# Phonics Cards vs Reading Mountain

The clearest difference is rating: Phonics Cards at 4.7 against Reading Mountain's 4.3. Phonics Cards also leads on ratings volume (52 vs 6). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Phonics Cards sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Reading Mountain sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $29.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Phonics Cards holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phonics Cards has 52 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Phonics Cards ships an update every 4 weeks, Reading Mountain every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phonics Cards | Reading Mountain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-cards/id1521333787/reviews)** | [4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-mountain/id6755405634/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **52** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 12 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Florithm LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1192090855) | [LEARN MOUNTAIN LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1800083061) |

## What reviewers say

### Phonics Cards

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-cards/id1521333787)

This app offers a distraction-free way to learn phonics rules and improve pronunciation. It includes extensive word examples and customizable phonics sets, supporting both English and British accents.

**Highlights:** 23 phonics sets, ~5000 word examples, English and British accent pronunciation, Customizable phonics sets, Add custom words and notes, Distraction-free interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Everything | $5.99 | one-time |


### Reading Mountain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-mountain/id6755405634)

This structured literacy program uses a systematic, multisensory approach inspired by Orton-Gillingham to build strong reading and writing skills. It breaks down words into sounds and spelling patterns, offering interactive lessons, movable tiles, and decodable books for learners of all ages.

**Highlights:** Structured and cumulative learning, Interactive 'New Learning' module, Movable sound tiles for word building, Integrated spelling and writing practice, Level-appropriate decodable books, Interactive reinforcement games, Speech recognition for reading feedback

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Monthly | $29.00 | per month |
| Reading Mountain Full Access | $29.99 | per month |
| Family Monthly | $49.00 | per month |
| Individual Annual | $239.00 | per year |
| Family Annual | $399.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phonics Cards free?

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

### Is Reading Mountain free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Phonics Cards or Reading Mountain?

Phonics Cards is rated higher. Phonics Cards averages 4.7 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Reading Mountain averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do Phonics Cards or Reading Mountain have ads?

Neither Phonics Cards nor Reading Mountain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phonics Cards or Reading Mountain?

Phonics Cards ships an update every 4 weeks, and Reading Mountain every 2 weeks. Most recently, Phonics Cards was updated on October 6, 2026 and Reading Mountain on October 23, 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.*