Who this page is for
This page is for parents and therapists who want a visual schedule app for a child with ADHD, autism or sensory sensitivity. It covers iPhone and iPad apps only. A visual schedule app shows the day as a list of pictures or icons, so the child can see what comes next without being told. Some of the apps below are built for young children who cannot read yet. Others are built for teens and adults who plan their own day. Both kinds appear in search results for "visual schedule app", so we compare both and say which is which.
How we picked
We looked at the apps that parents most often name in the same breath as ours: Choiceworks, First Then Visual Schedule, Tiimo, Brili and Routinery. On September 4, 2026 we checked that each one exists on the App Store and was updated in the last twelve months. All five passed. Goally is often named too, but it is a separate device rather than an iPad app, so it sits in a note below the table. Facts come from the App Store listings and the developers' own websites on that date. We did not test every setting in every app. Where a developer does not state a fact, the table says "Not stated by developer". We do not list star ratings or download numbers, because they change daily and would be out of date by the time you read this. Prices are US prices and can change.
Comparison table
| App | Free tier | Price model | Ads | Parent lock / child mode | Works offline | Age fit | First-then mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Schedule Daily Routine (ours) | Yes, limited schedules | Weekly or 3-month sub | No | Purchase gate only | Yes | Kids from about 3 | Yes, two-task schedule |
| Choiceworks | No, $39.99 one-time | One-time purchase | No | Parental controls declared | Yes, on-device data | Kids to adults, 4+ | Now-and-next board |
| First Then Visual Schedule HD | No, $14.99 one-time | One-time purchase | Not stated by developer | Not stated by developer | Not stated by developer | Kids and adults, 4+ | Yes, built-in view |
| Tiimo | Yes, basic planner | Monthly or yearly sub | No | Not stated by developer | Not stated by developer | Teens and adults, 9+ | Not stated by developer |
| Brili Routines | 10-day trial, rest not stated | Monthly, 6-month or yearly sub | Not stated by developer | Not stated by developer | Not stated by developer | Adults with ADHD, 16+ | No, timed playlist |
| Routinery | Yes, with premium sub | Weekly to yearly subs | Mixed, see below | Parental controls declared | Not stated by developer | Adults and teens, 16+ | No, step timer |
All facts checked on September 4, 2026 from the App Store and the developers' websites. "Not stated by developer" means neither the App Store listing nor the developer's website says it.
Visual Schedule Daily Routine (our app)
Visual Schedule Daily Routine is made for iPhone and iPad, for young children from about age 3, including non-readers. Its age rating is 4+. It can be used as a first-then board with two tasks. The free version lets you build a limited number of schedules with no time limit, so you can test it with your child before paying. Every sound and the confetti at the end of a task can be switched off in settings, which helps for kids who react strongly to noise or movement. A parental gate sits before any purchase, so a child cannot buy anything by accident. Editing is not locked, so an older child can build their own schedule; if you need locked editing, Choiceworks is the better fit. Schedules work offline; only downloading new icons needs internet.
Where others are better. There is no option to record your own voice for a task, so a child who cannot read yet relies on the pictures alone (Choiceworks has voice recording). Premium is a weekly or 3-month subscription only, no yearly plan and no one-time purchase, which some parents prefer. There is no Android version.
Choiceworks
Choiceworks by Bee Visual is a visual support app for children, teens and adults. It has four board types: schedule, waiting, feelings and a feelings scale. Cards can hold pictures, video, text and your recorded voice. It has visual timers, multiple profiles, board import and export, and optional iCloud sync. The developer states there are no ads, no tracking and no accounts, and that boards, photos, videos and recordings stay on your device. The App Store listing declares "In-App Controls: Parental Controls" and lists no in-app purchases; the age rating is 4+. A schedule board shows what is happening now and what comes next. On screen there is one board at a time.
Where it is better than ours. One payment, no subscription. Feelings and waiting boards. Recorded audio on every card. Board files you can export and share with a therapist.
Where it is weaker. You pay $39.99 before you can try it. There is no free version.
First Then Visual Schedule HD
First Then Visual Schedule HD by Good Karma Applications is a toolbox for visual supports: first-then boards, schedules, task analyses, social stories, choice boards and video models. It includes a library of about 10,000 Smarty Ears symbols and lets you search the web for images. You can set a timer for a whole schedule or for one step, and print schedules. There are five ways to view a schedule: single image, first-then, checklist, drag to a done column, and strip and envelope. The listing does not mention ads, a parent lock or offline use. It lists no in-app purchases and the age rating is 4+.
