12 Best Speech Therapy Apps to Enhance Communication Skills 

Amanda Unrau
CCC-SLP
06/02/25 | Last modified: 08/06/25

Speech therapy makes a big difference in the lives of children with speech and language disorders. Children with speech or language disorders learn how to communicate more effectively from a certified speech therapist, which improves their overall quality of life.

Speech therapy apps can complement speech therapy services and even make speech therapy more accessible. Children and families can use apps for language therapy and apps that help with speech to practice skills in between and during speech therapy sessions. These apps also provide an engaging way to keep children engaged and motivated. 

Speech therapy apps are available to address any need or disorder, including apps for articulation, receptive and expressive language, literacy, stuttering, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and social skills. 

We have narrowed down the thousands of available apps related to speech and language skills, and reviewed them to provide you with an overview of each. We have included information regarding the target audience, key features, integrations, pricing, and overall pros/cons:

Articulation Apps:

Articulation Station Hive (Little Bee Hive)

Articulation Station Hive and all of the Little Bee Speech apps were created by a team of SLPs and parents. It can be used to assess and treat speech sound disorders (articulation disorders, phonological disorders, and apraxia of speech). While created primarily for speech therapists, it can be used by children and families for home practice to continue carryover of skills. Articulation Station Hive includes a variety of activities that target consonant and vowel sounds that follow a typical articulation hierarchy by increasing in difficulty level from sounds in isolation to sounds in conversation.

• Target Audience: Speech language pathologists, children receiving speech therapy and their families

• Key Features:
  • No prep
  • All-inclusive: Includes apps for both assessing and treating speech sound disorders
  • Evidence-based treatment strategies
  • Includes a variety of features and treatment activities

• Integrations: 
  • Articulation Station Hive integrates perfectly with Forbrain, since the child can wear the Forbrain headset while practicing their speech skills using the app. The auditory feedback technology helps the child better hear their speech to make improvements, leading to better progress.
  • No other integrations with external platforms are currently supported, but data is stored securely in the cloud and synced across multiple devices, and student reports can be shared with others through the app.

• Pricing: 14-Day free trial available
  • Professional Tier (for SLPs):
    • $9.99/month (billed annually)
    • $14.99/month (billed monthly)
  • Parent Tier
    • $6.99/month (billed annually)
    • $9.99/month (billed monthly)
  • Group pricing (Professional Tier):
    • 1-24 licenses: $119.99/year per license
    • 25-74 licences: $107.99/year per license
    • 75+ licenses: $95.99/year per license

• Pros/Cons: 

ArtikPix

ArtikPix is a speech therapy app for articulation therapy. While it is designed for speech therapists to use with students during their sessions, it is also a great option for home practice. It includes tasks for a variety of difficulty levels, such as for practicing target sounds in words, sentences, and paragraphs. It includes three types of interactive activities: flashcards, matching, and pick or spin. 

• Target Audience: Children with speech sound delays, speech therapists, parents

• Key Features:
  • Student profiles to view students notes, scores, and update student configurations
  • Audio and video recording options
  • Flashcard and matching activities, with printable flashcards for extended practice
  • Over 1,000 cards for 24 individual speech sounds

• Integrations: ArtikPix is another articulation therapy app that works well with Forbrain. When children can hear themselves better while they wear the Forbrain headset, auditory processing improves, which can in turn improve speech sound production as they work to produce the sounds correctly.

• Pricing:
  • Free version available with limited features (must purchase most decks)
  • $39.99 for lifetime access

• Pros/Cons: 

Reach Speech: Speech Therapy

Reach Speech was created by a speech therapist to emulate the natural speech development of children, teaching children accurate productions of target sounds from sounds in isolation, progressing in steps to syllables, words, phrases, and sentences. It also builds a foundation by improving phonemic awareness skills.

Reach Speech uses a structured approach, games, and auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning pathways to encourage children to engage in speech therapy practice. Core activities include phonemic awareness tasks, rhythm and tempo exercises, vocalization skills, syllable repetition, onomatopoeia practice, word formation, and phrase construction.

