# LetterSchool vs Cursive Words

The clearest difference is rating: LetterSchool at 4.5 against Cursive Words's 3.8. LetterSchool also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LetterSchool sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Cursive Words sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

LetterSchool holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LetterSchool has 17K ratings behind it against 353, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of LetterSchool's written reviews are positive against 57% of Cursive Words's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

LetterSchool ships an update every 2 months, Cursive Words every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and July 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LetterSchool | Cursive Words |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (17K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/letterschool-learn-to-write/id481067676/reviews)** | [3.8 (353 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cursive-words/id733706995/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **17K** | 353 |
| Positive reviews | 54.4% of reviews | **57.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 156 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Letterschool Enabling Learning B.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1133082101) | [Horizon Business, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/431586531) |

## What reviewers say

### LetterSchool

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/letterschool-learn-to-write/id481067676)

This app helps young children learn to write letters, numbers, and shapes through interactive tracing and engaging animations. It offers progress tracking and is designed by educational professionals to be safe and fun for toddlers and preschoolers.

**Highlights:** Block and cursive letter tracing, Uppercase and lowercase letters, Numbers 1-10 tracing, Geometric shape tracing, Progress tracking for multiple players, Interactive animations and sound effects, CVC, CVCC, and long sound word practice

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Access Pass | $4.99 | per month |
| LetterSchool - Monthly Pass | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Access Pass | $9.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Access Pass | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| LetterSchool - Monthly Pass | $14.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Access Pass | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual Access Pass | $44.99 | per year |
| LetterSchool - Annual Pass | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access Pass | $59.99 | per year |
| LetterSchool - Annual Pass | $74.99 | per year |
| Unlock All Shapes | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Full Block Alphabet | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Full Cursive Alphabet | $6.99 | one-time |
| All-in-one Package | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Engaging and interactive
- 🚀 Helps improve handwriting
- 💡 Supports multiple writing styles (print, cursive, d'nealian)
- 👍 Motivating with rewards and animations
- 👍 Useful for children with learning challenges

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Subscription issues (app reverts to lite version, need to restore purchases)
- 🐛 Glitches and crashes (especially with Dari letters)
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Limited free version
- 🔍 Inconsistent letter formation (not aligned with school standards)

**Reported bugs**

- Dari letter (پ) keeps glitching
- Subscription issues (app reverts to lite version, need to restore purchases)
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Login screen freezes

**Requested features**

- Add more languages (Russian, Serbian, Thai, Korean, Hebrew, Hindi, etc.)
- Allow creating custom words/names to practice
- Improve letter sound pronunciations
- Add more visual options (fonts, themes, etc.)
- Integrate with International Phonetic Alphabet


### Cursive Words

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cursive-words/id733706995)

Practice cursive writing with this educational app designed for families. Customize settings to tailor the learning experience and play until mastery is achieved.  It's a fun way to improve handwriting skills.

**Highlights:** Cursive writing practice, Family-friendly, Customizable settings, Mastery-based gameplay, Educational tool

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Uppercase Words | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for learning cursive
- 🤩 Great for practicing cursive writing
- 💕 Enjoyable and fun to use
- ✨ Smooth brush stroke
- 🆓 Completely free with no ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙏 Needs more words and longer words
- ❌ Doesn't check if writing is correct
- 💻 Harder to use on electronic devices vs paper
- 🥱 Can get repetitive and boring
- 🤔 Lacks different difficulty levels

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or stops working after a few days of use
- Occasional freezing or unresponsiveness

**Requested features**

- Add uppercase letters and more advanced words
- Implement feedback/correction on writing
- Allow use of pen/stylus instead of just finger
- Incorporate mini-games or challenges to make it more engaging
- Introduce different difficulty levels or progression


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LetterSchool free?

LetterSchool is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cursive Words free?

Cursive Words is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, LetterSchool or Cursive Words?

LetterSchool is rated higher. LetterSchool averages 4.5 out of 5 from 17K ratings, while Cursive Words averages 3.8 from 353 ratings.

### Do LetterSchool or Cursive Words have ads?

Cursive Words shows ads; LetterSchool does not.

### Which is updated more often, LetterSchool or Cursive Words?

LetterSchool ships an update every 2 months, and Cursive Words every 12 months. Most recently, LetterSchool was updated on September 25, 2026 and Cursive Words on July 29, 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.*