Comparison

Proloquo vs Ref Marty

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

Head to head
About

Proloquo

This app provides an intuitive and efficient Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution for users of all ages. It facilitates language development and effective communication with features like quick access to words, a search function, and a unique Thinking Space for early communicators. It also offers a full keyboard with word prediction and expert guidance through an accompanying coach.

Highlights
  • Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
  • Quick access to frequently used words
  • Search function for effortless word finding
  • Focus Mode™ for targeted word emphasis
  • Thinking Space™ for early communicators (iPad only)
  • Extensive vocabulary with Related Words™
  • Full keyboard with word prediction
  • Proloquo Coach for expert guidance
Features
Read full description

AssistiveWare Proloquo is an intuitive, easy-to-use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app. Based on years of research, it is the only AAC app designed to meet the needs of all ages without sacrificing ease of use or efficiency. Proloquo is more than just a communication tool; it’s a gateway to language development and effective communication. AN EASY START With a unique design and quick one-tap access to the most used words, you can start using AAC right away. Finding any word is effortless, with an easily accessible Search function. Need to focus on or teach specific words? Use Focus Mode™ and draw attention without restricting or deleting words. THINKING SPACE (only available on iPad) Understanding a beginning communicator can feel like an endless guessing game, leading to frustration on both sides. Proloquo’s unique Thinking Space™ feature allows you to visualize and explore thoughts and meaning even with the earliest communicators. Arrange Proloquo’s visuals in any order for more intuitive communication. Understand each other faster and easier with Proloquo’s Thinking Space. GROWS WITH YOU Proloquo offers an extensive vocabulary unmatched in size and efficiency. With a user-friendly interface and innovative features such as Related Words™, Proloquo ensures everyone, from toddlers to adults, can discover, learn, and love language. Proloquo also offers a full keyboard with word prediction to support literacy. GET EXPERT AAC GUIDANCE WITH PROLOQUO COACH We know learning AAC can be challenging - that’s why we paired Proloquo with Proloquo Coach. Free with a Proloquo subscription, it equips families and educators with the tools and knowledge needed to support children and students in learning to communicate using AAC. With fast in-app support and guided practice, you will always know what to do next. SHARE PROLOQUO WITH YOUR TEAM FOR FREE Share Proloquo at no additional cost. Involve teachers, Speech Pathologists, and grandparents - download the Proloquo app and sync across multiple devices for free. Try Proloquo free for one month! How payment works • After your trial ends, payment will be charged to your Apple Account. • 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. The standard Apple Terms of Use apply to this app: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Ref Marty

This tool helps parents and educators communicate behavior expectations to children using a visual card system. It offers positive reinforcement, gentle warnings, and customizable consequences with a simple, distraction-free interface. The app works offline and requires no accounts, ads, or subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Color-coded behavior cards
  • Positive reinforcement
  • Gentle warnings
  • Customizable consequences
  • Visual countdown timer
  • Offline functionality
  • Distraction-free interface
Features
Read full description

Ref Marty helps parents, teachers, coaches, and caregivers communicate behavior expectations using a familiar color card system. Inspired by the cards used in sports, Ref Marty provides a calm, consistent visual way to guide children through expectations and consequences. Features • Green Card – Positive reinforcement and encouragement • Yellow Card – Gentle warning and reminder • Blue Card – Customizable reset timer with visual countdown • Red Card – Personalized consequence message • Adjustable hold duration to prevent accidental activation • Custom timeout lengths • Haptic feedback support • Simple, distraction-free interface • Works completely offline Ref Marty is intentionally simple. No accounts. No ads. No subscriptions. Just a straightforward tool to help make communication clear and consistent.

Screenshots

Proloquo4 screens
Ref Marty4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ref Marty at 100% against Proloquo's 48%. Ref Marty also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). Proloquo's advantage is ratings volume (143 vs 1). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Proloquo sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Ref Marty asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ref Marty holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proloquo has 143 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Proloquo's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ref Marty's.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Proloquo versus Ref Marty: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProloquoRef Marty
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (143 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings143 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size503 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAssistiveWareJAMEY CICALESE

Customer experience

Proloquo

All ratings143 ratings
Positive70.6%
Neutral6.3%
Negative23.1%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive48.4%
Neutral9.4%
Negative42.2%

Ref Marty

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Proloquo

Subscriptions6
  • Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription1 Year trial$9.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription6 Months trial$9.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Yearly Subscription1 Month trial$99.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription6 Months trial$99.991 Year
None

Ref Marty

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Proloquo free?
Proloquo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ref Marty free?
Ref Marty is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Proloquo or Ref Marty?
Ref Marty is rated higher. Proloquo averages 3.9 out of 5 from 143 ratings, while Ref Marty averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Proloquo or Ref Marty have ads?
Neither Proloquo nor Ref Marty shows ads.

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