• Target Audience: Children 18 months and older with speech and other developmental delays, parents, SLPs

• Key Features:
  • Targets phonemic awareness 
  • Focuses on learning speech sounds, not learning letters, taking off the pressure of trying to read
  • Can be played for just a few minutes daily

• Integrations: Reach speech can be used with Forbrain to provide additional auditory feedback to increase focus, attention, and internal motivation. The immediate feedback can lead to increased progress when using Reach Speech, and improved overall speech skills. 

• Pricing: Free to download with limited features; $1.99/monthly, $11.00 to purchase entire game

• Pros/Cons: 

Language Apps:

Speech Blubs

This speech learning app aims to help children speak better and more clearly. It is designed for children over the age of one with language delays, such as individuals with articulation disorders, language disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or Down syndrome. Children learn how to produce speech sounds, words, and sentences.

Content is organized into 25 themed sections that target specific areas of language development, including early words, early sounds, mouth gym, guess the word, guess the sound, getting dressed, and riddle me this.  Activities include voice-activated exercises, video modeling, games, puzzles, and sing-along songs.

• Target audience: children with speech and/or language delays, speech therapists, parents

• Key features:
  • Children watch other children produce sounds, words, and sentences, acting as models for the child to imitate
  • Face filters on the screen allow the child to look like the word they are trying to say
  • Videos show the target word in context, helping to improve vocabulary and making the word easier to remember
  • Pro Version for SLPs offers progress tracking, reports, data, homework, and unlimited student profiles

• Integrations: 
  • Speech Blubs can be used in combination with Forbrain. When children wear the Forbrain headset, they will hear the app and themselves louder and more clearly. The immediate auditory feedback leads to increased engagement and motivation. 
  • The Pro Version of Speech Blubs enable integration into teletherapy sessions via Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. 

• Pricing:
  • 7 Day Free Trial included with annual subscription (not monthly); $14.99/month (billed monthly) or $59.99/year (billed annually)
  • Pro Version is free for SLPs

• Pros/Cons:

Otsimo: Speech Therapy SLP

Otsimo offers several apps that help with speech and language, including Otsimo: Speech Therapy SLP. This app was created with the assistance of parents, SLPS, and therapeutic activity experts for children with speech or language disorders, including articulation disorders, stuttering, apraxia, aphasia, down syndrome, and non-verbal autism.

It includes over 200 exercises in over 15 categories to elicit sound production and boost language skills. Core activity categories include first words, basic shapes, body parts, tongue acrobatics, sounds around us, and magic alphabet. Speech recognition technology evaluates the child’s speech and provides immediate feedback, and positive reinforcement encourages participation.

• Target audience: Children with speech or language disorders, parents

• Key features:
  • Speech recognition technology understands what the child is trying to say
  • Machine learning technology detects whether pronunciations are improving
  • Repetitive exercises to promote learning
  • Video modeling from peers allows children to learn through imitation

• Integrations: Forbrain can be used in conjunction with the Otismo Speech Therapy app. As children are practicing producing various sounds, wearing the Forbrain headset will amplify their voice and provide immediate feedback, which helps them hear if they are producing the sound correctly. Wearing Forbrain while using the app can also help children focus better. 

• Pricing:
  • 7 Day Free trial; monthly, annual, or lifetime subscriptions available
  • Monthly: $14.99/month, discounted to $6.99/month
  • Annual: $53.99/year, discounted to $41.99/year
  • Lifetime: $119.99

• Pros/Cons:

Literacy Apps:

Epic!

Epic offers digital versions of thousands of picture books and chapter books. This app and website can be used to target a variety of skills, including literacy skills, vocabulary, articulation, and reading comprehension. Content can be personalized for each child. The platform tracks progress and offers personalized recommendations.

