Honestly, if you have spent more than five minutes in a special education classroom or a speech therapy clinic lately, you’ve probably seen it. A bright blue iPad case, a screen covered in colorful squares with little stick-figure drawings, and a robotic but weirdly charming voice shouting "I want... apple juice!" or "No way!" That's Proloquo2Go.
It’s been around since 2009. In tech years, that makes it a dinosaur. Yet, here we are in 2026, and it’s still the "gold standard" everyone compares everything else to. But why? Is it actually that good, or is it just because everyone’s too tired to learn a new system?
Let's get into what really matters with this app.
The "Big Idea" Behind the Buttons
Most people think Proloquo2Go is just a digital version of those Velcro picture boards kids used to carry around. It's not. Well, it can be, but that’s like using a Ferrari to drive to the mailbox.
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The heart of the app is something called Crescendo. This is their research-based vocabulary system. Instead of just giving a kid a button for "Cookie," it organizes language so they can actually build sentences. It focuses on core words—words like go, help, want, more, stop—which make up about 80% of what we say every day.
If you just give a child "Fringe" words (the nouns like dinosaur or pizza), they can only ever request things. If you give them core words, they can tell you what they think, how they feel, and when they want you to leave them alone. That’s real communication.
It grows with you. Sorta.
One of the coolest—and most overwhelming—things about the app is that it doesn’t have a "ceiling." You can start with a grid of 9 big buttons for a toddler who is just learning that touching a screen makes a sound. Later, you can bump that up to 144 buttons on a single page.
The icons stay in the same general spot even as you add more, which builds motor memory. Think about how you type on a keyboard without looking. Your fingers just know where the "A" is. Proloquo2Go tries to do that for non-verbal users.
What Most People Get Wrong About AAC
There is this massive, lingering fear among parents that if they give their kid an iPad to talk, the kid will never try to speak with their actual mouth.
This is factually wrong.
Decades of research, including studies cited by ASHA (the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association), show the exact opposite. Using an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tool like Proloquo2Go actually supports speech development. It reduces the frustration of not being understood, which makes kids more likely to want to engage. Plus, hearing the app say "Apple" every time they press the button provides a consistent auditory model that their brain can latch onto.
Another myth? "They aren't ready yet."
There are no "prerequisites" for using this app. You don't need to pass a cognitive test. You don't need to be 5 years old. If a person has something to say and no way to say it, they are ready.
The Cost: Let's Talk About the $249 Elephant in the Room
Proloquo2Go costs about $249.99.
Yeah. It’s expensive. Especially when most apps are $4.99 or "free with ads."
But you have to look at it differently. Before the iPad came along, a dedicated "talker" (a hardware device designed just for speech) cost between $7,000 and $15,000. Companies like AssistiveWare—the Dutch company founded by David Niemeijer that makes the app—basically blew up that entire industry by putting the same power on a $300 iPad.
Important Note for 2026:
AssistiveWare now has a "newer" app simply called Proloquo (no "2Go" at the end). It’s a subscription model. Some people love it because it’s simpler to set up, but many long-time users are sticking with the original Proloquo2Go because it’s a one-time purchase and offers way more "under-the-hood" customization.
Ways to save some cash:
- April and October Sales: Usually for Autism Awareness Month and AAC Awareness Month, they drop the price by 50%. Mark your calendar.
- Insurance: Believe it or not, many insurance providers (and Medicaid in some states) will cover the cost of the iPad and the app if a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) writes a "Letter of Medical Necessity."
- School Districts: If it's in an IEP (Individualized Education Program), the school has to provide a way for the student to communicate.
Features That Are Actually Useful (And Some That Aren't)
The app is dense. You could spend years in the settings menu and still find new stuff. Here is what actually makes a difference in daily life:
- Natural Voices: No more 1980s robot voices. They have "genuine child" voices that sound like actual kids, including different accents and languages.
- Bilingual Support: You can switch between English and Spanish (or French or Dutch) on the fly. This is huge for families where English isn't the primary language at home.
- Apple Watch App: This is a sleeper hit. You can put basic "I need help" or "I need the bathroom" buttons on a watch. It's much more discreet for a teenager at a mall than lugging a 10-inch iPad.
- VocaPriority: This is a fancy name for "hiding" buttons. You can have a complex grid but hide most of the buttons so the user isn't overwhelmed, then slowly reveal them as they get better.
The downside?
The editing interface is... clunky. It feels like software designed in 2012 because, well, it was. If you want to change a button’s color or move it to a different folder, be prepared to tap through about four different menus. It’s not "Apple-intuitive," but once you learn the rhythm, it works.
Proloquo2Go vs. The Competition
If you’re shopping around, you’ll see TD Snap and TouchChat.
TouchChat is very similar and uses a vocabulary system called WordPower. Some people find it more logical. TD Snap is made by Tobii Dynavox and is incredibly polished.
Choosing between them is like choosing between a Mac and a PC. They both do the same thing, but the "vibe" is different. Proloquo2Go is the most customizable. If you have a kid who has very specific needs—maybe they have vision issues and need high-contrast buttons, or they have motor issues and need a specific "dwell time" before a button activates—Proloquo2Go is usually the winner.
How to Actually Get Started Without Losing Your Mind
If you just downloaded the app, don't try to customize everything on day one.
First step: Back it up. Connect it to Google Drive or Dropbox immediately. If that iPad goes into a swimming pool or gets smashed during a meltdown, you do NOT want to lose years of custom vocabulary programming.
Second step: Modeling. This is the big secret. You have to use the app to talk to the user. If you want a child to use the iPad to say "Eat," you need to point to the "Eat" button while you are eating. You can't just hand them a device and expect them to be Shakespeare by Tuesday.
Third step: Keep it accessible. If the iPad is in a backpack, or if it’s dead, or if it’s "put away for a break," the user has lost their voice. You wouldn’t put a piece of tape over a speaking child’s mouth for a "break," right? Same rule applies here.
Actionable Steps for Today
If you're considering this for a child or a client, here is the path forward:
- Download the "Proloquo Coach" app: It’s a separate, free app from the same company that walks parents through how to actually teach AAC. It’s way better than the manual.
- Find an SLP who knows AAC: Not all speech therapists are tech-savvy. You want one who specializes in "Complex Communication Needs."
- Join the "Proloquo2Go Professionals" or "AAC Family" groups on Facebook: Seriously. The community there is faster at troubleshooting than official tech support. If a button disappears or the voice stops working, someone in those groups will tell you how to fix it in three minutes.
- Check the "Edit" settings: Turn off "Select on Release" if the user has shaky hands. It makes a world of difference for frustration levels.
Proloquo2Go isn't perfect. It's expensive, the menus are a bit dated, and the learning curve for parents is steep. But for thousands of people, it is the difference between being trapped in their own head and finally being able to say "I love you" or "Get me a snack." That’s worth the $250.