PECS Cards vs. Electronic AAC Devices: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is one of the most widely used communication tools in ABA therapy, but families and BTs often face a real, practical decision: physical picture cards, or an electronic AAC device like a tablet-based app. Both are legitimate, evidence-based options, and the right choice often depends on the specific child, not a universal 'better' answer.

Physical Picture Cards: The Advantages

Physical cards never need to be charged and simply cannot run out of battery mid-session, which matters a great deal when communication access cannot afford to go down. They are also significantly less expensive up front, typically just the cost of printing and laminating, compared to a dedicated AAC device that can run several hundred dollars or more. Cards are also more durable in a specific way: dropping a laminated card causes no damage, while a dropped or thrown tablet can crack a screen or stop working entirely, which is a real risk during moments of frustration that are common in early communication training.

Physical Picture Cards: The Drawbacks

The biggest limitation is vocabulary size. A child can only request what a physical card exists for, and adding a new word means physically printing, cutting, and laminating a new card, then organizing it into a binder or board, which takes real time and planning ahead. Physical cards also provide no audio output; a child exchanges a card silently, which means the adult must speak the word aloud rather than the system itself producing speech. Cards can also be lost, left behind, or damaged over time, and a full PECS binder can become bulky to carry and manage across multiple settings.

Electronic AAC Devices: The Advantages

A tablet-based AAC app can hold hundreds or even thousands of words in the same device, with new vocabulary added in seconds rather than requiring any printing or lamination. Most AAC apps also produce actual spoken output when a child selects an icon, giving the child a genuine synthesized voice rather than relying on an adult to speak for them. This audio output can be a significant motivator for some children and provides immediate, consistent feedback every single time the device is used.

Electronic AAC Devices: The Drawbacks

The tradeoffs are real and practical. A device must be charged regularly, and a dead battery means zero communication access until it is recharged. Cost is a genuine barrier, with dedicated AAC devices and even tablets running well into the hundreds of dollars, a significant expense for many families even with insurance or grant assistance. Devices are also more fragile than a laminated card; a tablet dropped or thrown during a frustration episode, which is a real and common occurrence in early intervention, can crack, malfunction, or require costly repair or replacement, temporarily removing a child's communication method entirely at the exact moment it may be needed most.

Where to Find Genuine PECS Materials

As an Amazon Associate, Imagination ABA Therapy earns from qualifying purchases.

If you decide to start with physical PECS cards, it matters where they come from. Pyramid Educational Consultants is the official creator and sole source of the actual PECS system, and using their genuine materials, rather than generic printable picture cards, ensures the communication book and picture set are built to the actual, research-validated PECS protocol.

For families just starting out, the PECS Starter Kit includes everything needed to begin: a Large PECS Communication Book, the PECS 151 picture set (the most commonly needed starter vocabulary), and a communication book strap to make it portable.

If you already have picture cards and just need the physical book, the Large PECS Communication Book on its own is a durable, purpose-built binder with the sentence strip access built into the design.

For tabletop or small-group activities specifically, the PECS Activity Binder opens into an easel format, making it easier for multiple children to access pictures during a shared activity or lesson.

Budget-Friendly and Portable Alternatives

This visual communication book with 203 picture cards is a lower-cost, larger-vocabulary option covering a wide range of everyday categories, a practical choice for families wanting more starting vocabulary without the official PECS price point.

For something smaller and easier to carry between home, school, and outings, this compact communication book offers a genuinely portable option that still fits in a bag or fastens to a belt loop, useful for families who need something less bulky than a full-size binder.

For a lighter starting point, Amonev Special Needs My Communication Cards, a 27-card flashcard set, works well as an affordable first set of visual aid or cue cards for a family just beginning to explore whether a picture-based system is the right fit for their child.

For families who want cards clipped directly to a bag, belt loop, or lanyard rather than carried in a book, several options include a built-in keychain or clip, including the Amonev set above, which comes with its own bungee clip. This 81-card set with a retractable keychain is another genuinely keychain-first option, letting a larger card set stay compact and always within reach.

How BCBAs Typically Decide Between Them

Many BCBAs do not view this as an either-or decision. A common approach is starting with physical PECS cards, since the original PECS protocol was specifically designed and researched using a paper-based exchange system, then transitioning to or adding an electronic AAC device once a child demonstrates the foundational exchange and requesting skills. Some children ultimately use both, physical cards as a reliable backup for moments when a device is charging, broken, or unavailable, and an electronic device as the primary system for its larger vocabulary and audio output.

Connect with Imagination ABA Therapy: Contact Us | Psychology Today | LinkedIn | Facebook | ABA Navigator