Comparison

First Phonics vs Smart English 2nd 4

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

Head to head
About

First Phonics

This educational app helps young children learn English phonics through interactive games, animations, and storybooks. It covers alphabet sounds, word recognition, and reading skills across multiple levels.

Highlights
  • Alphabet letter sound videos
  • Phonics word flashcards
  • Interactive skill-building activities
  • Chants and songs for practice
  • Review games
  • Alphabet tracing
  • Phonics storybooks
Features
Read full description

*Spotlight on First Phonics* ■ Overview From learning the alphabet letters to reading stories! Bricks Spotlight on First Phonics, a program designed for children studying English for the first time, has a mobile app which makes it easy and fun to study phonics. With animations, chants, games, storybooks, and a variety of other components, children can study phonics in ways which cater to a multitude of learning styles. *Visit the Bricks website below for further information. https://www.hibricks.com ■ Features Student Book: Level 1 to Level 5 1. - Sound: Learning the alphabet letter sounds through videos - Flashcard: Learning phonics words through sounds and images - Activity: Building phonics skills through various activities - Chant: Practicing letter-sound recognition skills through singing chants - Game: Playing games to review letters and sounds 2. - Alphabet Chant: Learning the alphabet letters and sounds through a video - Alphabet Tracing: Learning to write each letter of the alphabet by tracing it Storybook: Level 1 to Level 5 1. Story: Reading a collection of stories with phonics words 2. Song: Viewing story animations and joining along with songs ■ How to acquire and apply: 1. Install the app and download the appropriate level. 2. Click on the level, and children can learn phonics with the multi-content provided.

About

Smart English 2nd 4

This educational app provides a fun and engaging English course for young learners. It features updated visuals, audio, and animations, along with an AI speaking function to help students practice pronunciation and fluency.

Highlights
  • AI speaking function for pronunciation practice
  • Updated illustrations and photos
  • New songs, chants, and animations
  • Easy-to-follow lessons
  • Fun comics and dialogs
  • Progress checks
Features
Read full description

Smart English 2nd Edition is a fun and easy English course for young EFL students. The series helps students build confidence while they learn English in a communicative way. The 2nd Edition features updated illustrations and photos. All songs, chants, and animations have been upgraded as well. And, the new Smart English app features an AI speaking function. Features • Easy-to-follow lessons • Useful language in authentic contexts • Fun comics and dialogs with charming characters • Cumulative reviews • Progress checks • NEW colorful illustrations and photos • NEW songs, chants, and animations • NEW AI speaking app The Smart English AI Speaking App contains the series audio, animations, games, and flashcards, as well as AI Andi, your new friend. AI Andi, an adorable robot, assesses students’ pronunciation, accuracy, and fluency while they practice conversation with Smart English characters.

Screenshots

First Phonics4 screens
Smart English 2nd 44 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: First Phonics at every 11 days against Smart English 2nd 4's every 14 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

First Phonics ships an update every 11 days, Smart English 2nd 4 every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
First Phonics versus Smart English 2nd 4: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirst PhonicsSmart English 2nd 4
PriceFreeFree
Rating—1.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews8.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.011.0
Further details — not scored
Size506 MB1.4 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBricks Educatione-future Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

First Phonics

Written reviews23 reviews
Positive8.7%
Neutral13.0%
Negative78.3%

Smart English 2nd 4

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

First Phonics

No in-app purchases

None

Smart English 2nd 4

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is First Phonics free?
First Phonics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smart English 2nd 4 free?
Smart English 2nd 4 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do First Phonics or Smart English 2nd 4 have ads?
Neither First Phonics nor Smart English 2nd 4 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, First Phonics or Smart English 2nd 4?
First Phonics ships an update every 11 days, and Smart English 2nd 4 every 14 months. Most recently, First Phonics was updated on September 22, 2026 and Smart English 2nd 4 on October 14, 2026.

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