# Phonograms by SEI — user reviews > 91 indexed App Store user reviews of Phonograms by SEI by Spalding Education International, rated 1.80/5 from 220 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonograms-by-sei/id934525008/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonograms-by-sei/id934525008.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 26 · 4★ 11 · 3★ 11 · 2★ 23 · 1★ 149 ## What do users think of Phonograms by SEI? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - ✅ Effective for learning phonograms and improving reading skills - 🎯 Differentiated practice allows selecting specific phonograms - 🔊 Clear audio narration when functioning properly - 📱 Works well on multiple devices (iPhone, iPad) - 💰 Affordable price point at $3.99-$4.27 - 📚 Useful supplement to school curriculum - 🎓 Supports Spalding language arts method - ✍️ Written review feature unique for practice verification **Cons** - 🔇 Sound frequently doesn't work or is inconsistent - 🐛 Written practice shows blank/black screen - ⚙️ Poor app design and user interface - 🔧 Requires phone settings changes to function properly - ⏱️ Slow performance and long loading times - 🎨 Incompatible with dark mode display settings - 📋 Cannot select individual phonograms easily - ❌ No customer support or help documentation - 🔄 Inconsistent functionality across devices - 😤 Frustrating troubleshooting with no guidance **Commonly reported bugs** - Sound not playing despite volume settings being correct - Written phonogram review displays blank screen - App requires phone ringer to be off silent mode for audio - Letters not visible in dark mode display - Written practice button 'Show Me' displays nothing - Inconsistent sound functionality requiring app restart - Phonograms not displaying in correct font style - App crashes frequently on older devices - Cannot advance to next phonogram in some cases - Sound cuts out after partial completion - App stops functioning after updates - Slow download speed for phonogram files **Most requested features** - Save selected phonogram lists for future sessions - Allow writing directly in the app instead of on paper - Add FAQ or troubleshooting guide - Implement dark mode compatibility - Enable sound to work while phone is on silent - Add feedback system like Duolingo for practice - Provide cursive and print writing options - Allow random phonogram selection without sequential playback - Improve visual design and user interface - Add multiple differentiated practice lists per user - Include audio cues for writing instructions - Create lesson overview or search functionality ## Newest reviews (18 of 91) ### 2/5 — Updates needed but okay *2025-08-21, version 1.4.3* This app needs to be updated. I’ve had it for 7 years and it crashes all the time and when in written practice, it doesn’t allow students to check their answer. If this app was periodically updated, then they would catch the bug. Frustrating! ### 2/5 — Doesn’t make sounds? *2025-07-19, version 1.4.3* I was under the impression that this would make the phonogram sounds and we could practice together. It doesn’t seem to make the sounds despite it saying replay sound? There are no sounds? ### 1/5 — No sounds *2025-06-11, version 1.4.3* I am giving it one star . It has a lot of potential with no sounds are coming out of it beautiful layout. ### 1/5 — DO NOT BUY *2025-05-04, version 1.4.3* Waste of money! You have to go thru all set of phonograms you cant just pick or choose one. Useless. ### 2/5 — Waste of $$ *2025-05-01, version 1.4.3* Did not work on my phone or my tablet . My daughter was looking forward to this app but no did not work at all ### 1/5 — Bad app *2025-03-28, version 1.4.3* Doesn’t always show phonograms while using the written test method. ### 1/5 — You can’t actually write the phonograms in this app *2025-01-28, version 1.4.3* You can’t actually write the phonograms in this app. You also can’t go to the next phonogram the only thing you can do is push the button “show me” and it actually shows you nothing. There’s no point of even having this if you can’t do these things. ### 1/5 — Poorly done *2025-01-06, version 1.4.3* Sound issues. We have to rely on our memory as we’re re-learning phonograms. Not worth the money. ### 1/5 — Inconsistent *2024-09-24, version 1.4.3* The very first phonogram is “a”, but in the app it is displayed in a serif style font, which is inconsistent with how the children actually learn how to write it using the clock method. Why the inconsistency? Extremely frustrating. ### 1/5 — Total waste- no sound for a PHONOGRAM app?? *2024-09-21, version 1.4.3* As many people have said, there is no sound. I figured out that if I take my phone off silent mode (using the physical switch on the phone), it works. BUT there is not this switch on an iPad!! Ughhh. ### 1/5 — No sound no warranty *2024-09-09, version 1.4.3* There is no sound rendering the app useless. There is no warranty so just out of my money and my child still has no help. Hot garbage. ### 1/5 — Dissapointing! From a Kinder Teacher *2024-09-03, version 1.4.3* I am the parent of a kindergartener AND teacher of 22 Kinders! I downloaded for my daughter and was so excited to recommend to my parents. I will not be doing that. WPR does not show unless I change my phone settings which I should not have to do. Less tech savvy parents (most of them) would not either. Also, it’s super disappointing that there is not any kind of feedback option for OPR or WPR (like Duolingo). You should be able to write or speak directly into the app for true feedback. Hoping for these fixes! ### 1/5 — No sound *2024-09-02, version 1.4.3* I cannot get the sound to work despite deleting and reinstalling ### 1/5 — Sound isn’t working *2024-08-30, version 1.4.3* Sounds isn’t working can’t delete and redownload agian because I’ll be paying my extra! ### 1/5 — No sound *2024-08-29, version 1.4.3* Apple need to remove this app from App Store. No sound, just wasted $4 on it ### 4/5 — Definitely supplements school learning *2024-08-26, version 1.4.3* I have been using this app for 2 years and it has been very helpful. Many people refer to sound issues and I wonder if it is the same thay I experienced that if my phone/ringer is switched to silent mode, then I won't hear the sounds in the app. However, a quick flip of a switch and it works fine for me. The app is great for me because I want to reinforce what is learned in class and not contradict. There have been many instances where I've questioned how I even learned growing up. I can open the open, pick a few phonograms