AAC Devices Compared: Proloquo2Go vs. TouchChat vs. Snap Core First (And What Actually Matters)

A parent spent $249 on Proloquo2Go. The SLP set it up at the clinic, ran through the interface for twenty minutes, and sent it home on an iPad in a hard case. Six weeks later, it was still in that case. Her daughter had never opened it on her own. Nobody at school had been trained. Nobody at home knew how to model it. The app sat there — a very expensive silence.

The failure wasn't the app. Proloquo2Go is excellent. The failure was the assumption that the right tool, purchased and installed, would somehow translate into communication on its own.

Here's what that story teaches: the right AAC tool is not the most expensive one, or the one the SLP recommended, or the one the school already uses. The right AAC tool is the one your child will actually use — consistently, across settings, with a whole team modeling it alongside them. And getting to that point requires answering four questions before you spend a dollar.

The 4 Variables That Determine Which App Fits Your Child

Before comparing apps, answer these four questions honestly. The answers will narrow the field faster than any feature list.

1. Motor Access Needs

How does your child interact with a screen?

• Direct touch (pointing with a finger) — most apps support this as default
• Eye gaze — requires hardware (Tobii Dynavox eye-tracking hardware) and compatible software
• Switch scanning — one or two switches cycle through options; requires apps that support scanning access
• Head pointer or stylus — niche but real for children with significant motor limitations

If your child needs eye gaze or switch scanning, your app choices narrow immediately. Not all apps support all access methods. A child who can't reliably access a grid by touch will abandon a touch-only system within weeks.

2. Vocabulary Strategy

There are two broad camps in AAC vocabulary:

• Symbol-based / core vocabulary — high-frequency core words (want, more, help, stop, go, like, no) displayed as symbols, typically with fringe vocabulary organized by category. Best for early communicators or children who respond strongly to visual symbols.
• Text-based / literacy-based — word prediction, full keyboard access, or WordPower sequences where words are organized by meaning. Best for children approaching or at literacy level, or teens and adults who need robust expressive language.

Most apps can grow toward literacy over time, but some are optimized for one or the other from the start.

3. Platform and Device

What does your family already have?

• iPad only — most AAC apps live here; best selection
• Android — fewer options, but Cough Drop and Snap Core First are strong
• Windows — Snap Core First is the clearest choice
• Dedicated SGD hardware (Tobii Dynavox Accent, Saltillo Nova) — separate evaluation needed through SLP

There is no point buying an iOS app for an Android household, or expecting a child to use a school device at home when the home environment has a completely different setup.

4. School Support and Modeling

This is the variable most parents don't know to ask about.

If your child's school uses Tobii Dynavox hardware and has a contract with Snap Core First, the SLP and paraprofessionals already know that system. Introducing a different app at home creates two parallel systems — which is twice the learning curve for everyone and often results in neither system being used consistently.

Conversely, if you choose the system first at home and train yourself to model it well, you may be able to advocate for the school to adopt the same system through the IEP.

The best outcome is one system, used consistently, modeled by every adult in the child's life.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Who Proloquo2Go Is Best For

Proloquo2Go (AssistiveWare, $249.99 one-time, iOS) is the most clinician-recommended high-tech AAC app in North America. If you walk into any pediatric AAC clinic, a majority of SLPs will have Proloquo2Go training. That familiarity matters.

Choose Proloquo2Go if:

• Your child is a strong visual learner who responds well to consistent symbol sets
• Your school's SLP or AT specialist already uses or recommends AssistiveWare
• Your child is in the early-to-middle symbol stages and progressing toward literacy over time
• You have an iPad (or are willing to get one — this app is iOS only)
• You want a robust, well-supported ecosystem with regular updates and extensive training resources (AssistiveWare's online training library is excellent)

Be realistic about: Proloquo2Go has a learning curve. Setting it up well — vocabulary organization, page sets, vocabulary level — requires time and ideally SLP guidance. Many families who struggle with it weren't given adequate onboarding. The app isn't doing anything wrong; it needs to be set up for your child's communication level and access needs.

The free trial (Proloquo2Go Lite) lets you test the interface and core layout before committing. Use it.

Who TouchChat HD with WordPower Is Best For

TouchChat HD (Saltillo, $299.99 one-time, iOS) is most powerful when paired with the WordPower vocabulary system — a literacy-based system developed by SLP Nancy Inman that uses word prediction, pre-stored phrases, and semantic organization to scaffold robust language.

Choose TouchChat + WordPower if:

• Your child is approaching or at literacy level (reading single words or short sentences)
• You have a teen or adult who needs robust expressive language and sentence building
• Your SLP specifically recommends WordPower sequences for your child's communication profile
• You want a single-purchase app that can grow into full literacy-based communication over time

Be realistic about: TouchChat's default interface is less intuitive for early communicators. WordPower is powerful but complex — you'll want SLP guidance to set up appropriate vocabulary levels and sequences. The $299.99 price point is the highest on this list for a one-time purchase. Use TouchChat Lite (free) to test before buying.

