# Starfall Learn to Read — user reviews > 75 indexed App Store user reviews of Starfall Learn to Read by Starfall Education Foundation, rated 4.17/5 from 226 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-learn-to-read/id551817261/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-learn-to-read/id551817261.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 150 · 4★ 24 · 3★ 16 · 2★ 12 · 1★ 24 ## What do users think of Starfall Learn to Read? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 📚 Excellent phonics and reading instruction method - 🎵 Engaging songs and catchy tunes that maintain interest - 🎨 Well-designed animations and interactive stories - 👶 Effective for children with learning difficulties (dyslexia, ADHD, special needs) - 💰 Free version available with substantial content - 🎯 Clear pronunciation and American English voiceover - 📖 Comprehensive curriculum covering vowels, blending, and word families - 🧩 Intuitive interface easy for young children to navigate - ⭐ Proven results - children learn to read quickly - 🎮 Fun and entertaining without overstimulation - 👨‍🏫 Suitable for both native and non-native English speakers **Cons** - 🐛 App crashes and fails to load on some devices - ❌ Math games incompatible with certain iOS versions - 📱 Technical issues with black/green screens on launch - 🔄 Requires multiple restarts to function properly - 💳 Misleading pricing - paid version converted to free - 🎮 Non-educational games added to promote other apps - 🔧 Poor app maintenance and slow update response - 📺 Overstimulation concerns for some users despite claims - 🚫 Difficult to cancel or manage subscriptions **Commonly reported bugs** - App won't load beyond launch screen (black or green screen) - Math games incompatible with iPhone updates - Sound not playing in some instances - App requires deletion and reinstallation to function - Crashes on iOS 9.2.1 and older versions - Glitches when pressing letter machine words - App needs to be opened twice each time to run - Compatibility issues with various iOS versions **Most requested features** - Reward/star system for motivation and progress tracking - Lesson progression markers showing mastery of modules - Writing and spelling exercises to reinforce learning - More stories and content variety - UK English version option - Settings to control word pronunciation features - More word-building exercises - Sight vocabulary games for common words - Additional phonics rules (ng, tch, ck, tion, sion) - Level progression system to track advancement ## Newest reviews (10 of 75) ### 4/5 — Date added: 15th October 2025 *2026-05-12* Date Removed: 1th January 2027 ### 5/5 — Starfall free *2019-11-12* Did you know that there is a Starfall learn how to read app and there is a Starfall free app ### 5/5 — Absolutely amazing (& fun!) FREE teaching tool! *2019-09-26* THIS APP IS AWESOME! As a parent to a 6yo girl & a 5yo boy with ADHD and Dyslexia, I found this app (and all the other Starfall apps!) to be a complete & total blessing! Both of my kids love Starfall and they “play” it every single day when they get home from school. 1st, I love that the apps are FREE! 2nd, I love that it covers every single step necessary in order to teach children how to read. Both kids spent the summer learning from Starfall, loving every minute of it! My kids both go to a very small private Christian Academy, where my son started out as a Kindergartener this year and my daughter in 1st grade. He did so well the first few weeks of school that the teacher went ahead and moved him up into the 1st grade with his big sister, who’s the star student!! I was a little hesitant, because I didn’t want him to miss the essentials, but thanks to Starfall and a LOT of time spent working with him by me, he is bypassing our wildest expectations! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Starfall to ALL children, no matter the age. I do feel that a reward system like those of a few other learning apps (tickets to exchange for little online prizes), would make Starfall even better and would give kids the extra incentive to push a bit harder. It would also be great if the different lessons were sectioned off, put in the order in which they should be learned, and then be marked as Mastered each time a module is completed. It would give the kids a sense of accomplishment. Otherwise, I have zero complaints. Thank you, Starfall, for everything you’re doing to help children...especially mine! ### 5/5 — A childhood favorite *2019-07-06* I used to play Starfall when I was little ### 5/5 — Garbage! *2019-04-09* I had it when I was little but i accently update it i thought the update was garbage. NOTE: Improve when it has garbage update ### 5/5 — Glitch if you press the letter machines word lol *2018-11-17* So today if you press it like the title lol I do not