What Widgit Software does

Widgit Software Ltd is a UK-based, privately held assistive technology company that develops the proprietary "Widgit Symbols" visual communication system and a suite of software products built around it. Founded in 1980 (originally as Walsh & Gibbs, rebranded in 1996) and headquartered in Warwick, the company has spent more than 40 years building a symbol library used worldwide to support individuals with literacy and communication difficulties across education, healthcare, social care, government, tourism, and accessibility settings. Its core technology — the Widgit Symbols set — is copyright-protected and serves as the foundation for every product in the portfolio, creating a unified visual language across the company's offerings.

The product portfolio is a tiered ecosystem spanning cloud and desktop. Widgit Online is a browser-based, template-driven entry-point for newcomers; InPrint 4 (launched 2024) is the flagship desktop symbol resource editor with 500+ templates and Presentation Export to PowerPoint and Google Slides; SymWriter 2 is a symbol-enabled word processor for emerging writers; and Widgit Health is a domain-specific line for medical and emergency-services communication. Add-ons include the Let's Sign BSL content packs co-developed with Deafbooks, plus a mobile app (Widgit Go) and a web tool (Widgit Point). Distribution is primarily direct via shop.widgit.com and phone/email sales, supplemented by an international partner network covering 18+ countries and a specialist design services team.

The business model is subscription-led with annual renewals (InPrint and SymWriter sold in Standard, Pro, and Site tiers), complemented by one-time product/resource sales, third-party symbol licensing, custom design and printing services, and training. The company is unbacked by external venture or private-equity capital, is B Corp certified (2025), and is a Living Wage employer. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, but ongoing product investment (InPrint 4 in 2024, BSL add-on expansion) and stable operations suggest a mature, cash-generative niche software business.

Name

Widgit Software

Legal name

Widgit Software Ltd

Website

https://widgit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Widgit Software Ltd is a UK-based assistive technology company that develops the proprietary Widgit Symbols system and a software suite (InPrint 4, Widgit Online, SymWriter, Widgit Health) serving education, healthcare, social care, and public-sector customers across 18+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leamington Spa

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions: Annual subscription plans for InPrint 4, InPrint 3, and SymWriter with tiered pricing (Standard, Pro, Site). Subscriptions include access to templates, resource packs, and software updates.
2. Widgit Online Subscriptions: Browser-based access to Widgit Online platform for creating symbol materials online. Template-driven symbol resource creation.
3. Product Sales: One-time purchases of downloadable resources, PDF materials, and physical products like books and communication boards.
4. Symbol Licensing: Organisations can license Widgit Symbols for use in their publications, websites, or products to make them accessible.
5. Design Services: Custom symbol design services, accessible symbol materials creation, and printing/manufacturing for bespoke signage.
6. Training Services: Online and on-site training services to help users maximise their use of Widgit software products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Widgit Software develops and sells symbol-based accessibility and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) software, including cloud-based and desktop applications for creating symbol-supported materials used in education, healthcare, social care, and public settings. Their proprietary Widgit Symbols set underpins the product ecosystem, complemented by over 400 templates, BSL add-ons, and custom design and licensing services. The product suite is sold on subscription tiers to schools, healthcare providers, governments, and parents worldwide.