Who Snap Core First Is Best For

Snap Core First (Tobii Dynavox, ~$35/month, iPad/Android/Windows) is the industry standard for school-based AAC use. Tobii Dynavox supplies a significant percentage of the dedicated SGD hardware in U.S. school districts, which means many SLPs and special education staff already know this software.

Choose Snap Core First if:

• Your child's school uses Tobii Dynavox equipment or Snap Core First specifically
• You need Windows or Android compatibility (not just iOS)
• You want a consistent system across school and home without two different apps
• You're comfortable with a subscription model rather than a one-time purchase

Be realistic about: The subscription cost adds up — $35/month is $420/year. If your child needs this for many years, that's a significant long-term expense. On the other hand, subscriptions typically include updates and support that one-time-purchase apps may charge extra for. Snap Core First offers a 30-day free trial; use it to involve your child's school team before subscribing.

Who Cough Drop Is Best For

Cough Drop (free base tier + paid plans, web/iPad/Android) is the most accessible AAC app on this list by cost and platform. It uses open-source symbol libraries, which means you can customize it extensively without licensing restrictions — a real advantage for multilingual families or children who need symbols in two languages.

Choose Cough Drop if:

• Budget is a significant constraint — the free tier is genuinely functional for early communicators
• You need Android or cross-platform access
• You want to customize symbols in another language or cultural context
• Your child is in early communication stages and doesn't yet need a 1,000-word vocabulary system
• You want to start immediately without waiting for an SLP evaluation or insurance approval

Be realistic about: Cough Drop's open-source model means it lacks some of the polished vocabulary templates and clinical training infrastructure of Proloquo2Go or Snap Core First. For early communicators building a functional requesting vocabulary of 20-50 words, it's excellent. For complex language users who need robust sentence structures, it may feel limited.

Who LetMeTalk Is Best For

LetMeTalk (free, Android only) is the simplest and most accessible entry point on this list. It uses ARASAAC symbols, supports basic sentence building, and costs nothing.

Choose LetMeTalk if:

• You have an Android device and no budget for paid apps
• Your child has recently completed PECS Phase I or II and you want to bridge toward high-tech AAC without a financial commitment
• You want to run a low-stakes trial of high-tech AAC at home before requesting a formal AT evaluation
• You need a simple, low-overwhelm starting point for a child who is just beginning to understand that a device can be a communication tool

Be realistic about: LetMeTalk is a starting point, not a long-term solution for most children. If your child shows consistent engagement and progress, use that data to request a formal AAC evaluation through the IEP — where you can access more robust systems with proper clinical support and potentially funding.

Try Before You Buy: Free Trials for Every App

There is no reason to spend $250–$300 before testing an app. Every major AAC app on this list has a free trial or free version:

• Proloquo2Go Lite — free on the App Store; includes core vocabulary layout to test with your child
• TouchChat Lite — free on the App Store; limited vocabulary but enough to test interface access
• Snap Core First — 30-day free trial; full app, no credit card required at signup
• Cough Drop — free base tier with no time limit; upgrade only if you need premium features
• LetMeTalk — fully free, no trial period

Run the trial with your child for at least 2 weeks. Don't just show it to them once. Use it yourself, model it consistently, and watch how they interact with it. The trial period is your data collection window.

School Funding Pathways: You Don't Have to Pay Out of Pocket

High-tech AAC is expensive. But there are multiple funding pathways — and parents who know about them get devices funded; parents who don't know pay out of pocket or go without.

AT Evaluation Through the IEP

If your child has an IEP, you can request an Assistive Technology (AT) evaluation in writing. Schools are required to consider AT for all children with IEPs under IDEA. An AT specialist can evaluate your child's communication needs, recommend specific devices or apps, and write that recommendation into the IEP — including who pays for it. In many cases, the school pays.

Write: "I am requesting an Assistive Technology evaluation to assess my child's communication needs and determine appropriate AAC supports, including high-tech devices or apps, to be addressed in the IEP."

Medicaid Waivers

If your child receives Medicaid, many states cover Speech-Generating Devices (SGDs) through Medicaid waiver programs. This typically requires a physician's prescription and an SLP report documenting communication needs. The process takes time — often 3-6 months — but it can cover dedicated SGD hardware costing $8,000-$12,000.

Contact your state's Medicaid waiver program or ask your SLP about the SGD prior authorization process in your state.

Private Insurance Appeals

Most private insurance plans classify dedicated SGDs as Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and cover them with physician documentation. Apps on personal devices (iPads) are harder to get covered but not impossible — some insurers cover the app cost when there is a documented medical necessity letter from a physician and an SLP evaluation.