• Target audience: Teachers, speech therapists, children, parents

• Key features:
  • Can search for books based on subjects/topics, grade level, reading level
  • Some books include reading comprehension quizzes at the end of the story
  • Teachers and therapists can encourage reading habits by assigning and sharing books, and tracking reading habits.
  • Click on words to learn their meaning with dictionary lookup 
  • Students only see books that have been selected for their age and reading level

• Integrations: 
  • Since Forbrain is equipped with a microphone, it is a great tool to incorporate when reading aloud with Epic. When children hear themselves reading at an amplified volume, the auditory input reaches the brain faster, which can improve auditory processing skills.
  • Epic integrates with Lumio, a digital learning tool that helps create lessons, reading assignments, and literacy centers. Teachers can import Epic books into Lumio to assist with differentiated instruction, guided reading groups, and progress tracking.
  • Epic also pairs with Bluebee Pals, interactive plush toys that connect via Bluetooth. Bluebee Pals read Epic stories aloud to make stories more engaging and help children improve vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension.

• Pricing:
  • Free for teachers; can upgrade
  • 7 Day Free Trial for parents; then $13.99/month (billed monthly) or $84.99/year (billed annually)

• Pros/Cons:

Vooks

This platform offers animated read-aloud stories with captions for kids. These books support literacy development and boost reading confidence in children under the age of 9. Vooks also provides free lesson plans and activity guides for parents and teachers to facilitate further discussion. 

• Target audience: Teachers, speech therapists, children, parents

• Key features:
  • Utilizes a patented combination of movement, narration, and sound to add engaging video to books
  • Highlighted text helps children connect written words to spoken words
  • Includes free companion resources, such as lesson plans
  • Offers audio-only mode to listen to stories with no animation
  • Spanish translations available

• Integrations: 
  • The immediate auditory feedback that Forbrain provides can improve auditory attention and help children hear and understand what they read more clearly. This makes Vooks and Forbrain a great pairing. 
  • Vooks integrates with Clever, which is a platform used by many K-12 teachers. Clever securely syncs student accounts and data, and allows Vooks to be available in its digital resources library so teachers can more easily incorporate it into their curriculum.

• Pricing:
  • 7 Day Free Trial; $49.99/year (billed annually); $6.99/month (billed monthly); occasionally they offer lifetime memberships for $99

• Pros/Cons:

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) Apps:

Otsimo AAC: Tap and Talk

Otsimo offers several apps that help with speech and language, including Otsimo AAC: Tap and Talk. This AAC app is for individuals who struggle with verbal communication, including those who are nonverbal. This may include those with speech-language disorders, apraxia, autism, cerebral palsy, or Down syndrome. It includes voice output with natural sounding voices, text-to-speech, and symbol-based communication, as well as verb conjugation support for past, present, and future tense verbs.

• Target audience: individuals who struggle with expressive communication or are nonverbal

• Key features:
  • Different methods of language expression: voice output, text-to-speech, and symbol-based communication
  • Edit mode allows users to customize screens and edit cards, symbols, or words
  • Comes with over 1700 words preinstalled, and new words can be added as vocabulary grows

• Integrations: The Otismo AAC app can be used with Forbrain to help improve focus and attention while learning and using the device. Since Forbrain can also improve auditory processing and sensory integration, users of both can better understand others and respond using the AAC app.

• Pricing:
  • 14 Day Free trial; 
  • Monthly: starting at $5.49/month with 3 day trial, discounted to $2.99/month with 3 day trial
  • Annually: starting at $35.99/year with 14 day trial, discounted to $19.99/year with 7 day trial

• Pros/Cons:

Cough Drop

This AAC app was designed by a programmer and father whose daughter is nonverbal. Along with a team of speech language pathologists, he developed a unique cloud-based AAC program that focuses on the entire team supporting the app user. This platform can be used across devices and offers a collaborative approach for users, families, and professionals to work together to facilitate effective communication.

Cough Drop allows users to set personal communication goals and earn badges, to increase motivation and participation. The app can also create comprehensive reports about usage, to help the team evaluate and make changes to communication strategies.

