SoundingBoard vs FirstPaint
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.
FirstPaint
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A simple to use, young learner's touch painting and coloring app from Sensory App House. FirstPaint contains no adverts and does not require a login or subscription. Sensory First Paint contains 4 groups of coloring templates, with 25 paintings to be completed, plus a blank canvas to paint freehand on. The paintings could also help with early word use and starting letter sound exploration. FirstPaint starts in fill mode, and you can change to freehand mode by pressing the top icon. There are two simple painting modes - freehand and tap to fill - and they can be combined to fill in your freehand paintings. You can also create a fun animation effect once the painting is completed. Pressing the Back arrow chooses the blank canvas, and each of the 4 modes of difficulty features a smaller brush. Switch Access and Adaptive XBox Controller: FirstPaint is an ideal first digital painting app, that can also be used with an XBox Controller or Microsoft Adaptive Controller with a joystick, the DPAD, inbuilt switch or suitable external switch. The joystick moves the onscreen cursor, A button selects/deselects painting and settings. FirstPaint is one of a series of Sensory painting and art apps, including Mandala, FunPainting and Coloco.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FirstPaint at none against SoundingBoard's 10. FirstPaint also leads on iOS requirement (11.4 vs 15.0). SoundingBoard's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 11 months). 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
Both are free to download. SoundingBoard sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. FirstPaint asks for nothing beyond the download.
SoundingBoard ships an update every 3 months, FirstPaint every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SoundingBoard | FirstPaint |
|---|---|---|
| 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 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 11.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AbleNet | Sensory App House Ltd |
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
FirstPaint
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
FirstPaint
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SoundingBoard free?
Is FirstPaint free?
Do SoundingBoard or FirstPaint have ads?
Which is updated more often, SoundingBoard or FirstPaint?
Other comparisons
