Comparison

Q interactive Assess vs PiCom

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

Head to head
About

Q interactive Assess

This digital platform streamlines clinical assessments for individuals. It offers real-time scoring through simple taps and swipes, significantly reducing administration and scoring time. The app eliminates the need for physical kits, allowing clinicians to focus on observation and interpretation.

Highlights
  • Digital assessment preparation
  • Instrument and subtest level preparation
  • Real-time scoring
  • Reduced administration time
  • Focus on observation and interpretation
  • Eliminates physical kits
Features
Read full description

Q-interactive Assess is a comprehensive digital platform that lets you quickly prepare your clinical assessment for a given individual at both the instrument and subtest levels. It helps you be more efficient: • Early indicators suggests saving 20% of administration and scoring time. • Real-time scoring, all with a few simple taps, swipes and scribes. • No more kits to haul around or share or go looking for when you need it. Q-interactive Assess scores on the fly and let’s you focus on observing and interpreting. It’s a more effective way to do your job, serve your clients, and evolve your practice.

About

PiCom

This communication aid uses picture symbols and text-to-speech to assist individuals with speaking difficulties. It allows for customization of communication boards, supports various input methods, and can be used offline.

Highlights
  • Picture symbol communication
  • Text-to-speech and recorded voice output
  • Offline functionality
  • Customizable communication boards
  • Supports Open Board Format (.obf/.obz)
  • Multiple input methods (switches, controllers, etc.)
  • Accessibility features (high contrast, zoom)
Features
Read full description

PiCom is an Augmentative Alternative Communication system (AAC) , which can be used within healthcare systems such as the UK's NHS, the schools systems, at home or when out and about. PiCom is a picture symbol communicator with text to speech or recorded voice output, that runs on a wide range of tablets, phones and computers. PiCom does not require a web connection to use as a communication aid. PiCom is designed to assist people who have difficulty speaking, due to a medical situation (short or long term). It can also be of great help in special education. PiCom brings change and more choice to digital communication aids. PiCom also supports the new Apple Personal Voice feature. Any personal voices created, will show within PiCom along with all other voices available on the device. Please note Personal Voice is only available on certain Apple devices at iOS17. PiCom has the great advantage in being able to open and create communication boards or grids with the Open Board Format (.obf or obz). This means that boards can be freely exchanged between users, creators and the AAC Apps that can support Open Board format. When you download PiCom, it includes a range of well established communicator grids from experts in the field. You can then edit these, changing images and names to help the communication aid user. PiCom also has is own set of communication symbols, as well as linking to other symbols and the ability to use your own photos (and sounds). The advantages continue, because you can edit or create boards in PiCom, and share to your user's device or computer - the PiCom app and boards will be the same on all devices, including within a web browser. PiCom is also highly accessible for people who might have physical difficulties using a device. PiCom can be operated with bluetooth switches, Microsoft X Box Controller and Microsoft Adaptive Control, special external mice, some novel light touch control methods as well as face control. PiCom has some helpful visual features, allowing background and button colours to be modified extensively. It has a high contrast display and a zoom capability. PICOM FEATURE LIST 1. PiCom includes a range of proven communicator templates, that can be used immediately and expanded or edited. 2. Connects to the text to speech voices on your device, giving a wide range of voice choices in many languages. Also supports Apple Personal Voice feature when available. 3. You can import (and export) existing created communication boards that are in the Open Board Format (file format .obf or .obz) 4. Edit buttons on existing and new boards, changing background colors, import different symbols, images or photos, change the labels and change the text that is spoken. Add recorded audio to buttons also, using the record feature or import audio. 5. Create your own Communicators and boards from scratch, you can define sizes, use the button editor to populate each button, and export or share the creator communicator in the Open Board format .obz 6. Many access control input methods are available for PiCom, including touch, touch zoom, mouse wheel control, joystick, X Box Controller, gamepad D pad/cursor key control, , switch control, face control and micro touchpad control. Microsoft Adaptive Controller and X Box controller support inbuilt, as most recent devices now support this controller. 7. PiCom can be run as a full screen communicator, or show the selected text/symbols in a viewing windows top or bottom 8. PiCom can operate in both landscape mode and portrait mode. 9. PiCom does not require an internet connection to work as a communicator. Internet is required to share and download new boards. 10. PiCom does not require an account to be created, contains no adverts and does not track data for external usage. 11. Over 2000 PiCom symbols included and available to boards and available from free download from our website at www.sensoryapphouse.com

Screenshots

PiCom4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PiCom at 100% against Q interactive Assess's 9%. PiCom also leads on rating (4.0 vs 1.9) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Q interactive Assess's advantage is ratings volume (82 vs 1). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PiCom holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Q interactive Assess has 82 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 9% of Q interactive Assess's written reviews are positive against 100% of PiCom's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Q interactive Assess ships an update every 2 months, PiCom every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Q interactive Assess versus PiCom: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQ interactive AssessPiCom
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.9 (82 ratings)4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews9.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings82 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size301 MB93 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPearson Education, Inc.Sensory App House Ltd

