Tandli vs Choiceworks (2026): an honest comparison
Short answer
Choiceworks is a classic in special education — many parents and teachers have used it for years. Tandli is a newer, voice-first take on routines. Both are visual, calm and iOS-based; here’s how they differ.
Tandli vs Choiceworks at a glance
| Tandli | Choiceworks | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Calm, voice-led routines (autistic/neurodivergent kids 3–12) | Picture schedules + emotional regulation (feelings/waiting boards) |
| Platform | iOS | iOS |
| Your own recorded voice | ✅ Core — on every step, with voice fallback | ✅ Optional recorded audio per board item (+ TTS) |
| Presentation | One full-screen step at a time | Schedule, waiting, feelings & feelings-scale boards |
| Reward system | ✅ Visual reward jar (child-chosen token) | Board-based / partial |
| Price | 14-day free trial, then subscription | One-time purchase (optional Choiceworks+ subscription) |
| Privacy | On-device — no accounts, no tracking, no ads | On-device (optional sync via Choiceworks+) |
Where Choiceworks shines
Choiceworks does more than schedules. Its waiting board and feelings boards are genuinely useful for emotional regulation — helping a child understand what to do while waiting, and name how they feel. It has a large symbol library, supports photos, video and recorded audio, and is a one-time purchase, which many families prefer over a subscription. It’s a proven, flexible tool for both home and classroom.
Where Tandli is different
Tandli isn’t a board app — it’s a routine you run:
- Voice-first, by design. Your recorded voice guides every step, the start message and praise, not just an optional clip on one card. Skip a recording and a built-in voice reads it aloud.
- One step at a time. Rather than a board of items, Tandli shows a single step full-screen — less to scan, less to overwhelm.
- A built-in reward. Finishing steps fills a reward jar your child chose.
- Ready-made routines. Start from task-analysed everyday activities and adapt them.
Choiceworks can also record audio — so if you want that plus feelings/waiting boards at a one-time price, it’s a great fit. If you want the whole routine carried by your voice with a reward at the end, that’s Tandli.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Choiceworks if emotional-regulation boards (waiting, feelings) are a priority, or you prefer a one-time purchase.
- Choose Tandli if you want calm, voice-led routines your child can follow independently, with a built-in reward and on-device privacy.
See the full round-up of visual schedule apps, or try free printable schedules first.
Choiceworks details are from public sources as of August 2026 — check the App Store listing for current features and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Tandli and Choiceworks?
Choiceworks is a picture-board app with schedule, waiting, feelings and feelings-scale boards, widely used for both scheduling and emotional regulation, sold as a one-time purchase. Tandli focuses on running a routine one full-screen step at a time, guided by the parent's own recorded voice, with an integrated reward jar and fully on-device privacy. They overlap on visual schedules but emphasise different things.
Does Choiceworks let you record your own voice?
Yes — Choiceworks lets you add your own photos and record your own audio for board items, alongside a built-in text-to-speech voice. The difference is emphasis: in Choiceworks audio is an optional add-on to a board, while in Tandli your recorded voice guides every step of the routine by design, with automatic voice fallback.
Is Choiceworks or Tandli cheaper?
Choiceworks is a one-time purchase (with an optional subscription for extras like sync), which can be cheaper over time. Tandli uses a subscription with a 14-day free trial. If a single up-front price matters most to you, Choiceworks has the edge; if voice-led routines and a reward system matter more, Tandli is built for that.