Tala vs. Proloquo2Go: An Honest Comparison

If you're looking for an AAC app for your child, you've almost certainly come across Proloquo2Go. It's been around since 2009, it's recommended by speech therapists worldwide, and it's a powerful tool. It also costs $249.99 — on top of the iPad you need to run it.

We built Tala because we believe every family deserves access to AAC without a $300 barrier. Here's how the two apps compare, honestly.

“We’ve spent years trying different AAC apps, both at home and at school, with very limited success. I downloaded Tala a few days ago — within minutes, both my son and I were using it. For the first time in years, I feel like we have a tool that’s designed for families instead of specialists.”

— Aron, dad of an 11-year-old nonspeaking son with autism

	Tala	Proloquo2Go
Price	$9.99/month	$249.99 one-time
Free for SLPs	Yes	No
Languages	29 (including EN, ES, SV, IT, PT, DE, FR, NO, DA, TR, NL, ZH, HI, AR)	English, Spanish, French, Dutch
Whole-phrase cards (GLP)	Yes, by design	No
Symbol library	Curated, growing	27,000+ symbols
Best for	Beginning communicators, gestalt language processors, families starting out	Advanced communicators, deep customization
Platform	iOS, Android	iOS, Mac, Apple Watch

Price

Proloquo2Go is a $249.99 one-time purchase. Tala is $9.99/month — free for speech-language pathologists and teachers. If you're not sure AAC is right yet, Tala lets you start without financial risk. A full year of Tala costs less than a single month of many subscription apps.

Whole-phrase cards for gestalt language processors

This is where Tala is fundamentally different. Many autistic children learn language by hearing whole phrases, not single words — speech therapists call them gestalt language processors. Tala's cards are full sentences ("I want water", "Can I have a hug") rather than single words. Proloquo2Go focuses on building up from single words. If your child repeats lines from movies or songs, Tala's approach may fit better.

Languages

Proloquo2Go supports English, Spanish, French, and Dutch with seamless bilingual switching. Tala supports 29 languages — including English, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese, German, French, Norwegian, Danish, Turkish, Dutch, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic — with one natural voice per language. If your family speaks Swedish, Italian, German, Norwegian, or Danish, Tala is one of very few AAC apps with native support.

Symbol library and depth

Proloquo2Go has over 27,000 symbols with a research-based vocabulary system designed for language growth from single words to complex sentences. Tala has a curated, growing symbol set with high-quality text-to-speech powered by ElevenLabs. Proloquo2Go is more robust for advanced communicators. Tala is designed for beginning communicators who benefit from simplicity over depth.

Who should choose what

Still weighing Proloquo2Go against the other established apps? We've written honest head-to-heads there too: TD Snap vs. Proloquo2Go, TouchChat vs. Proloquo2Go, and LAMP Words for Life vs. Proloquo2Go.

Choose Proloquo2Go if your child is an advanced communicator, if your SLP specifically recommends Crescendo vocabulary, or if you need French or Dutch with deep customization.

Choose Tala if you want to start AAC affordably, if your child is a gestalt language processor who learns through whole phrases, if your family speaks one of Tala's 29 supported languages, or if you're an SLP looking for a free tool to trial with clients.

The best AAC app is the one your child will actually use every day.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a cheaper alternative to Proloquo2Go?

Yes. Tala offers a free 7-day trial, then costs $9.99/month or $39.99/year — a fraction of Proloquo2Go’s $249.99 — with natural voices in 29 languages. And Tala is free forever for speech-language pathologists and teachers.

How much does Proloquo2Go cost?

Proloquo2Go is a one-time purchase of $249.99 on the App Store, on top of the iPad needed to run it. There is no free version or trial.

What is the biggest difference between Tala and Proloquo2Go?

The vocabulary philosophy. Proloquo2Go builds sentences word by word from a large symbol library. Tala uses whole-phrase cards ("I want water", "Can I have a hug") designed for gestalt language processors — children who learn language in chunks. Tala also supports 29 languages versus Proloquo2Go's four.

Can I try Tala before paying?

Yes — Tala comes with a free 7-day trial so you can see whether AAC clicks for your child before you commit. After that it’s $9.99/month or $39.99/year, and free forever for SLPs and teachers.