If an initial claim is denied, appeal. Insurance denials on AAC requests are frequently overturned on appeal, especially with a strong SLP letter.

Assistive Technology Nonprofits

Two organizations specifically fund AAC devices for families who can't access other funding:

• Communication Independence for the Neurologically Impaired (CINI) — provides communication devices and training for children and adults with complex communication needs
• Variety — The Children's Charity — funds AAC devices and other assistive technology for children with disabilities across multiple U.S. chapters

Search "assistive technology device loans" for your state — most states have an AT lending library where families can borrow devices for trial periods before purchasing.

The Implementation Warning: The Device Is 10% of the Outcome

Before we close the comparison section, here's the most important thing in this post:

The app is not the intervention. The app is a tool. Who uses it — and how consistently — is the intervention.

Research on AAC outcomes consistently shows that the difference between children who develop robust communication using AAC and children who abandon their devices comes down to implementation, not the device itself. Specifically:

• Aided Language Input (ALI) — adults model the device alongside the child, at least 50+ times per day, without demanding a response. You point to "more" every time more would make sense. You point to "help" when they're struggling. The child's brain learns what the symbols mean by watching you use them first.
• Device access in ALL settings — the device goes to the dinner table, the grocery store, the car, the bedroom. "Communication time" at school is not enough. Communication is a 16-hour-a-day need.
• Parent training — you need to know how to use the app as fluently as any symbol on it. This is not optional. Training is a parent right under IDEA.
• Regular SLP review — every 3 months minimum, an SLP should be reviewing communication act data, adjusting vocabulary, and updating implementation strategies.

The best AAC system is the one the whole team — parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, SLP — uses consistently. A $299 app used every day by everyone beats a $299 app that sits in a case.

For a deeper guide to building an effective AAC implementation plan, read our complete AAC guide for nonverbal children.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best AAC app for a 3-year-old with autism?

For a 3-year-old at the early stages of communication, Cough Drop or Proloquo2Go Lite (free trial) are the best starting points. At this age, the priority is building a small core vocabulary of high-frequency words (more, help, stop, want, no, go, eat) and ensuring the app is accessible for the child's motor and cognitive level. The best app is the one you can model consistently at home — start with the free trial and involve your SLP in the decision.

Is Proloquo2Go covered by insurance?

Proloquo2Go as a standalone app is difficult to get covered by most private insurance plans, since it runs on a personal iPad rather than a dedicated SGD. However, Medicaid covers speech-generating devices (including dedicated hardware) in most states with appropriate documentation. If you need insurance coverage, the more realistic path is to request an AT evaluation through the IEP (which may result in the school funding the device) or pursue Medicaid waiver coverage for a dedicated device like the Tobii Dynavox Accent.

Can a child use AAC without a diagnosis?

Yes. There is no diagnosis requirement to use AAC at home. Any child who has communication needs can benefit from AAC tools — picture boards, sign language, apps. For school-funded AAC, a child typically needs an IEP, which requires a qualifying disability diagnosis. But parents can purchase and use any AAC app independently without a diagnosis or prescription.

How long does it take for a child to start using an AAC app?

There is no single timeline. Some children begin intentionally activating a device within days. Others take months of consistent modeling before using it expressively. The research is clear that consistent aided language input — adults modeling the device 50+ times per day — is the strongest predictor of early uptake. Expect at least 3-6 months of consistent implementation before evaluating whether a system is working.

What if my child's school uses a different AAC system than we use at home?

This is a real problem. Two systems mean two learning curves for the child and for every adult who works with them. The priority should be getting everyone on one system. Options: (1) advocate through the IEP for the school to adopt your home system, especially if your child shows progress with it; (2) switch your home system to match the school's; (3) request IEP language specifying that a consistent AAC system be used across all settings. Work with the SLP to resolve this — it's a clinical priority, not just a logistics issue.

Related Reading

• AAC Communication for Nonverbal Children: A Parent's Complete Guide
• PECS Guide for Parents: All 6 Phases
• Speech Therapy Activities for Nonverbal Children
• IEP Goals for Autism: What SMART Goals Actually Look Like
• How to Request an IEP Evaluation: Parent Rights

The One Thing That Matters More Than Which App You Choose

You've now compared five AAC tools across price, platform, vocabulary, learning curve, and best-fit profiles. But here's what the comparison can't tell you: which one your child will actually use with you modeling it every day.

That's what our guide Finding Their Voice was written to help you do. It walks through how to model AAC at home without training, how to build a daily routine around language input, how to track communication progress, and how to bring data to your child's SLP and IEP team. The app is 10% of the outcome. This guide covers the other 90%.

Get Finding Their Voice — $14.99

Or build the complete communication, IEP, and behavior support system with the Full Library — $34.99 — everything you need in one place.