Comparison

Learn To Write vs Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Learn To Write

This app helps children learn to write letters and numbers through interactive tracing and animated guides. It uniquely records and plays back a child's writing strokes, allowing educators and parents to review and provide targeted instruction.

Highlights
  • Interactive letter and number tracing
  • Adjustable-speed animated stroke guides
  • Real-time playback of writing strokes
  • Audio pronunciation of letters
  • Multiple pen styles
  • Mess-free learning tool
Features
Read full description

The app educators choose for classroom use, and the only app that records a child's letter strokes for parents and educators to review. Learn to Write is a fun way for children to learn how to write their letters and numbers, and with the improved playback feature in version 4.1, it's easy for the teacher to make sure they do it correctly. This unique playback function, found in Learn to Write, saves the child's writing so you can play it back in real time to see how the child is forming letters and numbers. Children learn the proper strokes with the help of an adjustable-speed-animated ball that they can follow and write along with. With each selection of a letter or number, an audio file says the letter to aid in memorizing the alphabet. Over a dozen unique pen styles are available for tracing. Parents enjoy the educational value and entertainment this mess-free learning tool provides (after all, who needs crayon, marker, or pencil stains on the carpet, table, or wall?). Also great for long car trips, doctor's offices, and other waiting times. Write letters and numbers, or draw on the screen, and push the play-back button to see it all in real-time. Not only is this a great app for teaching children at home, educators are also choosing this app for classroom instruction. You won't find silly cartoon characters and frustrating feedback that tells children they formed letters incorrectly when they failed to trace exactly as outlined. You help children Learn to Write, and then you can review the strokes of every letter formed for further one-on-one instruction. Recommended for children 2 years and up. --------- No in-app purchases. No advertisements, popups, or storing of personal data. --------- The strokes used in Learn To Write resemble the Zaner-Bloser style, which is also used in Romalda Spalding's The Writing Road to Reading, with the exception that O’s and Q’s are started at the top 12 o’clock position instead of the suggested 2 o’clock position. Not all teachers agree on the proper strokes for some letters. For example, some teachers prefer that the pen or stylus never leave the paper except to cross a t, or dot an i. A person's handwriting often adapts with time to be as efficient as possible, while still maintaining proper form. This application is meant as a guide to children and parents, but your individual curriculum may differ slightly. Instructions for use: -Select numbers, or letters in lowercase, uppercase, or mixed case using the segmented control on the settings screen. -When a letter is selected and the child writes upon the screen, the writing is saved in memory. Pushing the triangle-shaped play button at the bottom of the writing screen plays back the last recorded strokes for each letter. A toolbar button allows the user to erase all of the saved strokes in memory. -Red number icons on the settings screen give the total number of letter or number recordings. -The brush button displays a pulldown menu full of usable brush styles. Just touch the brush-style to select it. -Letter buttons display the letter on the screen and turn orange when there are saved strokes for the letter. At any time the user can draw using one's finger, just like a real pen and erase the drawing with the erase button on the toolbar. -The toolbar button with a letter and ball activates the animated red ball, which demonstrates proper letter or number formation. - Adjust the speed of the ball and volume using the sliders on the settings screen. -Press the home and power button at the same time to take a snapshot of the screen and save it in the photo archive of the device .

About

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

This app offers a comprehensive reading curriculum for young learners with over 300 picture books, songs, and interactive quizzes. It supports listening, reading, and recording, building phonics and vocabulary skills. Designed by an award-winning educator, it aims to foster a love of reading and confidence in beginning readers.

