# Fry Words vs Phonogram Sounds

The clearest difference is price: Phonogram Sounds at Free against Fry Words's $0.99. Phonogram Sounds also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.6) and update cadence (every 6 months vs every 35 months). Fry Words's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Phonogram Sounds is free to download; Fry Words costs $0.99 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 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 84 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of Fry Words's written reviews are positive against 70% of Phonogram Sounds's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Fry Words ships an update every 35 months, Phonogram Sounds every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fry Words | Phonogram Sounds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.6 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fry-words/id470926345/reviews) | **[4.0 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonogram-sounds/id797098295/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 44 | **84** |
| Positive reviews | **75.9% of reviews** | 69.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 43 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Innovative Mobile Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/420345423) | [All About Learning Press, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/786428125) |

## What reviewers say

### Fry Words

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fry-words/id470926345)

This app helps young children learn to read by providing flashcards for the most common words. It offers customizable lists, engaging audio, and multiple game modes to make learning fun and effective for ages 1-4.

**Highlights:** Customizable word lists, Record your own voice, Multiple game modes, Adjustable speed and font, Continuous looping, Infant mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Highly customizable word lists
- 👍 Excellent for learning Fry words
- 👍 Good variety of modes (flashcard, game)
- 👍 Useful for various age groups (kindergarten to adult)
- 👍 Offers spoken pronunciation of words

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sound issues (not working, low volume)
- 🐛 App freezes/crashes frequently
- 🐛 Recording feature doesn't work
- 🐛 Basic functionality, lacks instructions
- 🐛 Some words not capitalized correctly

**Reported bugs**

- Sound unavailable/not working
- Volume is too low
- App freezes often
- Recording option doesn't work
- Sound does not remain on in settings

**Requested features**

- Ability to mark mastered cards
- Option to create quick lists from all words
- Improvement to the recording section
- Update app for new iOS compatibility
- Correct capitalization of 'I'


### 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 Fry Words free?

Fry Words costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Phonogram Sounds free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Fry Words or Phonogram Sounds?

Phonogram Sounds is rated higher. Fry Words averages 3.6 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Phonogram Sounds averages 4.0 from 84 ratings.

### Do Fry Words or Phonogram Sounds have ads?

Neither Fry Words nor Phonogram Sounds shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fry Words or Phonogram Sounds?

Fry Words ships an update every 35 months, and Phonogram Sounds every 6 months. Most recently, Fry Words was updated on October 10, 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.*