Three vs SortCal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Three
This educational app helps beginning readers learn letter sounds within the context of words. It models sound blending and ensures children have the necessary vocabulary to progress in reading and writing.
- Learn letter sounds in words
- Model sound blending
- Build vocabulary
- Part of a comprehensive reading program
- Ad-free learning experience
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Center for Innovation in Education Three-Sound Flipbook Description The third of the fourteen apps that comprise the Baratta-Lorton Reading Program. The Reading Program is a reading and writing curriculum for beginning readers and any child who has already experienced difficulty in learning to read. 99% unique – 100% effective - 100% free Background for the fourteen apps The Baratta-Lorton Reading Program also known as Dekodiphukan (pronounced decode if you can) was developed by the Center for Innovation in Education whose many other offerings include Mathematics Their Way, the first non-traditional math curriculum adopted in by the State of California. Dekodiphukan has been in use in classrooms across the United States and Canada since 1985. The Program has been used to teach thousands of children to read and to write regardless of background or supposed lack of reading readiness. To date, no child using the program in a classroom setting has ever failed to learn to read or to write. This Dekodiphukan reading and writing curriculum is now a series of fourteen apps plus a parent-guide for the iPad that, within a period of six months to a year (or occasionally a bit longer for some special needs children), will enable every child using it to read and to write. Reading with enjoyment. Writing creatively. Dekodiphukan is a full fledged curriculum. It is a set of specific learning activities, not a set of games. The curriculum’s fourteen apps are all free with no ads - popup or otherwise - included. While the apps may be downloaded all at once and stored in a folder on the iPad, no more than two or three of the apps are used at any one time by the child. Three-Sound Flipbook The third the Fourteen Apps Three purposes for the Flipbook First, to allow the child to learn the sounds. Dekodiphukan introduces the sound images and provides the rationale for why each image represents the sound that it does. However, sounds are learned best in the context of words and not in isolation. The Flipbook allows the child to hear and learn the sounds in words. Second, to allow the parent-teacher to model for the child the process of blending sounds into words. Audios are provided to assist the parent in learning the blending process and to permit the child to review the process on his or her own as often as he or she may wish. Third, to insure the child has the vocabulary to proceed independently in the reading program. If the three sounds the child is blending form a word that he or she does not know, the child has little hope of knowing if his or her blending is correct. The child learns to blend sounds into words using only words that are a part of his or her vocabulary. Three-Sound Flipbook Used in parallel with the Two-Sound Flipbook Teaches the child the sounds in the context of words Models for the child the blending of sounds into words Gives the child the necessary vocabulary for later activities
SortCal
This app combines calculator functionality with note-taking and flashcard study tools. It allows users to review past calculations and easily delete digits. It's designed for everyday math tasks and educational support.
- Previous calculations history
- Digit deletion button
- Note taking functionality
- Flashcard study mode
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Do the everyday math and note taking with SortCal Features 1. Shows previous calculations 2. Press the red button to delete digits 3. Note taking feature 4. Study with Flashcards
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SortCal at 5.0 against Three's 4.6. Three's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.5). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SortCal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Three ships an update every 6 months, SortCal every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Three | SortCal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (5 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 67 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bob Baratta-Lorton | Jaekeun Sung |
Customer experience
Three
SortCal
In-app purchases
Three
No in-app purchases
SortCal
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Three free?
Is SortCal free?
Which has better reviews, Three or SortCal?
Do Three or SortCal have ads?
Which is updated more often, Three or SortCal?
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