# iMean vs Pictello Visual Stories

The clearest difference is price: iMean at $4.99 against Pictello Visual Stories's $19.99. iMean also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (92% vs 71%). Pictello Visual Stories's advantage is ratings volume (33 vs 3). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

iMean costs $4.99 and Pictello Visual Stories $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

iMean holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pictello Visual Stories has 33 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of iMean's written reviews are positive against 71% of Pictello Visual Stories's.

iMean ships an update every 3 months, Pictello Visual Stories every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iMean | Pictello Visual Stories |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $19.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imean/id364906155/reviews)** | [4.1 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pictello-visual-stories/id397858008/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **33** |
| Positive reviews | **91.7% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#188** | — |
| Size | 10 MB | 662 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Burgeon & Flourish, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1328887299) | [AssistiveWare](https://appshunter.io/developer/308368167) |

## What reviewers say

### iMean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imean/id364906155)

**Currently charting:** #188 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app transforms your device into a text-based communication tool with large keys and word suggestions. It's designed to aid individuals with autism and stroke in expressing themselves and formulating thoughts through text.

**Highlights:** Large, easy-to-read keys, Word suggestions for speed and reading practice, Dedicated text-based communication, Large YES/NO buttons, Text-to-speech functionality, Multiple keyboard layouts (alphabetical, QWERTY), Editing and copy functions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pictello Visual Stories

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pictello-visual-stories/id397858008)

Create engaging visual stories and social schedules with photos, videos, and text. Supports literacy development through features like word-by-word highlighting and text-to-speech. Easily share your creations with others or export them for wider distribution.

**Highlights:** Create visual stories with photos and videos, Text-to-speech and voice recording, Word-by-word text highlighting, Built-in word prediction, Import books from Tar Heel Reader, Share stories via server or Dropbox, Export to PDF or print

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iMean free?

iMean costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pictello Visual Stories free?

Pictello Visual Stories costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iMean or Pictello Visual Stories?

iMean is rated higher. iMean averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Pictello Visual Stories averages 4.1 from 33 ratings.

### Do iMean or Pictello Visual Stories have ads?

Neither iMean nor Pictello Visual Stories shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iMean or Pictello Visual Stories?

iMean ships an update every 3 months, and Pictello Visual Stories every 6 months. Most recently, iMean was updated on August 29, 2026 and Pictello Visual Stories on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*