Comparison

iMean vs myABCboard

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

Head to head
About

iMean

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
Currently charting
Read full description

iMean turns iPad and now iPhone into a letterboard with large easy-to-read keys and word suggestions. I developed it to help my autistic son communicate and formulate his thoughts and for us it has been a huge success (he was 15 when we launched this app and he is now in college). Richie Meade-Miller did the programming. My son enjoys the word suggestions not just for speed but because they make him read. Our customers include many typers living with nonspeaking autism, as well as people with stroke. We have found iPad makes it easy to switch into this app from reading or watching a video so we can discuss what we are studying and then switch back again. Unlike icon-based systems this app is dedicated to text and the subtleties of expression and immense developmental potential that using text and formulating abstract thoughts offers many people on the autistic spectrum. The app saves what's been spelled and features large YES and NO buttons in the main view. iMean's word prediction offers up to three possible word suggestions as the user is typing. These can be selected with one tap of the finger. This speeds communication and also fosters visual scanning and reading as the user looks at the words and considers whether they are what she or he is trying to spell. There are four views, a large keyboard in alphabetical order, a full-screen qwerty keyboard, a numeric view for entering numbers and an editing view that makes use of the standard iPad QWERTY keyboard as well as the Apple-built edit, select and copy functions which can be used to transfer the text to other applications such as word processing and mail. iMean has the ability to speak the text that is entered. Comments and feature requests are welcome via info@burgeonandflourish.com.

About

myABCboard

This app provides an alphabetized keyboard for typing simple messages. It supports English and Spanish and can be configured to speak keys as they are pressed, aiding in communication.

Highlights
  • Alphabetical keyboard layout
  • English and Spanish language support
  • Speech feedback for key presses
  • Simple message typing
  • Configurable settings
Features
Read full description

myABCboard is a simple App that presents an alphabetically ordered set of buttons that allow simple messages to be typed out. The keyboard can be configured for either English or Spanish. The App can be configured to speak the keys as they are pressed.

Screenshots

iMean3 screens
myABCboard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: myABCboard at Free against iMean's $4.99. iMean's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and chart position (#188 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

myABCboard is free to download; iMean costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iMean holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iMean ships an update every 3 months, myABCboard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and June 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
iMean versus myABCboard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriMeanmyABCboard
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better4.8 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews91.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings34 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#188 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.4 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBurgeon & Flourish, LLCJohn Coddington

Customer experience

iMean

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%

myABCboard

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iMean

No in-app purchases

None

myABCboard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iMean free?
iMean costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is myABCboard free?
myABCboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iMean or myABCboard?
iMean is rated higher. iMean averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while myABCboard averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.
Do iMean or myABCboard have ads?
Neither iMean nor myABCboard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iMean or myABCboard?
iMean ships an update every 3 months, and myABCboard every 2 months. Most recently, iMean was updated on August 29, 2026 and myABCboard on June 3, 2026.

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