• Target audience: individuals who struggle with expressive communication or are nonverbal, speech therapists, parents, teachers

• Key features:
  • Cloud-based to sync across devices and back up data
  • Cross-platform app that can be used on multiple devices
  • Supervisor feature allows SLP or teacher to manage students from their dashboard
  • Comprehensive reporting tools provide information on vocabulary usage, core vs. fringe word use, speech by time of day, and screen access heat maps, which help to assess usage and change strategies 

• Integrations: 
  • Integrates with LessonPix, SymbolStix, and Boardmaker (Tobii Dynavox) for for an additional $45
  • Cough Drop is preinstalled on Forbes AAC devices such as the ProSlate and WinSlate tablets. It is also available on AbleNet’s QuickTalker FreeStyle devices.
  • Cough Drop supports some assistive technology, such as switches for scanning, eye trackers for eye gaze, head pointers and head mice tools, camera-based control such as facial gestures and head movements, gaming controllers, augmented reality (AR), bluetooth speakers, and keyguards.
  • Cough Drop also integrates well with Forbrain to help support attention and memory in learning new words and inscribing AAC communication to motor memory.

• Pricing:
  • Free 2 Month trial; $9/month, $295 for a lifetime purchase

• Pros/Cons:

General/Multipurpose Apps:

Basics: Speech | Autism | ADHD

The Basics app was created by a team of SLPs, occupational therapists, special education teachers, psychologists, and behavioral therapists. It is designed for children with developmental challenges, such as articulation disorders or speech delays, autism, or ADHD. Its goal is to improve articulation, vocabulary, spelling, and overall communication skills using a variety of fun and engaging activities.

There are over 500 roleplay videos with child models in everyday scenarios to help children learn vocabulary in context. Another section of the app focused on conversation allows children to practice greetings and engage in back-and-forth dialogue.

• Target Audience: Children with developmental delays, parents

• Key Features:
  • Over 100 social stories included to prepare children with autism for new or stressful experiences
  • Visual schedules help children keep track of routines
  • Over 1,000 activities, targeting vocabulary, articulation, wh-questions, conversation skills
  • Includes parent teaching resources and video courses

• Integrations: The Basics app can be used in conjunction with Forbrain. With its immediate auditory feedback, users can hear the app more clearly and hear their own voice during practice in real time. This allows them to monitor and adjust their speech production.

• Pricing: Free trial with limited features; $9.99 billed monthly or $49.99 billed annually

• Pros/Cons: 

Toca Boca Apps

These play-based apps offer children the opportunity to use their imagination by becoming hairdressers, chefs, dancers, builders, drivers, designers, doctors, or musicians. These apps for language therapy can be used to work on vocabulary, basic concepts, object functions, following directions, sequencing, and item descriptions. Each app introduces vocabulary related to routines, jobs, nature, and emotions.

Children can practice role-playing conversations between characters to work on their social skills. They can also be encouraged to expand their utterances to phrases or sentences or to ask wh-questions about situations depicted on the app.

• Target audience: All children

• Key features:
  • Encourage imaginative open-ended play without competition
  • Simulate real life scenarios in the community
  • Offer easy to use apps for younger children under 5 in a Junior version

• Integrations: Wearing Forbrain while playing one of the Toca Boca apps can help children to remain engaged in interactive play with an adult while using the apps together. Children may also better remember what they hear and say since Forbrain can improve memory skills over time. They can retain vocabulary learned through the app that they can use later in real life situations.

• Pricing:
  • Free versions available
  • Some apps may be purchased in full for prices starting at $3.99; others offer monthly or annual subscriptions starting at $7.99; others offer in-app purchases

• Pros/Cons:

My PlayHome

My PlayHome is one of the best speech apps for preschoolers. This app features an interactive digital dollhouse where you can explore and use everything in the house. This is an open-ended play-based app that is beneficial for improving language skills in young children. Children can expand their vocabulary by learning the names of everyday objects in various rooms of the house: bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and backyard.

They can also practice action verbs, such as “play,” “cook,” “eat,” and “wash.” Children can follow directions to complete tasks in the house and create narratives about what characters are doing. The app also encourages grammar development and the formation of complete sentences. There are opportunities for children to practice social skills and the discussion of emotions.

