# SoundingBoard vs PlayButton

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PlayButton at 100% against SoundingBoard's 48%. PlayButton also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5). SoundingBoard's advantage is ratings volume (34 vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 6 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SoundingBoard sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and PlayButton sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PlayButton 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. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of SoundingBoard's written reviews are positive against 100% of PlayButton's.

SoundingBoard ships an update every 3 months, PlayButton every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SoundingBoard | PlayButton |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundingboard/id390532167/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playbutton/id472870128/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **34** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 48.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AbleNet](https://appshunter.io/developer/390532170) | [Aardustry GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674069248) |

## What reviewers say

### SoundingBoard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/soundingboard/id390532167)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mealtime_Male | Free | one-time |
| Mealtime_Female | Free | one-time |
| Getting Dressed_Male | Free | one-time |
| Getting Dressed_Female | Free | one-time |
| General Conversation_Male | Free | one-time |
| General Conversation_Female | Free | one-time |
| Fast Food Restaurant_Male | Free | one-time |
| Fast Food Restaurant_Female | Free | one-time |
| Movies_Male | Free | one-time |
| Movies_Female | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Highly customizable boards
- 💡 Ability to use own photos
- 🗣️ Record own voice
- 🔗 Link boards together
- 🆓 Free to try/use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashing on startup
- 🐛 Boards disappearing/not saving
- 🐛 Edit lock not working
- 🐛 Inconsistent icon activation
- 🐛 Poor UI/UX for creation

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### PlayButton

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playbutton/id472870128)

This app offers a straightforward way to record and play back single sounds. It's designed for simplicity, with just one record and one play button. An optional lock feature prevents accidental changes, making it useful for users with physical challenges.

**Highlights:** One-touch recording, Single sound playback, Minimalist interface, Optional lock functionality, Therapy tool for special needs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly Supporter | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SoundingBoard free?

SoundingBoard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PlayButton free?

PlayButton is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SoundingBoard or PlayButton?

PlayButton is rated higher. SoundingBoard averages 3.5 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while PlayButton averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do SoundingBoard or PlayButton have ads?

Neither SoundingBoard nor PlayButton shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SoundingBoard or PlayButton?

SoundingBoard ships an update every 3 months, and PlayButton every 6 months. Most recently, SoundingBoard was updated on October 6, 2026 and PlayButton on October 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*