# Splash Reading vs StringMaster

The clearest difference is price: Splash Reading at Free against StringMaster's $14.99. Splash Reading also leads on ratings volume (2.5K vs 24) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). StringMaster's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (80% vs 64%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Splash Reading is free to download; StringMaster costs $14.99 up front. Splash Reading sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and StringMaster sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

StringMaster holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Splash Reading has 2.5K ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Splash Reading's written reviews are positive against 80% of StringMaster's.

Splash Reading ships an update every 3 weeks, StringMaster every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Splash Reading | StringMaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $14.99 |
| Rating | [4.3 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/splash-reading-games-for-kids/id492885924/reviews) | **[4.7 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringmaster/id509014353/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 63.7% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 494 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [StudyPad, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/432105528) | [Great Apptitude Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1519213669) |

## What reviewers say

### Splash Reading

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/splash-reading-games-for-kids/id492885924)

This app helps children from Kindergarten to Grade 5 master English Language Arts skills through engaging, game-based activities. It covers phonics, sight words, spelling, grammar, and comprehension, fostering reading fluency and writing confidence.

**Highlights:** Phonics and letter sound recognition, Sight word and vocabulary building, Spelling and grammar practice, Reading comprehension exercises, Interactive game-based learning, Progressive guided learning path

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SplashLearn Mela Monthly Plan | $8.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Math & Reading Games | $11.99 | per month |
| SplashLearn Solo - Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| SplashLearn Membership Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Subscription | $23.99 | per 3 months |
| 3 Month Full Access | $29.99 | per 3 months |
| One Year Full Access | $59.99 | per year |
| SplashLearn Mela Yearly Plan | $69.99 | per year |
| SplashLearn Solo - Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| SplashLearn Membership Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $79.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Math & Reading Games | $89.99 | per year |
| Grade 4 Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging
- 🚀 Helps improve math skills
- 📈 Tracks progress and provides reports
- 🧠 Challenges kids and keeps them motivated

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall limits free access
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 📚 Lessons not always aligned with grade level
- 🤔 Unclear how to cancel subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Syncing problems between app and parent account

**Requested features**

- More free content and levels
- Ability to customize difficulty
- Multi-language support
- Better sync across devices


### StringMaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stringmaster/id509014353)

This comprehensive music learning app offers tools for chord building, scale visualization, songwriting, and instrument tuning. It supports a wide range of instruments and provides features for both beginners and seasoned musicians.

**Highlights:** Chord building and detection, Scale visualization and playback, Songwriting tools, Chromatic tuner and metronome, Fretboard learning, Alternate tuning and capo support, Piano keyboard mapping

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fretlight Support | $4.99 | one-time |
| StringMaster Pro Upgrade | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Splash Reading free?

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

### Is StringMaster free?

StringMaster costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Splash Reading or StringMaster?

StringMaster is rated higher. Splash Reading averages 4.3 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while StringMaster averages 4.7 from 24 ratings.

### Do Splash Reading or StringMaster have ads?

Neither Splash Reading nor StringMaster shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Splash Reading or StringMaster?

Splash Reading ships an update every 3 weeks, and StringMaster every 3 months. Most recently, Splash Reading was updated on October 29, 2026 and StringMaster on October 12, 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.*