Pictello Visual Stories vs Grid for iPad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pictello Visual Stories
Create engaging visual stories and social schedules with photos, videos, and text. Supports literacy development through features like word-by-word highlighting and text-to-speech. Easily share your creations with others or export them for wider distribution.
- Create visual stories with photos and videos
- Text-to-speech and voice recording
- Word-by-word text highlighting
- Built-in word prediction
- Import books from Tar Heel Reader
- Share stories via server or Dropbox
- Export to PDF or print
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Everyone loves to tell fun, engaging, and imaginative stories. Go ahead and make a social story or visual schedule for a child with autism or a slide show of holiday pictures for your friends - Pictello makes it a breeze to create and share! Whether you use the included natural-sounding Text to Speech voices, or record your own voice, Pictello is the perfect tool for visual storytelling. Each page in a Pictello story consists of a photo or video and some text, which can be read aloud by a Text to Speech voice or your own recorded audio. Develop literacy skills - Support reading with word-by-word text highlighting - Develop writing and spelling with built-in word prediction and Speak as You Type - Create stories to teach academic and social skills - Import free early literacy and adapted academic books from Tar Heel Reader Create and playback with ease - Let students use the wizard to create stories - Play stories page by page or as a slideshow - Use Text to Speech voices to read the story - Turn on switch access for story playback Integrate multimedia - Add your own photos - Include short video clips - Record your own voice or sound Share your stories - Share with other Pictello users through our free sharing server - Use Dropbox to exchange stories - Export to PDF or print to share with non-Pictello users Speak your language - Pick English, Spanish, German, French, Italian or Dutch for the user interface - Select from over 110 free Text to Speech voices in 29 languages - Use genuine American, British, Australian, American-Spanish, Swedish, French, Italian, German, Norwegian and Swedish children's voices - Create interest with fun character and specialty voices Customize to fit your needs - Pick between Wizard or Expert creation modes - Swipe or automatically turn pages - Adjust speech rate and pronunciations Read more at www.assistiveware.com/products/pictello Additional Note: Educational institutions can get a 50% discount if they purchase 20 or more licenses through Apple’s Volume Licensing Program for Education.
Grid for iPad
This app provides a comprehensive Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution for individuals with diverse communication needs. It offers a wide range of symbol sets, customizable layouts, and AI-powered tools to facilitate clear and personalized communication.
- Evidence-based AAC resources
- Online Grids for community content
- In-app and Remote Editing
- AI-powered tools
- Multiple symbol sets (SymbolStix, PCS, Widgit)
- Multilingual support
- Pre-built communication tools (Super Core, Alpha Core, Text Talker)
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This version can be purchased under the Apple VPP service as well as on the App Store. Free 30 day trial available with the Grid for iPad - AAC version. Search 'Grid for iPad' in the App Store. Grid for iPad is a complete Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution designed for people of all ages and communication needs. It offers a range of resources, flexible communication tools, and options that can be adapted over time. Try it FREE for 30 days - voices included! Key features: ► A range of included content for people who need symbol or text based AAC, including Super Core, Voco Chat, and Text Talker ► Suitable for use with touch access or switches. ► Evidence-based symbol AAC vocabularies, created by experienced speech and language therapists and education professionals, with a focus on vocabulary for communicating within everyday routines and activities. ► Includes SymbolStix, PCS and Widgit symbols – choose the symbol library that is most suitable, to match the symbols already being used in the environment, or to support transition from other AAC systems. ► Voices and grid sets for over 20 languages to support communication in a range of languages. Ideal for multilingual families or classrooms. Why families and professionals choose Grid for iPad for children and adults with communication difficulties: ► In-app editing – Fast, intuitive editing makes it easy to add new words, personalise vocabulary, and adapt layouts to the needs of the individual. ► Remote Editing – SLTs, teachers and families can edit any time, without needing the device in their hands. ► Powerful voice technology – Choose from a range of voices, including the latest AI powered multilingual voices from ElevenLabs, or for those who are able to, record your own voice messages. ► AI Powered Tools - Make use of optional tools to correct typing errors, or support the user to change the tone or wording of their message. ► Talk to your Smart Speaker – Use Grid for iPad to speak instructions to smart home devices, request music, hear the latest news and weather, play games and ask questions. ► Online Grids – Do even more with Grid for iPad by searching and downloading FREE ready-made grid sets created by clinicians, educators, and the Grid community. What’s included: ► Super Core - Evidence-based core vocabulary focused on communication within everyday routines and activities. Designed for supporting AAC learners from single words to building full sentences. Available in 30‑cell and 50‑cell sizes, with simpler 12 and 20 cell learning grids for those just starting out. ►Voco Chat – Designed to enable users to communicate for a wide range of reasons, with supported message pathways and carefully chosen vocabulary, for fast and efficient symbol communication. ► Alpha Core - Offers a range of text-based layouts to support the communication of people with changing physical abilities, with quick access to predictive text and common phrases, alongside a keyboard of your choice. ► Text Talker - Enabling people to say what they want to say in the moment, or prepare and save messages in advance for faster conversations. ►Aphasia Duo - Designed specifically for people with aphasia and their communication partners to support participation in everyday life, including a range of word-finding and conversational supports, and whiteboard for writing and drawing. ► PODD (in-app purchase) - Created by Australian Speech Pathologist Gayle Porter, PODD organises language according to the reason for communication, designed to support spontaneous communication in any situation. ► And MUCH more - Grid for iPad also includes a range of interactive learning activities (just try Dilbert the Dog!), animated communication from Symoji, and educational resources. Contact our tech support experts any time at support@thinksmartbox.com For more details on our evidence-based vocabularies, visit the Smartbox Hub.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pictello Visual Stories at 71% against Grid for iPad's 25%. Pictello Visual Stories also leads on price ($19.99 vs $299.99) and rating (4.1 vs 2.0). Grid for iPad's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 7 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On ads, monetization model 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
Pictello Visual Stories costs $19.99 and Grid for iPad $299.99 up front. Grid for iPad sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Pictello Visual Stories asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pictello Visual Stories holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pictello Visual Stories has 33 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Pictello Visual Stories's written reviews are positive against 25% of Grid for iPad's.
Pictello Visual Stories ships an update every 7 months, Grid for iPad fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pictello Visual Stories | Grid for iPad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 — better | $299.99 |
| Rating | 4.1 (33 ratings) — better | 2.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews — better | 25.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 33 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 660 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AssistiveWare | Smartbox Assistive Technology |
Customer experience
Pictello Visual Stories
Grid for iPad
In-app purchases
Pictello Visual Stories
No in-app purchases
Grid for iPad
- Metacom Symbol Library$49.99
- PODD for Grid (English)$99.00
Questions
Is Pictello Visual Stories free?
Is Grid for iPad free?
Which has better reviews, Pictello Visual Stories or Grid for iPad?
Do Pictello Visual Stories or Grid for iPad have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pictello Visual Stories or Grid for iPad?
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