Category Therapy vs Grid for iPad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Category Therapy
This app helps individuals improve their mental organization and word-sorting skills through evidence-based exercises. It's designed for speech therapists and home users to aid in cognitive and language rehabilitation after stroke, brain injury, or for conditions like autism. Features include interactive activities, clear photos, and progress reporting.
- Evidence-based exercises
- Word-finding and sorting practice
- 4 engaging activities
- Clear photos and simple interface
- Customizable settings
- Progress reports
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Improve mental organization skills. Practice categories in a versatile speech therapy app. When you struggle with categories due to stroke, brain injury, or autism, simple tasks can be impossible. But there’s a way to heal the broken networks of meaning. GET CATEGORY THERAPY, an app designed for both speech therapists and home users to help restructure the brain and let the ideas flow. - Take control with evidence-based exercises designed by experts - Improve word-finding and sorting skills with 4 engaging activities and unlimited practice - Get an app that works in both home and clinical settings - Interact with clear photos and a simple interface that's easy for everyone to use - Adjust settings to target your goals and suit your needs - Use reports and customization to seamlessly fit the app into your therapy program ** Download Category Therapy Lite for FREE to see how it can help! ** When you lose the ability to group items and identify what they have in common, it gets in the way of your ability to understand, learn, and communicate. But with the right kind of practice, it’s possible to strengthen the connections between words and concepts and navigate your world more easily. “It will be a LONG time before you run out of content to use with one patient, and the app’s fantastic settings options will allow you to use it with a variety of individuals, regardless of cognitive abilities.” - Aubrey Klingensmith, MS, CCC-SLP, Speechie Apps GET THE RIGHT ACTIVITY - FOR EVERY BRAIN. No two people are the same. With 4 activities ranging from simple to complex, there's something in Category Therapy to match your needs. Work through them gradually or focus on the activity that best suits your needs. 1) FIND: Start with the basics. You'll hear and see a photo of a category (let's say "Fruit"). Tap the item that matches (for example, a banana). 2) CLASSIFY: Switch it up. Now you start with an item and choose the category that matches. This tests your ability to apply categories to what you see. 3) ADD ONE: Train yourself to recognize common features of items – to categorize them – and then choose one item that fits the category you’ve identified. 4) EXCLUDE: Challenge yourself. By choosing an item that doesn't belong, you learn how to independently identify categories. As things get harder, you can always tap Hint for some help. ALL DONE? Share your progress. The app makes it easy to quickly view, share, or e-mail detailed reports to a therapist or loved one. GET EVERY FEATURE YOU NEED IN ONE EASY APP. • 70 categories and nearly 700 words in one package • 3 difficulty levels ranging from simple objects to more abstract concepts • Great for aphasia, brain injury, autism, and other cognitive & language impairments • Switch to Pictures Only to practice naming or Words Only to practice reading • Customize the number of trials, choices, and more – it’s yours to control • Designed with adults in mind but easy enough for children to use • No subscriptions, no monthly bills, no Wi-Fi needed THERE’S HOPE. With Category Therapy in your corner, you can build stronger connections between words – and learn to speak and think more easily. ** DOWNLOAD NOW to get started – or try it for FREE with Category Therapy Lite! ** Looking for something different in a speech therapy app? We offer a wide range to choose from. Find the right one for you at https://tactustherapy.com/find
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: Category Therapy at 100% against Grid for iPad's 25%. Category Therapy also leads on price ($29.99 vs $299.99) and rating (4.8 vs 2.0). Grid for iPad's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months). On ads 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
Category Therapy costs $29.99 and Grid for iPad $299.99 up front. Grid for iPad sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Category Therapy asks for nothing beyond the download.
Category Therapy holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Category Therapy has 501 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Category Therapy's written reviews are positive against 25% of Grid for iPad's.
Category Therapy ships an update every 8 months, Grid for iPad fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Category Therapy | Grid for iPad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.99 — better | $299.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (501 ratings) — better | 2.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 25.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 501 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 45 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tactus Therapy Solutions Ltd. | Smartbox Assistive Technology |
Customer experience
Category Therapy
Grid for iPad
Bugs and requests
Category Therapy
Requested features
3 requests- More category options
- A 'harder than hard' level
- More categories
Grid for iPad
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Category Therapy
No in-app purchases
Grid for iPad
- Metacom Symbol Library$49.99
- PODD for Grid (English)$99.00
Questions
Is Category Therapy free?
Is Grid for iPad free?
Which has better reviews, Category Therapy or Grid for iPad?
Do Category Therapy or Grid for iPad have ads?
Which is updated more often, Category Therapy or Grid for iPad?
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