Asterics AAC vs Cboard

Asterics AAC9.4Visit Cboard9.0Visit

Higher score Asterics AAC #1 in AAC Communication Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Asterics AAC

vs

Cboard #3 in AAC Communication Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Cboard

• Asterics AAC fits best

  Broad, accessible AAC at no software cost

• Cboard fits best

  Free cross-platform AAC with optional Pro features

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Side by side

Feature	Asterics AAC 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Cboard 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.0
Ranking	#1 in AAC Communication Software	#3 in AAC Communication Software
Best for	Broad, accessible AAC at no software cost	Free cross-platform AAC with optional Pro features
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$79/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension	Cloud, Desktop
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, Android
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Asterics AAC 2/2 · Cboard 2/2
Speech output	✓	✓
Offline use	✓	✓
Specs
Symbol system	Hybrid	Hybrid
Access methods	Touch, mouse, keyboard, external switch, scanning, hovering, microphone input, and AsTeRICS Framework events such as eye or head movement	Touchscreen, keyboard and mouse
Supported platforms	Web browsers on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux	Web browsers, Windows, Android
Layout customization	Fully_customizable	Customizable
Our review
Pros	Free and open source across web, desktop and mobile platforms Fully customizable grids with symbols, text, images and speech actions Supports scanning, switches, hovering, eye or head movement and offline use	Free symbol-based boards with text-to-speech and typing Customizable layouts, symbol sets, tiles, and voice recordings Web, Windows, Android, sharing, and offline Chrome support
Cons	Grid configuration may require more setup than a fixed AAC interface Advanced environmental control depends on compatible AsTeRICS Framework events Some features, including prediction and control, may require individual configuration	Online neural voices are available only with Pro Publishing, analytics, and board sharing are paid features Offline use is documented for Chrome desktop and Android
Our verdict	Asterics AAC is a web-based augmentative and alternative communication tool for people who need supported communication. It is designed for users, families, educators and care teams who need adaptable communication grids rather than a… Read the review →	Cboard is an open-source augmentative and alternative communication application for children and adults with speech and language impairments. It combines symbol-based communication boards with text-to-speech, typing, customizable layouts,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Asterics AAC — where it wins

  • Free and open source across web, desktop and mobile platforms
  • Fully customizable grids with symbols, text, images and speech actions
  • Supports scanning, switches, hovering, eye or head movement and offline use

  Where it doesn't

  • Grid configuration may require more setup than a fixed AAC interface
  • Advanced environmental control depends on compatible AsTeRICS Framework events
  • Some features, including prediction and control, may require individual configuration

• Cboard — where it wins

  • Free symbol-based boards with text-to-speech and typing
  • Customizable layouts, symbol sets, tiles, and voice recordings
  • Web, Windows, Android, sharing, and offline Chrome support

  Where it doesn't

  • Online neural voices are available only with Pro
  • Publishing, analytics, and board sharing are paid features
  • Offline use is documented for Chrome desktop and Android

• Asterics AAC9.4/10 · Free plan

  A flexible free AAC option for users needing personalized grids and varied input methods.

  Visit Asterics AACFull verdict →
• Cboard9.0/10 · Free plan

  A flexible free AAC core across web, Windows, and Android, with paid Pro additions.

  Visit CboardFull verdict →