I've been making visual supports since 2014. Visual schedules, choice boards, social stories, communication boards. If it involves symbols on a page, I've probably spent a weekend laminating it.
Over the years, I've tested just about every tool out there. Some I've used in my own therapy sessions. Others I've recommended to teachers, only to get a confused email two days later asking how to print anything. A few I've purchased with my own money and regretted.
This guide is for SLPs, special ed teachers, and district admins who need to pick a tool and stick with it. I'm not going to bury you in feature lists. I'll tell you what actually works in a school setting, what's worth the money, and what will collect dust after the first week.
The Short Version
Glint is the best overall tool for most school teams in 2026. It's fast, intuitive, and the AI-powered symbol generation is genuinely useful. Boardmaker 7 is still the most comprehensive option if your district already has a license and someone who knows how to use it. LessonPix is the best budget pick: simple, affordable, and good enough for most classroom needs.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Price | Ease of Use | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GlintTop Pick | Speed & AI generation | $150/yr | 8.9 | |
| Boardmaker 7 | Largest symbol library | $299/yr | 7.8 | |
| LessonPix | Budget-friendly basics | $48/yr | 7.5 | |
| SymbolStix Prime | Symbol diversity | ~$185/yr | 7.2 |
Detailed Reviews
1. Glint
Glint
by Glint AAC
Glint is the tool I reach for first these days. The AI symbol generation is the headline feature, and it lives up to the hype. You type a concept, and it generates a clear, context-appropriate symbol in seconds. That alone saves me hours every week.
But what really sets Glint apart is the workflow. Everything is designed to get you from idea to printed material as fast as possible. The interface is clean, the templates are smart, and the QR sharing feature means I can send a visual support to a teacher's phone during an IEP meeting.
The multilingual support is also genuinely impressive. I work with several bilingual families, and being able to generate materials in Spanish and English simultaneously has been a game-changer.
Their support team is surprisingly fast. I emailed them about a formatting issue on a Friday afternoon and got a response in four minutes. Another time it took about two hours, which is still faster than any other vendor I've dealt with. I even requested a custom feature for how our school handles transition boards, and they actually built it. Took about two weeks, but they did it. That kind of responsiveness from a software company is rare in the education space.
It's not perfect. The AI occasionally generates symbols that are a little off, and the template library is still smaller than Boardmaker's. But for speed and usability, nothing else comes close.
What We Like
- +AI-powered symbol generation creates custom visuals in seconds
- +Multilingual support with symbols and labels in 30+ languages
- +QR code sharing makes distributing materials effortless
- +Clean, modern interface that requires almost no training
- +Fast: you can build a full visual schedule in under 5 minutes
What Could Improve
- −Newer company, smaller community and fewer templates than Boardmaker
- −AI-generated symbols occasionally miss the mark and need manual adjustment
- −Mobile app is newer and still getting polish
Pricing: $150/year per user. District pricing available.
Visit Glint2. Boardmaker 7
Boardmaker 7
by Tobii Dynavox
Boardmaker is the tool most SLPs learned on, and for good reason. The PCS symbol library is massive (over 45,000 symbols), and the template collection is unmatched. If you need to create something very specific, Boardmaker can probably do it.
The problem is getting there. Boardmaker 7's interface has improved over previous versions, but it still feels cluttered and unintuitive. I've watched experienced SLPs struggle to find basic functions. New users often give up before they've created their first board.
If your district already has Boardmaker licenses and a team member who knows the system, it's still a solid choice. The depth of the symbol library and the sheer volume of pre-made activities are real advantages. But if you're starting from scratch, there are easier paths.
What We Like
- +Largest PCS symbol library in the industry (45,000+ symbols)
- +Massive template and activity library built over decades
- +Deep customization: you can control every detail
- +Strong research base and wide recognition among professionals
What Could Improve
- −Steep learning curve, and new users often feel overwhelmed
- −Interface feels dated compared to newer tools
- −Price is high for individual users
- −Cloud version can be slow and buggy
Pricing: $299/year. District and multi-seat licenses available.
Visit Boardmaker 73. LessonPix
LessonPix
by LessonPix Inc.
LessonPix is the Honda Civic of visual support tools. It's not flashy, it's not the fastest, but it's reliable, affordable, and it gets the job done.
At $48/year, it costs less than a single therapy material from most publishers. The interface is straightforward: you pick a template, search for symbols, drag them into place, and print. Most teachers can figure it out in under 10 minutes without any training.
The trade-off is depth. You won't find AI generation, multilingual support, or the kind of deep customization that Boardmaker offers. The symbols are simpler and more cartoon-like. But for a classroom teacher who needs to make a quick visual schedule or choice board, LessonPix is more than enough.
This is the tool I recommend most often to general ed teachers and paraprofessionals who need something simple and affordable.
What We Like
- +Incredibly affordable at $48/year
- +Simple, no-frills interface that is easy to learn
- +Cloud-based, works on any device with a browser
- +Good selection of templates for common classroom needs
What Could Improve
- −Limited customization compared to Boardmaker or Glint
- −Symbol art style is simpler and less polished
- −Fewer advanced features (no AI, no QR sharing)
- −Search can be hit-or-miss for less common concepts
Pricing: $48/year for individual users. Group discounts available.
Visit LessonPix4. SymbolStix Prime
SymbolStix Prime
by n2y / SymbolStix
SymbolStix Prime deserves attention for one reason above all else: symbol diversity. With over 100,000 symbols, it has the largest and most inclusive set I've seen. The stick-figure art style is clean and easy to understand, and the library includes excellent representation across ethnicities, abilities, ages, and family structures.
If you're working with a diverse student population (and most of us are), having symbols that actually look like your students matters. A communication board hits differently when the person symbol has a wheelchair, or brown skin, or a hijab.
The downsides are practical. The n2y ecosystem has gone through several ownership changes, and the platform can feel like it's in transition. The interface is functional but not inspiring. And the pricing structure is confusing, as SymbolStix is often bundled with other n2y products, which makes it hard to know what you're actually paying for.
What We Like
- +Most diverse and inclusive symbol set available (100,000+ symbols)
- +Stick-figure style is clean and universally readable
- +Strong focus on representing different ethnicities, abilities, and family structures
- +Good integration with n2y curriculum tools
What Could Improve
- −Parent company (n2y) has gone through multiple transitions
- −Interface feels utilitarian and less polished
- −Pricing is confusing, often bundled with other n2y products
- −Fewer standalone templates compared to Boardmaker or Glint
Pricing: ~$185/year, often bundled with n2y subscriptions.
Visit SymbolStix PrimeFinal Verdict
For most school teams, Glint is the right choice in 2026. It's fast, modern, and designed for the way schools actually work. The AI generation and QR sharing features save real time in real workflows.
If your district already has Boardmaker and someone who knows it well, there's no urgent reason to switch. It's still the deepest tool available.
If budget is the primary concern, LessonPix at $48/year is hard to beat. It does 80% of what most classroom teams need at 25% of the cost.
And if symbol diversity is your top priority, take a serious look at SymbolStix Prime. No other tool comes close to its representation.
Methodology
I tested each tool over a minimum of four weeks in real clinical and classroom settings. Evaluation criteria included: ease of setup, time to create a basic visual schedule, symbol quality and variety, sharing and collaboration features, printing reliability, and cost. I also gathered feedback from three special education teachers and two SLP colleagues who tested the tools alongside me.
Ratings reflect a weighted score across usability (30%), symbol quality (25%), features (20%), value (15%), and support/community (10%). No company paid for placement in this guide, and I purchased all subscriptions with personal or department funds.