Comparison

simPODD vs Clicker Writer

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

Head to head
About

simPODD

This app simplifies augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals who cannot speak. It integrates digital PODD page sets with a printing interface, offering streamlined editing and access to various vocabulary options. Designed in collaboration with the PODD system's creator, it aims to make communication more accessible and efficient.

Highlights
  • Digital PODD page sets
  • Integrated printing interface
  • Streamlined editing
  • SymbolStix integration
  • Multiple text-to-speech voices
  • Regionally specific vocabulary
Features
Read full description

simPODD is an app for the popular PODD system that makes communication more simple for those who can’t speak. Built in collaboration with Gayle Porter, it’s the only PODD app for iPad to bring digital page sets and a printing interface into one app. From the makers of Proloquo2Go, this augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app is sure to become a favorite among PODD users, because it's the only PODD app built specifically for their needs. “simPODD’s integration of PODD communication books and electronic page sets in a single product supports people to "say what I want to say, to whoever, whenever and however I choose to say it.” - Gayle Porter, creator of the PODD system Highlights • Access to all PODD digital page sets: 15 Preschool, 15+ Preschool, 15 School, 15+ School, 60 Complex Syntax, 60 Expanded Key Word • Fully integrated printing interface in the app to print direct access individual and group PODD books (with yearly subscription) • Streamlined and simplified editing process • Uses SymbolStix • Regionally specific vocabulary and American, British and Australian voices • 38 natural-sounding text-to-speech voices including genuine children’s voices • Free 1-month trial How it works simPODD makes using PODD much simpler. First, it brings the digital page sets and printing experience into one app. No need to manage different payments and subscriptions, or learn how to use multiple programs. It’s all rolled into one. It’s easy to use, no matter who you are: parent, teacher, speech therapist or PODD user. Customizing and editing digital page sets is also very straightforward with simPODD. Quickly edit the vocabulary, create new buttons and link folders without following a lot of complicated steps. Since we worked closely with PODD users while building the app, we took all of the hassle and frustration out of these processes. The easiest PODD book printing experience The printing function for PODD books is right inside the app. Just select a book and customize. Print the book all at once, instead of page by page. It only takes a few minutes! You can create as many books as you need, and print them for all of the people in a PODD communicator’s life. What is PODD? PODD (Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display) is a popular AAC system created and owned by Gayle Porter. PODD organizes vocabulary around communication function and predicted likely usage to make it more efficient to get something across. PODD's range of books and page sets support language development from first words to complex syntax. The books and page sets for early communicators also include strategies like pragmatic branch starters. This supports more intelligible and varied communication. Comprehensive support We’re there for you every step of the way. Help articles on the website are there to guide you through set up. New to AAC? Our website has background resources in the Learn AAC section. You can also connect directly with our community on our Facebook groups. Questions? Our support team is available 7 days a week. Choose the subscription that’s right for you: Yearly Digital + Print or Monthly Digital. Yearly Digital + Print • Print direct access PODD books right from the app • Full access to all of the digital page sets • Regular updates • Save money - 2 months free compared to the monthly subscription Monthly Digital • Full access to all of the digital page sets • Regular updates • Cancel month to month, so you only pay for what you use • An inexpensive way to try PODD Try the app out with our 1-month free trial! How payment works • Payments will be charged to your Apple ID (after your free trial ends) • Subscriptions renew automatically. Payment is charged 24 hours before the current subscription period ends • Don’t want to renew? Cancel more than 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period • Want to cancel or change your subscription? Manage it in your account settings on the App Store

About

Clicker Writer

This writing tool supports students of all abilities, from ages 5-11, to build confidence and improve their writing skills. It offers features like speech feedback, word prediction, and customizable grids with pictures to aid sentence construction and vocabulary development.

