First Then Visual Schedule HD vs PECSTalk™
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Create visual schedules
- Task analyses
- Social stories
- Choice boards
- Video models
- Multiple image import options
- Customizable viewing formats
Read full descriptionHide 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
PECSTalk™
This communication app helps individuals with complex communication needs express themselves using a digital system that mimics a traditional picture exchange book. It offers extensive customization, multiple voice options, and access to a large image library to support users in various settings.
- Digital PECS book with Sentence Strip
- Access to full Pics for PECS library
- Customizable user-defined images
- Multi-language support
- Backup and restore functionality
- Universal 'No' capability
- Bilingual book creation
Read full descriptionHide full description
PECSTalk™ is an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) app used by individuals with complex communication needs, including those on the autism spectrum. Designed by the developers of the evidence-based Picture Exchange Communication System® (PECS®), this high-tech option is customizable and easy to use! With access to the full Pics for PECS library, multiple voice output options, and multiple languages, the PECSTalk™ app can be individualized for your learner’s needs. With PECSTalk™, users can construct a multi-picture Sentence Strip™ via a dedicated Sentence Starter™ page and create up to 30 digital PECS book pages for the in-app voice to speak. The digital display is similar in layout to a traditional PECS Communication Book while accommodating the more robust vocabulary of a Speech Generating Device (SGD). The PECSTalk™ app can be used to make requests, respond to questions, comment and ask questions. By converting pictures and text into spoken language, the PECSTalk™ app empowers non-speaking learners to fully participate in their school, home, vocational, and community settings. Languages Available: English, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish Features of PECSTalk™: Looks like a traditional PECS book with colored, tabbed pages with VELCRO® strips and a Sentence Strip so you can create a digital PECS book that looks identical to your learner’s book, accommodates vocabulary growth and grammatical expansion Access to the full Pics for PECS image library Create customized user defined images Backup & Restore- backup your books locally or to the cloud AND share across multiple platforms and devices Scrollable pages Universal No capabilities- rather than hiding or eliminating an image, a universal No symbol can be overlaid on an image indicating the item is not currently available. Capability to build bilingual books Drag and drop pictures from the tabbed pages to the Sentence Strip just like with a traditional PECS book Switch between pages by scrolling between and tapping on different tabs Rearrange pictures on the Sentence Strip without having to delete pictures Clear Sentence Strips with a single button push or clear individual pictures by swiping them back to the book Integrated features from the PECS protocol such as constant time delay for the in-app voice Customize each book: Open or close the dedicated Sentence Starter page with a single touch Create 1-30 tabbed pages (with up to 28 pictures per page), each with 3 scrollable pages Each book can hold up to 2,500 images Customize each tab by number of VELCRO® strips, color, category icon, and/or number of pictures on each page Customize pictures: Use Pics for PECS images (full picture set included) or add images from your photo library and the web Change text on pictures as well as size Put text on top or bottom of pictures, or remove text Search function for the Pics for PECS library included Speech: Use included synthesized speech or record your own speech Incorporate the research-based constant time delay for ‘reading’ the Sentence Strip to create opportunities for the student to speak Select from included profiles or create new profiles to customize: How pictures are moved: tap, drag or both How to clear (reset) the Sentence Strip Visibility of Sentence Starter page Reading Sentence Strip left to right or right to left When to read the Sentence Strip: as each picture is selected or with a single tap of the “Speak” button after the Sentence Strip is completed Track Learner Usage: Day by day list of Sentence Strips constructed by the student Weekly and monthly analysis of most frequently used pictures
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: First Then Visual Schedule HD at $14.99 against PECSTalk™'s $139.99. First Then Visual Schedule HD also leads on chart position (#188 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.6). PECSTalk™'s advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
First Then Visual Schedule HD costs $14.99 and PECSTalk™ $139.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
First Then Visual Schedule HD ships an update every 3 months, PECSTalk™ fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | First Then Visual Schedule HD | PECSTalk™ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 — better | $139.99 |
| Rating | 3.2 (25 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 52.8% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 25 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #188 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.3 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 84 MB | 121 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Good Karma Applications, Inc | Pyramid Global Communication Technology LLC |
Customer experience
First Then Visual Schedule HD
PECSTalk™
In-app purchases
First Then Visual Schedule HD
No in-app purchases
PECSTalk™
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is First Then Visual Schedule HD free?
Is PECSTalk™ free?
Do First Then Visual Schedule HD or PECSTalk™ have ads?
Which is updated more often, First Then Visual Schedule HD or PECSTalk™?
Other comparisons















