# Smart Tales vs MintyBrain

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MintyBrain at 100% against Smart Tales's 55%. MintyBrain also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Smart Tales's advantage is ratings volume (18K vs 6) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, update cadence, 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 MintyBrain sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Smart Tales holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart Tales has 18K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of Smart Tales's written reviews are positive against 100% of MintyBrain's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Tales | MintyBrain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861/reviews)** | [4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mintybrain-math-arcade/id6455686147/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#192** | — |
| Size | 289 MB | 307 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) | [MintyBrain, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1147740726) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Tales

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

**Currently charting:** #192 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


### MintyBrain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mintybrain-math-arcade/id6455686147)

This app revolutionizes children's math education by making learning an engaging, visual exploration of concepts. It offers an intuitive platform for practicing math facts, aligning with the US Common Core K-2 curriculum and adapting difficulty in real-time for personalized learning.

**Highlights:** Visual math concept exploration, Engaging math fact practice, US Common Core K-2 alignment, Adaptive learning technology, Personalized difficulty adjustment, Focus on enjoyable learning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Tales free?

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

### Is MintyBrain free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Smart Tales or MintyBrain?

Smart Tales is rated higher. Smart Tales averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while MintyBrain averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do Smart Tales or MintyBrain have ads?

Neither Smart Tales nor MintyBrain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Tales or MintyBrain?

Smart Tales ships an update every 3 weeks, and MintyBrain every 3 weeks. Most recently, Smart Tales was updated on October 20, 2026 and MintyBrain on October 12, 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.*