# Secret Stories Phonics Reading — user reviews > 117 indexed App Store user reviews of Secret Stories Phonics Reading by Marenem Inc., rated 4.39/5 from 621 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-stories-phonics-reading/id1526893160/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-stories-phonics-reading/id1526893160.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 474 · 4★ 48 · 3★ 22 · 2★ 20 · 1★ 57 ## What do users think of Secret Stories Phonics Reading? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Great teaching resource - 👍 Helpful for reinforcing learning - 🚀 Game changer for teaching - 👍 Engaging for students **Cons** - 💰 Expensive subscription - 🔒 Restrictive copyright/sharing - 🐛 Glitches and bugs - 👎 Lack of additional features **Commonly reported bugs** - Better Alphabet Song stops abruptly - App not working/crashing **Most requested features** - Option to display stories/cards on screen - More comprehensive coverage of letter sounds - Ability to restore previous purchases ## Newest reviews (18 of 117) ### 1/5 — Restore Purchase *2025-11-21, version 1.4.5* SCAM. Katie Garner More like Katie’s Going to Garner Your Wages. She squeezing every dime from the alphabet she can. ### 1/5 — This is ridiculous *2025-11-13, version 1.4.5* I already paid a huge price for this app. It’s just the pictures from the posters and Katie Garner telling the secrets. It’s not like animated videos to reinforce the Secrets. Now I’m supposed to pay an outrageous monthly or yearly price for an app that hasn’t changed or been updated? Way to try and get more money from fellow educators. I’m so disappointed Katie. ### 2/5 — Disappointed in Price Hike *2025-11-03, version 1.4.5* I purchased this app in 2021 for $30 and used it often with my 2nd graders. I’m disappointed when I opened the app this fall and it wants me to re-pay for something I’ve already purchased years ago. It seems unethical to now start charging me again for something I’ve already paid for. ### 1/5 — Upset *2025-10-27, version 1.4.5* I bought this app February of this year, and now I have to pay a subscription before I even can use it! That’s so dumb! People who bought the app previously deserve a refund, because now they can’t even use it! Definitely don’t recommend! What a scam! ### 1/5 — Help *2025-10-24, version 1.4.5* My app won’t work. Says I need to purchase it again. I love the app but not the fact I can’t use it ### 1/5 — Thief *2025-10-21, version 1.4.5* I purchased this app last year. Now it wants me to pay again for something that I already paid for. ### 1/5 — Bought app and now cannot use it without a subscription? *2025-10-15, version 1.4.5* I bought this app for $28 a couple years ago and now I can’t use it without a $14.99/month subscription? That is ridiculously high and I cannot afford that on my para salary. ### 1/5 — ??? *2025-10-10, version 1.4.5* I bought the app through Apple Store to go along with my wall cards back in 2021 and now I have to play a monthly or yearly subscription? That seems wrong. ### 1/5 — Help!! *2025-10-08, version 1.4.5* I bought this app for $25 dollars and now it is not usable. I understand wanting to make more money, but this is not ok. I already paid!! ### 1/5 — Scammed *2025-10-06, version 1.4.5* This is by far the most expensive app I’ve ever been willing to buy. I love the program and have personally invested in multiple products over a span of 20 years, including the teacher kit twice. I’ve even met Katie twice, fan girling hard. The app was already too spendy for what it was, but I did bust it out for those times a lesser known story was needed on the fly. Now, it does nothing but tell me I didn’t buy it correctly because I bought it here in the App Store, rather than her dot com, wanting me not only to repurchase the new version, but to pay an ongoing subscription. This is no way to treat your faithful supporters. The disappointment is big. ### 1/5 — Teacher here-Paid a full one time fee for the app, & now it needs a registration + yearly fee. Boo! *2025-10-05, version 1.4.5* Not worth the money!I am a teacher who paid a full one time fee out of my own pocket for the app, but then they now require a registration + yearly fee. The app simply reads each story aloud when you touch each icon. You can do that from the book. I am extremely disappointed in the professionalism of the owner of this app. Changing the terms after a purchase should be illegal. ### 1/5 — Scammed *2025-09-28* This is by far the most expensive app I’ve ever been willing to buy. I love the program and have personally invested in multiple products over a span of 20 years, including the teacher kit twice. I’ve even met Katie twice, fan girling hard. The app was already too spendy for what it was, but I did bust it out for those times a lesser known story was needed on the fly. Now, it does nothing but tell me I didn’t buy it correctly because I bought it here in the App Store, rather than her dot com, wanting me to not only to repurchase the new version, but pay an ongoing subscription. This is no way to treat your faithful supporters. The disappoint is big. ### 1/5 — Scam *2025-09-27, version 1.4.5* I purchased this before it became a subscription based platform for $30+. Now it’s no longer opening and asking me to renew my subscription. Don’t waste your money. ### 1/5 — Too much *2025-09-26, version 1.4.5* I payed for the app and now it’s not working. Do not recommend don’t get