# PocketPhonics (basic edition) — user reviews > 301 indexed App Store user reviews of PocketPhonics (basic edition) by Apps in My Pocket Ltd, rated 4.40/5 from 68 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketphonics-basic-edition/id299342927/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketphonics-basic-edition/id299342927.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 46 · 4★ 14 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 4 ## What do users think of PocketPhonics (basic edition)? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Easy to use - 🚀 Engaging for kids - 💡 Teaches phonics and writing - 👍 Customizable settings - 👍 Helpful for speech therapy - 👍 Effective for learning to read - 👍 Motivating with achievements **Cons** - 🐛 Buggy and unreliable - 💰 Expensive subscription model - 🤔 Confusing verification process - 🤔 Lack of Australian/non-US accent option - 🤔 Doesn't wait for child response **Commonly reported bugs** - Incorrect answer verification - Sudden subscription changes - Login issues and account sync problems **Most requested features** - Add more words and practice - Allow custom word lists - Improve letter tracing accuracy feedback - Provide letter names along with sounds - Add more game-like elements ## Newest reviews (13 of 301) ### 2/5 — Unable to open the app for iOS 13.1 *2019-09-30, version 3.3* Hello, please help to fix it ASAP, my child is waiting for it keenly , ### 2/5 — No login allowed *2019-01-20, version 3.1.5* This app used to be great for my kids as aligns with their schools teachings. However despite purchasing this app I now am being prompted to sign in but it is not recognising my email. Advice please ### 2/5 — Subscription!! *2018-11-05, version 3.1.1* I paid for this app with my daughter and had access to all content. It’s a brilliant app, however, Now it is a subscription service and I can’t access half of it. Wished I hadn’t done the update now. ### 3/5 — PocketPhonics *2018-10-26, version 3.1.1* It is amazing me and my son had a great time playing PocketPhonics ### 4/5 — Pocket Phonics Stories *2018-06-02, version 3.0* It is the new version of it. I miss the old version of it. ### 2/5 — PocketPhonics *2018-05-23, version 3.0* It is not that hard for ### 3/5 — Good start - Letters tiny. Does not wait for child to say anything *2018-04-17, version 2.4.3* Good start, pricy Letters are tiny. Make them a bit bigger or have setting Does not wait for child to say anything when asks say sh, no mic support? ### 5/5 — Review *2017-01-23, version 2.4.3* Very good for pre school highly recommend having tried quite a few! ### 5/5 — Best! Deliver results! *2016-10-16, version 2.4.3* Amazing results! One of the few apps found that truly produce results. Worth the time effort and $ ### 5/5 — Brilliant! *2016-07-06, version 2.4.3* We used this app for preparation for school ... My son loved it!! Good verbal rewards... Kept him interested... Even with a short attention span. ### 5/5 — Love it!! *2016-06-24, version 2.4.3* This app is great it is LITERALLY teaching my 2 year old how to read and write. ### 5/5 — Fantastic app *2016-03-20, version 2.4.3* My 4 year old daughter loves this app and so do I! She has been using it for the past 6 months and it has taught her so much. ### 5/5 — Great app *2016-01-23, version 2.4.3* Keeps the kids busy ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Ms *2019-02-10, version 3.1.5* Not easy for children to use when it constantly asks you to sign up for a free trial of the book app. The older version was much better and more simple for children to understand. ### 1/5 — Bait and switch *2019-01-21, version 3.1.5* I paid for this. Then when we opened the app it wouldn’t work unless we paid for each letter group separately. Don’t waste your money. ### 1/5 — Waste of money *2018-12-31, version 3.1.5* Cant believe I wasted money buying this. After one week trial, my $6 was only good for the first level for only one child. Bull crap. ### 1/5 — Disappointed *2018-10-19, version 3.1.1* I paid 6.99 for this up all the sudden I can't use the service anymore been told it's been cancelled and refunded now I have to pay a monthly or yearly subscription.not good at all very disappointed. ### 1/5 — Butvyfctdc *2018-09-20, version 3.0.3* Vfuyv rcfbhnhb ytfeded tbuyhtvrdwshu6 ### 1/5 — Nice but expensive *2016-10-08, version 2.4.3* Nice but expensive. ### 1/5 — Way too buggy for $$$ *2016-07-17, version 2.4.3* It's critical to be consistent when teaching a child to read and sound out letters. App is far too buggy! It shows a wrong slides for its audio far too often for my liking. If app were only two or three