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Sayella vs Grid 3
Grid 3, from Smartbox, is a powerful AAC platform, and for communicators who rely on eye-gaze or switch access on Windows it is one of the strongest options there is. If you are weighing it up against Sayella, the real differences come down to three things: what it costs to start, which devices it runs on, and whether a touch-first approach fits how the communicator gets around a board.
The short answer
Grid 3 is a leader for physical access methods, with excellent eye-gaze and switch support on Windows, from around £400 and often funded. Grid for iPad is a lower-cost iPad version at around £160. Sayella takes an affordable, touch-first path: a full, offline talking board for free, forever, running on iPhone and iPad now, with Android and the web on the way. If eye-gaze or a Windows environment matters, Grid is the stronger pick. If price and a simple, touch-first, cross-platform app matter most, that is the gap Sayella was built to close.
| Sayella | Grid 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price to start | Free forever for a full offline talking board. Paid plans are optional. | Grid 3 is around £400 or more, often funded. Grid for iPad is around £160. |
| Devices it runs on | iPhone and iPad now, with Android and the web on the way. | Grid 3 runs on Windows. Grid for iPad is a lower-cost iPad version. |
| Access methods | Touch-first, with switch scanning. No eye-gaze hardware. | A leader for eye-gaze and switch access, a real strength for many communicators. |
| If you stop paying | Speech and your words are never switched off. The talking board keeps working. | Licence-based. Check current terms for how updates and access are handled. |
| Your words moving with you | Cloud sync across devices, plus open board format (OBF) import and export. | Backup and sync through Smartbox accounts; check current export options. |
| Making it your own | Custom words, photos, and AI-made symbols in the app style, on demand. | A large symbol library and deep, flexible grid customisation. |
Facts as of July 2026, gathered from each vendor’s public information. Prices, platforms and terms change, so please check Grid and Smartbox directly for current details before deciding. If you spot something out of date here, tell us and we will correct it.
Which is right for you
Sayella may suit you if
- Cost is a barrier, or you want to try before you buy.
- The communicator uses touch, and you want a simple, tidy app.
- You use, or might move to, an iPad, Android tablet, laptop or the web.
- You want your words backed up and synced across every device.
Grid 3 may suit you if
- You need eye-gaze or advanced switch access.
- A Windows environment matters for the communicator or the setting.
- Your team already knows Grid and builds grids in it.
Try Sayella free before you spend a penny
The free tier gives a communicator a full, offline talking board forever, touch-first and cross-platform. Upgrade only if and when cloud sync and multiple devices are useful to you.
Looking for pricing? See Sayella plans.