Comparison

Initial Code Full Version vs Splingo

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

Head to head
About

Initial Code Full Version

This app supports learning to read and spell in English through a phonics program. It offers activities for blending, segmenting, and word/sentence reading and writing, with units unlocking as progress is made.

Highlights
  • Phonics-based reading and spelling
  • Blending and segmenting activities
  • Sound-spelling correspondence
  • Word and sentence reading/writing
  • Unit-based progression
Read full description

The official app for the Sounds-Write Initial Code phonics programme, for learning to read and spell in English. ******* IPAD ONLY ******* This app is currently unavailable on the iPhone because of the writing element of the app. For young children to become fluent readers and spellers they need to rehearse and consolidate what they are learning. It is this, repeated over and over again, that enables their access to alphabetic code knowledge and skills to become totally automatic and internalised processes. This app offers a variety of activities to develop the skills of blending and segmenting, sound spelling correspondence, word reading and writing and some sentences reading and writing. The app has been designed to introduce all the sound-spelling correspondences your child(ren) needs to learn to put them well on the way to learning to read and write. Each unit will be locked until the child has completed enough of the current unit to be able to progress. For more information on the Sounds-Write programme please visit www.sounds-write.co.uk

About

Splingo

Engaging educational games designed by speech and language therapists to help children develop essential communication skills. Features interactive gameplay, bright visuals, and motivating reward systems. Targets various language areas from early words to complex directions.

Highlights
  • Therapist-designed games
  • Targets receptive language
  • Early words development
  • Following directions
  • Interactive gameplay
  • Reward games
  • Language assessment tool
Features
Read full description

Speech and Language apps for children Designed by Speech and Language Therapists/Pathologists, Splingo apps are fun and engaging educational games to help your child develop their speech and language skills. Specially designed by Speech and Language Therapists/Pathologists to target different areas of language development Fun and interactive gameplay with an emphasis on learning Bright, colorful images and animations In-built reward games to engage and motivate Recommended by Speech and Language Therapists/Pathologists Splingo games target all these areas of language development – Following Directions/Receptive Language Actions/verbs Pronouns Early Words development Past Tense Categories Adjectives / Describing Words Language Assessment Splingo also includes a professional’s Language Assessment tool designed to assess children’s receptive language skills. As Speech and Language Therapists / Pathologists with over 40 years experience between us we know what it takes to support children’s speech and language development! We’ve designed these Splingo games to be fun and educational by using bright, colorful images and animations. Splingo games can be customized to target specific language skill areas so you can be certain that your child is playing the right games at the right level. We’ve added high-quality, in-built reward games to motivate your child to keep on learning. The games also have an option to select between US voice and UK voice. Children love playing Splingo and parents and professionals tell us it’s an app that children ask for over and over again – they’re having fun whilst they’re learning! Used for over a decade by Speech and Language Therapists all over the world, Splingo is a go-to app for developing children’s language skills. **Frequently listed as a Top 10 Speech and Language App (Speech Sisters; District Speech; Therapy Tree; The Sped Guru; TechBooky**

Screenshots

Splingo3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Initial Code Full Version at 100% against Splingo's 35%. Initial Code Full Version also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 8). Splingo's advantage is price (Free vs $5.99) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). On iOS requirement 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

Splingo is free to download; Initial Code Full Version costs $5.99 up front. Splingo sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Initial Code Full Version asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Initial Code Full Version holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Splingo has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Initial Code Full Version's written reviews are positive against 35% of Splingo's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Initial Code Full Version ships an update every 5 months, Splingo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Initial Code Full Version versus Splingo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInitial Code Full VersionSplingo
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better3.3 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better34.8% of reviews
Number of ratings17 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB791 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSounds-Write LtdSplingo Ltd

Customer experience

Initial Code Full Version

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Splingo

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive34.8%
Neutral8.7%
Negative56.5%

In-app purchases

None

Initial Code Full Version

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Splingo

One-time8
  • Splingos Language UniverseFree
  • Actions With Splingo$0.99
  • Categories With Splingo$0.99
Show 5 more
  • Describing Words With Splingo$0.99
  • Pronouns With Splingo$0.99
  • Past Tense With Splingo$0.99
  • Early Words With Splingo$0.99
  • Language Assessment$9.99

Questions

Is Initial Code Full Version free?
Initial Code Full Version costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Splingo free?
Splingo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Initial Code Full Version or Splingo?
Initial Code Full Version is rated higher. Initial Code Full Version averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Splingo averages 3.3 from 7 ratings.
Do Initial Code Full Version or Splingo have ads?
Splingo shows ads; Initial Code Full Version does not.
Which is updated more often, Initial Code Full Version or Splingo?
Initial Code Full Version ships an update every 5 months, and Splingo every 2 months. Most recently, Initial Code Full Version was updated on November 11, 2026 and Splingo on November 3, 2026.

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