Comparison

Executive Functions vs Articulation Station Hive

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

Head to head
About

Executive Functions

This app offers a series of exercises designed to train and improve working memory, a key cognitive skill. It presents stimuli to memorize and then requires users to recall or discriminate between them, providing scores and evaluations based on performance.

Highlights
  • Working memory exercises
  • Stimuli memorization
  • Recall and discrimination tasks
  • Scoring and evaluation system
  • Over 200 unique cards
  • 349 automatically generated exercises
Features
Read full description

Executive Functions are a set of cognitive processes that allows to manage complex or unusual situations successfully. They regulate analysis, planning, control and coordination of the cognitive system, and control the activation and use of knowledge processes. It is widely believed that Executive Functions play a fundamental role in 'smart' behavior and that they can be trained and improved through specific exercises. Main executive functions are the acquisition and updating of Working Memory, Cognitive Flexibility and Behavioral Inhibition. The "Executive Functions" series of apps is dedicated to the exercise and improvement of these skills. The first app, which is presented here, is dedicated to 'Working Memory', and proposes many exercises to verify, improve and use the ability to remember, recall and discriminate in the short term some elements that can be images, colors, words, voices or combinations thereof. Each exercise/level is divided into two stages: during the first, a set of stimuli is presented which must be memorized. Then, in the second stage it is required to use, list and/or discriminate between the elements presented. At the end of each exercise the app shows the result obtained and assigns scores and evaluations taking into account the relative difficulty, the number of elements proposed, the time taken and so on. "Executive Functions" contains over 200 "cards" and their names, written and recorded with a female and male voice. The ‘cards’ represent animals, food, means of transport, numbers, etc. and are used to propose 349 exercises/levels generated and managed automatically for a very high number of possible combinations.

About

Articulation Station Hive

This app provides speech-language pathologists and learners of all ages with a comprehensive suite of tools and activities to improve articulation. It offers a wide range of practice options, from isolation to conversation, with customizable features and progress tracking.

Highlights
  • 17 engaging articulation activities
  • Customizable practice for individual learners
  • Progress tracking and session summaries
  • Group sessions for up to 6 learners (Pro tier)
  • Variety of cueing methods (hand, picture, letter)
  • Story and conversation practice modules
Features
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Articulation Station Hive is the most comprehensive speech therapy app on the App Store, giving Speech-Language Pathologists tools and activities to help learners of all ages speak more clearly. Target consonants and vowels across 17 engaging activities—from isolation through conversation. Whether you’re targeting a single sound, multiple sounds, phonological patterns, complex word shapes, or carryover into conversation, Articulation Station Hive makes it easy to customize practice for each learner. ARTICULATION STATION HIVE OFFERS: ISOLATION ACTIVITIES: - Hand Cues provide a video model with a hand cue for each sound. - Picture Cues offer fun animated illustrations for each sound. - Letter Cues pair the letter with the sound in a playful way. SYLLABLE ACTIVITIES: - Syllable Sliders let learners slide two sounds together to make a word. - Syllable Spinners create one-, two-, and three-syllable combinations. WORD ACTIVITIES: - Contrast Pairs support minimal pairs, maximal pairs, and multiple oppositions for phonological intervention. - Flashcards provide repetition. - Matching Games offer three levels of practice. PHRASE ACTIVITIES: - Rotating Phrases combine lead words and target words into two-word combinations. - Unique Phrases provide three-word descriptive phrases for addressing speech and language goals. SENTENCE ACTIVITIES: - Fixed Rotating Sentences provide repeated practice within predictable carrier sentences. - Mixed Rotating Sentences generate varied sentences by combining pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and target words. - Unique Sentences provide longer, more complex speech practice. STORY ACTIVITIES: - Level 1 Stories are short, rhyming, and sometimes repetitive stories paired with picture prompts. - Level 2 Stories provide longer stories with richer vocabulary and more opportunities to practice target sounds. CONVERSATION ACTIVITIES: - Conversation Scenes encourage spontaneous speech with interactive scenes and the ability to record, save, and score speech samples. - Conversation Questions offer four question types for conversation and carryover. WORD LISTS: - Create and save custom Word Lists tailored to each learner. - Combine targets from multiple Sound Programs or search for words across the app. - Explore Speech and Language lists for multisyllabic words, complex consonant clusters, vocabulary, phonological awareness, and more. - Add custom words and images for personalized practice. - Use your lists in word, phrase, and sentence activities. ADDITIONAL TOOLS & RESOURCES: - Customize Sound Programs with Suggested Words, syllable selection, and word shape filtering. - Target phonological processes with word-level practice and contrast pairs. - Work with up to 6 learners at once with Group Sessions. *Pro tier only. - Personalize sessions with seasonal, holiday, just-for-fun, and colored themes. *Illustrated themes are iPad only. TRACK PROGRESS: - Track performance across targeted sounds with session summaries and progress graphs. - Review correct, approximate, and incorrect responses. - Add notes, listen to recordings, and repeat previous sessions. - Share progress and session notes with parents or adult learners. LITTLE BEE HIVE MEMBERSHIP: Articulation Station Hive is included with the Little Bee Hive membership. Pro members receive access to both Articulation Station Hive and Articulation Test Center Hive. Already a Little Bee Hive member? Simply download Articulation Station Hive and sign in with your existing account. SUBSCRIPTION, PRICING & TERMS: Articulation Station Hive offers a 14-day free trial with unlimited access to both Articulation Station Hive and Articulation Test Center Hive. The subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. Payment will be charged to your Apple account at the end of the 14-day trial. Subscriptions may be managed by the user, and auto-renewal may be turned off at any time.

