# Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds — user reviews > 80 indexed App Store user reviews of Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds by Jolly Learning, rated 3.00/5 from 4 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jolly-phonics-letter-sounds/id897894552/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jolly-phonics-letter-sounds/id897894552.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 2 ## What do users think of Jolly Phonics Letter Sounds? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 👍 Effective phonics learning - 🤩 Engaging characters - 🚀 Responsive letter formation - 👍 Good for reinforcing learning - 👍 Systematic sound introduction - 👍 Child-centered and age-appropriate - 👍 Fun and engaging activities - 👍 Great for early learners - 👍 Helpful for remote teaching - 👍 Good for classroom use **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashing - 🐛 App not opening - 🐛 Unusable after updates - 🐛 Key features removed - 🐛 Confusing phoneme/letter distinction - 🐛 Sound cutting out - 🐛 Annoying voice - 🐛 Poor handwriting recognition - 🐛 Difficult to navigate - 🐛 Not enough content for price - 🐛 Old version was better - 🐛 Lessons don't complete - 🐛 Slow loading/movement - 🐛 Issues with progress - 🐛 Lack of parental controls - 🐛 No sound issues - 🐛 Extra charges - 🐛 Not user-friendly - 🐛 Inconsistent with Jolly Phonics characters - 🐛 Limited language options **Commonly reported bugs** - App keeps crashing - App not working properly - App won't download - App disappears after purchase - Lessons don't complete - Sound cutting out - Progress issues (stuck on letters) - Handwriting recognition issues - No sound on certain devices - Login screen freezes - Error pages for help section - Precursive setting not working - App kicks user out - Pencil gets stuck during letter formation - Ladybirds game doesn't work **Most requested features** - Reinstate original blending activity - Bring back old version - Include songs in the app - Add letter sound actions - Add letter sound songs - Option for cursive letter formation - Improve interface for non-English learners - Add more languages - More parental controls - Ability to delete flower pots - More variety in activities - Include mouth movement sounds - Add flashcard or matching activities - Improve touch/response variety - Make English explanations simpler - Add buttons to repeat instructions ## Newest reviews (16 of 80) ### 2/5 — Definitely not as good as the older version. DISAPPOINTED *2021-06-06* We loved the older version of this app. But this one is not as good no letter blending or anything like that. My kids loved the flowers of the older version. The sound is forever cutting out on this version. ### 2/5 — Key features removed in the update *2021-02-22* As a teacher and parent, there are elements of the original Jolly Phonics app that I am disappointed to find no longer feature in the updated Adventure app. In particular, the blending activity in which children could drag their finger from left to right to make the snake sound out a word was very powerful. I credit this activity for wiring my first-born child to blend sounds from left to right; the new app lacks this activity and has more activities with letters bouncing all over the screen, which I think confuses my second child and misses an opportunity to reinforce the directionality of blending. Please reinstate the original activity! ### 2/5 — Will not go any further than T *2020-10-27, version 2.1* We were enjoying this app until it refuses to progress past the 4th game in the sound T. We have restarted, reinstalled and happens every time. Very disappointed. ### 3/5 — Precursive *2020-09-30* I tried to access the help section but it came up as an error page. So I am writing this here. I selected precursive from the settings but it isn't in precursive. Could you let me know what has gone wrong? I was thinking of recommending this app to my reception class parents, but if the precursive doesn't work there is not point. Thank you **Developer response:** This problem should not have happened. The app has been updated in February 2022, and you should find that it will work fine now. ### 2/5 — Has Potential *2020-09-29* I used this for my older children some years ago. Now with the youngest I returned to the app to find it’s had a major overhaul. The design, sound and process of teaching is great but it is let down by a major flaw, some lessons just don’t complete and the child is left frustrated with a blank screen of floating bubbly things that don’t do anything. Turning to support- there’s no link to the developers website from the App Store, found it after a search only to find their webpage has notes for the older app only, and that is also buried under reams of information for use by school teachers. Jolly phonics has been very good for my older children, but if the teaching method can’t be matched with good support and reliability then it’s not going to fulfil its intended purpose. **Developer response:** Very sorry to hear you had these problems. The app has now been restored (February 2022) to the original