# Thomas Edison Elementary vs Smart Tales

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Thomas Edison Elementary at 100% against Smart Tales's 55%. Thomas Edison Elementary also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). Smart Tales's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 20 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Tales sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Thomas Edison Elementary asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smart Tales holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart Tales has 18K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Thomas Edison Elementary's written reviews are positive against 55% of Smart Tales's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Thomas Edison Elementary ships an update every 20 months, Smart Tales every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thomas Edison Elementary | Smart Tales |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thomas-edison-elementary/id1175826287/reviews) | **[4.6 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **18K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 54.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#200** |
| Size | 32 MB | 289 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Burbank Unified School District](https://appshunter.io/developer/1334416275) | [Marshmallow Games SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/955873246) |

## What reviewers say

### Thomas Edison Elementary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thomas-edison-elementary/id1175826287)

Stay connected with your child's school. Receive important announcements and get involved through volunteer opportunities. This app provides a direct link to school information and updates.

**Highlights:** School announcements, Parent-teacher communication, Volunteer opportunities, Important information updates, Push notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Smart Tales

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861)

**Currently charting:** #200 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app offers over 2500 interactive educational games and stories for children aged 2-11. It covers reading, writing, STEM, and math, with a focus on personalized learning paths and inclusivity for all learners, including neurodivergent children. Parents can monitor progress and set limits.

**Highlights:** Interactive educational games, Award-winning stories, Math skills development, Reading and vocabulary building, STEM and science exploration, Logic and reasoning challenges, Personalized learning paths

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $5.49 | per month |
| Monthly Learning Plan for Kids | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Smart Tales Semi Annual | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Smart Tales Quarterly | $34.99 | per 3 months |
| Smart Family Promo | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Promo Subscription | $54.99 | per year |
| Yearly Learning Plan for Kids | $89.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Improved school performance
- 👍 Engaging and fun for kids
- 🤩 Positive impact on child's mood
- 🎉 Great content and creativity
- 💯 Effective learning tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Errors and bugs in the app
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Lack of family sharing
- ⚠️ Inappropriate content for kids
- 🤯 Confusing and frustrating user experience

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Incorrect shape identification
- Subscription issues and double charges
- Content not loading properly
- Accessibility features not working as expected

**Requested features**

- More writing and grade-level options
- Improved voice-text synchronization
- Better customization for child's level
- Easier unsubscription process
- Compatibility with family sharing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thomas Edison Elementary free?

Thomas Edison Elementary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Smart Tales free?

Smart Tales is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Thomas Edison Elementary or Smart Tales?

Smart Tales is rated higher. Thomas Edison Elementary averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Smart Tales averages 4.6 from 18K ratings.

### Do Thomas Edison Elementary or Smart Tales have ads?

Neither Thomas Edison Elementary nor Smart Tales shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Thomas Edison Elementary or Smart Tales?

Thomas Edison Elementary ships an update every 20 months, and Smart Tales every 3 weeks. Most recently, Thomas Edison Elementary was updated on November 2, 2026 and Smart Tales on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*