A communication app needs to work when you actually want to use it, including when you are tired, interrupted or away from a reliable connection. Before moving personal material into a new tool, try its interface and check how it handles information. Accessibility and privacy are practical selection criteria, not optional finishing touches.
Test access with your own settings
Use the text size, contrast, input method and device position you normally need. Try composing a new message, finding a saved item and returning after an interruption. If you use assistive technology, test the actual workflow rather than relying on a general accessibility label. A supportive person can help with setup, but the communicator should decide whether the experience works for them.
Run a short access check
Start with a fictional situation so you do not need to enter private details. These are suggested checks, not a claim that tonen or another app has passed an accessibility assessment.
| Check | Try this | Record what happened |
|---|---|---|
| Find a phrase | Locate “I need more time to answer.” | Could you reach it without someone directing you? |
| Change the message | Change it to “Please send this in writing.” | Could you edit it using your usual input method? |
| Read or hear it | Use your usual text size or assistive technology. | Was the full message available without awkward navigation? |
| Return after an interruption | Switch away, then return to the draft. | Was your work retained and easy to find? |
| Use it without internet | Test a saved phrase with the connection off. | Which specific functions remained available? |
| Decline or stop | Find wording to say no or end the exchange. | Could you express your own choice, not just agree? |
If you need spoken output, check that the product provides it. A library of wording suggestions does not necessarily provide speech output. Try the app-selection checklist if you are deciding which type of support you need.
Keep a brief record: “Worked for me”, “Needs another step” or “Could not do this”. There is no universal pass score. Decide which problems matter for your intended use, and keep another way to communicate while testing.
Options to compare
Proloquo4Text. Text-based AAC. Check the publisher’s supported devices, voices and purchase options before choosing.
Proloquo4Text product information →
tonen. Conversation preparation on iPhone. Start with 21 free scripts; Premium is optional. It supports wording rather than providing a speech-generating AAC system.
We make tonen. These options illustrate different jobs, not a ranking or a claim that we have clinically tested them. The linked publisher information was checked on 24 October 2026; verify the current listing before purchasing.
Check privacy separately from offline access
Read what information is stored, sent to a server, retained or shared with service providers. Do not assume an AI feature runs on the device because other parts of an app work offline. Try generic details first and avoid entering someone else’s identifiable conversation unnecessarily. Check how to delete information and whether your important phrases remain accessible if a subscription ends.
Use a fictional prompt such as “Help me ask for a quieter place to talk” before entering a real situation. Check the privacy policy for the feature you intend to use. If the policy does not answer a question about processing or deletion, ask the provider rather than assuming.
Check the limits before subscribing
Find out what remains available when a free allowance runs out or a subscription ends. Check local pricing and any trial eligibility on the purchase screen; a free download does not mean every feature is free. There is no universal seven-day trial entitlement.
For a practical setting in which to use your chosen tool, see preparing for an appointment. For tonen-specific capabilities, see what tonen offers autistic adults.
What is free in tonen?
Alongside 21 scripts, the free plan includes Box Breathing, 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding and one use each of Reply Helper, Perspective Helper and Debrief. Premium adds the full library, Phone Call Mode, Body Scan, Safe Place and 50 weekly requests shared across the three Helpers. Scripts and Calm exercises available on your device can be used offline; paid content still needs the relevant access. Reply Helper, Perspective Helper and Debrief need internet and can miss context. Review tonen’s privacy policy before sharing personal details.
Frequently asked questions
Try your usual text size, contrast, input method and assistive technology while composing and locating messages. Check the actual workflow rather than relying only on an accessibility label.
No. Some features may work offline while AI features process information online. Read what is stored, sent, retained and shared before entering sensitive material.
No. tonen offers conversation scripts, preparation, reflection and wording support. It does not replace AAC or professional care.