A Goally alternative without a tablet: Goally and GentleTime compared

Goally and GentleTime at a glance

The facts about Goally below come from its website, pricing page, FAQ and App Store listing, checked on 30 September 2026. Prices and features change, so check the current details before you decide.

Where Goally is strong

Goally takes a different approach, and it has clear strengths for many families.

• Distraction-free hardware. The Goally tablet has no browser and no ads, so a child cannot wander off into other apps.
• Rewards and motivation. Routines are tied to a rewards system that many children enjoy.
• A built-in AAC talker. A symbol-based talker for communication is part of the same device.
• Video lessons. Goally TV offers more than 100 video lessons.
• Support for parents. Coaching calls, 1-on-1 coaching and a parent community, with therapist involvement in the design of its tools.
• Offline use. Pre-scheduled routines, the timer, the talker and alarms work without wifi, according to Goally's FAQ.
• US payment options. Goally accepts FSA and HSA payments.

If you want one device that combines routines, rewards and communication for a young child in the US, Goally covers a lot in one package.

Where GentleTime is different

GentleTime is software only: no dedicated device to buy.

• The schedule is on the wrist. The person follows the day on an Apple Watch or Wear OS watch: a picture of what is happening now, a countdown, what comes next, and a gentle vibration at each transition, with an optional heads-up before the change. It keeps working offline on the watch after syncing.
• Or on a device you already have. Without a watch, the person can follow along on their own phone, tablet or in the browser with their own simple login.
• Follow without reading. Pictures and a countdown carry the message, so a child who cannot read yet can follow along.
• For children, teens and adults. Families use it for autistic children, but also for people with ADHD, an intellectual disability or dementia.
• Pictograms in 5 languages. About 3,000 Mulberry Symbols with names in English, Dutch, German, French and Spanish, plus your own pictures.
• A team with roles. Parents, a school and a care organization can plan the same person's day.
• Structure that fits the person. By the clock, step by step (so there is no "late"), by parts of the day, or as a checklist.
• A free printable maker. Make a paper version in the free visual schedule maker.

Which one fits you?

• Your young child needs rewards, communication and routines on one locked-down device. Goally may fit better. Its tablet, rewards and AAC talker are designed to work together.
• You would rather not buy a separate tablet. GentleTime runs on a watch, phone, tablet or browser the person may already use.
• The person moves between home, school and outside. A watch goes along to the playground, the car or a day trip. See our smartwatch visual schedule guide for what to look for.
• You live outside the US, or plan in another language. GentleTime has pictogram names in English, Dutch, German, French and Spanish, and prices in euros.
• You plan for a teen or an adult. A watch can feel more grown-up than a tablet, and GentleTime is also used for adults.
• The person gets anxious about being late. In GentleTime you can choose step by step, with no clock times at all. Our guide to transitions between activities has more ideas.

Using both

Some families already own a Goally tablet and like its rewards and talker at home. A watch schedule can cover the moments the tablet stays behind, such as school or an outing, although keeping two plans in sync takes effort. A printed schedule is another simple backup for those moments.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Goally alternative without a tablet?

Yes. GentleTime does not need a dedicated device. The person follows the day on an Apple Watch, a Wear OS watch, their own phone or tablet, or in the browser. If you only need a paper version, the visual schedule maker is free.

Does Goally work on a smartwatch?

On 30 September 2026 we found no Apple Watch or other smartwatch app for Goally in its App Store listing or FAQ. Goally also says it is phasing out support for the app on non-Goally tablets.

How much does Goally cost?

According to Goally's pricing page on 30 September 2026, the Daily Skills System costs $295 for the 8-inch Compact tablet or $395 for the 10-inch Big Screen, including 6 months of subscription, and then $6 a month. Its store lists an apps renewal for existing device owners at $108 a year. GentleTime costs €7.99 a month for Single and €14.99 a month for Family, without a device; see pricing.

Can several caregivers use Goally?

Yes. You can invite a nanny, therapist and others into the Goally Parent App, and one parent app can manage several children, but each child needs their own tablet. In GentleTime several caregivers can plan the same person's day: 2 on the Family plan and unlimited on the Care Team and Facility plans.

Is Goally available in other languages?

The Goally Parent App is listed in English only in the US App Store, and prices are in US dollars. GentleTime is available in English, Dutch, German, French and Spanish.