Comparison

PhET Simulations vs Letter Tiles for Learning

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

Head to head
About

PhET Simulations

Explore science and math concepts through interactive simulations. This app provides over 75 HTML5 simulations for learning about atoms, energy, multiplication, and more. It's ideal for students, parents, and educators, offering offline access and multiple language support.

Highlights
  • Interactive science and math simulations
  • Offline play capability
  • Multiple language support
  • Customizable favorites collection
  • Automatic simulation updates
  • Easy simulation sorting
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Engage in learning science and math with the award-winning PhET simulations! Whether understanding atoms, exploring energy, or mastering multiplication, there is a sim for every learner. Perfect for at home, in class, or on the road, this app delivers all PhET HTML5 sims (over 75 sims) in one easy-to-use package. Developed by experts at the University of Colorado Boulder, PhET sims are used by millions of students every year. The PhET iPad app delivers these exclusive features: • Offline play: learn on the bus or at the park without a WiFi connection. • Multiple languages: app translate in many languages (great for bilingual learners). • Favorites: pick your favorite sims and create your own custom collection. • Automatic updates: get the latest HTML5 sims as soon as they are released. • Easy sorting: find the right sims for you. • Fullscreen: maximize your screen real estate for optimal sim exploration. PARENTS: Engage your child in science and math discovery. TEACHERS: Your favorite HTML5 sims at your fingertips, even without internet access. ADMINISTRATORS: Optimized for school use, so your teachers will be seamlessly up to date. STUDENTS: Tell your parents there’s an exciting app for learning science and math. Note: The app does not include PhET’s Java or Flash sims. In addition, although we are currently working on improving the accessibility of our sims, most of the sims included in this app do not include keyboard navigation or screen reader access. As accessible sims become available, they will be updated within the app. Proceeds from the app support the development of more HTML5 sims. On behalf of the PhET team and the students whose lives you have helped improve — Thank you!

About

Letter Tiles for Learning

Build words, divide them into syllables, and explore phonogram sounds. This educational tool supports specific reading and spelling programs, offering relevant letter tiles for each lesson. Ideal for interactive learning on tablets.

Highlights
  • Build words
  • Divide words into syllables
  • Hear phonogram sounds
  • Supports All About Reading
  • Supports All About Spelling
  • Lesson-specific letter tiles
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This app is designed for tablets. It is not recommended for phones. Our Letter Tiles app lets you build words, divide words into syllables, and hear the sounds of the phonograms. Just choose your program from the menu (All About Reading or All About Spelling) and select which lesson number you are currently teaching. The appropriate letter tiles for that lesson will appear, making it easy for you to teach and easy for your child to learn. The app contains all the phonograms, suffixes, and word parts taught in the All About Reading and All About Spelling lesson plans. Suitable for all ages and learning styles! Please Note: This app does not read words aloud.

Screenshots

PhET Simulations3 screens
Letter Tiles for Learning4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PhET Simulations at $0.99 against Letter Tiles for Learning's $19.99. PhET Simulations also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.2) and review sentiment (66% vs 38%). Letter Tiles for Learning's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 14 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and chart position 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

PhET Simulations costs $0.99 and Letter Tiles for Learning $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PhET Simulations holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 48 and 93 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of PhET Simulations's written reviews are positive against 38% of Letter Tiles for Learning's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, Letter Tiles for Learning every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
PhET Simulations versus Letter Tiles for Learning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhET SimulationsLetter Tiles for Learning
Price$0.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.5 (48 ratings) — better3.2 (93 ratings)
Positive reviews65.5% of reviews — better37.7% of reviews
Number of ratings4893 — better
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#67#42 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of Colorado BoulderAll About Learning Press, Inc.

Customer experience

PhET Simulations

All ratings49 ratings
Positive87.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.2%
Written reviews145 reviews
Positive65.5%
Neutral4.1%
Negative30.3%

Letter Tiles for Learning

All ratings93 ratings
Positive48.4%
Neutral8.6%
Negative43.0%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive37.7%
Neutral10.1%
Negative52.2%

Bugs and requests

PhET Simulations

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Letter Tiles for Learning

Reported bugs

50 issues
  • Drop-down menu not staying down
  • Blank white screen
  • App crashes constantly
  • Tiles go missing when splitting syllables
  • Spaces appear randomly in words
Show 45 more
  • Replacing letters moves them to end
  • Cannot drag tiles to top
  • App crashes on opening after update
  • App not working after update
  • New version not compatible with curriculum
  • Letters freeze up constantly
  • Cannot clear tiles easily
  • Tapping letters to appear on screen not working
  • Sound stopped working
  • Difficulty downloading app components
  • Dragging syllable tags is difficult
  • Cannot get syllable tags to move
  • App orientation locked
  • Cannot put two separate words on same line
  • Cannot play 'change the word' activity
  • Drop-down for picking lesson not working
  • Hardly ever works, difficult to select level/lesson
  • Stuck on white screen
  • App freezes
  • Can't see all letters on screen, cut off
  • Let you switch out letters fluidly
  • Word building area cut off by letter tiles
  • Child cannot hold on a letter blend to hear sound
  • Child cannot hold built word to see spelling
  • Interface difficult to use
  • Tiles don't always respond to touch
  • Tiles go missing
  • Clears for no reason
  • Cannot find sounds, don't fit on screen
  • Letters too large
  • Constantly have to swipe to get to vowel teams
  • Cannot drag them up there, have to fling
  • App unusable for many activities
  • App keeps closing itself
  • Letters freeze up
  • Cannot get any of it to work
  • Too sensitive to clear tiles
  • Tapping letters doesn't work
  • Cannot divide syllables easily
  • Cannot put divided syllables back together
  • Difficult to slide screen to access syllable tags
  • Cannot drag tiles on iPad
  • Issues dragging tiles
  • Cannot get tiles to respond
  • Words popping up on screen within lessons

Requested features

14 requests
  • Undo feature
  • Tile scramble mode
  • Apple Pencil/stylus support
  • Card quiz feature
  • Option to adjust tile size
Show 9 more
  • Ability to write on whiteboard
  • Sound out words in lessons
  • Add end mark punctuation
  • Add 'q' tile for advanced learners
  • Fix /r/ and /er/ sound issue
  • Add 'are you sure?' for deleting tiles
  • Allow multiple words on one line
  • Fix first line bug
  • Allow user to adjust keyboard area size

In-app purchases

None

PhET Simulations

No in-app purchases

None

Letter Tiles for Learning

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PhET Simulations free?
PhET Simulations costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Letter Tiles for Learning free?
Letter Tiles for Learning costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PhET Simulations or Letter Tiles for Learning?
PhET Simulations is rated higher. PhET Simulations averages 4.5 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while Letter Tiles for Learning averages 3.2 from 93 ratings.
Do PhET Simulations or Letter Tiles for Learning have ads?
Neither PhET Simulations nor Letter Tiles for Learning shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PhET Simulations or Letter Tiles for Learning?
PhET Simulations ships an update every 14 months, and Letter Tiles for Learning every 6 weeks. Most recently, PhET Simulations was updated on November 6, 2026 and Letter Tiles for Learning on November 6, 2026.
Which is more popular, PhET Simulations or Letter Tiles for Learning?
PhET Simulations currently peaks at #67 in the App Store charts, and Letter Tiles for Learning at #42. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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