Comparing Proloquo and Proloquo2Go- which one is right for you?

Proloquo vs Proloquo2Go

Both Proloquo2Go and Proloquo are used successfully across the disability and age spectrum, starting with toddlers. The key difference is in the design. Proloquo is engineered to build language skills by ensuring consistency across environments as the user grows. Proloquo2Go delivers comparable language outcomes when the recommended settings are used.

Both apps display symbols and words on buttons that the user taps to speak. Both apps organize these buttons in a grid.

Proloquo is arranged in a grid of 60 buttons per page. These buttons are larger than the regular icons and buttons on the iPad itself. If the user can independently use apps on an iPad, such as YouTube, then they can operate Proloquo. Unlike Proloquo, Proloquo2Go’s grid can be adjusted to accommodate different accessibility needs.

Users with Proloquo, with 60 buttons per page, and Proloquo2Go, with 77 buttons per page, demonstrated the same language outcomes in our research. However, Proloquo2Go grids smaller than our recommended 77 buttons lead to poorer language outcomes. 80% of Proloquo2Go users do not follow our recommended settings. Many well-intentioned people try to make Proloquo2Go “easier” to learn, even though a large grid provides the best opportunity for language growth.

Our research shows that at least 80% of AAC users who get an iPad can handle Proloquo2Go’s 77 buttons. Even more can handle Proloquo’s 60 buttons.

Proloquo benefits

Proloquo was designed to stay consistent. The preplanned vocabulary aids in motor planning, making it easier for users to develop muscle memory. This stability is essential for building language skills throughout an AAC user’s life. You never have to worry that other people (e.g., family members, teachers, therapists) will make changes that hamper language development or make it harder to find words.

Out of the box, Proloquo offers 16,500 words, over four times more than any other AAC system. It includes a full range of curriculum words. This frees up parents and teachers to focus on customizing Proloquo by only needing to add the words, symbols, and photos that are most individual to the AAC user. New words are automatically synced across all devices. The user always has the same words in the same place, whether they are at home, school, or out in the community.

You only pay for one Proloquo user. Everyone else supporting the AAC user gets Proloquo for free. You build the user’s team by inviting everyone who supports them to learn and use Proloquo. The whole team also gets access to Proloquo Coach, a companion app that supports families and educators in learning to communicate with AAC.

Unique to Proloquo is Thinking Space™, a flexible area to arrange symbols. It allows even the most beginning users to express themselves without needing to form full sentences.

Another unique feature is Related Words™, which provides instant access to more specific, nuanced, and fun words to expand a user’s vocabulary as they learn to read.

Proloquo offers six regional English vocabularies for the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and International English.

Proloquo2Go benefits

Proloquo2Go offers a range of dedicated accessibility settings. It is designed to be adaptable for users with significant fine motor or vision disabilities. The grid of buttons can be configured in multiple ways. A knowledgeable clinician can adjust the size and spacing of the buttons, the number of buttons in the grid, the way the user selects the buttons, and the color scheme and visual contrast.

Proloquo2Go supports not only regional English vocabularies (US, Canada, UK, and Australia) but also offers French (France and Canada), Dutch (Netherlands and Belgium), and Spanish (Spain, North America) vocabularies. It supports bilingual use and code-switching, ensuring users have easy access to the languages of their different environments.

Our recommendation

Based on our experience and research, the vast majority of English iPad users who need symbol-supported AAC will benefit most from getting Proloquo. With Proloquo, there is no risk that anyone unknowingly makes changes that hamper the AAC user’s language development or communication.

For Spanish, French, and Dutch or bilingual use, Proloquo2Go is the right choice. When you use the recommended settings, you should get excellent results. For English users who cannot physically access the buttons in Proloquo, Proloquo2Go is the right solution because you can work with a smaller grid and adjust many parts of the display. However, smaller grids require users to navigate to more pages to compose a message.

Comparing Proloquo2Go and Proloquo

	Proloquo2Go	Proloquo
Purchase	One time purchase	Subscriptions (for individuals) and multi-year licenses (for funding and schools)
License sharing	Families and schools need to purchase their own licenses	Everyone supporting the AAC user can be invited for free access
Language(s)	English, Spanish, Dutch, French regional vocabularies	English, 6 regional vocabularies
Grid	23 grid sizes: Ranging from 9 to 144 buttons	One grid size: 48 symbol-supported buttons 12 text-only buttons
Best language outcomes	When using Intermediate Core or Advanced Core vocabulary with 77 buttons per page	Always, because the essential organization and content cannot be changed.
Vocabulary size	3,900 symbol-supported words	4,500 symbol-supported words and 12,000 Related Words
Implementation support	AssistiveWare website AssistiveWare Support team	Proloquo Coach AssistiveWare Support team
Eligible for insurance reimbursement	Yes	Yes