# First Phrases vs Articulation IV

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Articulation IV at none against First Phrases's 1. Articulation IV also leads on price ($9.99 vs $15.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). First Phrases's advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 9 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

First Phrases costs $15.99 and Articulation IV $9.99 up front. First Phrases sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Articulation IV asks for nothing beyond the download.

First Phrases ships an update every 4 months, Articulation IV every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Phrases | Articulation IV |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $15.99 | **$9.99** |
| Rating | **[4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases/id473894018/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **13** | — |
| Positive reviews | 93.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 612 MB | 275 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hamaguchi Learning & Development, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/460288922) | [Learning Fundamentals, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/454061076) |

## 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


### Articulation IV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/articulation-iv/id515128379)

**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 Articulation IV free?

Articulation IV costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do First Phrases or Articulation IV have ads?

Neither First Phrases nor Articulation IV shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Phrases or Articulation IV?

First Phrases ships an update every 4 months, and Articulation IV every 9 months. Most recently, First Phrases was updated on October 6, 2026 and Articulation IV 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.*