version you had, and updated so it work well with the latest operating systems. (The Jolly Adventures games you saw are now available on the Jolly Phonics Lessons app). ### 1/5 — Jolly phonics letter sounds *2020-09-13* This version is way below the last version I wish I could get the old version onto my iPad my daughter loved it this thing is just garbage boring! ### 4/5 — Fun but some issues *2020-09-09* Overall I like it so far (only just started using with my daughter). Some big improvements on the old app particularly in the letter formation which is much more responsive, and nice listening activities. A few issues though... - The movement of the balloon between tasks is really slow - not sure why? - My daughter knows all the single phonemes/graphemes but although it asked when I set up the profile it still made her start at the beginning (satpin) rather than with digraphs. - Most annoyingly there is a lot of confusion between phonemes and letters which is unforgivable for an app teaching phonics! Eg it thinks there is a short a sound in asleep and zebra (the letter a in these makes a schwa not an a sound) and it thinks exit has no s sound (there is an s sound even though no letter S because x is used). So children who are good at phonics (but don’t yet know how to spell beyond sound-letter correspondence) are confused when told their correct answers are wrong! - It would be nice to have the option of cursive letter formation **Developer response:** As you say, the phonics points you mention should not be there. The app has been updated (February 2022) to restore the previous app. The games you mention will now be available in the Jolly Phonics Lessons app (and with the phonics points updated too). ### 2/5 — Keeps crashing *2020-07-25* This is a very useful app but it’s so frustrating to have the app continually crashing. We open the app and start to do a few activities and then it crashes, which means we have to start all over again and my child has just lost interest. **Developer response:** The app has now been updated (February 2022) to work smoothly with the latest operating systems, so the problems you have had should not reoccur. ### 4/5 — Profile Accessibility *2020-05-31* Great little game to reinforce the learning. It took me a while to find edit mode. My son (3) found that he could create new profiles and just wanted to take photos using that feature, instead of playing the game. Big power struggle ensued. Looks like this hasn’t been updated in a while, but I suggest putting the ability to create new profiles in edit mode (parent area). ### 1/5 — Keeps crashing!!!! *2020-02-12* It used to be a great app and my son used it a lot and it helped him so much! However it became unusable...it keeps crashing!!! Please fix it, after all I paid for this app...it is rather annoying that you make people buy it to be able to use the whole version but then it can’t be used!!! ### 1/5 — Jolly phonics app *2020-01-07* The app is not working properly. I have been charged the entire but it’s not at all useful because all the letter sounds are not working.. ### 1/5 — Crashing *2019-12-01, version 1.1* Paid 4.99 but keeps crashing ### 2/5 — keeps crashing *2019-11-29, version 1.1* brilliant game and my kids use jolly phonics at school but the game keeps crashing which is very frustrating seen as it is not a free game! ### 1/5 — Keeps crashing *2019-10-22* Used to be great, but now unusable. Crashes within a minute of starting; son who used to make progress now finds it frustrating as keeps returning to start, then have to trawl through multiple screens for it to crash again. No way to “fast forward” to later letters without doing every screen... which crash. ### 1/5 — Keeps crashing *2019-06-30, version 1.1* Purchased this to help my daughter with starting school in September. Can’t get past the first set of letters without it crashing. Very frustrating, especially as a review in November was saying the same thing. Thought it would of been sorted my now. Very disappointed ### 4/5 — Great in Class *2019-05-24* I use this app in the classroom when the kids are finished with their workbook activities. I really love it, and that the kids tend to repeat the sounds and words as they are said. They are getting really good at sounding out letters and spelling! The only thing I can't figure out is how to delete flower pots. (One of my students used the camera and made about 10 more pots, and I want to delete those and not lose the other students work. Last time I deleted the app and reloaded.) I'd say it is definitely worth the money I spent!!! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Not what I paid for *2022-02-08* I purchased this app several months ago. My daughter loved it. Apparently it was a new version of the app, but I didn’t know that until today, when we discovered that the developer reverted to the old version. My autistic daughter is devastated. The old version is not engaging. I wish I could get my money back. I would not have purchased the old version. What I now have access to is not what I paid for. The company has lost my trust and we will no longer be using their program. ### 1/5 — Older version was better *2021-02-01, version 2.2* The games from the older version were better and more fun for the kids. I used to use them in my classes but not anymore. ### 1/5 — アップデート前に戻してください *2021-01-14* ある日アップデートしたら形式やキャラクターが変わってしまいました。