# Cotter AL Abacus vs Phonogram Sounds

The clearest difference is price: Phonogram Sounds at Free against Cotter AL Abacus's $1.99. Phonogram Sounds also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.5) and review sentiment (70% vs 47%). Cotter AL Abacus's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Phonogram Sounds is free to download; Cotter AL Abacus costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Phonogram Sounds holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phonogram Sounds has 84 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Cotter AL Abacus's written reviews are positive against 70% of Phonogram Sounds's.

Cotter AL Abacus ships an update every 9 months, Phonogram Sounds every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cotter AL Abacus | Phonogram Sounds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.5 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cotter-al-abacus/id406078581/reviews) | **[4.0 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonogram-sounds/id797098295/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **84** |
| Positive reviews | 47.1% of reviews | **69.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 76 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Activities for Learning inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/406078584) | [All About Learning Press, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/786428125) |

## What reviewers say

### Cotter AL Abacus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cotter-al-abacus/id406078581)

This educational tool uses a unique double-sided abacus to teach arithmetic concepts through visualization and quantity recognition. It helps learners develop mental strategies for faster mastery of basic math skills.

**Highlights:** Double-sided abacus design, Grouped in fives and tens, Focuses on quantity recognition, Develops mental math strategies, Supports visual learning, Includes sample lessons

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Phonogram Sounds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonogram-sounds/id797098295)

This interactive app provides clear audio pronunciations for letter sounds and combinations, featuring all 72 basic phonograms from a popular language arts curriculum. It's designed to support reading and spelling development for learners of all ages.

**Highlights:** Hear correct pronunciation of sounds, Clear enunciation of letters and combinations, Includes all 72 basic phonograms, Supports reading and spelling skills, Interactive learning experience

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great supplement for AAS/AAR
- 👍 Helpful for parents/teachers
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Clear phonetic sounds
- 👍 Good for practice

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Incorrect 'r' sound
- 👎 Incomplete phonogram set
- 👎 Not a standalone lesson
- 👎 Not for fun
- 👎 Missing Spalding compatibility

**Reported bugs**

- R says /er/ instead of /r/
- Sound not working
- App crashes
- No sound when tapping phonograms
- Sound only works with ringer on

**Requested features**

- Videos showing lip/tongue placement
- Interactive game app
- App for building words/movable tiles
- Level-based sound availability
- Enlarging tapped tile


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cotter AL Abacus free?

Cotter AL Abacus costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Phonogram Sounds free?

Phonogram Sounds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Cotter AL Abacus or Phonogram Sounds?

Phonogram Sounds is rated higher. Cotter AL Abacus averages 3.5 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Phonogram Sounds averages 4.0 from 84 ratings.

### Do Cotter AL Abacus or Phonogram Sounds have ads?

Neither Cotter AL Abacus nor Phonogram Sounds shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cotter AL Abacus or Phonogram Sounds?

Cotter AL Abacus ships an update every 9 months, and Phonogram Sounds every 6 months. Most recently, Cotter AL Abacus was updated on October 12, 2026 and Phonogram Sounds on October 16, 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.*