Product overview

Widgit Software offers a comprehensive suite of accessibility and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools centered around their proprietary Widgit Symbols. The product portfolio consists of cloud-based and desktop software applications for creating symbol-based materials: Widgit Online provides template-driven symbol resources from a browser for beginners; InPrint 4 is the flagship desktop symbol resource editor with advanced design features; and SymWriter 2 enables symbol-supported writing. Add-on content packs include Let's Sign BSL for British Sign Language materials. Domain-specific offerings include Widgit Health for medical communication aids. Design Services provide custom symbol creation. The products serve education, healthcare, social care, government, tourism, and signage sectors worldwide, with the software used in classrooms, healthcare settings, and at home for over 40 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Widgit Online Cloud-based platform for creating symbol materials online via a browser. Offers hundreds of templates and is positioned as the entry point for users new to symbol-based communication, used by schools, parents, and organisations.
• InPrint 4 Flagship desktop symbol resource editor for creating personalised symbol-based teaching and learning materials. Features over 500 templates, resource packs, presentation export to PowerPoint and Google Slides, and highly customisable design capabilities for advanced practitioners and symbol experts.
• SymWriter 2 Symbol-enabled word processor that allows users to create documents with Widgit Symbols. Designed for emerging writers and those with literacy difficulties to produce text with visual symbol support.
• Widgit Health Specialised version of Widgit software for healthcare and medical communication. Includes Widgit Medical Communication Aids designed to help first responders and medical staff communicate with patients who have speech or language difficulties.
• Let's Sign BSL Collections of graphic files for creating British Sign Language materials. Add-on content packs for InPrint 4, InPrint 3, InPrint 2, and SymWriter, including BSL Adult, BSL Early Years, and BSL Science packs with hundreds of sign graphics.
• Symbol Signage Ready-made low-cost symbol signage for inclusive environments, or bespoke sign design services for organisations requiring custom accessible signage for buildings, parks, and public spaces.
• Design Services Widgit's specialist design team works in partnership with organisations to create accessible symbol materials, including individual symbol design, accessible materials, symbol surveys, and printing and manufacturing.
• Symbol Licensing Organisations can license Widgit Symbols for use in their publications, websites, or products to make them accessible, generating royalty-based revenue.

Quantifiable outcome

• Users report independent functioning for children with communication difficulties in school settings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Partners (Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWidgit products and services are sold outside the UK by trusted international partners who provide sales and support for customers in their respective countries. Each country has dedicated support pages and resources.
• Deafbooks (Cath Smith)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLet's Sign BSL series - British Sign Language resources created by Cath Smith at Deafbooks. Widgit integrates these BSL graphics as add-ons for InPrint and SymWriter products, creating combined symbol and sign language materials.

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Avaz: AAC app designed for children with autism and cerebral palsy, offering symbol-based communication in multiple languages. Overlaps with Widgit in AAC for special-education users but is app-only and mobile-led.
• CoughDrop: Cloud-based AAC app with symbol-based communication boards and cross-device sync. Comparable in delivering web-based symbol-supported AAC, with a more modern SaaS architecture but smaller symbol library than Widgit.
• Sensory Software International: UK-based developer of inclusive software including Sensory Acuity, Communicator, and accessibility tools. Small specialist with overlapping AAC and special-education software offerings to the UK SEND market.

Direct peers

• Texthelp: Provider of Read&Write, EquatIO, and OrbitNote literacy and accessibility tools used in UK and US education. Overlapping customer base in special education with a broader literacy-support value proposition.
• Don Johnston: US assistive technology company offering Co:Writer, Read:OutLoud, and Snap&Read literacy tools for special education. Comparable target market of students with literacy and communication difficulties, though more literacy- than symbol-focused.
• AssistiveWare: Developer of Proloquo, Proloquo2Go, and Keeble AAC apps for iOS. Comparable as an AAC software specialist focused on symbol-based communication, with a mobile-first product philosophy versus Widgit's desktop/cloud approach.
• PRC-Saltillo: AAC device and app maker (TouchChat, LAMP Words for Life, ChatPlus). Directly comparable in serving non-verbal and minimally verbal users with symbol/grid-based communication tools, primarily in US education and clinical settings.
• Crick Software: UK-based developer of Clicker, WriteOnline, and DocsPlus literacy/symbol-supported writing tools. Closely comparable as a UK EdTech specialist serving SEN and literacy-support use cases with subscription desktop and cloud products.
• Tobii Dynavox: Global market leader in AAC devices, software, and the Boardmaker symbol-based material platform. Most directly comparable to Widgit in symbol-based educational and clinical communication content, with significantly larger scale.
• Smartbox Assistive Technology: UK-based AAC hardware/software provider (Grid, Grid for iPad, Lumin-i). Direct competitor in the UK special education and NHS market with overlapping symbol-grid communication products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/widgitsoftware26
• Instagraminstagram.com/widgitsoftware
• Xx.com/widgit_software
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/widgit-software

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Widgit Software