Comparison

SoundingBoard vs Switch Access Training

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

Head to head
About

SoundingBoard

Create custom communication boards quickly using pre-made symbols or your own words. This app provides a powerful tool for individuals needing alternative communication methods. It supports switch access for enhanced usability.

Highlights
  • Customizable communication boards
  • AbleNet symbol integration
  • User-added words
  • Switch access support
  • Compatible with AbleNet Blue2 Switch
Features
Read full description

SoundingBoard transforms your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad into the latest in communication technology. In just minutes, you can create custom boards using AbleNet symbols or your own words. Perfect for children in special education, persons on the autism spectrum, and adults with disabilities. SoundingBoard includes switch access and is compatible with the AbleNet Blue2 Switch.

About

Switch Access Training

This app enables picture-taking functionality through external switches or by using the touchscreen as a button. It helps users understand cause-and-effect relationships, particularly beneficial for those exploring switch access for communication devices.

Highlights
  • Touchscreen as shutter button
  • External switch support
  • Keyboard input for camera control
  • Photo library access
  • Customizable slideshow settings
  • Toggle front/rear camera with switch
Features
Read full description

“Switch Access Training with a Camera” treats most of the touchscreen as a button for triggering the camera shutter, and it also provides picture-taking access for wired or wireless external switches (including a keyboard). Currently, page navigation still relies on partner participation, but the primary function (i.e., taking pictures) is directly switch accessible. Picture taking is a preferred activity for some people, where this app can help to familiarize a student with cause-and-effect relationships, perhaps on the way to their using switch access for an augmentative and alternative communication device (AAC); in fact, that AAC might even be provided on the same sort of device on which the switch-access training occurred. (See the app: "Switch Access Training with Music") You access the Camera and Photo Library with the buttons on the main page. In the Camera, you can take pictures with either: a) the camera button icon, b) the camera screen itself (with the touchscreen acting as a button), or c) a wired or wireless switch. In the Photo Library, you can review previously taken photos, tapping them to add photos to the set currently displayed on the Main screen. (There is no checkmark to indicate whether or not a picture has been selected, as I will be creating a separate app for making actual presentations.) Tapping a photo in the Main view will start a slideshow with a default 3-second delay between photos. Adjust the slideshow through the Settings icon, where you can decide to have each tap: a) advance the album by one picture, or b) start/stop the slideshow. This is also where you can adjust the delay interval between the slides (from 1 to 5 seconds). With an external switch (or keyboard), sending '1' or 'space' takes pictures, '2' or 'return' exits the camera, and '3' toggles the front- and rear-facing camera views. You can also toggle these two views with the camera view button.

Screenshots

SoundingBoard4 screens
Switch Access Training3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Switch Access Training at 5.0 against SoundingBoard's 3.5. Switch Access Training also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). SoundingBoard's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 32 months) and ratings volume (34 vs 2). 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. SoundingBoard sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Switch Access Training asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Switch Access Training holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SoundingBoard has 34 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SoundingBoard ships an update every 3 months, Switch Access Training every 32 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SoundingBoard versus Switch Access Training: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSoundingBoardSwitch Access Training
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (34 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings34 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 32 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAbleNetTracy Mansfield

Customer experience

SoundingBoard

All ratings32 ratings
Positive59.4%
Neutral6.3%
Negative34.4%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive48.2%
Neutral16.1%
Negative35.7%

Switch Access Training

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

SoundingBoard

Reported bugs

19 issues
  • App crashing on startup after purchase
  • Folders not saving changes
  • Created boards disappearing
  • Edit lock not working, student can edit pictures
  • Cannot record voice over preloaded boards
Show 14 more
  • App crashes after in-app purchase
  • App crashes every time going into the app
  • User created boards not showing up correctly
  • Cannot record voice, does not save
  • Cannot create new boards with new symbols, save button does nothing
  • Sound quit working on iPad 2 with OS 6
  • Two touches needed to activate icon/button
  • Last time content was added, it didn't work
  • Recordings play back very quietly
  • Audio does not work at all
  • Does not work on iPod touch
  • Images are small, cells are small, does not utilize entire screen
  • Difficult to get back to the home screen
  • Losing new pages after saving

Requested features

20 requests
  • Large button icons for board selection
  • Login system to save boards across platforms
  • Ability to log in and save boards across devices
  • User login system for shared boards
  • Ability to erase pre-made boards
Show 15 more
  • Choose a default board to open with
  • iPad version to avoid magnification issues
  • Sentence strip option
  • Improve picture library search
  • Facility to play music tracks directly
  • More picture cards for school-related content
  • More choices for layout on initial screen
  • Option to change background color
  • Improve navigation for board design
  • Basic pre-formatted pages
  • Editing options for pics and boards (size, placement)
  • Basic communication symbols (yes/no, alphabet)
  • More PX available on a page
  • Better contrasting pictures with black background
  • Universal or iPad version

Switch Access Training

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

SoundingBoard

One-time10
  • Mealtime_MaleFree
  • Mealtime_FemaleFree
  • Getting Dressed_MaleFree
Show 7 more
  • Getting Dressed_FemaleFree
  • General Conversation_MaleFree
  • General Conversation_FemaleFree
  • Fast Food Restaurant_MaleFree
  • Fast Food Restaurant_FemaleFree
  • Movies_MaleFree
  • Movies_FemaleFree
None

Switch Access Training

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SoundingBoard free?
SoundingBoard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Switch Access Training free?
Switch Access Training is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SoundingBoard or Switch Access Training?
Switch Access Training is rated higher. SoundingBoard averages 3.5 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Switch Access Training averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do SoundingBoard or Switch Access Training have ads?
Neither SoundingBoard nor Switch Access Training shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SoundingBoard or Switch Access Training?
SoundingBoard ships an update every 3 months, and Switch Access Training every 32 months. Most recently, SoundingBoard was updated on November 6, 2026 and Switch Access Training on November 2, 2026.

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