• Target audience: Preschool age children

• Key features:
  • Open-ended
  • Can be used to target a variety of language skills: cause-effect, vocabulary, action words, pronouns, categories, prepositions, locations, following directions, sequencing
  • PartnerPlay Mode allows two devices to connect and play together when connected to the same wifi network. This allows for collaborative play in the same room.

• Integrations: While engaging with the My PlayHome app, the child can wear a Forbrain headset to help them focus and engage in conversation with their parent or speech therapist. Using Forbrain in conjunction with this app can help with memory and auditory attention while following directions and learning new vocabulary.

• Pricing:
  • Free version available
  • Full version is $3.99 

• Pros/Cons:

Selection Criteria 

When compiling this list of speech therapy apps, we took several things into consideration. These are the criterion that we reviewed:

• Target audience: Apps target different age levels and different types of skills, such as speech sounds or vocabulary development. We have attempted to make it easier to find what you need for your child by identifying who each app is made for.

• Key features: The key features are the main aspects that you look at when considering different apps. You need to ensure that the app is going to target the skills you are looking for, in a way that will be successful for you, your child, or your client. The features we considered when reviewing apps were the target of the app (speech, language, social skills, play, etc.), if professionals were involved in its development or if the activities were evidence based, the types and variety of activities, the use of visuals or speech models, if assessments and progress tracking were available, and if the activities were individualized.

• Integrations: Integrations refer to the ability to combine different systems to be used together. More specifically, we sought to identify how Forbrain could help boost the effectiveness of the app. When appropriate, we explained how Forbrain could be used in conjunction with each app and the benefits of doing so.

• Pricing: Price is obviously a major deciding factor in choosing apps for speech or language therapy. It is important to consider the value of what you are getting in comparison to how much you pay. It is also important for people to understand the difference between the free versions that may come with limited features, a subscription plan, and a one-time lifetime purchase. If an app is more expensive, but is very comprehensive, includes assessments, is individualized, and grows with your child, we included it because of its value. We also included many apps that offer a free trial so parents can try the app before purchasing.

How to Choose the Right Speech Therapy App

Here are some practical tips on how you can choose the best speech therapy app for your child:

• Consider your child’s specific needs or delays – If your child needs to practice improving their speech sounds, you will want to find an app that focuses on improving articulation and intelligibility. If your child is nonverbal, you may want to look for an AAC app. If your child needs to work on speech, language, and social skills, look for an app that targets a variety of skills.

• Consider your child’s developmental level – This is not the same thing as their age. If your child is unable to read, an app with a lot of words or written passages would not be appropriate. They need more visuals or a speech-to-text option for instructions. 

• Account for related skills – Take into consideration your child’s motor skills, ability to follow directions, and their ability to take in auditory and visual information. A child with weak fine motor skills will do better with an app that has larger buttons to press. Some children may become overstimulated by apps with loud music or flashy animations. 

• Consider your child’s interests – You want to choose a speech therapy app that will be motivating to your child, but not addicting. If your child loves music, choose an app that includes singing. If your child loves playing with and engaging with other children, choose an app with peer modeling videos. If your child loves games, choose an app that incorporates matching games into practice.

• Consult with your child’s speech therapist – They may have recommendations or apps they use in therapy sessions that you can download for home practice.

Forbrain to Support Speech Therapy Apps 

Forbrain is an auditory stimulation headset that can complement speech therapy apps when used simultaneously. The headset uses auditory feedback to help users hear and understand speech more clearly. While enhancing the user’s voice, it also helps to filter out background noise, which can help children focus and attend better. This leads to improved memory, auditory processing, and speech clarity as the child hears and makes changes to their own speech. 

Final Words

There are a variety of apps available to help children improve their speech and language skills. We came up with this list to help you find the best speech therapy app for your child. Technology can be a great tool for teaching, learning, and maintaining skills. Of course, we need to monitor the use of any apps, as we would with any kind of technology our children use. Keep in mind that these apps should be used with parents, caregivers, teachers, or therapists so that you can help support your child and keep track of their progress or challenges. 

References

Hutchins, Shelley D. (2021, December 28). Apps You Can Use in Your Practice Right Now. The ASHA LeaderLive. https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/2021-1228-apps-for-slps/full/