Comparison

DonKeyBoard AAC vs Tom Taps

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

Head to head
About

DonKeyBoard AAC

This app facilitates communication for individuals with speech difficulties using pictograms, voice, and text. It offers a customizable interface and offline functionality to support everyday expression of needs, emotions, and messages.

Highlights
  • Pictogram, voice, and text communication
  • Tap to speak, press and hold for phrases
  • In-app typing and favorites
  • Customizable buttons, icons, and colors
  • Personal photos for custom buttons
  • Adjustable voice settings
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

DonKeyBoard is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app that helps people express themselves in a fast, clear, and accessible way. Using pictograms, voice, and text, it supports everyday communication for needs, pain, emotions, actions, and important daily messages. DonKeyBoard is designed for people with communication difficulties, including: • children and adults with autism or language delay • people with aphasia • people with ALS • people recovering after surgery • anyone who needs an easier and more immediate way to make themselves understood The app is free, works 100% offline, and does not collect personal data. DonKeyBoard is built around simplicity, speed, and personalization, so each user can adapt it to their own communication style. Main features • Fast communication with pictograms, voice, and text • Tap once to speak a message • Press and hold to expand the phrase • In-app typing • Favorites for quick access to important content • Customizable buttons, categories, icons, colors, and text size • Personal photos for custom buttons • Hide, reorder, and adapt buttons for each user • Adjustable voice, speech rate, and pitch • Send messages to three selected contacts • A built-in game to learn how to use the app • Export and import profiles, including preferences, custom buttons, and photos All content works directly on the device, making DonKeyBoard reliable in everyday situations even without an internet connection. DonKeyBoard was created from a very personal motivation: to build a tool that could genuinely make daily communication easier. The project continues to evolve through real-world use and feedback from families, caregivers, teachers, and professionals. For suggestions, questions, or feedback, contact: donkeyboard@icloud.com

About

Tom Taps

Features
Read full description

Tom Taps is a picture board for children who don't speak, or don't speak yet. Tap pictures to build a sentence and the app says it out loud. A father built it for his son Tom, with help from Tom's speech-language pathologist. The first version came out in 2014. What you get for free: • A core word grid that stays in the same place, so your child learns where each word is • Hundreds of picture cards for people, actions, feelings, food and places • Your own cards with your photos and words • Separate boards for home, school and therapy • A modeling mode, so you can show words without changing your child's sentence • Clear text-to-speech Tom Taps Pro is $29.99, paid once: • All six vocabulary packs (medical, school, feelings, food, play, community) • A weekly coach that looks at how your child communicates and suggests next steps. It runs on your device and sends nothing to us. • iCloud sync across your devices Packs are also sold one at a time for $1.99 to $3.99. Words use the Fitzgerald Key colors that therapists already use. Boards are saved in the open OBF format, so you can take them to another app. We collect no data. There are no ads and no account to create. Questions: support@tomtaps.com

Screenshots

DonKeyBoard AAC4 screens
Tom Taps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DonKeyBoard AAC at none against Tom Taps's 7. Tom Taps's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. Tom Taps sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. DonKeyBoard AAC asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DonKeyBoard AAC ships an update every 3 weeks, Tom Taps daily. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
DonKeyBoard AAC versus Tom Taps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDonKeyBoard AACTom Taps
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGuappa Desarrollo Integral SLArchmob Pte Ltd

In-app purchases

None

DonKeyBoard AAC

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Tom Taps

One-time7
  • Play & Recreation$1.99
  • Community & Social$2.99
  • Food & Dining$2.99
Show 4 more
  • Feelings & Emotions$2.99
  • Medical & Health$3.99
  • School & Learning$3.99
  • Tom Taps Pro$29.99

Questions

Is DonKeyBoard AAC free?
DonKeyBoard AAC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tom Taps free?
Tom Taps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DonKeyBoard AAC or Tom Taps have ads?
Neither DonKeyBoard AAC nor Tom Taps shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DonKeyBoard AAC or Tom Taps?
DonKeyBoard AAC ships an update every 3 weeks, and Tom Taps daily. Most recently, DonKeyBoard AAC was updated on November 1, 2026 and Tom Taps on October 31, 2026.

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