and let the sound play and my child write. We are both learning in the process. Huge time saver and it doesn't make me look as bad in front of my kiddos. I gave 4-stars because I would like to have a quicker method of selecting specific phonograms I want to work on. It is a very basic app that could use some user interface enhancements. Oh, and enabling sound to work with phone on silent mode would be great. ### 1/5 — Sound doesn’t work *2024-07-24, version 1.4.3* Downloaded this app and paid $4 for it to not make any sound. I have checked all my settings and made sure my sound was up and nothing. DO NOT BUY THIS. WASTE OF MONEY. ### 1/5 — Horrible *2024-07-10, version 1.4.3* Audio doesn’t work. I’ve tried everything. What a waste of time and money ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Does not work *2026-08-12, version 1.4.3* The sound does not work. The written section does not work if dark mode enabled. Not sure if anyone is still pushing updates to this app or if they have given up. ### 1/5 — No Sound? Try This. *2026-08-11, version 1.4.3* I purchased this app because my daughter’s kindergarten class needed it. After 2 hours of checking all my phone settings I got the sound to work. The trick is to take your ringer off of silent or vibrate. Then you’re going to hear it just fine . ### 1/5 — Does not work *2026-04-28, version 1.4.3* The sound does not work AND it doesn’t show answers when it’s supposed to during the written portion. ### 1/5 — no sound *2025-10-29, version 1.4.3* I tried turn off Bluetooth, still no sound ### 1/5 — Differentiated practice barely works *2025-10-28, version 1.4.3* When I set up for the weekly phonograms for my daughters weekly practice it takes about 15 minutes to setup and only works about half the time ### 1/5 — Volume not working *2025-10-01, version 1.4.3* This app doesn’t work very well. The volume button within the app doesn’t work and we can’t hear the sounds of the phonograms. Wish I didn’t pay for this. I asked for app help and the website was invalid. ### 1/5 — No sound *2025-09-24, version 1.4.3* The point of practicing phonograms is to know it’s sound! The app has no sound, you press replay sound and you can not hear nothing I want my money back ### 1/5 — Waste of money *2025-06-26, version 1.4.3* No volume after downloading the app. Unless tech support can resolve the issue, it’s only professional courtesy to refund the cost of the app. ### 1/5 — No sound *2025-06-13, version 1.4.3* Waste of money. The sound doesn’t work. ### 1/5 — Sound doesn’t work *2025-06-11, version 1.4.3* I bought this and the sound does not work ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Instructions needed *2025-07-30, version 1.4.3* Thanks to all the reviews I was able to figure out how to use this app. Here is what I learned: Make sure your phone ringer is not on silent (because even if you raise the volume while the switch is on silent the app will not play the sounds for you during the oral review). Make sure your brightness is not on dark mode because the letters will not appear in the written review section. Lastly in the differentiated practice you can select the specific letters you want to practice versus the entire set. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2024-12-18, version 1.4.3* This app is excellent for learning Spalding phonograms. Not sure why it has such low stars. We’ve used it for 3 children in preschool and kindergarten and they can all read and sound out words. I would highly recommend this app if you’re teaching someone to read. ### 5/5 — Perfect for scholas *2023-10-24, version 1.4.3* This app is designed perfectly for scholars who are struggling with their phonograms. ### 5/5 — Misunderstood App *2023-08-14, version 1.4.3* The app is very efficient. I was skeptical after reading a couple of reviews, and saying that the ratings for it is 1.9. But after downloading it because of the school my child goes to, it turns out very simple and easy to use. It has a differentiate practice option that allows you to choose what letters you want to practice that is part of the curriculum and or homework for that week. By choosing the letters I was able to do the OPR and the WPR that was base on the home work. This option made it super easy for him to focus. ### 5/5 — Love it! *2022-02-27* Sound works; just make sure your ringer is set to “on”. The writing section is meant to be used along with paper and the answers are shown as flash cards to check your work. I like this bc it requires them to practice their handwriting as they are supposed to; not on a screen. This was a great option for us to supplement the work that is happening at school while only spending $4. My girls (3 and 5) are doing so well with this program! I think it just needs a website or video to explain its features. I wish they had audio available to remind children of the rules as they write. “Start at the top line…” I recommend this app to anyone with a young reader! ### 5/5 — Updated version *2021-01-02, version 1.3* The options to choose what to click are in dark font colour, so we can’t choose unless we touch the panels? ### 5/5 — Useful *2020-08-04* I highly recommend this application. I will say parents do have to put their part in selecting and keeping up with the appropriate curriculum/ syllabus. Had no issues with sounds. I found this application to be helpful for my child, and he was only in kindergarten and reading. ### 5/5 — Great for parents at least! *2020-01-31* This application have helped our family so much. Every single day from Monday to Thursday we use it to help us with our kindergarten student to do her homework. She is getting the best scores in the tests for the subject. We are more than pleased with this awesome app. We specially love the free section to check any phonogram and dictate to our kiddo. Is simply and once you try all the sections you can use it as your special homework-helper. 👌 ### 5/5 — DO NOT RECOMMEND *2018-09-13* ** DO NOT RECOMMEND** I paid for this app to help my child learn for school curriculum but the sound went out. I thought it was my phone but it just randomly lost sound and no matter how much I restart or remove and reinstall the app sound is gone. I got to use it maybe 2 times and then lost sound. Please FIX iPhone 7 Plus ### 5/5 — Lifesaver *2017-11-10* I’ve been having my 6yr old work on the phonograms in this app and have seen improvement in his reading skills in just 2 weeks. Phonograms are a reading game-changer. --- *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 2026-08-31.*