アップデート前の物を気に入って購入したのに、変わってしまい憤慨です。アップデート前のデータも引き継ぎできておらず、また最初からでがっかりです。 ### 1/5 — App not working properly *2020-11-23* We are just on the first activity where pictures are shown with can you hear the sound but there is no way to get past that activity as nothing works on that page ### 1/5 — Why it changed? *2020-11-13* Please change it back the original one!!!!!! ### 1/5 — Old app was perfect *2020-10-26* The old app letter sounds was more effective and just amazing .It taught the child in easy and attractive ways and yes it was related to jolly phonics characters but this app is NOt. ### 1/5 — So upset with the sudden change!!!! *2020-10-10* I am sooooo upset with the changes that have been made to this app. I made the purchase because we loved the characters in the app which were identical to the jolly phonics program. If I this was what I saw, I would never have purchased it! I am furious!!!! My son is upset and refuses to work on this new one. I want my money reimbursed!!! I did not even what to give it a star. The sounds for the English accent has an annoying fuzzing sound. Why did you make these changes?! It’s awful. I hope you can change it back to the initial one. ### 1/5 — we need to fix the bugs please *2020-09-21, version 2.1* I used to love the app, I was working on each phase with my son, we arrived on the second one mid way through CK its not doing anything, we can’t even proceed to other letters, don’t understand why you charge people money for something that haven’t been tested ### 1/5 — I want the old version back *2020-09-17, version 2.0* This app is not effective for teaching my students. The old app was much more effective, user friendly, easier to navigate, and actually was related to Jolly Phonics! Where are Snake, Inky, and Bee? I don’t know why this app was redone, but it is beyond disappointing. I really needed this to teach my kindergarteners remotely. Very upset teacher here. ### 1/5 — I want the other one back! *2020-09-15, version 2.0* This has sooooo many bugs. Sometimes it just goes round and round in circles. The ‘can you hear — in...’ exercises are often phonetically bad. How many five year olds - or fifty year olds - would hear short ‘o’ in carrot or melon? Or the short ‘u’ in bulb? There is less variety in activities and less understanding of the learning to read process or of the simplicity needed to lead the mind of a five or six year old. There are no buttons to repeat instructions, some of the words are too complex or abstract, and even the voice-over saying ‘Yes! There is no...’ is confusing. The old app handled these much better. Give us back the garden! Very disappointed in this ‘update.’ I have been using Jolly products for over ten years and have never been so frustrated and disappointed. This update is not worth the money I paid for the last one. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Amazing App! *2023-09-18* I remeber doing this when I was 4 or 5. Years ago, but, it did teach my alot. Definately would recommend. ### 5/5 — I also want the old app UPDATE Old App is Back!!! *2022-02-03* They brought back the old version of the app! I’m changing my review from 1 star to 5 star! Anyone following the Jolly Phonics Series will be happy to learn alongside Snake, Inky, and Bee! Original Review: I loved the older version 1.1. My two oldest kids used it a ton. It was helpful and fun. The new version seems really slow to get anywhere useful. My kid is bored and confused before they learn anything. Is there anyway to download the old version?? ### 5/5 — Brilliant my Grandson loves it. *2020-09-11* I got this app for my 4 year old grandson. He loves it and never wants to come off the iPad, but the best thing is I can see the difference in how he is quickly learning the sounds. I would definitely recommend it. ### 5/5 — Great app for phonics *2020-08-28* Lots of bugs are fixed now specially with letter tracing. Using for my 2nd child. Wish they include the songs in one app. ### 5/5 — Love it!! *2019-03-09, version 1.1* My kids love this, really helped consolidate their phonics understanding and ability to read. ### 5/5 — 还行 *2018-10-15* 对于非英语学习者来说界面不太友好，希望能改进 ### 5/5 — Good *2018-09-30, version 1.1* Because I’ve been trained on it and now I’m so smart ### 5/5 — So easy to use and fun *2015-11-21* My 2 1/2 year old has started to get to grips with it with half hour of use. Worth every penny ### 5/5 — FAB app!!! *2015-09-15, version 1.0.4* I absolutely love this app and use it daily. I have had no problems with this app at all and highly recommend it :) ### 5/5 — Mr *2014-12-17* Lovely app. My three year old plays it when traveling. She saw her siblings learning to read using the excellent jolly phonics books, games, posters and puppets and this has added to her interest. Well done jolly phonics! --- *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 2026-09-04.*