# First Words Deluxe vs First Words Phonics Pro

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: First Words Phonics Pro at none against First Words Deluxe's 1. First Words Phonics Pro also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.2). First Words Deluxe's advantage is review sentiment (89% vs 67%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

First Words Deluxe costs $4.99 and First Words Phonics Pro $4.99 up front. First Words Deluxe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. First Words Phonics Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for First Words Deluxe against 4.3 for First Words Phonics Pro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 51 and 22 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of First Words Deluxe's written reviews are positive against 67% of First Words Phonics Pro's.

First Words Deluxe ships an update every 4 months, First Words Phonics Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Words Deluxe | First Words Phonics Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.3 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-deluxe/id337462979/reviews)** | [4.3 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **51** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | **89.2% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 103 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Learning Touch LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/773246929) | [Read 'n' Learn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005499252) |

## What reviewers say

### First Words Deluxe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-deluxe/id337462979)

This app helps toddlers learn letters, spelling, and reading through interactive games. It features over 150 words across five categories and supports multiple languages, with adjustable difficulty levels for personalized learning.

**Highlights:** Learn letters and spelling, Over 150 words in 5 categories, Multiple language support, Adjustable difficulty levels, Phonics option, Toddler-friendly interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Word Pack 1 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🚀 Smooth letter dragging
- 📚 Wide variety of words
- 🎨 Bright, engaging visuals
- 🔊 Pronounces letters and words

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Some words disappear when switching to phonics mode
- 🇺🇸 Uses American spellings, not suitable for all regions
- 💰 Expensive to buy multiple language versions

**Reported bugs**

- Words sometimes disappear from the screen
- Occasional crashes or freezes reported

**Requested features**

- Allow users to add custom words and images
- Expand word list with more advanced vocabulary
- Implement a phonics-focused mode for all words
- Add multilingual support in the base app


### First Words Phonics Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709)

This educational app teaches children reading and spelling through synthetic phonics. It offers two learning levels and various hint options to customize difficulty, making learning engaging with colorful visuals and sound effects.

**Highlights:** Synthetic phonics learning levels, Learn words and spelling, Letter recognition and matching, Interactive exploration interface, Child-friendly user interface, Engaging artwork and sound effects, 121 words in 5 categories

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Words Deluxe free?

First Words Deluxe costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is First Words Phonics Pro free?

First Words Phonics Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Words Deluxe or First Words Phonics Pro?

First Words Deluxe is rated higher. First Words Deluxe averages 4.3 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while First Words Phonics Pro averages 4.3 from 22 ratings.

### Do First Words Deluxe or First Words Phonics Pro have ads?

Neither First Words Deluxe nor First Words Phonics Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Words Deluxe or First Words Phonics Pro?

First Words Deluxe ships an update every 4 months, and First Words Phonics Pro every 2 months. Most recently, First Words Deluxe was updated on October 29, 2026 and First Words Phonics Pro 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.*