🔊 Reading aloud and accessibility · 🧩 Learning differences
Cboard
By Cboard (Comunicacion Aumentativa Chile SpA). Visit Cboard
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
An open-source AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) app for children and adults who cannot rely on speech. The user taps picture symbols or types words, and the app speaks them aloud with text-to-speech. Families and speech therapists build custom boards with their own photos and recorded voices. It runs in a web browser and as apps, works offline in Chrome, and supports about 46 languages.
Our take: A low-cost way for families and therapists to try AAC on existing devices; families who need a fully supported, ad-free system funded through insurance may prefer a dedicated AAC product.
Checked in a browser
A browser check on 2026-10-25: what loads, the ads and trackers we saw, and what a child meets first. Not a hands-on test.
| Child safety: 4 out of 5 | No ads or chat; a pop-up promotes the 'Cbuilder' AI board builder, and app-store download buttons and social links are on the page. |
|---|---|
| Data: 4 out of 5 | Only Google Analytics and Tag Manager loaded, plus YouTube; no ad or tracking networks. |
| Ease: 3 out of 5 | A Cbuilder pop-up covers the first screen; behind it, an 'OPEN CBOARD' button and store badges are clear once it is closed. |
| Cost honesty: 4 out of 5 | The app is free and open source; the pop-up pushes Cbuilder, but no prices were seen. |
What we found
- Contacted 5 third-party sites: Google Analytics/Tag Manager, Google static files, unpkg and YouTube.
- No ad networks or trackers; 2 cookies set.
- A 'Build Boards with Cbuilder!' pop-up for an AI-powered board builder appeared over the home page.
- Download buttons for Google Play, Windows and the Amazon Appstore, plus links to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
From the test: A free, ad-free communication app with light analytics; a pop-up for its AI board builder greets visitors first.
| Ages it suits | all ages (children and adults who need AAC) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | No minimum age. The terms say minors (generally under 18) need permission from, and direct supervision by, a parent or guardian, who must read and agree to the terms first. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free plan with ads; Pro $8 a month or $79 a year adds neural voices, voice recording on tiles, sharing, analytics and no ads (Oct 2026) |
| Works on | Web, Android, iPhone and iPad, Windows |
| Account | No account needed |
| Ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | Paid plans add online neural text-to-speech voices; otherwise no AI. |
What's good
- Free core app, open source
- Works on almost any device, offline in Chrome
- Custom boards with your own photos and voice
Watch for
- Free plan shows ads inside a communication aid
- Key features moved behind a subscription
- Privacy policy is vague on children
- Users say editing boards can be slow
Data and privacy
The privacy policy says it uses Google AdSense and Google Analytics cookies, yet also says it does not allow third-party behavioral tracking; it explains COPPA in general terms without saying how it applies to child users. The Play Store safety section lists location, personal info and photos or videos. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent study found; the site shows user testimonials, including from speech-language pathologists.
In the Big Index
Alternatives to Cboard
Desk researchFree
Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes · ages 18+ only
Useful for blind or low-vision adults, including parents; children should not use it, by the maker's own terms.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Bloom Library
SIL Global · ages mostly early readers; some books for adults (health, farming)
A standout for families reading in a home or heritage language; parents should filter by topic, since religious and adult titles mix with children's books.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Bookshare
Benetech (nonprofit) · ages all ages (PreK-12 students through adults)
A free, practical library for US students with a documented print disability; families without that need should use a public library app instead.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
C-Pen Reader
C-Pen (sold in the US by Scanning Pens) · ages school-age readers and adults
Worth a look for a child with dyslexia who reads paper books and worksheets; ask the school first, since many lend them.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kami
Kami (Kami Limited, also maker of Book Creator) · ages grades K-12 (about 5-18), plus adults
A practical school tool for marking up and turning in work, especially for kids who need read-aloud or translation; parents rarely need it at home.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Learning Ally
Learning Ally, Inc. (nonprofit) · ages grades PreK-12, plus college and adults
A strong choice for a child with dyslexia or a print disability who needs grade-level books; check first whether the school already provides it free.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.cboard.io/en/
- https://www.cboard.io/en/pricing/
- https://www.cboard.io/en/privacy/
- https://www.cboard.io/en/terms-of-use/
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unicef.cboard
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aac-cboard-app/id6453683048
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.