Comparison

Reading Machine vs Todo Math

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

Head to head
About

Reading Machine

This educational app helps beginning and struggling readers learn new words by breaking them down into letters and sounds. It acts as a personal reading tutor, guiding users to decode unfamiliar words independently, enhancing confidence and reading enjoyment.

Highlights
  • Word decoding with phonics
  • Personalized reading tutor
  • Supports over 5,000 words
  • Text-to-speech engine
  • Book suggestions for readers
  • Full decoding support for early reader titles
Features
Read full description

Used by teachers, parents, and learners since 2010, Reading Machine is now available for free! This app for beginning and struggling readers is still 100% satisfaction guaranteed. If you have any technical issues with the app, or if the app does not meet your expectations for any reason, please email us so we can address your needs and strengthen our support for more readers and a better world. Email: diana@dianasharp.com or support@sharpcuriosity.com Reading Machine helps readers learn new words by seeing and hearing how the letters and sounds in a word go together. The app is perfect for times when readers can’t or don’t want to ask someone else for help on unfamiliar words. Like a personal reading tutor, the app guides readers into figuring out a new word based on the word’s letters and sounds. Readers can use the app while they read traditional books or other printed material. They can also use the app alongside e-books, websites, and other digital material on the iPad. The app is a fun addition to parent-child reading time, and it also works well for older readers who do not like to ask for help on words when they read independently. Developing readers of any age can gain self-confidence as they figure out new words on their own with the app’s support. Videos of how the app works are available at www.sharpcuriosity.com. Created by a parent, learning scientist, and reading researcher, the app’s underlying dictionary is powered by a real human voice with support for over 5,000 words, plus a text-to-speech engine for pronouncing all other words. As readers advance from simple to more complex words, the app dictionary provides tailored decoding support for each word, ranging from individual phonemes and letters, to multi-letter sounds, syllables, prefixes, suffixes, root words, and whole words within compound words. The app also includes suggestions for parents about fun books to get at the library or bookstore to match readers’ interests and skill levels. • The Reading Machine is like a secret decoder ring for unlocking printed words. Use it paired with real books – books you already own or books you’ve borrowed from the public library.  Or use it on the iPad alongside e-books or web pages. • Great for early or struggling readers. • Lets you have more fun reading with your child because your child can use the Reading Machine to figure out words instead of having to ask you for help. • Best for children who already know the sounds that go with each letter and can read some words, but still need help reading sentences and books. • Comes with full decoding and phonics support for all the words in over 125 well-loved early reader titles.  Older readers can even use the app with the first chapter of Harry Potter. • The app provides lists of suggested titles (“Book Sets”) for readers with different interests and skill levels.  This is a great guide for finding books your reader will enjoy. These books are easy to find for free at your public library.  Or head to your favorite bookstore.  • All the words in over 125 books, listed in the Book Sets, have phonics support provided by the app, with clear pronunciation recorded by a natural, human voice.  • For any word not in the app’s dictionary, readers can hear the whole word pronunciation with text-to-speech voice.  So they are never stuck on any word. • Among the words that have phonics and decoding support are the 300 most frequent words in the English language, which cover 65% of all English reading material. Many of these words are often called “sight words.” • When new Book Sets and new words are available for the app, they can be downloaded for free from within the app. For more info and videos, see http://www.sharpcuriosity.com

About

Todo Math

This app offers over 2,000 interactive math activities for children from preschool to 2nd grade. It covers counting, calculation, logic, geometry, and time-telling, with adjustable challenge levels and accessibility features for all learners.

Highlights
  • 2,000+ interactive math activities
  • Covers counting, calculation, logic, geometry, time
  • Adjustable challenge levels (Pre-K to 2nd grade)
  • Accessibility features (8 languages, dyslexic font)
  • Parent dashboard for progress tracking
  • Placement test for accurate level selection
Read full description

