# Phonics Reading Program vs Musical Multiplication

The clearest difference is price: Musical Multiplication at Free against Phonics Reading Program's $8.99. Musical Multiplication also leads on ratings volume (141 vs 3). Phonics Reading Program's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Musical Multiplication is free to download; Phonics Reading Program costs $8.99 up front. Musical Multiplication sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Phonics Reading Program asks for nothing beyond the download.

Phonics Reading Program holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Musical Multiplication has 141 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Phonics Reading Program ships an update every 3 months, Musical Multiplication every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phonics Reading Program | Musical Multiplication |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $8.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-reading-program/id1451879999/reviews)** | [4.3 (141 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musical-multiplication/id6472698577/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **141** |
| Positive reviews | — | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#180** | — |
| Size | 67 MB | 230 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blast Off to Learning, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1089311556) | [The Good and the Beautiful LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1619790550) |

## What reviewers say

### Phonics Reading Program

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-reading-program/id1451879999)

**Currently charting:** #180 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

A phonics-based reading program for children aged 4-7. It offers 31 cumulative lessons to teach reading and spelling skills through fun games, with progress tracking to identify areas needing support.

**Highlights:** Phonics-based learning, 31 cumulative lessons, Reading and spelling practice, In-game rewards (coins), Progress tracking, Supports workbooks and electronic tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Musical Multiplication

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musical-multiplication/id6472698577)

Master multiplication with catchy, original songs designed for elementary-aged children. This app uses the power of music to make memorization fun and effective, with interactive learning and progress tracking to keep kids motivated.

**Highlights:** 42 original multiplication songs, Music-based learning for faster memorization, Interactive learning with progress tracking, Mastery tracking for individual progress, Multiple student profiles, Offline accessibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual subscription | $26.99 | per year |
| Unlimited one-time purchase | $35.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Engaging and useful for kids
- 👍 Makes memorization fun and effective
- 👍 Helps kids learn multiplication facts
- 👍 Catchy songs that get stuck in kids' heads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 App may be a bit expensive for its simplicity
- 📱 Not available on computers, only mobile devices
- 🤔 Methodology may be confusing or ineffective for some kids

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and inability to save student profiles
- Restrictions on retrying questions

**Requested features**

- Ability to create custom playlists of specific multiplication facts
- More content and features beyond just the songs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phonics Reading Program free?

Phonics Reading Program costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Musical Multiplication free?

Musical Multiplication is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Phonics Reading Program or Musical Multiplication?

Phonics Reading Program is rated higher. Phonics Reading Program averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Musical Multiplication averages 4.3 from 141 ratings.

### Do Phonics Reading Program or Musical Multiplication have ads?

Neither Phonics Reading Program nor Musical Multiplication shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phonics Reading Program or Musical Multiplication?

Phonics Reading Program ships an update every 3 months, and Musical Multiplication every 2 months. Most recently, Phonics Reading Program was updated on September 21, 2026 and Musical Multiplication on October 1, 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.*