Comparison

Tom Taps vs Autipal

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

Head to head
About

Tom Taps

Features
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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

About

Autipal

Features
Read full description

Tap a picture and it speaks. Autipal offers another way to share needs, choices and feelings, including for children who use little or no speech. Autipal also brings personal social stories, a Home plan, a milestone tracker and everyday learning into one calm, parent-managed app for iPhone and iPad. AAC: PICTURES WITH A VOICE AAC means augmentative and alternative communication. Choose picture tiles, build a message and hear it spoken aloud. Find words for food, drinks, feelings, people and places. Use complete common messages or combine individual words. MAKE THE BOARD FIT YOUR CHILD Add your own tiles and familiar pictures. Adjust tile size and board layout in parent editing mode. Use Two boards to keep core words beside a topic. SOCIAL STORIES, MADE PERSONAL Prepare for everyday routines, changes and unfamiliar places. Include your child and familiar family members as story characters. Review and edit generated drafts before sharing them, then read or listen together at your child's pace. HOME PLAN Use Home plan to teach a daily skill step by step, or choose a small step for play, routines or a difficult moment. Adjust it as your needs change. MILESTONE TRACKER In the Milestone journal, record what you see using milestone checklists for ages 2 months to 5 years, based on public U.S. government guidance, with a picture for every age. Add notes and family goals, set gentle local reminders and prepare a summary to share with your child's care team. Ask the AI guide to explain a question simply and hear it read aloud in an available language. The Milestone journal supports observation, not diagnosis or validated developmental screening. AI can make mistakes. Discuss missing milestones, lost skills or any concern with a qualified healthcare professional. Autipal is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. SEPARATE PROFILES FOR YOUR CHILDREN Add each child and keep their saved content and milestone journal separate. Confirm their birthday for age-based checklists and reminders. 26 TOPICS TO EXPLORE Discover English A-Z, numbers 0-20, colors, shapes, birds, wild and domestic animals, fruits, vegetables and everyday objects. Search, choose a picture and hear it spoken. See 22 practical phrase examples, such as drink water and wash hands. Use Autipal in 64 languages, including English, Español, Français, नेपाली, हिन्दी, বাংলা, العربية and 简体中文. Voice and AI availability vary by language and feature, and AI translations are labeled. Bundled or downloaded content works offline where available; new AI pictures, stories and translations need internet. Alphabet lessons use English A-Z. PARENTS STAY IN CONTROL Parent tools, settings and purchases ask first, with an optional PIN. AI stays off until you say yes; you review AI pictures and story drafts before saving. PRIVACY AND CHOICE Autipal has no advertising and includes in-app data export and account deletion. It is a communication and learning tool, not a diagnostic tool, emergency service or replacement for a qualified professional. Autipal is free to download and includes a Free plan. An optional monthly auto-renewable Premium subscription adds more AI pictures each month, unlimited AI boards, AI help in Home plans and more caregivers. Optional one-time credit packs add AI picture credits that do not expire. The exact price and any eligible introductory offer are shown by the App Store before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel subscriptions in your Apple Account settings. Terms: https://www.autipal.com/terms Privacy: https://www.autipal.com/privacy

Screenshots

Tom Taps4 screens
Autipal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Tom Taps at daily against Autipal's every 8 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Tom Taps sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Autipal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tom Taps ships an update daily, Autipal every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Tom Taps versus Autipal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTom TapsAutipal
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 8 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB1.7 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArchmob Pte LtdSmahi Inc

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
4 purchases

Autipal

Subscriptions1
  • Autipal Premium1 Month trial$19.991 Month
One-time3
  • 50 image credits$4.99
  • 100 image credits$9.99
  • 300 image credits$29.99

Questions

Is Tom Taps free?
Tom Taps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Autipal free?
Autipal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tom Taps or Autipal have ads?
Neither Tom Taps nor Autipal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tom Taps or Autipal?
Tom Taps ships an update daily, and Autipal every 8 days. Most recently, Tom Taps was updated on October 28, 2026 and Autipal on October 29, 2026.

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