know what to do ### 5/5 — Brilliant! *2018-04-19* This is such a great app for preschoolers learning to read. There’s no overstimulation from the flashy craziness that you see in other apps, yet it’s engaging and exciting. My boy fights his other phonics lessons (which he finds a bit dry), yet loves this app and learns a lot from it. ### 5/5 — Mom Of learners *2018-01-29* A must have after learning the letters and sounds. ### 5/5 — Great app *2015-12-12* Entertaining and funny. Presents phonics and blending in a kid friendly format. ### 1/5 — Won't load *2015-05-28, version 2.10* I've downloaded, deleted and re-downloaded four times. All I get is a black screen. It's a shame. I'd heard good things about Starfall. Please fix or reimburse cost!! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Cannot cancel this app! *2023-09-28* I have look everywhere for a way to cancel this app!!!! ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2022-11-05, version 3.38* This thing doesn’t work a bit. It doesn’t let you play the math games, it just says this game isn’t updated to your iPhone. I’ve updated it 1000000 times and it still doesn’t work pls fix it ### 1/5 — Made worse *2016-11-25* I paid for this app before it was free. For adults reorganizing by vowel type might make sense but the kids liked being able to see all the activities on the same screen. Starfall also added some non-reading games to promote their other apps. If you are just downloading the free version now this may not be as frustrating as it is for me. Be wary of paying for any Starfall apps though. I paid for a reading app that "updated" to this free version. Now I have to be vigilant or my kids are playing a silly game about a monkey instead of learning to read. ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2016-09-10, version 2.10* This app won't load!! Where's the update/fix???? ### 1/5 — Repair/ update your app! *2016-04-06, version 2.10* It's April, still not loading beyond the green title screen. ### 1/5 — Rip off *2016-03-28* So I spent the 3.99 to get the app and it's a blank screen. ### 1/5 — Do not buy. Doesn't load. *2016-03-11, version 2.10* I should have listened to the other reviewers. This doesn't work on iOS 9.2.1. Wish I could get my money back. ### 1/5 — Rip off doesn't work *2016-03-05, version 2.10* It worked for a bit, but for the past few months has not, despite deleting and reloading app. I believe it cost $4.99 and should definitely be refunded. ### 1/5 — Just bought it but won't work *2015-09-16, version 2.10* All I can see is black screen on this app. So disappointed! Wasted my money for this garbage app😡 ### 1/5 — Bummer *2015-08-29, version 2.10* Paid for a worthless app that will not load. Black screen only. 😡 ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Dorek *2026-08-03, version 3.47* Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek Dorek ### 5/5 — Starfall free *2025-06-20* I love all the activities Starfall free ### 5/5 — Лучшее для чтения *2024-03-04* Мои дети очень любят эти истории. Они смешные и увлекательные. Все очень четко структурировано. Это лучшее приложение для отработки базовых знаний фонетики и чтения! ### 5/5 — THE BEST! *2023-06-06* Both of my little siblings both love this learning app very much and is free, how amazing! You can make your avatar, read books and the books can also read you through it. This is also very fun and my siblings always feel happy, excited and energetic to play and learn with this amazing app! We don’t even have to pay money! PARENTS USE THIS APP FOR YOUR KIDS NOW! I promise you they will have the best learning app if for your kids if they need help on school work about reading or writing. Try it out for free people! You guys need this app! ### 5/5 — Childhood memories! *2023-01-13* omg, this was a major part of my childhood! I now, am learning Latin, and have a adult reading level! I just wanted to say a huge thank you, I really appreciate it! -avocxdothespian ### 5/5 — Helped my 3 yr old *2021-10-22* Great for kids who knows the alphabet letters and it teaches them vowels and how to pronounce the words correctly. Great tool for beginners. It worked for me. Hope it can help other parents. ### 5/5 — Perfect *2020-03-30* Been looking for an app to help my 5 year old get a handle on phonics - just started using this app and it seem perfect ! ### 5/5 — I guess *2020-02-01, version 3.11* It’s pretty cool. AND FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOKK ### 5/5 — Please add more stories *2020-01-13* Zac the rat Peg the hen The big hit Mox the fox Gus the duck Jakes tale Pete’s sheep Sky ride Robot and mr mole Dune buggy Soap boat Car race My horse glory Surfer girl My family ### 5/5 — 🥰 *2019-11-17* 💖 I love it and so does my sis --- *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 2026-09-05.*