Comparison

OgStar Reading Explore vs Reading Mountain

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

Head to head
About

OgStar Reading Explore

This app introduces parents and educators to a multisensory approach for teaching children to read, write, and spell. It offers the initial lessons of a structured literacy program, allowing users to experience the methodology before purchasing the full version.

Highlights
  • Multisensory learning approach
  • Phonological awareness practice
  • Systematic/synthetic phonics
  • Handwriting recognition feedback
  • Speech recognition feedback
  • Progress tracking portal
Read full description

With the FREE OgStar Reading® Explore app, parents and teachers explore how our apps teach kids to read, write, and spell the multisensory way. Try the first 4 lessons in the OgStar sequence, then, go to the App Store to purchase the right OgStar app for your child, so they can continue to build literacy skills. Structured Literacy works! OgStar Reading® Explore provides preschool and elementary-aged students with a window to our other OgStar Reading literacy games, based on the well-respected Orton-Gillingham approach. Students practice: • phonological awareness • systematic/synthetic phonics • multisensory sound/symbol associations • oral reading of phonetically-controlled words • finger tracing and writing of pseudo-words and real words in isolation OgStar Reading® Explore takes students on a captivating reading adventure and includes built-in mini-games and rewards to keep students motivated and engaged. OgStar Reading® is a patent-pending, technologically-sophisticated app with handwriting recognition feedback, speech recognition feedback, audio-visual synchronization, voice-over correction feedback, and text-to-speech features. Data collection is available in the Parent/Teacher Portal describing student performance and progress over time. This delightful, multisensory, Structured Literacy game helps students to independently develop evidence-based literacy skills, in accordance with the scientific standards recommended by the National Reading Panel, which established the best ways to teach students how to read.

About

Reading Mountain

This structured literacy program uses a systematic, multisensory approach inspired by Orton-Gillingham to build strong reading and writing skills. It breaks down words into sounds and spelling patterns, offering interactive lessons, movable tiles, and decodable books for learners of all ages.

Highlights
  • Structured and cumulative learning
  • Interactive 'New Learning' module
  • Movable sound tiles for word building
  • Integrated spelling and writing practice
  • Level-appropriate decodable books
  • Interactive reinforcement games
  • Speech recognition for reading feedback
Features
Read full description

BUILD READING, SPELLING, AND WRITING SKILLS STEP BY STEP Reading Mountain is a structured literacy program for learners of all ages, including new readers and learners who struggle with reading, spelling, or writing. Inspired by the Orton-Gillingham approach, the program teaches English in a clear, systematic sequence so learners understand how sounds, letters, and spelling patterns work together. A CLEAR PATH TO LITERACY Reading Mountain moves from foundational sounds to increasingly advanced word patterns. Each lesson builds on earlier skills and combines direct instruction with guided practice, review, and application. KEY FEATURES • Structured, cumulative lessons New phonics concepts, spelling rules, and sound patterns are introduced in a purposeful order, with review built into the journey. • Multisensory sound tiles Learners move and arrange tiles to read and spell words one sound at a time, strengthening the connection between spoken sounds and written letters. • Reading, spelling, and writing together Each lesson connects word reading, sentence reading, spelling, handwriting, and keyboard writing so learners apply the same concept in multiple ways. • Truly decodable books Books use the sound patterns and sight words learners have already been taught, helping them practice new skills in meaningful stories without relying on guessing. • AI-supported reading feedback Reading Mountain listens during supported reading activities and helps identify sounds and words that may need more practice. Lesson feedback can be emailed to parents or instructors. • Tap any word for help Learners can explore a word’s sounds, spelling pattern, pronunciation, and supporting visuals when they need extra guidance. • Skill-focused games Interactive games reinforce the exact reading and spelling skills taught in each lesson. • Family learning Individual plans support one learner. Family plans support up to four learners, each with a separate profile and progress. WHO IT’S FOR • Children learning to read • Older learners strengthening foundational skills • Learners with dyslexia or other reading difficulties • Parents, homeschool families, tutors, and educators seeking systematic literacy practice Reading Mountain uses a focused, age-flexible design that is engaging without being overstimulating. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Reading Mountain offers auto-renewing Individual and Family subscriptions with monthly and annual options. Individual plans cover one learner; Family plans cover up to four learners. U.S. BASE PRICES • Individual Monthly: $29.00 per month • Individual Annual: $239.00 per year • Family Monthly: $49.00 per month • Family Annual: $399.00 per year These are U.S. base prices. Actual prices may vary by country or region and are displayed in the app before purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple ID account settings. Privacy Policy: https://readingmountain.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Reading Mountain4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reading Mountain at 100% against OgStar Reading Explore's 40%. Reading Mountain also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.1). OgStar Reading Explore's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Reading Mountain sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $29.00 per month. OgStar Reading Explore asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reading Mountain holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of OgStar Reading Explore's written reviews are positive against 100% of Reading Mountain's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OgStar Reading Explore ships an update every 4 weeks, Reading Mountain every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
OgStar Reading Explore versus Reading Mountain: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOgStar Reading ExploreReading Mountain
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (14 ratings)4.3 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS10.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size327 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOGSTAR READING, LLCLEARN MOUNTAIN LLC

Customer experience

OgStar Reading Explore

All ratings14 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral7.1%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative50.0%

Reading Mountain

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

OgStar Reading Explore

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Reading Mountain

Subscriptions5
  • Individual Monthly$29.001 Month
  • Reading Mountain Full Access$29.991 Month
  • Family Monthly$49.001 Month
Show 2 more
  • Individual Annual$239.001 Year
  • Family Annual$399.001 Year

Questions

Is OgStar Reading Explore free?
OgStar Reading Explore is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reading Mountain free?
Reading Mountain is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, OgStar Reading Explore or Reading Mountain?
Reading Mountain is rated higher. OgStar Reading Explore averages 3.1 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Reading Mountain averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.
Do OgStar Reading Explore or Reading Mountain have ads?
Neither OgStar Reading Explore nor Reading Mountain shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OgStar Reading Explore or Reading Mountain?
OgStar Reading Explore ships an update every 4 weeks, and Reading Mountain every 3 weeks. Most recently, OgStar Reading Explore was updated on October 2, 2026 and Reading Mountain on October 5, 2026.

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