What is the best language sample analysis software for SLPs? It depends on what you need from the sample. SALT is dedicated language sample analysis software with reference databases. CLAN, SUGAR and MiMo are free. EASI puts clinician reviewed language sample analysis inside a caseload and evaluation workspace.
- Reference databases: SALT
- Free, research grade analysis: CLAN
- Free, quick method with norms: SUGAR
- Free browser tool for MLU and word classes: MiMo
- Sample, evaluation, goals and progress in one place: EASI
Tool details were checked on each tool's own website on November 9, 2026. Details change, so check each site before you choose.
Language sample analysis software comparison table
| SALT 24 | CLAN (TalkBank) | SUGAR | MiMo | EASI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Clinical software with a transcription editor, standard reports and reference databases | Free, open source programs for CHAT transcripts, with clinical analyses such as KIDEVAL | Free language sample analysis method with training videos, norms, forms and intervention resources | Free, open source language analysis web app | Caseload and evaluation workspace that includes clinician reviewed language sample analysis |
| Cost | Clinical license $249 one time, no annual fees; site licenses for districts by quote | Free | Free | Free | $39 a month or $199 a year through Northern Speech Services |
| Runs on | Windows 11, 10, 8 (64 bit) and Mac OS 13 to 26.x | Windows 10 or 11, Mac OS 10.15 or later, Unix (analysis commands only) | Your own word processor; no software listed | Web browser; can also run in R | Web browser |
| Making the transcript | Type it in SALT's editor with SALT coding conventions, or use SALT's transcription service ($8 per audio minute, English and Spanish) | Type it in CHAT format in the CLAN editor; TalkBank's Batchalign pipeline supports transcription | Type the child's 50 utterances into a document using SUGAR's rules | Paste transcript text into the app | Record live, upload audio, or type, paste or import a transcript; EASI drafts an English transcript |
| Review before scoring | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | You review and attest each line before EASI scores the sample |
| Measures named | More than 50 measures of syntax, morphology, semantics, discourse and verbal facility, including MLU and NDW | KIDEVAL: MLU in morphemes and words, TTR, NDW, clause density, DSS, IPSyn | Total words, MLU, words per sentence, clauses per sentence | MLU, color coded word classes, word search | MLU, NDW, PCC, IPSyn, intelligibility and a morpheme breakdown, when the sample supports them |
| Comparison data | Reference databases of English fluent, bilingual Spanish and English, and monolingual Spanish speakers | Optional KIDEVAL database comparison by age and gender, with stated limits | Norms by age from 3;0 to 10;11 | Norms plots using CHILDES and TalkBank data | No reference database; you decide which norms apply |
| Goals | Suggests goals from the sample | Not listed | Sub analysis forms to help identify intervention targets | Not listed | Drafts SMART IEP goals from the evaluation for the SLP to review |
| Fits SLPs who | Want comparison with typical speakers on matched tasks | Want free, deep analysis and don't mind learning CHAT | Want a free, quick method for 50 utterance conversational samples | Want a free browser tool to explore MLU and grammar | Want the sample, evaluation, goals, notes and progress reports in one workspace |
"Not listed" means the tool's own site did not describe it when we checked, not that the feature is missing.
How each tool fits
SALT. SALT is built for language sample analysis and comparison with typical speakers. You pick a sample type that matches one of SALT's databases, follow the protocol, then compare the child with matched speakers by age, grade, gender, sampling context and transcript length. If database comparison is central to your evaluations, SALT is designed for that. For a closer look at the two tools side by side, see EASI vs SALT.
CLAN. CLAN is free software from the TalkBank project. Transcripts use the CHAT format, and CLAN's MOR program tags grammar so KIDEVAL can calculate measures such as MLU, NDW, DSS and IPSyn. TalkBank publishes a clinician's guide to CLAN, and CLAN runs only on data on your own computer.
SUGAR. SUGAR (Sampling Utterances and Grammatical Analysis Revised) is a free method from Robert Owens and Stacey Pavelko. You collect a conversational sample, type 50 child utterances, and compare total words, MLU, words per sentence and clauses per sentence with SUGAR's age norms.
MiMo. MiMo is a free, open source web app from Nick Riches. It calculates MLU, color codes word classes, and plots norms. Because it runs in WebAssembly, the data stays in your browser.
EASI. EASI follows four steps: Draft, Review, Attest, Score. EASI drafts the transcript, you correct words, speaker labels and morphemes, you attest each line, and then EASI calculates MLU, NDW, PCC, IPSyn, intelligibility and a morpheme breakdown, when the sample supports them. The same workspace holds the evaluation, SMART IEP goal drafts, notes, progress reports and report drafting (in beta). MySLP, the secure AI assistant built into EASI, can help with plans and materials. Learn more about EASI language sample analysis.
Review and attest: the SLP checks each line of the draft transcript before EASI scores anything. Demo sample shown.
Measures in a draft report, calculated from the attested transcript and flagged when the sample is too small for norm comparison. Demo sample shown.
EASI is HIPAA and FERPA compliant, with a BAA and insurance.
Before you choose any tool
The tool matters less than the sample. Collect enough talk for the measure you need, use the same counting rules every time, and compare only with norms collected the same way. See how long a language sample should be and how to calculate MLU by hand.
FAQ
What does language sample analysis software do? It helps the SLP turn a transcript of a child's talk into measures such as MLU and number of different words, and some tools compare the results with reference data. The SLP still judges whether the sample is adequate and what the results mean.
Is there free language sample analysis software? Yes. CLAN and MiMo are free, open source software, and SUGAR is a free method with norms and forms.
Which language sample analysis software has reference databases? SALT has reference databases of English fluent, bilingual Spanish and English, and monolingual Spanish speakers. CLAN offers an optional KIDEVAL database comparison, SUGAR publishes norms by age, and MiMo plots norms from CHILDES and TalkBank data. EASI has no reference database, so you decide which norms apply.
Does EASI score the automatic transcript? No. EASI scores a sample only after the SLP reviews the draft transcript and attests each line.
What does EASI measure in a language sample? MLU, number of different words (NDW), percent consonants correct (PCC), the Index of Productive Syntax (IPSyn), intelligibility and a morpheme breakdown, when the sample supports them. EASI calculates them only from the transcript you reviewed and attested.
Can I analyze a Spanish language sample? SALT has Spanish and bilingual databases, and SALT's transcription service covers English and Spanish. EASI transcribes in English today.
Does language sample analysis replace standardized testing? No. A language sample adds naturalistic evidence alongside other assessment information. The SLP and the team decide what it means, including for eligibility.
Get EASI
Get EASI at NorthernSpeech.com/EASI. Groups of 10 or more can email info@northernspeech.com.
Sources
All checked November 9, 2026.
- SALT: SALT 24 software, SALT 24 clinical license, SALT price list, July 2026 (PDF), SALT 24 brochure (PDF), SALT transcription services
- CLAN: CLAN download page, A Clinician's Complete Guide to CLAN and PRAAT (PDF), Batchalign
- SUGAR: SUGAR home, SUGAR downloads, SUGAR norms by age, SUGAR procedures
- MiMo: MiMo on GitHub, MiMo docs
- EASI: EASI language sample analysis, EASI pricing
SALT is a product of SALT Software, LLC. EASI is not affiliated with SALT Software, TalkBank, SUGAR or MiMo.