# PocketPhonics (basic edition) vs Writing Wizard

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Writing Wizard at none against PocketPhonics (basic edition)'s 3. Writing Wizard also leads on ratings volume (3.3K vs 68). PocketPhonics (basic edition)'s advantage is price ($6.99 vs $13.99) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). On rating, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

PocketPhonics (basic edition) costs $6.99 and Writing Wizard $13.99 up front. PocketPhonics (basic edition) sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Writing Wizard asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for PocketPhonics (basic edition) against 4.3 for Writing Wizard. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Writing Wizard has 3.3K ratings behind it against 68, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of PocketPhonics (basic edition)'s written reviews are positive against 90% of Writing Wizard's.

PocketPhonics (basic edition) ships an update every 5 weeks, Writing Wizard every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketPhonics (basic edition) | Writing Wizard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$6.99** | $13.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketphonics-basic-edition/id299342927/reviews)** | [4.3 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writing-wizard-school-ed/id631446426/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 68 | **3.3K** |
| Positive reviews | 88.7% of reviews | **90.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 778 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apps in My Pocket Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/299342930) | [Pierre Abel](https://appshunter.io/developer/367460664) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketPhonics (basic edition)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketphonics-basic-edition/id299342927)

This app teaches young children essential early reading and writing skills, focusing on letter sounds and handwriting. It's designed to help kids master phonics and begin reading simple storybooks with interactive exercises and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** Teaches letter sounds, Handwriting practice, Word blending, Interactive storybooks, Progress monitoring, Audio pronunciation of words

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription for books | $1.49 | per month |
| Annual subscription for books | $14.49 | per year |
| Lifetime subscription - books | $16.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Engaging for kids
- 💡 Teaches phonics and writing
- 👍 Customizable settings
- 👍 Helpful for speech therapy

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🤔 Confusing verification process
- 🤔 Lack of Australian/non-US accent option
- 🤔 Doesn't wait for child response

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect answer verification
- Sudden subscription changes
- Login issues and account sync problems

**Requested features**

- Add more words and practice
- Allow custom word lists
- Improve letter tracing accuracy feedback
- Provide letter names along with sounds
- Add more game-like elements


### Writing Wizard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writing-wizard-school-ed/id631446426)

This app helps children learn to trace letters, numbers, and words with a fun, motivating system. It offers customizable tracing, interactive games, and progress reports for parents and educators.

**Highlights:** Customizable tracing practice, Interactive games and rewards, Letter names and phonics, Create custom word lists, Progress reports, Printable worksheets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Customizable word lists and recording
- 🎨 Engaging graphics and animations
- 🏫 Great for teaching handwriting and spelling
- 🔒 No ads or in-app purchases
- 🎓 Helpful for children with special needs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezing
- 🔤 Limited font options, especially for UK users
- 🔒 Difficulty accessing parental controls
- 🖋️ Apple Pencil not supported
- 🔄 Difficulty clearing tracing history

**Reported bugs**

- Incorrect letter formation for some characters
- Inconsistent performance on older devices

**Requested features**

- Add more font options, including cursive and UK-specific styles
- Improve parental control accessibility
- Integrate Apple Pencil support
- Allow easier clearing of tracing history
- Expand character support (e.g., Latin Extended, Cyrillic, Arabic)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketPhonics (basic edition) free?

PocketPhonics (basic edition) costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Writing Wizard free?

Writing Wizard costs $13.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PocketPhonics (basic edition) or Writing Wizard?

PocketPhonics (basic edition) is rated higher. PocketPhonics (basic edition) averages 4.4 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Writing Wizard averages 4.3 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do PocketPhonics (basic edition) or Writing Wizard have ads?

Neither PocketPhonics (basic edition) nor Writing Wizard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PocketPhonics (basic edition) or Writing Wizard?

PocketPhonics (basic edition) ships an update every 5 weeks, and Writing Wizard every 4 months. Most recently, PocketPhonics (basic edition) was updated on September 26, 2026 and Writing Wizard on September 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*