# First Letters and Phonics vs First Words Phonics Pro

The clearest difference is update cadence: First Words Phonics Pro at every 2 months against First Letters and Phonics's every 23 months. First Words Phonics Pro also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.2). First Letters and Phonics's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $4.99) and review sentiment (79% vs 67%). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

First Letters and Phonics costs $1.99 and First Words Phonics Pro $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

First Words Phonics Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 22 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of First Letters and Phonics's written reviews are positive against 67% of First Words Phonics Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

First Letters and Phonics ships an update every 23 months, First Words Phonics Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Letters and Phonics | First Words Phonics Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.1 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-letters-and-phonics/id346591226/reviews) | **[4.3 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | **78.9% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 16 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 Letters and Phonics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-letters-and-phonics/id346591226)

This app helps young children learn letter shapes, names, and sounds through interactive matching and songs. It features delightful illustrations and engaging audio to develop pre-reading skills and fine motor control.

**Highlights:** Letter shape recognition, Letter name identification, Phonics sound learning, Alphabet Song (two versions), Word association with letters, Fine motor skill development

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 Letters and Phonics free?

First Letters and Phonics costs $1.99, with no 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 Letters and Phonics or First Words Phonics Pro?

First Words Phonics Pro is rated higher. First Letters and Phonics averages 4.1 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while First Words Phonics Pro averages 4.3 from 22 ratings.

### Do First Letters and Phonics or First Words Phonics Pro have ads?

Neither First Letters and Phonics nor First Words Phonics Pro shows ads.

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

First Letters and Phonics ships an update every 23 months, and First Words Phonics Pro every 2 months. Most recently, First Letters and Phonics was updated on November 10, 2026 and First Words Phonics Pro on November 1, 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.*