SoundingBoard vs Pathways for Core First
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
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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.
Pathways for Core First
This app provides expert guidance, lesson plans, and real-world videos to help parents, teachers, and therapists effectively use a communication system. It offers tools for skill assessment, progress tracking, and customizing communication components.
- Expert advice and best practices
- Lesson plans and scripts
- How-to videos
- Interactive goals grid for assessment and tracking
- Skill-building resources
- Customization guides for communication components
- Top tips for effective use
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Pathways for Core First is a FREE, one-of-a-kind companion app for Core First that is packed with expert advice for how to meaningfully impact the user’s communication success. Based on best practices from experts in the field, Pathways for Core First provides lesson plans, top tips, and real-world videos to show parents, teachers, and therapists how to get the most out of Core First with confidence. Designed by experts in the field, Pathways for Core First is a clear, easy-to-follow blueprint for getting started and continuing to grow skills with Core First. It was developed to empower communication partners to apply best practices and proven techniques for the user in a simple, straight-forward way. Pathways for Core First is an essential resource to help you guide the user to communication success. What’s inside? Getting Started – Set up Core First and use it with an example. You’ll also find: • Helpful how-to videos. • Scripts based on the individual’s grid size. Goals Grid – Use this proven resource tool that is now interactive to: • Assess an individual’s current skills and identify goals. • Track progress in Pathways and email or print status to share with others. • Access at least one lesson plan per goal. Build Skills – Discover and share (email, print) how to build the user’s skills through lessons and resources. We’ll equip you to: • Teach core vocabulary through Core Word Lessons & Books. • Transitioning from PECS. • Select and implement positive behavior supports. Customize Core First – Print or email cheat sheets and view video instructions on how to easily customize components of Core First: • Add or rearrange vocabulary. • Grow core words systematically. • Simplify or grow language. Top Tips – Identify the most important things about using Core First with the user. Here you’ll learn about: • Modeling. • Providing a positive communication environment. • Looking for success. Why It Works – Review and share the research and myths about AAC, Core First, and Pathways.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: SoundingBoard at 48% against Pathways for Core First's 0%. SoundingBoard also leads on rating (3.5 vs 3.2) and device support (3 vs 1). Pathways for Core First's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). 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. Pathways for Core First asks for nothing beyond the download.
SoundingBoard holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of SoundingBoard's written reviews are positive against 0% of Pathways for Core First's.
SoundingBoard ships an update every 3 months, Pathways for Core First monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SoundingBoard | Pathways for Core First |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (34 ratings) — better | 3.2 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 48.2% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 34 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 206 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AbleNet | Tobii Dynavox LLC |
Customer experience
SoundingBoard
Pathways for Core First
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
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- 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
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- 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
Pathways for Core First
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SoundingBoard
- Mealtime_MaleFree
- Mealtime_FemaleFree
- Getting Dressed_MaleFree
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- Getting Dressed_FemaleFree
- General Conversation_MaleFree
- General Conversation_FemaleFree
- Fast Food Restaurant_MaleFree
- Fast Food Restaurant_FemaleFree
- Movies_MaleFree
- Movies_FemaleFree
Pathways for Core First
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SoundingBoard free?
Is Pathways for Core First free?
Which has better reviews, SoundingBoard or Pathways for Core First?
Do SoundingBoard or Pathways for Core First have ads?
Which is updated more often, SoundingBoard or Pathways for Core First?
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