's shown. Grid for iPad also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 35%). Splingo's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, 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

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 Splingo sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. 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 3.5 for Splingo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 6 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Grid for iPad's written reviews are positive against 35% of Splingo's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Grid for iPad ships an update fortnightly, Splingo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Grid for iPad versus Splingo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGrid for iPadSplingo
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (18 ratings) — better3.5 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better34.8% of reviews
Number of ratings18 — better6
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.4 GB791 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmartbox Assistive TechnologySplingo Ltd

Customer experience

Grid for iPad

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

Splingo

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive34.8%
Neutral8.7%
Negative56.5%

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
8 purchases

Splingo

One-time8
  • Splingos Language UniverseFree
  • Actions With Splingo$0.99
  • Categories With Splingo$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Describing Words With Splingo$0.99
  • Pronouns With Splingo$0.99
  • Past Tense With Splingo$0.99
  • Early Words With Splingo$0.99
  • Language Assessment$9.99

Questions

Is Grid for iPad free?
Grid for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Splingo free?
Splingo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Grid for iPad or Splingo?
Grid for iPad is rated higher. Grid for iPad averages 3.6 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Splingo averages 3.5 from 6 ratings.
Do Grid for iPad or Splingo have ads?
Splingo shows ads; Grid for iPad does not.
Which is updated more often, Grid for iPad or Splingo?
Grid for iPad ships an update fortnightly, and Splingo every 2 months. Most recently, Grid for iPad was updated on October 1, 2026 and Splingo on October 17, 2026.

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