it not worth it. Now they want me to pay a monthly membership is too much, and it was not stated at the beginning. ### 1/5 — I feel ripped off *2025-09-23, version 1.4.5* I bought this years ago. I have purchased materials from the TPT store and the website and I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that I’ve lost access to an app I paid for out of pocket. I couldn’t possibly afford the new prices and I’m angry that I lost access to what I already paid for. ### 1/5 — Don’t get this app until they fix it! *2025-09-17, version 1.4.5* This might’ve been a good app but it’s $15 a month and is broken. I bought it for my daughter, then canceled so I wouldn’t forget (I still paid for a month), and she couldn’t access it the next day. I emailed them about this, they resubscribed me and told me to set a reminder to cancel the subscription when the month was up. Their app should stay active for the month I paid for regardless of when I unsubscribe. Period. They should fix this. ### 1/5 — Purchased App now add addition $$$ *2025-09-16, version 1.4.5* I purchased the app but now I cannot use it without paying additional fees? How is this legal? I want my money back if I cannot use it. ### 1/5 — Bait and Switch *2025-09-08, version 1.4.5* I paid $29.67 for this app back in 2021. At the time, my oldest child was in first grade and her teacher recommended it to support the Secret Stories program she was using at school. After that year, I didn’t use the app much, but now my youngest daughter is in first grade. When I opened the updated app to access the Secret Stories she’s learning in school, I discovered I no longer have access to any of the content. I know I had access to the content about 6 months ago. I should still have access to the basic content I originally purchased nearly four years ago. Paying almost $30 for an app—especially when I’m not a teacher using it professionally, but only at home for my children—should guarantee continued access to the features I paid for. Instead, I am now being asked to pay $150 per year to regain access to the very same content I already purchased. Apple: This is unacceptable. I expect the content I paid for to be restored, or for another fair resolution to be offered. Please address and correct this issue promptly. UPDATE: I heard from the developer. The app forces me to: • Enter my original order ID and purchase date each time, • Use a small “restore purchase” link hidden at the bottom of the app, and • Navigate Apple purchase history settings just to retrieve the required information. This is not the same product I originally purchased. The developer has since introduced a $150/year subscription for new features, but instead of keeping my original purchase intact and offering the new version separately, they altered the functionality of the app I already paid for. This makes my access unreasonably burdensome and feels deceptive. I believe this violates fair consumer practices. When I purchase an app, I should continue to have seamless access to what I bought—not be required to jump through technical hoops or be pressured toward a subscription. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — WAS my favorite app till I went to recommend it to others *2026-04-25, version 1.4.5* I am very shocked and disheartened to know an app I paid for, and had other families purchase too, all the sudden does not work. At all. Not an upgrade issue but a complete shut down of anything I purchased. Which was not a cheap $2 cost. How disappointing that Katie Garner would allow this to happen when she is creating other avenues of content she is selling. I would know as I have purchased many other items from her. Now I will have to see what else I have lost from my purchases of Secret Stories like TPT items. SMH. ### 1/5 — Not interactive, not a spelling “app” *2026-04-17, version 1.4.5* This “app” is not a tool, or interactive. There is no practice, it is literally just a series of videos. There is no interaction or practice within it. A complete waste of time and money. I canceled my subscription within five minutes and wish I could get a refund. ### 1/5 — Poor company ethics *2026-02-25, version 1.4.5* I bought a “lifetime subscription” on the App Store several years ago and absolutely loved it. I can now no longer use it as it’s asking for a purchase order #, which I obviously do not have since it was not ordered from the Secret Stories website directly. This is obviously a money grab to force former users to a paid by month subscription service. ### 1/5 — Too expensive *2026-02-21, version 1.4.5* $15 a month for such little content. It offers a short video (30 seconds) for each secret story, then sings the better alphabet song. You can find the same stuff on YouTube. Don’t waste your money! ### 1/5 — SCAM. ZERO STARS *2026-02-20, version 1.4.5* I paid $25 for this app, which is already a lot for an app. And now I went back in and they want me to pay $15 a month or a yearly subscription over $100. Why would I pay for the app and then have to pay to use the app? Make it make sense? It’s not like you can use a basic version and then upgrade. You literally can’t use the app at all unless you get the subscription now. So dumb. ### 1/5 — Stealing from customers *2026-02-03, version 1.4.5* I bought this app (several times actually on different Apple accounts/devices) for like $30 several years ago and now they have locked me out and are trying to get me to