Highlights
  • Speech feedback for reviewing writing
  • Clicker Grids for sentence building
  • Picture-enhanced word banks
  • Intelligent word prediction
  • Voice notes for prompts
  • SuperKeys for accessibility
Features
Read full description

Develop students’ writing skills and build struggling writers’ confidence with Clicker Writer - the writing tool that provides differentiated support for students of all abilities. Continuously developed by Crick Software for 25 years, the Clicker product range is used in thousands of schools around the world. THE WRITING TOOL FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Clicker Writer is designed for students aged 5-11 of all abilities. It incorporates all the extensive support features from the award-winning apps Clicker Sentences, Clicker Connect and Clicker Docs (and more, too), all within a single app. REVIEW WRITING WITH CLEAR SPEECH Students use the child-friendly keyboard to type into the simple word processor, and a range of speech options encourages them to review what they have written. This helps students to find and correct errors for themselves, enabling them to become more independent writers. BUILD WRITING CONFIDENCE WITH CLICKER GRIDS Clicker Grids provide students with point and click access to whole words and phrases. Beginner writers build sentences word-by-word, while developing writers use topic-based word banks to complement their keyboard writing. Browse LearningGrids directly from the app to access hundreds of free sets of Clicker Grids on a wide range of topics - or use the built-in editor to create your own in seconds! USE SYMBOLS AND PICTURES FOR EXTRA SUPPORT Clicker Writer’s Picturize tool makes it easy to add symbols or pictures to support understanding and writing across Clicker Grids, the spell checker, the word predictor, and your document. It includes 10,000 Widgit symbols and 4,500 curriculum pictures, and you can also add your own images. DEVELOP VOCABULARY AND SPELLING WITH WORD PREDICTION The intelligent word predictor suggests words that fit the context of students’ writing. The Predictor can be customized according to reading level, helping students use good vocabulary and create flowing text with accurate spelling. CHECK WORDS BEFORE THEY ARE USED Learners can listen to words before they write them, helping them to find the word they want and achieve writing success. Any word in a Clicker Grid or the Predictor can be heard before it is used by using our unique Sound Shift tool. ADD VOICE NOTES Voice Notes are a simple yet highly effective way for students to add their own prompts, so they don’t forget their train of thought – add them to the document at any time. WRITING TO BE PROUD OF The child-friendly Sassoon font included in the app makes Clicker documents look great. Save and print your documents directly on your device, or share them with Clicker 8 on your PC or Mac via Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive. Whatever your students’ current level, you’ll watch their confidence grow and their motivation soar as they experience writing success! ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL To make access easier for those with physical challenges, the unique SuperKeys option groups the letter keys into clusters, creating just six large areas to target. Just select the cluster containing the letter you want, and then choose the letter in the enlarged cluster. ORGANIZE IDEAS WITH CLICKER BOARD Organizing ideas is a vital first step in the writing process, and one that many learners struggle with. Clicker Board is a child-friendly mind mapping area that makes it easy to capture and organize thoughts using words, Voice Notes, and pictures. Clicker Boards take seconds to create, and you’ll find hundreds of free, ready-made boards on all kinds of curriculum topics in LearningGrids, available directly from the app.

Verdict

The call

simPODD and Clicker Writer both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 78% of simPODD's written reviews are positive against 43% of Clicker Writer's. simPODD also leads on ratings volume (21 vs 2). Clicker Writer's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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. simPODD sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $13.99 per month and Clicker Writer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 — 4.5 for simPODD against 4.5 for Clicker Writer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: simPODD has 21 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of simPODD's written reviews are positive against 43% of Clicker Writer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and July 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
simPODD versus Clicker Writer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametersimPODDClicker Writer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (21 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews — better42.9% of reviews
Number of ratings21 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS17.017
Further details — not scored
Size539 MB174 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAssistiveWareCrick Software

Customer experience

simPODD

All ratings21 ratings
Positive90.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.5%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%

Clicker Writer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

simPODD

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Digital1 Month trial$13.991 Month
  • Yearly Digital + Print$139.991 Year
  • Yearly Digital + Print*1 Month trial$139.991 Year
One-time1
  • One Year Digital$139.99
1 purchases

Clicker Writer

One-time1
  • Clicker Writer In-App Purchase$350.00

Questions

Is simPODD free?
simPODD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Clicker Writer free?
Clicker Writer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, simPODD or Clicker Writer?
simPODD and Clicker Writer are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 21 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do simPODD or Clicker Writer have ads?
Neither simPODD nor Clicker Writer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, simPODD or Clicker Writer?
simPODD ships an update every 2 months, and Clicker Writer every 2 months. Most recently, simPODD was updated on September 3, 2026 and Clicker Writer on July 30, 2026.

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