Where it is better than ours. One-time purchase of $14.99. A large professional symbol library. Social stories and video models. Printing. Five different ways to view a schedule.
Where it is weaker. English only. The last App Store update was in October 2025, so updates are less frequent. Make sure you buy the HD version: the developer's website says the older non-HD app is no longer available for new downloads.
Tiimo
Tiimo is a visual daily planner co-designed with ADHD and autism experts. It shows the day as a color-coded timeline, has a focus timer, widgets, Apple Watch support and calendar sync. The notification sound can be switched on or off (developer FAQ). The developer states it is ad-free. Up to five family profiles can share a plan. The free version includes a basic planner, limited AI chats and one profile. Tiimo Pro is a monthly or yearly subscription with a 7-day trial on the yearly plan only; the App Store purchase list shows Pro items from $7.00 to $54.00 without naming the period. On screen there is the timeline plus a to-do list, an AI co-planner, courses and a community area.
Where it is better than ours. Calendar sync. Widgets and Apple Watch. A web version. A free version that works across devices.
Where it is weaker for a young child. Tiimo is designed for the person who plans their own day, which usually means a teen or adult. Its age rating is 9+. No child mode with big picture tiles and a parent lock is stated by the developer. The screen also holds a to-do list, an AI assistant, courses and a community area, which is more than a sensitive young child needs to look at. Exact subscription prices are not stated by the developer outside the checkout.
Brili Routines
Brili Routines turns a routine into a timed playlist. One task card is shown at a time, a visual clock shows how much time is left for the whole routine, and acoustic and visual notifications nudge you along (listing). It has achievements, customizable rewards and a weekly calendar. The listing offers a 10-day trial, then $7.99 a month, $34.99 for 6 months or $49.99 a year; what stays free after the trial is not stated.
Where it is better than ours. A paced, step-by-step routine mode with a visual clock. A 10-day full trial.
Where it is weaker for kids. The current Brili app is rated 16+ and is built for adults with ADHD. As of September 2026 we could only find the 16+ adult app on the App Store. Pricing is subscription only. The listing does not mention ads, a parent lock or offline use.
Routinery
Routinery guides you through a routine one step at a time. A voice reads each task aloud, the timer moves to the next step on its own, and a habit tracker shows daily, weekly and monthly progress. Tasks use emoji. It also runs on Apple Watch. The App Store purchase list shows weekly, monthly, 3-month, 6-month and yearly Premium plans, with the yearly plan at $36.00 to $39.49, and no lifetime option.
Where it is better than ours. Voice guidance. Apple Watch support. Habit statistics over time.
Where it is weaker for kids. It is rated 16+ on the App Store and is aimed at the person running their own routine. Tasks are shown with emoji rather than photos of the child's real things. The listing declares parental controls, but no child mode is stated by the developer. On ads the listing is mixed: its age-rating details list "Advertising", while the developer's release note for version 3.29.15 says "No more ads".
How to choose
Four questions to ask before you download anything.
- Who will hold the device? If your child will look at the schedule themselves, pick an app made for children: big picture tiles and a tap to complete. Visual Schedule, Choiceworks and First Then Visual Schedule HD are built this way. If the schedule must not be changed by the child, check whether editing can be locked; in Visual Schedule only purchases are gated. If a teen will plan their own day, Tiimo, Brili and Routinery fit better.
- Can your child read? A child who cannot read needs pictures, and ideally photos of their real cup, bed and shoes. Check that the app lets you add your own photos, not only icons or emoji.
- How does your child react to sound and movement? Look for a way to switch off end-of-timer sounds and celebration animations. We mention it in the text above where the developer states it. Otherwise test it in the free version or ask the developer before you pay.
- One payment or a subscription? Choiceworks and First Then Visual Schedule HD are one-time purchases. Visual Schedule, Tiimo, Brili and Routinery are subscriptions. Think about how long you expect to use the app.
Try Visual Schedule free
Free to download on iPhone and iPad. Set up your child's morning routine in a few minutes and see if the picture-schedule approach works for your family.
Download Visual Schedule freeFrequently asked questions
What is the best visual schedule app for a child with ADHD?
Is there a free visual schedule app for kids?
Which of these apps are made for young children, and which for teens?
What is a good Choiceworks alternative?
Do visual schedule apps show ads?
Can a visual schedule app be used as a first-then board?
Disclosure: Visual Schedule is made by the author of this page. All other apps belong to their respective developers. Facts were checked on the App Store and the developers' websites on September 4, 2026 and may have changed since. If you are a developer of one of the apps listed and something is wrong, email AppsForParents@gmail.com and we will fix it.