Screenshots

Executive Functions4 screens
Articulation Station Hive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Articulation Station Hive at Free against Executive Functions's $1.99. Articulation Station Hive also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and update cadence (monthly vs every 13 months). Executive Functions's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 16.0). On ads and device support 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

Articulation Station Hive is free to download; Executive Functions costs $1.99 up front. Articulation Station Hive sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Executive Functions asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Articulation Station Hive holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Articulation Station Hive has 689 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Executive Functions's written reviews are positive against 63% of Articulation Station Hive's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Executive Functions ships an update every 13 months, Articulation Station Hive monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Executive Functions versus Articulation Station Hive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExecutive FunctionsArticulation Station Hive
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)4.6 (689 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews63.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1689 — better
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB737 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoberto De LorenzoLittle Bee Speech

Customer experience

Executive Functions

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Articulation Station Hive

All ratings688 ratings
Positive88.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews108 reviews
Positive63.0%
Neutral10.2%
Negative26.9%

Bugs and requests

Executive Functions

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Articulation Station Hive

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login/sign-up issues
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Data loss or inability to access previous sessions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more words and vocabulary
  • Include British accent options
  • Allow one-time purchase option
  • Improve navigation and flow
  • Add more games and interactive activities

In-app purchases

None

Executive Functions

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Articulation Station Hive

Subscriptions4
  • Hive Parent (Monthly)14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Hive Pro (Monthly)14 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Hive Parent (Yearly)14 Days trial$83.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Hive Pro (Yearly)14 Days trial$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Executive Functions free?
Executive Functions costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Articulation Station Hive free?
Articulation Station Hive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Executive Functions or Articulation Station Hive?
Articulation Station Hive is rated higher. Executive Functions averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Articulation Station Hive averages 4.6 from 689 ratings.
Do Executive Functions or Articulation Station Hive have ads?
Neither Executive Functions nor Articulation Station Hive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Executive Functions or Articulation Station Hive?
Executive Functions ships an update every 13 months, and Articulation Station Hive monthly. Most recently, Executive Functions was updated on November 2, 2026 and Articulation Station Hive on November 14, 2026.

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