# First Phrases vs Fun & Functional

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Fun & Functional at none against First Phrases's 1. Fun & Functional also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and price ($14.99 vs $15.99). First Phrases's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 11 months). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

First Phrases costs $15.99 and Fun & Functional $14.99 up front. First Phrases sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Fun & Functional asks for nothing beyond the download.

Fun & Functional holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 5 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 94% and 93% positive.

First Phrases ships an update every 4 months, Fun & Functional every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on August 27, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Phrases | Fun & Functional |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $15.99 | **$14.99** |
| Rating | [4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases/id473894018/reviews) | **[4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fun-and-functional/id498640017/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **93.8% of reviews** | 93.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 612 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hamaguchi Learning & Development, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/460288922) | [Smarty Ears](https://appshunter.io/developer/348779167) |

## What reviewers say

### First Phrases

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases/id473894018)

This interactive app helps young children learn to combine words into meaningful phrases. It features animated characters performing actions and allows for recording and playback to aid language development. Ideal for speech therapy and early literacy support.

**Highlights:** 72 verb + noun phrase combinations, Animated characters performing actions, Record and playback speech, Group setting for multiple users, Data collection and reporting, Visual support for learning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| In-app purchase | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Engaging animations
- 👍 Effective for speech therapy
- 👍 Customizable settings
- 👍 Good for language development
- 👍 Interactive learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy after updates
- 🐛 Screen share disconnects
- 💰 In-app purchases for characters
- 💰 Price considered high by some
- 🐛 App crashes frequently

**Reported bugs**

- Screen share disconnects during animations
- App crashes frequently
- Settings do not save
- Words do not flip to show phrases after update
- App not working after new iPad purchase (resolved)

**Requested features**

- Store recordings for progress tracking
- Add more phrases
- Allow more student profiles
- Save multiple recordings
- Repeat targeted phrase with icons on all pages


### Fun & Functional

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fun-and-functional/id498640017)

This app teaches users to understand and describe the function of everyday objects. It's designed for children and adults, offering a research-based curriculum to build vocabulary and literacy skills. Features include dual-mode learning, high-quality visuals, and multilingual support.

**Highlights:** Teaches object function, Dual-mode learning (receptive/expressive), Over 20,000 visuals, Multilingual support (EN, ES, PT), 10 functional categories, Customizable difficulty, Data tracking and reports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Phrases free?

First Phrases costs $15.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Fun & Functional free?

Fun & Functional costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Phrases or Fun & Functional?

Fun & Functional is rated higher. First Phrases averages 4.2 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Fun & Functional averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do First Phrases or Fun & Functional have ads?

Neither First Phrases nor Fun & Functional shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Phrases or Fun & Functional?

First Phrases ships an update every 4 months, and Fun & Functional every 11 months. Most recently, First Phrases was updated on August 27, 2026 and Fun & Functional on August 26, 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.*