Decoding Chart vs Phonics Cards
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Decoding Chart
This app is part of a reading and writing curriculum designed for beginning readers or those who have struggled with literacy. It helps children transition from understanding sounds to recognizing letters and their spellings, aiding in reading and creative writing.
- Sound-to-letter conversion
- Color-coded spellings
- Multiple learning levels
- Supports beginning readers
- Aids creative writing
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Center for Innovation in Education Decoding Chart - Levels Dekodiphukan Description The ninth 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. Decoding Chart - LEVELS The ninth of the Fourteen Apps The Decoding Chart converts words written in sounds to words written in letters. It is the vehicle for transitioning the child from sounds to letters. Its use is introduced once the child can comfortably read and write phrases. The Chart contains the pictures of all forty-four sounds arranged in the same rows and in the same order within each row as they are in the Stamping app. Beneath each sound picture are various ways that sound may be spelled. The spellings listed beneath each sound appear in order of frequency of occurrence in the words which beginning readers are most likely to encounter. Each of the spellings that appear beneath the sound pictures are color coded. The first spelling of each sound is coded white. If a second spelling is listed, it is coded yellow. Third spellings are red, fourth spellings are blue, fifth are green, sixth are brown, and seventh are purple. The color codings indicate to the child which spelling is to be used to write the letters for a word. The Decoding Chart does not contain all possible spellings for each sound. It does, however, contain the spellings that appear in ninety-five to ninety-eight percent of the words the child will encounter while learning to read and write. A parent guide to how to use the Decoding Chart is included in The Guide instructions for the Writing Worksheets. Two Apps and the Decoding Chart Download Chart – Levels The Decoding Chart-Levels app displays the chart in five different levels, each level matching one of the five levels of the Reading Program. Chart - Flip The Decoding Chart-Flip app displays half the chart on one side and half on the other side of a flip view. Download While the Decoding Chart is available in two app formats and moving between apps is possible with a double-click of the Home button on the iPad, the double-clicking process may not be easily managed by the child. A more child-accessible version of the Decoding Chart can be downloaded from the Center’s website and printed out. Decoding Chart Converts words in sounds to words in letters Introduced once the child can comfortably read phrases Available in two different app forms Also downloadable from the Center’s website Instructions for its use are included in The Guide’s Writing Worksheet instructions
Phonics Cards
This app offers a distraction-free way to learn phonics rules and improve pronunciation. It includes extensive word examples and customizable phonics sets, supporting both English and British accents.
- 23 phonics sets
- ~5000 word examples
- English and British accent pronunciation
- Customizable phonics sets
- Add custom words and notes
- Distraction-free interface
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Phonics Cards — Systematic English Phonics & Pronunciation Phonics Cards is a focused, distraction-free tool designed to help you master English letter sounds, spelling patterns, and pronunciation. Whether you are helping students learn phonics rules, practicing correct sound articulation, or improving your English pronunciation, Phonics Cards provides a clear, systematic reference tool. Phonics Cards consists of 23 comprehensive phonics sets ranging from basic to advanced, featuring over 5,000 carefully curated word examples. Check the pronunciation of any word in American and British English accents, adjust speech speeds, and explore word meanings with 4 world-class dictionaries. KEY FEATURES Tap to Listen: Tap any card on the grid to hear clear, natural pronunciation aloud. Instant Dictionary Lookup: Press and hold any word to look up definitions, phonetic transcriptions, and word origins across 4 dictionaries (Merriam-Webster, Oxford, Cambridge, and Longman). Adjustable Speech Speed: Select Normal, Slow, or Very Slow speeds to catch subtle vowel sounds, blend transitions, and consonant articulations. Custom Word Lists & Notes: Create personal phonics lists, add new words, attach custom notes, and manage cards with Edit mode. Distraction-Free Interface: Clean, modern flashcard grid designed for focused practice and easy navigation. 23 COMPREHENSIVE PHONICS SETS Short Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) Long Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) Silent E (a_e, i_e, o_e, u_e) Bossy R (ar, er, ir, or, ur) Vowel Teams I (ai, au, aw, ay, ea, ee, ei, ew, ey) Vowel Teams II (ie, oa, oe, ow, ue) Vowel Diphthongs (oi, ou, ow, oy) Double O Sounds (long oo, short oo, other) R-Controlled Vowels I (air, are, ear, eer, eir, ere) R-Controlled Vowels II (ire, oar, oor, ore, our, ure) Y Rules (consonant y, long-e sound, long-i sound, short-i sound) Schwa (unstressed vowel reductions) Initial Blends I (bl, br, cl, cr, dr, gr, pl, pr, tr) Initial Blends II (sc, scr, sk, sn, sp, spl, spr, st, sw) Initial Blends III (dw, fl, fr, gl, shr, sl, str, thr, tw) Final Blends I (-ct, -ld, -lf, -lm, -lp, -lt, -ft, -lk) Final Blends II (-mp, -nch, -nd, -nk, -nt) Final Blends III (-pt, -rd, -rt, -sk, -sp, -st) Consonant Digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh, gh, ph, ng) Soft C and G Silent Letters (gn, kn, mb, mn, wr) GH Letter Patterns (aigh, augh, eigh, igh, ough) Suffixes (cian, cien, sion, tion, tious, tial, ture) DESIGNED FOR: Parents and Educators teaching letter sounds, digraphs, and phonics patterns. ESL / EFL Students mastering English pronunciation, phonemic awareness, and spelling. Speech Practice and Study focusing on accurate sound recognition and vocabulary review. If you enjoy Phonics Cards, please take a moment to leave a rating and review on the App Store. Thank you for your support!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Phonics Cards at 4.7 against Decoding Chart's 4.0. Phonics Cards also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 36 months) and ratings volume (52 vs 2). Decoding Chart's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and iOS requirement 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. Phonics Cards sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Decoding Chart asks for nothing beyond the download.
Phonics Cards holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phonics Cards has 52 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Decoding Chart ships an update every 36 months, Phonics Cards every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Decoding Chart | Phonics Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (2 ratings) | 4.7 (52 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 52 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 36 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 73 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bob Baratta-Lorton | Florithm LLC |
Customer experience
Decoding Chart
Phonics Cards
In-app purchases
Decoding Chart
No in-app purchases
Phonics Cards
- Unlock Everything$5.99
Questions
Is Decoding Chart free?
Is Phonics Cards free?
Which has better reviews, Decoding Chart or Phonics Cards?
Do Decoding Chart or Phonics Cards have ads?
Which is updated more often, Decoding Chart or Phonics Cards?
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