Avaz

Avaz is a picture- and text-based AAC app for people with complex communication needs. It suits communicators who need a customizable vocabulary and multiple access methods, with caregivers and therapists involved in supporting progress. The English plan is a substantial one-time purchase; there is no ongoing free plan.

Overview

Avaz pairs speech output with a hybrid symbol system and category-based vocabulary organized across three grades of core vocabulary. The consistent layout and motor patterns across those grades offer a way to expand vocabulary while retaining a familiar structure. Full layout customization, added words, personalized pictures and the Settings Wizard give users room to adapt the app to individual needs.

Keyboard prediction can correct spelling mistakes, and suggestions can be set to appear after a delay. Dropbox linking supports vocabulary backup and syncing across devices, while page import and export allow sharing with other Avaz users. These are practical options for preserving and transferring a setup, though the backup and sync workflow depends on Dropbox.

Key features

Avaz also addresses the work around communication. The Activity Dashboard and Communication Adventures provide caregivers with activity ideas, strategies and modeling training. Avaz Analytics turns communication-development progress into graphs and charts for therapists. That makes the app more relevant to a support team than a communicator focused only on vocabulary and speech, although its caregiver resources and therapist analytics serve different audiences.

Touch, switch and eye-gaze access give users several ways to operate the app. Avaz says it is available on iOS and Android in multiple languages. Its related products serve different learning needs: FreeSpeech supports English grammar practice by arranging picture tiles into sentences, while Reader offers reading hints and help for learners including children with dyslexia and first-generation English speakers.

Pricing

Avaz is paid, with a free 2-week trial on the English and Sri Lanka AAC plans. The English plan, Avaz AAC – English, costs $149.99, paid once and is aimed at English-speaking communicators. Its one-time price avoids a recurring subscription, but the upfront cost is a significant commitment after a short trial.

Avaz AAC – Sri Lanka costs $44.99, paid once and includes Sinhala and Tamil. It is the lower-cost fit for communicators using those languages; it is not a general free or reduced-feature option for English users. There is no ongoing free plan. Avaz FreeSpeech is free and offers a free 2-week trial, with school volume discounts by quote; it is a separate English grammar practice product, not the Avaz AAC communicator. Volume license discounts by quote are also offered for FreeSpeech and Reader.

Platforms

Avaz supports iOS and Android. Touch, switch and eye gaze are supported access methods. Dropbox linking can sync vocabulary across devices, and users can import or export pages to share with other Avaz users.

Who it's for

Avaz is a strong fit for people who need picture- and text-based AAC, speech output and a vocabulary that can be personalized, particularly when caregivers want structured activity support and therapists want progress charts. Its multiple access methods and three vocabulary grades suit users whose communication needs may call for different ways to interact or a broader core vocabulary over time.

Look elsewhere if an ongoing free communicator is essential, if the one-time English cost is prohibitive, or if the user needs a platform beyond iOS and Android. The separate FreeSpeech and Reader products may suit specific learning tasks, but they do not replace the AAC app.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Three grades of core vocabulary retain consistent layout and motor patterns, supporting expansion without changing the basic organization.
• Pros: Custom words, personalized pictures and adjustable settings make the vocabulary adaptable; prediction can also correct spelling mistakes.
• Pros: Caregiver activity resources and therapist-facing progress charts extend support beyond daily communication.
• Pros: Switch and eye-gaze access complement touch, and Dropbox sync and page sharing help carry a customized vocabulary across devices or users.
• Cons: The English plan costs $149.99, paid once, with only a free 2-week trial and no ongoing free AAC plan.
• Cons: The app supports iOS and Android, so users on other platforms need another option.
• Cons: The privacy policy advises against storing health or medical-status information in the products, an important constraint for an AAC tool.

Alternatives

Compare AAC communication software if you want to consider a broader set of communicators. AsTeRICS AAC is worth considering if a free plan or support for platforms such as Linux, macOS, Windows, web or self-hosting matters more than Avaz’s caregiver resources and analytics.

Cboard may suit readers seeking a forever-free plan with online neural voices, public-board sharing and usage analytics. Jellow is another free-plan option, with a downloadable AAC communicator and PDF booklet and flashcards.

Flexspeak AAC may be a better fit for a professional evaluating communication: its free Evaluator License covers one professional and up to 10 visuals per month, with real-time translation in 30+ languages. Speech Assistant AAC offers a free basic version and a one-time full-version upgrade, making it an option for readers comparing a lower-cost upgrade path.

Spoken keeps core app features free and reserves premium features for subscription or purchase. TD Snap is worth considering on iOS or Windows if a free download and one-month trial before a speaking subscription better match your needs. Weave Chat AAC is a free Android and iOS alternative; board hosting is available as a separate paid option.

Verdict

Choose Avaz if a communicator needs customizable picture-and-text vocabulary, speech output and touch, switch or eye-gaze access, with caregivers and therapists who can use its activity resources and progress charts. The main reasons to look elsewhere are the English plan’s 149.99 USD one-time price, the lack of an ongoing free AAC plan, and the privacy advice against storing health or medical-status information in the products.