Comparison

Reading Train Christmas vs ABC Learning Train

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Reading Train Christmas

This app offers interactive Christmas-themed books, songs, and games designed to build foundational reading skills. It features multiple reading levels, professional narration, and a fun train game to reinforce learning. Parents can track progress through detailed reporting tools.

Highlights
  • Interactive Christmas books
  • Multiple reading levels
  • Sing-along Christmas songs
  • Educational train game
  • User recording of books
  • Progress tracking for parents
  • Built-in audio dictionary
Features
Read full description

Listen, read, and record 10 fun Christmas books at 3 easy reading levels: 30 books in all! Sing along with 5 Christmas songbooks and 18 more favorite children's songs. Play the train game; win coins for the Music Store; collect and learn new words in the train yard. "Beautifully designed storybooks and related games that teach foundational reading": Appolicious.com Books, songs and games to build skills, self confidence and a love of reading. Real reading, for fun and information, right from the start. "A dynamic tool to augment any beginning readers program": Teachers With Apps Safe for Kids: The Learning Station is a Proud Member of Moms With Apps Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org * Listen, read and record books at 3 different beginning reading levels to grow as a reader. * Play the train game after every book to learn letters and words * Built-in picture/audio dictionary * 5 Christmas song books PLUS 18 more sing-along songs. * Professional narration- American English. All books can be recorded by users. * Unlimited user accounts * Powerful student reporting tools Books Kids CAN Read. Written by Libby Curran, a People Magazine Teacher of the Year, these engaging little books are field tested in real classrooms to get kids started on the path to reading independence. Books Kids LOVE to Read and Re-read. Children are naturally curious, so encourage them to explore our ABC books to learn new vocabulary and build the foundational knowledge they need to succeed in school. After reading stories they can play the train quiz game, explore the picture/audio dictionary and listen to song books. Give Your Kids the Tools to Succeed. Stuck on a word? Tap and hold to hear every word and access the built in audio dictionary filled with hundreds of words. Play a unique quiz game at the end of every book to extend the learning. The Reading Train Alphabet is packed full of tools to help children succeed, all on their own. Read to Learn- Meet Common Core Standards Read beginning level books with purpose and understanding. Develop the concepts of print: reading left to right and matching written words with spoken words. Learn letter names and sounds, build background knowledge and improve reading comprehension and foundational skills. Quizzes Disguised as Games. Play the train game after finishing every book, but don't tell them it's a quiz! Check progress on the parent's page to see all the books children have read and recorded as well as detailed scores on the quizzes. The Right Team For the Job Created by award winning master teacher and early literacy expert, Libby Curran, The Reading Train is the culmination of 20+ years of teaching experience. Backed by an all-star team of teachers turned iOS developers and a professional children's musician, The Reading Train is serious about making learning fun. Keep in Touch We welcome your feedback, to keep up with all things Reading Train check out: readingtrain.org facebook.com/readingtrain email: support@readingtrain.org We welcome suggestions on future books and curriculum. Contact Libby with suggestions about new content at: libby@readingtrain.org

About

ABC Learning Train

This app helps children learn letters, reading, spelling, and typing their first words. It employs a unique strategy of repeating incorrect answers to ensure memorization of the alphabet and vocabulary. Children must master each level without errors before progressing.

Highlights
  • Learn alphabet
  • Reading practice
  • Spelling words
  • Typing first words
  • Incorrect answer repetition
  • Mastery-based progression
Features
Read full description

The application is designed for kids to learn the letters, read, spell and type the first words. It has the incorrect answer repeating strategy, to help kids to memorize the alphabet and the words. It will not let the child to pass the alphabet level or the word group until every thing is memorized and the level is done without mistakes.

Screenshots

Reading Train Christmas4 screens
ABC Learning Train4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Reading Train Christmas at 5.0 against ABC Learning Train's 4.5. Reading Train Christmas also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (100% vs 89%). ABC Learning Train's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 32 months) and ratings volume (151 vs 2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ABC Learning Train sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Reading Train Christmas asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reading Train Christmas holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ABC Learning Train has 151 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Reading Train Christmas's written reviews are positive against 89% of ABC Learning Train's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading Train Christmas ships an update every 32 months, ABC Learning Train every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Reading Train Christmas versus ABC Learning Train: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading Train ChristmasABC Learning Train
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.5 (151 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better88.9% of reviews
Number of ratings2151 — better
Update frequencyEvery 32 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size653 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Learning Station, LLCMikhail Magurean

Customer experience

Reading Train Christmas

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ABC Learning Train

All ratings151 ratings
Positive87.4%
Neutral4.6%
Negative7.9%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%

In-app purchases

None

Reading Train Christmas

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ABC Learning Train

One-time1
  • Lower case and words$1.99

Questions

Is Reading Train Christmas free?
Reading Train Christmas is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ABC Learning Train free?
ABC Learning Train is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Reading Train Christmas or ABC Learning Train?
Reading Train Christmas is rated higher. Reading Train Christmas averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while ABC Learning Train averages 4.5 from 151 ratings.
Do Reading Train Christmas or ABC Learning Train have ads?
Neither Reading Train Christmas nor ABC Learning Train shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading Train Christmas or ABC Learning Train?
Reading Train Christmas ships an update every 32 months, and ABC Learning Train every 2 months. Most recently, Reading Train Christmas was updated on September 26, 2026 and ABC Learning Train on October 13, 2026.

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