# Smart Tales vs Learn to Read

Smart Tales and Learn to Read both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 81% of Learn to Read's written reviews are positive against 55% of Smart Tales's. Learn to Read also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and chart position (#14 vs #178). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Tales sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Learn to Read sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $12.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Smart Tales against 4.7 for Learn to Read. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18K and 79K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of Smart Tales's written reviews are positive against 81% of Learn to Read's.

Smart Tales ships an update every 3 weeks, Learn to Read weekly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Tales | Learn to Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861/reviews) | **[4.7 (79K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-to-read-readingcom/id1534938305/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18K | **79K** |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | **81.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #178 | **#14** |
| Size | 289 MB | 264 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marshmallow Games SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/955873246) | [Teaching.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526854604) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Tales

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

**Currently charting:** #178 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 (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $5.49 | per month |
| Welcome Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Monthly Learning Plan for Kids | $11.99 | 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 |
| SmartTales Yearly Offer Plus | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $71.99 | per year |
| Yearly Learning Plan for Kids | $89.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $89.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Printables unlock | $7.99 | one-time |

**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


### Learn to Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-to-read-readingcom/id1534938305)

**Currently charting:** #14 Top Grossing · Education, #93 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app offers a guided, co-play experience for parents and children aged 3-8 to learn reading skills. It uses research-backed phonics lessons, interactive storybooks, videos, and games to build foundational reading abilities.

**Highlights:** 99 step-by-step phonics lessons, 67 interactive digital storybooks, 42 educational videos, 3 expert-designed reading games, Printable offline activities, Family subscription with 3 profiles, Ad-free experience

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Learn to Read (Monthly) | $12.49 | per month |
| Learn to Read (Monthly) | $12.49 | per month |
| Monthly (With Free Trial) | $12.49 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.49 | per month |
| Learn to Read (Monthly) | $12.99 | per month |
| Learn to Read (Monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| Learn to Read (Monthly) | $17.99 | per month |
| Learn to Read (Yearly) | $66.99 | per year |
| Learn to Read (Yearly) | $74.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Engaging and fun for kids
- 🚀 Effective at teaching reading skills
- 💡 Structured, step-by-step approach
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Promotes parent-child bonding
- 🎨 Colorful and visually appealing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤑 Expensive subscription model
- 🐢 Slow progression for more advanced learners
- 🤖 Lack of flexibility to customize or skip lessons
- 🤔 Placement assessment not accurate for all levels
- 🤯 Frustrating when app crashes or logs out

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional app crashes or freezes
- User data loss after app updates
- Inability to redeem promo codes

**Requested features**

- Option to learn cursive writing
- More independent practice games and activities
- Ability to jump to appropriate lesson level
- Support for multiple languages or accents
- Printable resources like flashcards or worksheets


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Tales free?

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

### Is Learn to Read free?

Learn to Read is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Smart Tales or Learn to Read?

Learn to Read is rated higher. Smart Tales averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Learn to Read averages 4.7 from 79K ratings.

### Do Smart Tales or Learn to Read have ads?

Neither Smart Tales nor Learn to Read shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Tales or Learn to Read?

Smart Tales ships an update every 3 weeks, and Learn to Read weekly. Most recently, Smart Tales was updated on November 2, 2026 and Learn to Read on November 2, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Smart Tales or Learn to Read?

Smart Tales currently peaks at #178 in the App Store charts, and Learn to Read at #14. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*