Free AAC for families & therapists

Free AAC — tap, build, and speak

For Free AAC is a free augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app for kids who need symbols to express themselves. Large, calm buttons. A message bar at the top. One tap to hear the full sentence — even offline.

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📴 Works offline 🔒 Parent PIN 🚫 No ads 💙 Free forever

Three steps — easy for kids and caregivers

No typing required in child mode. Motor planning-friendly layouts keep core words in the same places so tapping becomes muscle memory.

1

Tap symbols

Words appear as picture buttons in the message bar.

2

Build a sentence

Chips stack left to right — just like natural speech order.

3

Press Speak

The device voice reads the full message aloud. Clear and try again.

One toolbar — routines, boards, keyboard, and more

Kids reach everything from the same calm row of buttons beside the message bar. When parents or therapists unlock child mode, extra tools appear — including a T button to show or hide word labels while editing.

Routines

Visual schedules and first-then boards kids can follow step by step.

Boards

Switch between custom communication boards parents create.

Keyboard

Spell words, build sentences, and press Speak — same as symbol mode.

Parent lock

Tap the lock to unlock editing, settings, and board tools.

Word labels

When unlocked, toggle text under symbols on or off while you edit.

UI styles

Six looks in Settings — from calm pastels to candy, sport, and party.

Profiles

Switch learners — each profile loads its own boards, grid, and routines.

Parent & therapist toolbar — toggle visible words

After unlocking with your PIN, the toolbar adds editing shortcuts. Tap the T icon to turn word labels on or off on every symbol — preview how the grid looks with text under each picture, or symbols only for a cleaner child view.

  • Labels on — helpful while arranging and teaching new words
  • Labels off — matches the calm, picture-first child experience
  • One tap toggles for the active profile — no per-button setting

Built for kids — easy for parents to customize

Tap-to-talk grids, adjustable routines, custom boards, and a full spelling keyboard. Multiple profiles let therapists and parents switch learners — each with their own saved boards, buttons, and routines.

Symbol grids that feel familiar

Core words stay put on the home board. Folders open to topics like food, feelings, and school — while routines, keyboard, and search stay one tap away on the toolbar.

  • Large tap targets for small hands
  • ARASAAC symbols families already know
  • Parents customize every button when unlocked

Routines kids can follow — one tap away

The calendar button opens visual schedules and first-then boards. Children tap Start and check off each step. Parents add, edit, or remove routines when unlocked.

  • Morning, bedtime, and custom step-by-step lists
  • First → Then format for motivation (work, then reward)
  • Easy to adjust without rebuilding the whole home grid

Custom boards — create, switch, and display

Beyond the home grid, parents build dedicated boards for meals, school, social scripts, and more. Pick which board is active for communication with one toggle.

  • New board in one tap — then add symbols and folders
  • Duplicate or restore standard templates anytime
  • Boards button appears when parents unlock child mode

Spelling keyboard — type and speak

When symbols aren't enough, kids open the keyboard from the same toolbar. Letters and numbers are large and calm. Typed words go into the message bar — then Speak reads the full sentence aloud.

  • Full ABC layout plus number row
  • Space, backspace, and special characters
  • Same Speak button as symbol mode — one consistent flow

Parents edit everything — images, layout, and boards

Unlock with your PIN to open settings, grid editing, and board tools. Change a symbol image, swap button positions, hide a cell, or build a new board — no therapist required for day-to-day tweaks.

  • Tap any cell to change label, spoken text, or picture
  • Move / swap mode keeps grid positions fixed for motor planning
  • Open Settings from the edit toolbar for 6 UI styles and 6 voices

6 UI styles & 6 voices — personalize while you edit

From the same parent edit toolbar, open Settings to pick a look and a speaking voice that fit each learner's personality. UI style transforms grids, boards, and buttons instantly — candy gloss, paint splash, sport, party, calm standard, or a clean professional look. Speaking voice is saved per profile so siblings or patients can each sound the way they like best.

  • 6 UI styles — the whole app updates the moment you tap one
  • 6 curated voices (Willow, Hazel, Lily, River, Oak, Mateo) with preview
  • Let kids help choose — small choices build ownership and engagement
Therapists Parents

Multiple profiles — switch patients or children instantly

Therapists: Create a profile for each patient on your clinic device. When a child arrives without their own tablet, switch to their profile and their customized boards, home grid, and routines are ready for the session.

Parents: Siblings each get a separate profile on your family device — no mix-ups between button layouts or routines.

  • Every profile keeps its own boards, grid buttons, and routines
  • One tap to switch — the active learner's setup loads immediately
  • All saved on the device; nothing uploaded to the cloud

Offline first

Grids and voice work without Wi‑Fi after the app is installed.

Private by design

Your child's messages stay on the device — not in the cloud.

Profiles for every learner

Therapists switch patients in-session; parents switch siblings — each profile loads its own boards, buttons, and routines.

Free to use

No subscription. Optional donations help keep development going.

About For Free AAC

Arizona nonprofit · 501(c)(3) pending

We believe being able to communicate is a birthright, and every person deserves a clear way to communicate — without a paywall blocking access to basic AAC tools. For Free AAC is an Arizona nonprofit giving families and therapists a practical starting point: symbol grids, a message bar, spoken voice, multiple learner profiles, and parent tools to shape the perfect board for each child.

Optional PayPal donations help cover hosting and development. The app stays free for every family either way.

Your child's AAC messages and grids stay on the device. Optional parent registration is only for product updates — not for uploading daily communication data.

For Free AAC app artwork

Free AAC — common questions

Quick answers for parents, therapists, and anyone searching for a free AAC app that works without a subscription.

What is For Free AAC?

For Free AAC is a free AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) app. Kids tap symbol buttons to build a message, then hear it spoken aloud. Parents and therapists can unlock editing tools to customize grids, boards, routines, voices, and UI styles.

Is this free AAC app really free?

Yes. For Free AAC has no subscription, no ads, and no paywall on basic communication tools. Optional donations help cover hosting and development, but the app stays free for every family and person who needs it.

Does free AAC work offline?

Yes. After install, symbol grids, boards, routines, and voice output work without Wi‑Fi — important for classrooms, clinics, and travel.

Who is For Free AAC for?

Families, speech therapists, special-education teachers, and clinics that need a practical free AAC starting point — including multiple profiles so siblings or patients each keep their own boards and routines on one device.

Download free AAC

Android (internal testing): If we invited you to test, use the private Play Store opt-in link we sent to your Gmail address.

iOS: TestFlight coming later.

Web app: Open For Free AAC in your browser — works on phones, tablets, and computers.

Questions or feedback: contact@forfreeaac.org