Grid 3
Grid 3: A mature AAC system combining symbol, text, speech, access and environmental control. Ranked #6 of 26 in AAC Communication Software by our editors (8.7/10); pricing: 60-day trial; best for mature Windows AAC with environmental control.
At a glance
- Editor score8.7 / 10
- Pricing60-day trial
- Best forMature Windows AAC with environmental control
- Free planNo
- Symbol systemHybrid
- Founded2000 · Malvern, Worcestershire, United Kingdom
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Combines symbol and text communication with word prediction
- Supports eye gaze, switches, touch, keyguards and pointer devices
- Adds computer, environmental control and accessible apps
Where it doesn't
- Paid software with quote-based licence pricing
- The broad feature set may require configuration and customization
- iPad access focuses on touch, symbol and text communication
Our verdict on Grid 3
Grid 3 is augmentative and alternative communication software from Smartbox for children and adults whose natural speech is affected by disability. It brings symbol-based vocabularies, text communication, speech output and word prediction into one system, while also supporting computer and environmental control. Its access options cover eye gaze, touch, keyguards, switches, pointer devices and voice activation, making it suitable for people with different communication and physical access needs. Users can also create and edit custom grids.
The product has a paid model with no free plan and a 60-day free trial. Grid 3 is available on Windows and iPad, but the platform experiences differ. Windows supports the full range of alternative access methods, including eye gaze, switches, touch, keyguards, pointers and voice activation. The iPad version provides text and symbol communication with touch access. Licence purchases use a quote-based process, so prospective buyers should discuss requirements with Smartbox before selecting an arrangement.
Grid 3’s main strength is breadth: communication, configurable voices, prediction, accessible apps such as email and social media, computer control and environmental control sit alongside core AAC tools. That makes it a strong fit for users who need communication software to extend into device and environment access, rather than a narrowly focused speech-output app. The trade-off is that its wide scope and fully customizable layouts can require careful configuration around the user’s vocabulary, access method and daily activities. Choose Grid 3 for mature Windows-based AAC with multiple access routes and environmental control; consider a simpler option when iPad touch communication is the primary requirement.
Your product? Our editors can test Grid 3 in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Grid 3 pricing
Grid 3 fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Symbol system | Hybrid |
| Speech output | Yes |
| Access methods | touch, keyguards, eye gaze, switches, pointer devices, voice activation |
| Offline use | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | Windows and iPad |
| Layout customization | Fully_customizable |
| Free trial | 60 days |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, iOS |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | Phone, Email, Live chat, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | 60-day trial |
| Website | smartboxaac.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Grid 3
- Asterics AACA flexible free AAC option for users needing personalized grids and varied input methods.9.4
- TD SnapA free AAC foundation with eye-gaze, switch and scanning access, plus paid page-set upgrades.9.2
- CboardA flexible free AAC core across web, Windows, and Android, with paid Pro additions.9.0
Grid 3 vs the competition
- Grid 3 vs Asterics AAC
- Grid 3 vs TD Snap
- Grid 3 vs Cboard
- Grid 3 vs CoughDrop
- Grid 3 vs Jellow
- Grid 3 vs Proloquo2Go
Compare Grid 3 with any tool side by side →
Used Grid 3? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Grid 3 for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Grid 3 is listed in our AAC Communication Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/grid-3/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/grid-3.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update