The #1 math app for early learners — from counting to multiplication. ■ #1 in the App Store in 20+ countries and created by an award-winning team. More than 10 million parents and 5,000 teachers have made Todo Math their go-to app for young learners › COMPREHENSIVE: 2,000+ interactive math activities for Pre-K through 2nd grade. › LOVED BY KIDS: math practice kids ask to play. Engaging gameplay, beautiful graphics, and adorable collectibles. › EDUCATIONAL: Common Core State Standards-aligned curriculum. 5,000+ elementary classrooms have used Todo Math. › INCLUSIVE & ACCESSIBLE: playable in 8 languages, left-handed mode, help button, dyslexic font and other accessibility features empower ALL children to learn independently. Try Todo Math for free today! › Easy email signup. › No commitment, no credit card information collected. ■ Todo Math covers all the fundamentals of early math education › Counting and Number Concepts - learn to write and count numbers. › Calculation - practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and word problems. › Mathematical Logic - number-based memory games and pictographs. › Geometry - Learn basic geometry, such as drawing and learning shapes. › Clocks & Calendars – learn days of the week, months of the year, and how to tell time. ■ Todo Math lets you select the right challenge level for your child › Level A (Preschool) – Count to 10 and identify the names of shapes. › Level B (Kindergarten Basics) – Count to 20, and add and subtract within 5. › Level C (Kindergarten Mastery) – Count to 100, add and subtract within 10, tell time to the hour. › Level D (1st Grade Basics) – Place value and simple geometry. › Level E (1st Grade Mastery) – Carry-over addition, subtraction with borrowing, and dividing a plane figure equally. › Level F (2nd Grade Basics) – Three-digit addition and subtraction, measurements with ruler, and graph data. › Level G (2nd Grade Mastery) – Comparing three-digit numbers, addition and subtraction of two-digit numbers, foundation of multiplication. › Level H (3rd Grade Basics) – Learn to do basic division. Understand the concept of fractions and know how many faces, edges, vertices each 3D shape contains. › Not sure of which level is right for your child? No problem! Use the in-app placement test. ■ Parents Page › Easily change your child’s level, edit their learning profile, and review their learning progress. › Sync profiles across multiple devices, including cross-platform. ■ Built by Experts › Leading education experts from Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Seoul National University. › Award-winning children mobile app designers. › Team was named co-winner of the Global Learning XPRIZE competition, a worldwide competition to have children teach themselves math and literacy skills. ■ Awards & Recognitions › #1 in the App Store (education category) in 20+ countries, including USA, China, the United Kingdom, Korea and Japan. › SIIA CODiE award finalist (2016). › Winner of the Parents’ Choice Award — Mobile App category (2015, 2018). › Awarded Best Design at the LAUNCH Education & Kids Conference (2013). › 5 out of 5 star rating from Common Sense Media. ■ Safety and Privacy › Todo Math complies with the US Children's Online Privacy Policy, does not contain any third party advertising, and can be played without an internet connection. ■ The Todo Math app that was serviced separately in the the Australian App Store has been unified with the global version. Please search for Todo Math in the App Store and install again. Log in with an existing account to continue where you left off. ■ Have questions? › Please check the FAQ on our website's help section (http://todomath.com/help). › You can get the fastest response by going to the website > Help > Contact Us or the in the Todo Math app > Parents Page > Help. ∙ ∙ ∙ We empower ALL children to learn independently.

Screenshots

Reading Machine4 screens
Todo Math4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Todo Math at 4.7 against Reading Machine's 3.8. Todo Math also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 12). Reading Machine's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 11.0). On price, review sentiment, ads 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

Both are free to download. Todo Math sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Reading Machine asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Todo Math holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Todo Math has 1.1K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Reading Machine's written reviews are positive against 74% of Todo Math's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading Machine ships an update every 14 months, Todo Math every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Reading Machine versus Todo Math: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading MachineTodo Math
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (12 ratings)4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better73.9% of reviews
Number of ratings121.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB588 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDiana Sharp ConsultingEnuma, Inc.

Customer experience

Reading Machine

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Todo Math

All ratings1,142 ratings
Positive92.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews295 reviews
Positive73.9%
Neutral7.5%
Negative18.6%

Bugs and requests

Reading Machine

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Todo Math

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Sound not working on some devices
  • Handwriting recognition issues
  • Progress reset after app updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Expand content to higher grade levels
  • Add more languages and currency options
  • Improve progress tracking and reporting for parents
  • Introduce more personalization options
  • Provide offline access to content

In-app purchases

None

Reading Machine

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Todo Math

One-time6
  • One Year Subscription$49.99
  • One Year Subscription2 variants$69.99
  • One Year Subscription2 variants$79.99
Show 3 more
  • Two Years Subscription$89.99
  • One Year Subscription2 variants$99.99
  • Two Years Subscription2 variants$119.99

Questions

Is Reading Machine free?
Reading Machine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Todo Math free?
Todo Math is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Reading Machine or Todo Math?
Todo Math is rated higher. Reading Machine averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Todo Math averages 4.7 from 1.1K ratings.
Do Reading Machine or Todo Math have ads?
Neither Reading Machine nor Todo Math shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading Machine or Todo Math?
Reading Machine ships an update every 14 months, and Todo Math every 3 weeks. Most recently, Reading Machine was updated on September 16, 2026 and Todo Math on October 13, 2026.

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