subscribe!! It’s a good system but has always been overpriced. Now they’re getting downright greedy. So gross ### 1/5 — Preying on educators for cash *2025-12-23, version 1.4.5* Very disappointed in this company. They prey on teachers and parents to pay $14.99 a month for an app that doesn’t do much. It works better with standalone one-time pricing (like they have in the past) as there are no meaningful monthly updates. They are relentless in trying to scrape money away from you. They also do not abide by normal app subscriptions on Apple. Instead, gatekeeping access on their end. If you end your subscription early, they cut off access for what you already bought. DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY. They made their own bed by doing this pricing structure. I like the curriculum but their business ethics are predatory and I cannot recommend them. ### 1/5 — Trust Issue After Policy Change *2025-12-20, version 1.4.5* I’m very disappointed by the switch to a monthly subscription. I originally purchased the app years ago as a one-time purchase through the App Store (it wasn’t cheap and wasn’t worth the cost), and now I no longer even have access to it. I paid for the app in good faith, and it’s frustrating to be locked out unless I subscribe again. This change makes me hesitant to trust the company. ### 1/5 — Scam *2025-12-02, version 1.4.5* Bought it a few years ago and it’s forever price and now it’s saying I need to buy it again but yearly at $150. This is a joke! So upset! ### 1/5 — Buyer Beware *2025-11-22, version 1.4.5* I paid over $30 dollars for this app, and enjoyed using it with my class. However, the app suddenly has switched to a subscription and turned off access to content I purchased on a one time basis. It feels like the company has stolen back content I paid for. The price was unreasonable before for content I had already memorized, but $15 per month is insane. I won’t ever make another purchase from Secret Stories, and you should think seriously before you buy from them as well. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Was great *2025-10-07, version 1.4.5* I bought this app for $30 in 2023. I used it daily with my second graders. Recently it wanted me to buy it again in order to use it. Now it’s wanting me to put in the day I purchased it and my order number. How should I know those? I feel like they stole my money. ### 5/5 — Updates *2025-09-14, version 1.4.5* Can’t live without this app! ### 5/5 — Restore Purchase *2025-07-23, version 1.4.5* For those worried about the update, just look for your purchase code and date through your purchase history and then click restore purchase in app and you will have the same access as before. ### 5/5 — Another Teacher Needing Support *2025-07-02, version 1.4.5* I understand wanting to create a yearly subscription but for those of us who paid for this app and several hundred to have the letters and books in our classrooms when this money comes out of our paychecks is unacceptable. I always shared The Secrets with everyone I knew. I can no longer justify. ### 5/5 — Teacher needing support *2025-06-24, version 1.4.5* I love this app for home and school use. I cannot open it now because it says I need to purchase the premium features. I am pretty confused by the new update, I purchased the app for $25 and in it is currently unusable. Please provide support. Adding premium content is fine, but taking away content i have paid for is a wild choice, especially since as a teacher for a public school, I already purchase everything on my own. 😭😭😭😭 ### 5/5 — Secret cost? *2025-06-16, version 1.4.5* I purchased this app through the App Store on my phone and now it won’t open. You are wanting either a monthly or yearly fee? That wasn’t shared with me when I purchased the app. Wow! Thanks for nothing, as a hard working educator I already spend my own money for my students and now you want more money! ### 5/5 — Kerry Hovey *2024-10-15* I love The Secret Stories and this APP brings the posters alive. I was covering for a friend with a group of 4th graders in the resource room last week. These complimented the UFLI lesson and it’s just great to always have them right where you need them. These songs help the kids remember. They aren’t too old to need this support if they are struggling a little bit. ### 5/5 — Game changer *2024-09-22, version 1.3.1* Game changer, it is a decoder of words! It is like being given the key to the lock and all the secrets come out! ### 5/5 — Helpful for a substitute para educator *2024-02-02, version 1.3.1* When helping at many schools I love teaching kids how much the brain can grow in just one day and this app helps me do that for sure! We can sing along kindergarten through second grade and sometimes even a higher grade they love it! -Valerie Oakley ### 5/5 — Excellent resource *2023-10-17, version 1.3.1* This app is handy in that you have the stories at your fingertips. Children can use the app to help decode words right away if they can’t remember the stories yet. The better alphabet song is a must before learning any of the stories and the key is to keep one’s eyes “GLUED” or staring at each letter while following along with the song. It solidifies the learning A LOT faster by knowing letter/sound recognition. As a teacher I am sold on Secret Stories to help those student learn phonics patterns in such a fun way! --- *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 2026-07-05.*