SoundingBoard vs AIM Explorer App
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Customizable communication boards
- AbleNet symbol integration
- User-added words
- Switch access support
- Compatible with AbleNet Blue2 Switch
Read full descriptionHide 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.
AIM Explorer App
Read full descriptionHide full description
The AIM Explorer App is a free simulation that combines grade-leveled digital text with access features common to most text readers and other supported reading software. Magnification, custom text and background colors, text-to-speech, text highlighting, and layout options are presented in a logical sequence to help struggling readers decide which of these supports might help them to access and understand text. The AIM Explorer App is designed to be used by a reader working collaboratively with an educator, tutor, parent, or assistive technology specialist as a guide. AIM Explorer App is an iPad version of the Adobe-Air based AIM Explorer developed at National Center on Access Educational Materials at CAST, Inc. (aem.cast.org)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AIM Explorer App at none against SoundingBoard's 10. AIM Explorer App also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). SoundingBoard's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. SoundingBoard sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. AIM Explorer App asks for nothing beyond the download.
SoundingBoard ships an update every 3 months, AIM Explorer App every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SoundingBoard | AIM Explorer App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (34 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.2% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 34 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AbleNet | ATWare Solutions LLC |
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 moreShow fewer
- 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 moreShow fewer
- 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
AIM Explorer App
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SoundingBoard
- Mealtime_MaleFree
- Mealtime_FemaleFree
- Getting Dressed_MaleFree
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Getting Dressed_FemaleFree
- General Conversation_MaleFree
- General Conversation_FemaleFree
- Fast Food Restaurant_MaleFree
- Fast Food Restaurant_FemaleFree
- Movies_MaleFree
- Movies_FemaleFree
AIM Explorer App
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SoundingBoard free?
Is AIM Explorer App free?
Do SoundingBoard or AIM Explorer App have ads?
Which is updated more often, SoundingBoard or AIM Explorer App?
Other comparisons
