# First Letters and Phonics vs Starfall Numbers

The clearest difference is review sentiment: First Letters and Phonics at 79% against Starfall Numbers's 25%. First Letters and Phonics also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.2) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). Starfall Numbers's advantage is chart position (#189 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 11 months vs every 23 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

First Letters and Phonics holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 35 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of First Letters and Phonics's written reviews are positive against 25% of Starfall Numbers's.

First Letters and Phonics ships an update every 23 months, Starfall Numbers every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Letters and Phonics | Starfall Numbers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.1 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-letters-and-phonics/id346591226/reviews)** | [3.2 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-numbers/id736244016/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **44** | 35 |
| Positive reviews | **78.9% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | **Every 11 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#189** |
| Size | 16 MB | 78 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Learning Touch LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/773246929) | [Starfall Education Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771099820) |

## 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


### Starfall Numbers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-numbers/id736244016)

**Currently charting:** #189 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app uses interactive activities and songs to help children learn number recognition and counting skills. It connects numbers to real-world objects and introduces basic math concepts for early learners.

**Highlights:** Number symbol and value recognition, Counting activities, Interactive introductions for numbers 0-100, Coin counting and math expressions, 15 animated math songs, Closed captioning for songs

**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 Starfall Numbers free?

Starfall Numbers costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Letters and Phonics or Starfall Numbers?

First Letters and Phonics is rated higher. First Letters and Phonics averages 4.1 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Starfall Numbers averages 3.2 from 35 ratings.

### Do First Letters and Phonics or Starfall Numbers have ads?

Neither First Letters and Phonics nor Starfall Numbers shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Letters and Phonics or Starfall Numbers?

First Letters and Phonics ships an update every 23 months, and Starfall Numbers every 11 months. Most recently, First Letters and Phonics was updated on September 25, 2026 and Starfall Numbers on September 24, 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.*