GoTalk® NOW PLUS vs Grid for iPad
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
GoTalk® NOW PLUS
This powerful app provides a flexible and user-friendly platform for individuals with speech difficulties. It offers customizable page layouts, text-to-speech, and extensive image libraries to create personalized communication books. Users can also share and back up their creations.
- Adjustable page layouts
- Recorded and text-to-speech capabilities
- Over 15,000 images from SymbolStix and GoTalk Image Library
- Ready-Set-Communicate pre-made book for children
- Three communication page styles: Standard, Express, and Scenes
- Create and share unlimited communication books
- Full-feature scanning app
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Attainment has been making augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools for 25 years. Our experience is front and center in GoTalk NOW PLUS, a flexible, easy-to-use, yet powerful app for people who have difficulty speaking. GoTalk NOW PLUS shares the same foundation as GoTalk NOW, and has all the essentials of an effective AAC app; adjustable page layouts, recorded and text-to-speech capabilities, and customizable navigation are all featured. So what differentiates PLUS from NOW? PLUS comes bundled with a wealth of extra content to help you get more out of the app. Between both SymbolStix and The GoTalk Image Library you have access to over 15,000 images! Also featured is Ready-Set-Communicate, a pre-made communication book for children ages 3-10. PLUS also contains 7 English text-to-speech voices, including 2 children’s voices. Please note an internet connection is required to download the additional content. GoTalk NOW PLUS offers three styles of communication pages: Standard, Express, and Scenes. In Standard pages, the action occurs when the location is pressed. In Express pages, recorded or text-to-speech messages build in a speech bar and play in sequence when the bar is pressed. Scene pages are built around a single photo or image. When you arrange invisible hotspots over people or objects in the photo, the hotspots play speech, music, or videos! Feel free to mix and match pages within a communication book. Create as many communication books as you need, each with unique settings and unlimited pages. Then share these books with other users via WiFi, and back them up for safekeeping via Dropbox or any Mac/PC. Envision the impact of blending video, music, and jump to actions among your pages. How cool is it to have your own private online galley to store and save your templates (up to five communication pages) for free, and to email these templates to parents and colleagues! Furthermore, GoTalk NOW PLUS is a full-feature scanning app! Features: • Choose 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, or 25 locations per page. • Use images from your iPad camera, photo library, GoTalk Image Library, or SymbolStix symbols. • Search the Internet in-app for the perfect image or icon. • Includes free download for Ready-Set-Communicate, a pre-made communication book for children ages 3-10. • Purchase additional pre-made communication books in-app. • Combine multiple images in a single communication location. • Color pages, borders, and text with any hue. • Move and size text with your fingers so it feels just right. • Record your voice or use our free text-to-speech voice. • Utilize 7 American English text-to-speech voices, available as free download • Buy additional voices for only 99 cents each, available in over 20 languages. • Add spoken labels (auditory cues) to any button. Great for scanning, guiding visually impaired users, and identifying any new or difficult vocabulary. • Trim videos in-app, and play them from any communication location. • Select our alternate video interface to pause or exit the video easily. • Link songs from your playlist to any communication location and control them with Pause/Play, Next, and Previous. • Include a core vocabulary button for extra quick access to important messages. • Share complete communication books via WiFi with any iPad user who has NOW or PLUS. • Back up communication books via Dropbox or to any Mac or PC for safekeeping. • Store and share interactive templates (each including speech, video, text, and jump to links) on our online gallery for free. • Download and edit pre-made templates from Attainment’s collection on the public gallery, also free. • Email links to your templates to parents and colleagues, who can open the template on their iPad by tapping on the link. • Print and save communication book layouts via PDFs. • Access PLUS with single or two-switch scanning. GoTalk NOW PLUS participates in Apple's Volume Purchasing Program for Education in the United States.
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.
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: GoTalk® NOW PLUS at $94.99 against Grid for iPad's $299.99. GoTalk® NOW PLUS also leads on rating (3.0 vs 2.0) and review sentiment (40% vs 25%). Grid for iPad's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On ratings volume, 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
GoTalk® NOW PLUS costs $94.99 and Grid for iPad $299.99 up front. GoTalk® NOW PLUS sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and Grid for iPad sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
GoTalk® NOW PLUS holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of GoTalk® NOW PLUS's written reviews are positive against 25% of Grid for iPad's.
GoTalk® NOW PLUS ships an update every 5 weeks, Grid for iPad fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | GoTalk® NOW PLUS | Grid for iPad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $94.99 — better | $299.99 |
| Rating | 3.0 (4 ratings) — better | 2.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better | 25.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 235 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Attainment Company | Smartbox Assistive Technology |
Customer experience
GoTalk® NOW PLUS
Grid for iPad
In-app purchases
GoTalk® NOW PLUS
- Ella$11.99
- Josh$11.99
- Emilio - English$11.99
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- Will$11.99
- Emilio - Spanish$11.99
- Talk All Day$19.99
- PCS High Contrast$29.99
- Participate NOW$49.99
- Tactile Talk$49.99
- English (US) Keywords$59.99
- AAC2go (Girl 3-10)$79.99
- AAC2go (Boy 3-10)$79.99
Grid for iPad
- Metacom Symbol Library$49.99
- PODD for Grid (English)$99.00
Questions
Is GoTalk® NOW PLUS free?
Is Grid for iPad free?
Which has better reviews, GoTalk® NOW PLUS or Grid for iPad?
Do GoTalk® NOW PLUS or Grid for iPad have ads?
Which is updated more often, GoTalk® NOW PLUS or Grid for iPad?
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