Comparison

Visual Schedule Planner vs First Then Visual Schedule HD

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Visual Schedule Planner

This app provides a customizable visual representation of daily events, offering audio and visual support to ease transitions and anxiety. It allows for detailed task modeling with activity schedules and video clips, making it ideal for home, school, or work.

Highlights
  • Daily, weekly, monthly event views
  • Custom images and sounds
  • Activity schedules
  • Video modeling
  • Timer and checklist
  • Notes with PDF export
  • Password-protected settings
Features
Read full description

Visual Schedule Planner is a completely customizable visual schedule iPad app that is designed to give an individual an audio/visual representation of the “events in their day". In addition, events that require more support can be linked to an “activity schedule” or “video clip” to help model the task even further. Visual Planner is perfect for home, school, work or community environment. The app is designed for individuals who may benefit from visual support to ease transitions, anxiety, or who simply need a way to visually represent their day. FEATURES INCLUDE: -Ability to view events daily, weekly or via a monthly calendar. -Custom images -Custom sound -Activity schedules -Video Modeling -Timer -Checklist -Reminders -Notes Visual Schedule Planner was designed with a completely customizable easy-to-use interface, with multiple custom features. Overview of Features: --EVENTS CAN BE VIEWED DAILY, WEEKLY OR MONTHLY --CUSTOM IMAGES “Events” of the day and “Activity Schedules” can be customized with images from the photo album on the iPad, by one of the apps 1500+ icons, images taken from the built in camera (iPad2 only) or from the apps internet image search. --CUSTOM SOUND ”Events” also allow an audio clip to be added to the images by voice recording or Text-to-speech.*Using Flite Open Ears. --VIDEO MODELING and ACTIVITY SCHEDULES Events in a schedule can also be linked to a VIDEO CLIP or an ACTIVITY SCHEDULE to help model an “EVENT. For example, the event @12pm ”LUNCH” can be linked to an ACTIVITY SCHEDULE that shows a task analysis on “How to make a sandwich” or could be linked to a VIDEO CLIP of a person modeling “How to make a sandwich”. --CHECKLIST and TIMER feature for Activity schedules. Activity schedules have the option of having a “checklist feature” and/or a visual “timer” to help keep the individual on task. Both these features can be turned on or off via the settings menu. --NOTES App allows user or a professional to take notes about the individual’s day. These notes can then be emailed as a PDF for future reference. --QUICK ACCESS to Activity Schedules and Video Clips User can access previously saved video clips and activity schedules at a moment’s notice via the icons on the home page. These can also be “hidden” to prevent unwanted access. --PASSWORD PROTECTED SETTINGS MENU Allows user to: -Hide “QUICK” activity schedules , video clip and notes access icons. -Hide Editing features -Hide image libraries -Hide Clock -Hide Checklist -Hide access to video clip libraries -Hide access to Quick Activity Schedules

About

First Then Visual Schedule HD

Create and use a variety of visual supports, including schedules, task analyses, and social stories, all within a single application. This tool offers multiple ways to add images and customize viewing options to suit individual needs.

Highlights
  • Create visual schedules
  • Task analyses
  • Social stories
  • Choice boards
  • Video models
  • Multiple image import options
  • Customizable viewing formats
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The visual supports you can create and use with First Then Visual Schedule (FTVS) HD have proven to be especially beneficial for the following populations: Typically developing children Those learning English as a second language People with developmental disabilities like Autism and Down Syndrome Individuals with learning disabilities like dyslexia People affected by anxiety or attention deficits Anyone with language, hearing or auditory processing deficits Individuals affected by aphasia after a stroke And many more... So, as a parent, teacher, therapist or adult who could benefit from visual supports you want to try them but may be frustrated by how many different apps you seem to need in order to do so? FTVS HD lets you easily and quickly create and use ALL these visual supports in just one app: First Then boards Visual schedules Task analyses Social stories Choice boards Video models FTVS HD is designed to be used anywhere and everywhere with everything you need easily accessible from within the app: It's universal so it will work on any iDevice FTVS HD gives you FIVE different options for adding images: take a picture using your device's camera or grab one from the camera roll, use the Internet search feature to look for an image, use one of the stock images in the app or access one of 10,000 Smarty Ears symbols. All the stock images and Smarty Ears symbols are searchable by name. Set a timer for either an entire schedule or for individual steps within it. Attach a choice board or video to any step. There are FIVE different viewing options: Look at one single image at a time (great for the visually impaired), view two images in a First Then board format, scroll through a checklist, drag and drop an image to another column once a step is complete or drag and drop an image from a strip and put it in an envelope. FTVS HD makes it easy to create, customize and share schedules. You can copy the templates that come with the app or create your own from scratch. Easily edit, move, delete or hide steps within schedules. You can print your schedules and share them with other users via email. Due to size constraints you can currently only email one choice board and cannot email videos. Good Karma Applications are dedicated to providing apps that are powerful, easy to use and affordable. If you have any feedback or questions in relation to any of our apps, please contact us at support@goodkarmaapplications.com

Screenshots

Visual Schedule Planner3 screens
First Then Visual Schedule HD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: First Then Visual Schedule HD at 3.2 against Visual Schedule Planner's 2.3. First Then Visual Schedule HD also leads on chart position (#188 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 12.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Visual Schedule Planner costs $14.99 and First Then Visual Schedule HD $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

First Then Visual Schedule HD holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Visual Schedule Planner's written reviews are positive against 53% of First Then Visual Schedule HD's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Visual Schedule Planner ships an update every 4 months, First Then Visual Schedule HD every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 19, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Visual Schedule Planner versus First Then Visual Schedule HD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVisual Schedule PlannerFirst Then Visual Schedule HD
Price$14.99$14.99
Rating2.3 (13 ratings)3.2 (25 ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.9% of reviews52.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1325 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#188 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB84 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGood Karma Applications, IncGood Karma Applications, Inc

Customer experience

Visual Schedule Planner

All ratings13 ratings
Positive23.1%
Neutral23.1%
Negative53.8%
Written reviews47 reviews
Positive48.9%
Neutral4.3%
Negative46.8%

First Then Visual Schedule HD

All ratings25 ratings
Positive52.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative44.0%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive52.8%
Neutral2.8%
Negative44.4%

In-app purchases

None

Visual Schedule Planner

No in-app purchases

None

First Then Visual Schedule HD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Visual Schedule Planner free?
Visual Schedule Planner costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is First Then Visual Schedule HD free?
First Then Visual Schedule HD costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Visual Schedule Planner or First Then Visual Schedule HD?
First Then Visual Schedule HD is rated higher. Visual Schedule Planner averages 2.3 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while First Then Visual Schedule HD averages 3.2 from 25 ratings.
Do Visual Schedule Planner or First Then Visual Schedule HD have ads?
Neither Visual Schedule Planner nor First Then Visual Schedule HD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Visual Schedule Planner or First Then Visual Schedule HD?
Visual Schedule Planner ships an update every 4 months, and First Then Visual Schedule HD every 3 months. Most recently, Visual Schedule Planner was updated on August 19, 2026 and First Then Visual Schedule HD on September 23, 2026.

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