What is an AAC App?
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. These apps help people who cannot speak or have difficulty speaking to communicate with others. They work by converting text or symbols into speech, enabling communication in person, during phone calls, and in online voice chats.
Why Use an AAC App?
- Communicate with people who don't know sign language
- Participate in voice chats, Discord servers, and online gaming
- Make phone calls and join video meetings
- Express yourself in everyday situations
- Maintain independence in communication
- Access digital content through text-to-speech
Top 10 AAC & Text-to-Speech Apps in 2025
SpeechLink
Best for: Everyday communication, Discord, gaming, speech-to-speech
SpeechLink is an AAC app designed for everyday communication that seamlessly integrates with online platforms. It offers both text-to-speech and unique speech-to-speech technology that can clarify impaired speech in real-time. Use it for daily conversations, phone calls, gaming, Discord, and any situation where you need your voice.
Key Features
- Native Discord integration for voice channels
- Speech-to-speech: clarifies impaired speech in real-time
- 70+ languages with natural AI voices
- Voice cloning to sound like yourself
- Works on web, desktop, and mobile
- Free tier available
Platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS (coming soon)
Price
Free with plans from €3 to €30/month
Speech Assistant AAC
Best for: Phone calls, in-person communication, iOS users
Speech Assistant AAC by A-Soft is a well-established text-to-speech app designed for people with aphasia, MND/ALS, autism, stroke, or cerebral palsy. It works offline and can be used during phone calls on iOS devices.
Key Features
- Works during phone calls (iOS)
- Customizable categories and phrase buttons
- Symbols from 3,400 Mulberry Symbols library
- ElevenLabs voice integration
- Backup to iCloud, Mail, or AirDrop
- Works offline - no internet required
Platforms
iOS, Android, Apple Watch
Price
€8 one-time purchase (full version)
Proloquo2Go
Best for: Children and adults with autism, developmental disabilities
Proloquo2Go is the gold standard for symbol-based AAC. It uses pictures and symbols to help users communicate and is particularly popular in educational and therapy settings.
Key Features
- Symbol-based communication with Crescendo vocabulary
- Highly customizable vocabulary
- Word prediction and grammar support
- Research-backed approach
Platforms
iOS only
Price
$249.99 (one-time)
Speechify
Best for: Reading documents, articles, and books aloud
Speechify is a premium text-to-speech app that excels at reading documents, web pages, and books. With 186 voices across 30+ languages and speeds up to 900 words per minute, it's ideal for consuming written content.
Key Features
- 186 AI voices in 30+ languages
- Reads up to 900 words per minute
- OCR to read text from images
- Cloud integration (Dropbox, Google Drive)
- Active text highlighting
- Chrome extension included
Platforms
iOS, Android, Web, Chrome
Price
$139/year (~$11.58/month)
TouchChat
Best for: People who prefer text-based or symbol communication
TouchChat offers flexible AAC with both symbol and text-based communication options. It's suitable for users at different communication levels.
Key Features
- Multiple vocabulary page sets
- Word prediction
- Message history
- Social media sharing
Platforms
iOS, Android
Price
$149.99 - $299.99
Natural Reader
Best for: Natural sounding voices for document reading
Natural Reader provides some of the most natural-sounding AI voices for reading documents, PDFs, eBooks, and web pages. Great for accessibility and productivity.
Key Features
- Premium natural-sounding AI voices
- Supports PDFs, eBooks, Word docs, web pages
- Convert text to MP3
- Dyslexia font options
- OCR for scanned documents
Platforms
iOS, Android, Web, Windows, macOS
Price
$119/year
Voice Dream Reader
Best for: Users with visual impairments, dyslexia, or motor disorders
Voice Dream Reader is a highly customizable TTS app with excellent accessibility features. It offers 100+ voices in 30 languages with extensive audio and visual customization.
Key Features
- 100+ voices in 30+ languages
- Highly configurable screen layout
- Speed, pitch, and pronunciation controls
- Works with screen readers
- Supports multiple document formats
Platforms
iOS only
Price
$59.99/year
Avaz AAC
Best for: Budget-conscious users and therapists
Avaz offers an affordable AAC solution with good features for both children and adults. It includes progress tracking, making it popular with speech therapists.
Key Features
- Symbol and text communication
- Picture exchange support
- Progress tracking and reports
- Free tier available
Platforms
iOS, Android
Price
Free tier, $99.99 for full version
Voice Aloud Reader
Best for: Free text-to-speech with maximum customization
Voice Aloud Reader is a completely free TTS app with impressive features. It supports multiple text input methods and offers extensive customization options.
Key Features
- Completely free - no paid version
- Multiple text input methods
- Highly customizable interface
- Create custom playlists
- Share from any app with share button
Platforms
iOS, Android
Price
Free
LAMP Words for Life
Best for: Motor planning approach to communication
LAMP (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning) uses consistent button placement to help users build motor memory for vocabulary. Research-backed and widely used in therapy.
Key Features
- Consistent button placement for motor memory
- Research-based LAMP approach
- Core vocabulary focus
- Used by speech therapists worldwide
Platforms
iOS
Price
$299.99
Comparison: AAC Apps vs. TTS Apps
It's important to understand the difference between AAC apps and general text-to-speech apps. Traditional AAC apps like Proloquo2Go focus on symbol-based communication for in-person interactions. TTS apps like Speechify and Natural Reader are designed for reading documents and content consumption. SpeechLink bridges both worlds by providing AAC functionality for everyday use while also integrating seamlessly with online platforms like Discord.
Choosing the Right AAC App
When choosing an AAC app, consider these factors:
- Primary use case: Everyday + online integration (SpeechLink), phone calls (Speech Assistant AAC), in-person (Proloquo2Go)
- Communication style: Text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, or symbol-based?
- Platform: iOS-only apps limit your options, cross-platform apps offer flexibility
- Budget: Free options exist (Voice Aloud Reader, SpeechLink free tier), premium apps range from €8 to $299
- Language support: If you need multiple languages, check voice availability
- Offline needs: Some apps require internet, others work offline
Pricing Comparison 2025
Here's a quick pricing overview to help you budget:
- Free: Voice Aloud Reader, SpeechLink (free tier), Avaz (free tier)
- Under €10: Speech Assistant AAC (€8 one-time)
- Under $100/year: Voice Dream Reader ($59.99/year), VoxBox ($44.95)
- Under $150/year: Natural Reader ($119/year), Speechify ($139/year)
- Premium: TouchChat ($149-299), Proloquo2Go ($249), LAMP ($299)
Why We Built SpeechLink
We noticed that most AAC apps focus on in-person communication or document reading. But many people with speech impairments also want to participate in online communities, play games with friends, join Discord servers, and have natural conversations in voice chats.
That's why SpeechLink was created - to help people communicate in digital spaces where voice is expected. Unlike other AAC apps, SpeechLink integrates directly with Discord and provides real-time speech-to-speech technology.
What Makes SpeechLink Different
- Speech-to-Speech: If you have impaired speech that's hard to understand, SpeechLink clarifies it in real-time using AI
- Discord Integration: Native support for Discord voice channels - no complicated setup
- Voice Cloning: Create a synthetic voice that sounds like you, not a generic TTS voice
- Affordable: Free tier available, paid plans start at €3/month
- Built by the Community: Our team includes people with speech impairments who understand real needs
Try SpeechLink Free
If you're looking for an AAC app that works seamlessly with Discord, gaming, and online voice chats, try SpeechLink for free at speech-aac.link. Join thousands of users who have found their voice in digital communities.
Have questions or feedback? Join our Discord community or contact us at contact@speech-aac.link