dollars, I'd be more willing to overlook. In this case, the high/premium app cost does not equate to a high/premium quality design and function. Look elsewhere for your spelling needs... In my case, I think a large Magna Doodle would have been a much better use of my hard-earned $$$. ### 1/5 — Absolute Rubbish *2015-09-02, version 2.4.2* This app is useless Don't let my son just to practice alphabets It gives sound of alphabets but it doesn't speak out the letters so when he sees the letters he only makes sounds just like the stupid app He can't say the alphabets ABC because it don't teach him that Waste of money Want my money back ### 1/5 — Wish I Could Give No Stars *2015-01-21, version 2.4.2* Was excited to buy this app for my grandson and it doesn't work. When it asked a verification question for the adult to proceed it just says the answer is incorrect. I have wasted my hard earned money. Can't even contact the company because you have to do the verification to even do that. I am saddened that a company would do this to people. ### 1/5 — Tom *2014-04-19, version 2.4.2* Doesn't work. App asks parents to enter the answer to a simple addition problem (such as 8+6) to gain access to the app. Unfortunately, when you enter the correct answer (such as 14), it tells you that you've entered the wrong answer and prompts you to try again. No matter how many times you enter the correct answer, it keeps you locked out. I even purposely tried wrong answers and it still didn't work. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great UK English App *2023-08-20, version 3.6.2* that my 2-3 year started on and is now reading beautifully from its assistance ### 5/5 — Excellent *2020-09-10, version 3.4* This App is worth every penny. My son learned reading due to this App. Thank you very much. ### 5/5 — Pocket phonics *2019-12-26, version 3.4* This app is well designed, the production of the speech sounds is very well done as is the feedback to the student using the app. I highly recommend Pocket Phonics! ### 5/5 — Strong phonics introduction *2019-10-29, version 3.4* Follows principals of effective instruction. I teach teachers how to teach reading and I use this for my kid! ### 5/5 — POCKET PHONIC APPS *2019-04-04, version 3.3* Such an amazing app for little ones learning to read. My 3 year old grandson thoroughly enjoys his screen time with this very user friendly app. It has allowed him to become very confident with recognising and writing letters, so much so, that his nursery teacher remarked on his phonics knowledge. An added bonus of this app is the Weekly Progress Report, accompanied by printable Achievement Certificates which are awarded as each level is achieved - an exciting and proud event for little ones. After each set of phonics are mastered, there are accompanying ‘books’ to reinforce the learning, followed by new sets of phonics... books... phonics etc. All in all, I believe this app to be second to none. Also, another bonus is the very reasonable cost! ### 5/5 — Fun, easy and memorable *2018-10-22, version 3.1.1* This is a brilliant app for children learning to read and write. My daughter loves to practice writing letters and sounds. Pocket phonics lite, helps her to recognise sounds and put them together easily to read high frequency words. Simply, Listen, choose the letter, write the letter, blend out loud to make the word! My daughter loves the applause at the end too! Thank you, Pocket lite. ### 5/5 — Excellent and easy to use *2018-06-29, version 3.0.2* I highly recommend this app. My child enjoys using it and the app is very easy to use and engaging. I particularly like that you can choose an English voice or American voice for the pronunciation. You are able to personalise the style of the text and choose between upper and lowercase letters. Right or left hand for writing. My child finds it motivating when they receive a certificate or feedback from the program. When I had any difficulties/problem or didn’t understand something, the customer support was excellent. The developer was quick to respond. I purchased Pocket Phonics, PocketPhonic Stories and Dot to Dot letters and numbers. These compliment each other beautifully and are very educational and fun. ### 5/5 — Great tool to start! *2018-04-18, version 2.4.3* Fun and easy to get kids started! ### 5/5 — Great app *2017-05-16, version 2.4.3* Great app. My older kids loved it when they were little and the toddler is having lots of fun with it now ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2017-01-30, version 2.4.3* A great 5 minute a day revision session. --- *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 2026-09-12.*