Customer experience

Q interactive Assess

All ratings82 ratings
Positive17.1%
Neutral2.4%
Negative80.5%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive9.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative86.4%

PiCom

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Q interactive Assess

Reported bugs

103 issues
  • Login process requires multiple sign-ins
  • One-time passcodes required frequently
  • Login issues taking significant time to resolve
  • Locked out due to too many login attempts
  • App takes 15+ minutes to sign in
Show 98 more
  • Mobile hotspot issues
  • Web page doesn't work for adding new clients
  • Sign-in process is unpredictable
  • Verification needed every time screen turns off
  • Client device won't open after update
  • Assessment interrupted by upgrade
  • Tech support has long wait times and varying skill sets
  • Older versions not removed from the internet
  • Redirected to another platform with two-prong sign-in
  • Login requires stages
  • Repeatedly logged out
  • Sign in repeatedly throughout the day (12+ times)
  • App won't open since update
  • Repetitive logins
  • Test loading failures
  • Client device disconnections
  • App makes users feel unprofessional
  • App is buggy
  • Impossible to log in
  • Pearson support provides irrelevant suggestions
  • One iPad stops communicating with the other
  • Won't upload to desktop for report writing
  • App is buggy and almost unusable
  • App is a total disaster and unreliable
  • Constantly disconnecting from client's device
  • Assessment session ruined by disconnections
  • App sometimes works, sometimes can't sign in
  • Cancelled testing days because app won't start
  • Cancelled subtests because app goes blank
  • Several attempts to sign in
  • Breakdowns in communication between iPads
  • Inexplicable blank screens
  • Freezes during timed subtests
  • Wonky editing glitches
  • Poorly tested, buggy mess
  • Cannot back out of a test to change it
  • Pay for tests not administered
  • Numerous problems with signing in
  • Delete and start over, losing old assessments
  • Crashes
  • Fails to log in
  • Customer service is the worst
  • Frequently have issues during assessment
  • Unreliable
  • Doesn't cope well with changes in internet access
  • Pay for subtest usage when abandoned due to errors
  • Multiple problems Pearson cannot resolve
  • iPads stuck on Pearson logo
  • App freezes periodically
  • Threatens standardization
  • Delayed recall CVLT scaled scores not shown
  • Menu hiding text
  • Recordings of sessions cut out unexpectedly
  • More difficult to edit test scores
  • Poorer product than previous version
  • App worked (kind of) but challenging to navigate
  • Client's iPad stuck on pulsing Pearson logo
  • Unable to administer anything other than paper tasks
  • iPads would not connect successfully
  • Skipping subtests is almost impossible
  • App will not load on iPad 10th gen
  • Scores input after completion of battery are not saving
  • Prompted to discontinue testing when rules not met
  • iPads cannot connect to each other
  • App freezes after most recent update
  • Grayed out items preventing answer recording
  • Connectivity issues
  • Student iPad suddenly goes to a blank screen
  • iPads connected and disconnected frequently
  • Scores may not be best representation due to technical issues
  • Connectivity issues despite updating everything
  • Audio files disappear
  • Verbal response box pops up on every item
  • Bug prevents data from being fully offloaded
  • App continues to be a data hog
  • iPads will not connect
  • App doesn't have approvals for Bluetooth
  • Reading passages are a blank page
  • Constantly having issues getting iPads to connect and stay connected
  • App freezes moving between subtests
  • Glitches in notes section
  • Notes section doesn't record everything
  • Lag time between subtests
  • Home button doesn't go to main screen
  • Sorting on main screen unsorts when clicking anything
  • Doesn't record student's response
  • Apps wouldn't connect after being connected
  • Major bug issues not corrected by updates
  • Assessments will not fully download
  • Directions often do not load properly
  • Cumbersome to navigate
  • Cannot edit things after a subtest is complete
  • Audio recording feature is useless
  • Show stimulus doesn't always show
  • Lags between sub tests
  • KTEA Fluency tests wouldn't let timers start
  • Download failure, content never finishes
  • New redesigned app has issues

Requested features

11 requests
  • Add palm detection for stylus use
  • Improve French translations of tests
  • Add Touch/Face ID for faster login
  • Allow removal of unused test data to save space
  • Make it easier to skip subtests without paying
Show 6 more
  • Improve user interface and menu navigation
  • Remember sorting preferences on the main screen
  • Add an option to refresh content
  • Allow editing of scores after a subtest is complete
  • Improve stimulus display reliability
  • Add an option to go back to the old app version

PiCom

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Q interactive Assess

No in-app purchases

None

PiCom

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Q interactive Assess free?
Q interactive Assess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PiCom free?
PiCom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Q interactive Assess or PiCom?
PiCom is rated higher. Q interactive Assess averages 1.9 out of 5 from 82 ratings, while PiCom averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Q interactive Assess or PiCom have ads?
Neither Q interactive Assess nor PiCom shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Q interactive Assess or PiCom?
Q interactive Assess ships an update every 2 months, and PiCom every 3 weeks. Most recently, Q interactive Assess was updated on October 11, 2026 and PiCom on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons