# Journals alive vs Ignite by Hatch

The clearest difference is rating: Journals alive at 4.4 against Ignite by Hatch's 3.6. Journals alive also leads on iOS requirement (8.1 vs 15.5). Ignite by Hatch's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Journals alive holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 7 respectively.

Journals alive ships an update every 6 months, Ignite by Hatch monthly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Journals alive | Ignite by Hatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journals-alive/id1289969334/reviews)** | [3.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ignite-by-hatch/id1471622858/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | — | 11.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 273 MB | 357 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alive Studios, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/856124778) | [Hatch, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/703522016) |

## What reviewers say

### Journals alive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journals-alive/id1289969334)

This app enhances printed journals for early learners, bringing letters, numbers, and shapes to life with interactive zoo animals. It offers an engaging way to master foundational educational concepts at home or in the classroom.

**Highlights:** Interactive learning experience, Master alphabet letters, Learn numbers 0-20, Explore basic geometric shapes, Augmented reality zoo animals, Engaging for home and classroom

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ignite by Hatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ignite-by-hatch/id1471622858)

This app offers quick, engaging skill-building games for Pre-K children to prepare them for kindergarten. It provides individualized learning experiences with 170 sequenced skills and automatically collects real-time skill assessment data for teachers.

**Highlights:** Skill-building games for Pre-K, 170 sequenced learning skills, Individualized learning experiences, Real-time child skill assessment, Teacher data reporting, Kindergarten readiness focus

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Journals alive free?

Journals alive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ignite by Hatch free?

Ignite by Hatch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Journals alive or Ignite by Hatch?

Journals alive is rated higher. Journals alive averages 4.4 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Ignite by Hatch averages 3.6 from 7 ratings.

### Do Journals alive or Ignite by Hatch have ads?

Neither Journals alive nor Ignite by Hatch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Journals alive or Ignite by Hatch?

Journals alive ships an update every 6 months, and Ignite by Hatch monthly. Most recently, Journals alive was updated on November 3, 2026 and Ignite by Hatch on November 3, 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.*