# Hairy Letters

> Interactive app for preschoolers to learn letter names, sounds, and word blending. (iPhone/iPad app by Nessy Learning Limited.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-letters/id410276288 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Nessy Learning Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/410276291)
- Category: Education, Games
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 80 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.3.5 · 514 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-11-02
- Data updated: 2026-09-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-letters/id410276288/reviews.md

## What is Hairy Letters?

Learn the names and sounds of each letter with the Hairies.
AWARD WINNING APP! Education Resources Award

• Trace the letter shape onscreen with your finger.
• Play games to build letters into simple words.
• Letter sounds come to life with animated characters.
• Learn to blend sounds into words.
• Includes upper case letter names.
• Multisensory learning by UK specialist teachers.
• Letters are introduced in six colour-coded stages

Designed for 4-6 years.
British English.
Nessy apps have no advertisements or in-app purchasing.

## Key features

- Trace letter shapes on screen
- Build letters into words with games
- Animated characters for letter sounds
- Learn to blend sounds into words
- Includes uppercase letter names
- Multisensory learning approach

## What do users think of Hairy Letters?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Engaging for children
- 💡 Teaches letter sounds and formation
- 🚀 Good value for money
- 🌟 Fun animations and characters
- 🚫 No ads
- 👨‍🏫 Useful for early learning
- ✍️ Helps with handwriting
- 🎯 Accurate letter sound pronunciation (mostly)
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Good for family use

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔇 Sound not working
- 💸 Waste of money
- ⏳ Too short/limited content
- 🐌 Laggy performance
- ❌ Tracing issues
- 🤔 Incorrect pronunciations
- 📱 Incompatible with newer iOS versions
- 🤷 No support/updates
- 🪲 Buggy interface

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Sound not working on various devices
- App freezes or hangs
- Unable to exit app without restarting
- Capital letters stick and freeze screen
- Tracing letters not working correctly
- Laggy performance and black screens
- App closes after sounding first letter
- Rotation lock interferes with sound
- Latest update broke functionality

**Most requested features**

- Option to use cursive script
- More blending games
- Hairy numbers
- Other fonts to match school curriculum
- Reward system (printable creatures)
- Something to do with capital letters
- More content/higher stages
- Improve pronunciation of specific letters
- Pen tool with more normal movement

## Recent user reviews (10 of 80)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-letters/id410276288/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Reign

*2026-06-30, version 2.6.8*

Kleckley

### 5/5 — I love this app my school has it and everybody’s in love with it so I’m in love with it.

*2025-12-16, version 2.6.8*

I think it’s just the best app
To be honest

### 2/5 — Sound??

*2025-12-07, version 2.6.8*

Sound is not working

### 1/5 — Rubbish - no sound

*2023-08-01, version 2.6.8*

I downloaded this app today and shouldn’t have bothered. It doesn’t work - there’s no sound in the app so it’s a complete waste of £2.99

I’ve requested a refund from apple already. Avoid!

### 1/5 — .

*2023-06-27, version 2.6.8*

No sound using on iPad or iPhone or MacBook. Waste of money

### 5/5 — Noice

*2021-02-03, version 2.6.8*

So, firstly, I want to clarify, i am a grade 4 playing this. No, im not actually learning anything, i just remembered this from when i was 5 and installed it either way. It’s pretty good, teaching kids how to write and read with small, little hairballs. (i guess thats what imma call them) I dont have much to say, since ya know, grade 4 over here.. but im gonna recommend this to my 6-year-old cousin. (She’s in Poland, where you start school at the age of 7, and she doesn’t practice letters or maths so.. that’s kinda explainatory)

Update: i did uninstall it, but the only reason is my memory. I wasn’t learning either way. But still recommended to 3-5 year olds

### 1/5 — Sound has stopped working

*2020-11-15, version 2.6.8*

Sound on the app stopped working after 3 months. Have tried everything - deleting, reinstalling the app. Even reset the iPad but no luck. The other apps work just fine, an issue with this one only and other users have written about it too. Yet no solution.
Very poor!!

### 5/5 — Fun and educational

*2020-10-11, version 2.6.8*

My kids love the silly sounds and characters. I love that it has no ads to distract them.

### 4/5 — Simple fun

*2020-06-01, version 2.6.7*

Boy likes it. Success. Had issue with the sound but was just the mute button - which doesn’t silence other apps. Weird

### 5/5 — Drawn the attention of a letter hater!

*2020-05-16, version 2.6.7*

My 3 year old daughter, who loves numbers and is totally disinterested with every avenue I try regarding letters, has been brought round by Hairy Letters. 
Giggling away and not wanting to stop until she’d tried every letter.
Completely worth the money.

## Frequently asked questions about Hairy Letters

### What does Hairy Letters teach children?

Hairy Letters teaches children the names and sounds of each letter of the alphabet. It also helps them learn to blend these sounds together to form simple words and includes uppercase letter recognition.

### How does the app make learning engaging?

The app uses a multisensory approach with features like tracing letter shapes on screen with a finger, playing games to build words, and animated characters that bring letter sounds to life. It's designed by UK specialist teachers for children aged 4-6.

### Is Hairy Letters free to use?

Yes, Hairy Letters is a completely free app. It does not contain any advertisements or in-app purchases, ensuring an uninterrupted learning experience for children.

### What age group is Hairy Letters designed for?

This app is specifically designed for children aged 4-6 years old. It aligns with early literacy development stages and is presented in British English.

### What are the key learning activities in the app?

Key activities include tracing the shape of letters on the screen, playing games to construct simple words from letters, and learning to blend letter sounds. The app introduces letters in six color-coded stages.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.6.8 — 2020-07-01

Updated letter animations.

### 2.6.7 — 2019-12-10

Fixes letter tracing screen sizing issues on large iPhones.

### 2.6.2 — 2019-10-28

Fix problem playing videos in iOS 13

### 2.3 — 2015-12-18

Bug fixes and stability improvements.

### 2.1 — 2015-06-24

Play with new Hairies.
Make them sing and dance.
Words are reinforced with pictures.
Can you find the mega Hairy and make it snow?

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## More apps by Nessy Learning Limited

- [Chimp Fu Syllables](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chimp-fu-syllables/id894610082)
- [Hairy Phonics 1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-1/id938105297)
- [Hairy Phonics 1](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-1/id938108978)
- [Hairy Phonics 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-2/id938109106)
- [Hairy Phonics 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-2/id938109205)

All apps by Nessy Learning Limited: https://appshunter.io/developer/410276291

## Related topics

[hairy letters](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hairy-letters) · [nessy learning](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nessy-learning) · [nessy](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nessy)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*