Expressive Builder vs Grid for iPad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Expressive Builder
This app helps children improve sentence ideation, formation, and language skills through interactive exercises. It utilizes audio clips and voice recording to enhance auditory processing and reinforce language development, making it ideal for special needs children.
- Sentence ideation and formation practice
- Auditory processing enhancement with audio clips
- Voice recording and playback
- Multiple hint levels
- 250+ images for sentence creation
- Import custom images
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Voted 3rd best educational app of 2011 by AppsForHomeschooling.com Voted 9th best education app of 2011 by SmartAppsForKids.com Own as an individual app or as part of our MES Speech Therapy Bundle. Expressive Builder is designed to help children accomplish the following educational goals: 1) Improve sentence ideation ; 2) Improve sentence formation; and 3) Improve receptive and expressive language. Extensive use of audio clips promotes improved auditory processing for special needs children with autism spectrum disorders or sensory processing disorders. Auditory playback of child's voice offers reinforcement for language development. Expressive Builder offers a rich and fun environment for improving the ability to create grammatically correct sentences. FEATURES -Record feature allows students to record sentences in their own voice -3 levels of hints -Simple and intuitive interface to record sentence -Save and email recorded sentences -250 distinct images to create sentences from -Import your own images -Optional hint button LANGUAGES - English REQUIREMENTS - Compatible with iPad - Requires Iphone 5.1 software update ExpressiveBuilder is part of "The Builder Series" of award winning education apps. Mobile Education Store has won over 40 app awards and has been named educational developer of the year in 2011 and 2012. Mobile Education Store is a member of Moms with Apps, a collaborative group of family-friendly developers seeking to promote quality apps for kids and families. Recommended Ages: 3-6, 6-10 Categories: Special Needs
Grid for iPad
This app provides a comprehensive Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution for individuals with diverse communication needs. It offers flexible tools, evidence-based resources, and customizable features that adapt as users' needs evolve.
- Evidence-based AAC resources
- Online community grid sets
- In-app and remote editing
- AI-powered design tools
- Multiple symbol libraries
- Multilingual support
- Pre-built communication resources
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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. Simple, flexible pricing: Grid for iPad is available through a monthly subscription with a 30-day FREE trial or as a one-off purchase. You can cancel your subscription at any time. Contact our tech support experts any time at support@thinksmartbox.com For more details on our evidence-based vocabularies, visit the Smartbox Hub.
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Expressive Builder at 95% against Grid for iPad's 50%. Expressive Builder also leads on iOS requirement (12.1 vs 15.0). Grid for iPad's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99) and rating (3.6 vs 2.8). On ads, in-app purchases, 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
Grid for iPad is free to download; Expressive Builder costs $9.99 up front. Expressive Builder sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Grid for iPad sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Grid for iPad holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 18 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 95% of Expressive Builder's written reviews are positive against 50% of Grid for iPad's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Expressive Builder ships an update every 4 months, Grid for iPad fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Expressive Builder | Grid for iPad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.8 (4 ratings) | 3.6 (18 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 95.4% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 18 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.1 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 132 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mobile Education Store LLC | Smartbox Assistive Technology |
Customer experience
Expressive Builder
Grid for iPad
Bugs and requests
Expressive Builder
Reported bugs
2 issues- Cannot choose picture set
- Skip image button not present after update
Requested features
14 requests- Bring back the skip image button
- Wider variety of ethnicities represented
- Ability to have words read aloud
- Ability to have hints read aloud
- Highlighting word as it is read
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Add a 'gaming' picture pack
- Ability to upload personal photographs
- More sets without in-app purchases
- Ability to archive more students
- Add older children (teens) to original pack
- Ability to go to next/previous image at any time
- Text to speech for non-readers
- Play button on the first page
- Tap on words to have them read aloud
Grid for iPad
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Expressive Builder
- School Game Pack$1.99
- Sports Game Pack$1.99
- Hobbies Game Pack$1.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Inside Playtime Game Pack$1.99
- Medical Game Pack$1.99
- Pets Game Pack$1.99
- Places Game Pack$1.99
- Playground Game Pack$1.99
- Winter Game Pack$1.99
- All Game Packs$19.99
Grid for iPad
- Grid for iPad Subscription1 Month trial$10.991 Month
- Metacom Symbol Library$49.99
- PODD for Grid (English)$99.00
- Grid for iPad full licence$299.99
Questions
Is Expressive Builder free?
Is Grid for iPad free?
Which has better reviews, Expressive Builder or Grid for iPad?
Do Expressive Builder or Grid for iPad have ads?
Which is updated more often, Expressive Builder or Grid for iPad?
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