Highlights
  • Library of 300+ picture books
  • Sing-along song books
  • Interactive train game quizzes
  • Listen, read, and record functionality
  • Integrated word dictionary
  • Progress reporting tools
  • Unlimited user accounts
Features
Read full description

Every child can learn to read with this growing library of 300+ playful picture books, 21 sing-along song books and unlimited train game quizzes. "No other app is as specifically tailored to the needs of beginning readers." KinderTown.com Now beginning readers can listen, read and record, all by themselves. Pay once and receive all the books PLUS regular updates with brand new books at no additional cost! Play the train game, win coins for the music store, collect and learn new vocabulary words in the train yard. Created by Libby Curran, People Magazine Teacher of the Year, based on her award winning books. Grand Prize Winner of the 2015 Technology and Reading Award, International Literacy Association. Please note this is the same app as Reading Train Endless Books Songs & Games but includes all books with no in-app purchases. "Beautifully designed storybooks and related games that teach foundational reading": Appolicious.com "A vast selection of mini books to help kids reach reading independence" Geeks With Juniors. Not just a game or set of e-books but a complete reading curriculum from pre- reading to reading independence, building phonics and vocabulary skills, self confidence and a love of reading. Safe for Kids: The Learning Station is a Proud Member of Moms With Apps Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org * Listen, read and record books at 3 different beginning reading levels. * Professional narration: American English. All books can be recorded by users. * Play the train game after every book. * 450+ word integrated dictionary * 20 sing along song books * Unlimited user accounts and individual bookshelves * Powerful reporting tools Books Kids CAN Read. Written by Libby Curran, a People Magazine Teacher of the Year, these fun little books are field tested in real classrooms to get kids started on the path to reading independence. Books Kids LOVE to Read. Children are naturally curious, so encourage them to explore our leveled books on numbers, colors, animals, shapes, and science. Beginning readers need to read little books, but the Reading Train's unique design allows kids to explore big ideas, reading to learn at the same time as they learn to read. After reading, they can play the train quiz game, explore the audio dictionary and sing along with song books. Give Your Kids the Tools to Succeed. Stuck on a word? Tap and hold to hear every word and access the built in dictionary filled with hundreds of words. Play a unique quiz game at the end of every book to extend the learning. The Reading Train is packed full of tools to help children succeed, all on their own. Read To Learn- Meets Common Core Standards Kids can choose funny fiction and fascinating nonfiction on kid-friendly topics to build background knowledge while improving reading comprehension and foundational skills. Quizzes Disguised as Games. Play the train game after finishing every book, but don't tell them it's a quiz! Check progress on the parent's page which shows books read and recorded and detailed scores on the quizzes. The Right Team for the Job The Reading Train is the culmination of 30+ years of teaching experience. Backed by an all-star team of teachers turned iOS developers and a professional children's musician, the Reading Train is serious about making learning fun. Safe for Kids Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org We welcome your feedback: email: support@readingtrain.org http://www.readingtrain.org http://www.facebook.com/readingtrain Contact Libby with suggestions about books at: libby@readingtrain.org Not compatible with iPad 1. Requires iOS 7 or higher.

Screenshots

Learn To Write3 screens
Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead at 75% against Learn To Write's 29%. Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.9) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). Learn To Write's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $9.99) and ratings volume (7 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Learn To Write costs $1.99 and Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Learn To Write's written reviews are positive against 75% of Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Learn To Write ships an update every 7 months, Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Learn To Write versus Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLearn To WriteReading Train Full STEAM Ahead
Price$1.99 — better$9.99
Rating2.9 (7 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews29.4% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB1.4 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJustin Hackett ProductionsThe Learning Station, LLC

Customer experience

Learn To Write

All ratings7 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral28.6%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive29.4%
Neutral17.6%
Negative52.9%

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Learn To Write

No in-app purchases

None

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Learn To Write free?
Learn To Write costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead free?
Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Learn To Write or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead?
Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead is rated higher. Learn To Write averages 2.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Learn To Write or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead have ads?
Neither Learn To Write nor Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Learn To Write or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead?
Learn To Write ships an update every 7 months, and Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead every 3 months. Most recently, Learn To Write was updated on October 4, 2026 and Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead on October 12, 2026.

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