# Smart Tales vs Gateway Charter

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gateway Charter at none against Smart Tales's 10. Gateway Charter also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Smart Tales's advantage is chart position (#163 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). 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. Gateway Charter asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smart Tales ships an update every 3 weeks, Gateway Charter every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Tales | Gateway Charter |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#163** | — |
| Size | 289 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marshmallow Games SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/955873246) | [Gateway Preparatory Academy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1610078892) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Tales

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

**Currently charting:** #163 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


### Gateway Charter

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gateway-charter/id1610078890)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Tales free?

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

### Is Gateway Charter free?

Gateway Charter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Smart Tales or Gateway Charter have ads?

Neither Smart Tales nor Gateway Charter shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Tales or Gateway Charter?

Smart Tales ships an update every 3 weeks, and Gateway Charter every 6 weeks. Most recently, Smart Tales was updated on November 4, 2026 and Gateway Charter on October 25, 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.*