NelsonReading vs Tala
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NelsonReading
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NelsonReading brings eCollection and Nelson Decodable Readers together in one app, giving teachers and students access to quality eBooks that support the consolidation of comprehension, fluency and phonics skills. It utilises native iOS gestures to provide a seamless experience for young readers. Requires subscriptions to eCollection and/or Nelson Decodable Readers. ~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURES ~~~~~~~~~~ 550 eCollection eBooks including 100 pre-level K books 210 Nelson Decodable Readers, 96 decodable Story Books and 82 One-Word Readers Includes the following features: + Assign books to students and track progress + Audio of each word and book + Segmented and Blended audio of each word in Nelson Decodable Readers + Student recording reading function + Read aloud support + Text editing and drawing features ~~~~~~~~~~ SUPPORT ~~~~~~~~~~ Send us an email at anz.techsupport@cengage.com with any questions, feedback or requests. Privacy Policy: https://cengage.com.au/privacy Terms and Conditions: https://cengage.com.au/terms Contact: https://cengage.com.au/contact-us
Tala
This app provides an easy-to-use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tool for nonspeaking children. It focuses on full sentence phrases, mirroring how some autistic children naturally learn language, and allows for personalization with photos and custom boards.
- Ready in 90 seconds
- Free core boards
- Full sentence communication
- Customizable boards and cards
- Parent Mode with PIN
- Available in multiple languages
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Help your child communicate needs, choices and ideas in full sentences. Add favourite foods and activities, choose a voice, and tap a card to hear the words spoken aloud. "I downloaded Tala a few days ago. Within minutes, both my son and I were using it. For the first time in years, I feel like we have a tool that's designed for families instead of specialists." Aron, dad of an autistic kid HOW TO USE TALA: 1) Set up in 90 seconds, then try Tala free for 7 days 2) Add your kid's favorite foods and activities 3) Your child taps a card and hears the full sentence, out loud "Can I have water." "I want an apple." "I need the toilet." Tala is for children with speech delays and children who don't speak, every child who understands more than they can say. They have so much to tell you. Tala gives them a way. No setup courses. No $300 device. No training manuals. Tala is built around how many autistic children actually learn language: whole phrases, not single words. If your child repeats lines from movies, songs, or YouTube, Tala is for them. Pick the voice that fits your child: woman, man, boy, or girl. Spanish at home too? Tala speaks 25 languages, and bilingual families can mix languages on the same board. Tala works on every device around your child: their own tablet, your phone, the teacher's phone. Same boards everywhere, so everyone supports your child the same way. Add your own photos. Create your own boards. Free forever for SLPs and educators. FROM A SPEECH THERAPIST'S APP STORE REVIEW: "The app is well designed for functional communication to support language development. It is overall a great app, that I will be recommending to lots of families!" I built Tala for my son Tom, 7 and autistic. Speech isn't reliable for him. Some days the words come, some days they don't. I wanted to give him the best possible way to be heard, every day. We tried every AAC app. None fit. So I made one that did. If you have ideas or questions, email us at hello@talaaac.com. * TALA IS A SUBSCRIPTION, WITH A 7-DAY FREE TRIAL FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS * FREE FOREVER FOR VERIFIED SLPs AND EDUCATORS Tala is an auto-renewing monthly or yearly subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage your subscription in Account Settings. TERMS: https://talaaac.com/terms PRIVACY: https://talaaac.com/privacy
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NelsonReading at none against Tala's 1. NelsonReading also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price 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
Both are free to download. Tala sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. NelsonReading asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | NelsonReading | Tala |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.8 (25 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 83.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 25 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 days |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 232 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cengage Learning Australia | Storm Studios AB |
In-app purchases
NelsonReading
No in-app purchases
Tala
- Tala Premium$2.991 Month









