Decoding Chart vs AskOwlo
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 recognizing sounds to understanding letter spellings, using color-coded charts to guide them.
- Sound-to-letter decoding
- Color-coded spelling guidance
- Frequency-based spelling order
- Part of a comprehensive reading program
- Supports beginning readers
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Center for Innovation in Education Decoding Chart - Flip Dekodiphukan Description The tenth 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 - FLIP The tenth 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
AskOwlo
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A CALMER PLACE FOR CURIOUS KIDS Screen time can be loud, fast and distracting. AskOwlo offers something different: a calm, colorful learning world where children ages 4 to 12 can read, listen, think, play and create. No ads. No open-ended chat. Just thoughtful learning with Owlo and Koko. LEARN TO READ, ONE WORD AT A TIME Children can explore hundreds of beautifully illustrated stories about animals, space, science, nature, history, music and much more. Every story can be read or heard aloud. Word-by-word highlighting helps children follow the narration and connect the words they hear with the words they see. AskOwlo offers more than 1,000 read-along experiences across English, Dutch and Arabic. It is perfect for independent reading, quiet time or a story before bed. FUN QUIZZES THAT HELP LEARNING STICK After exploring a new idea, children can test what they remember through playful quiz games. Questions and answer choices can be heard aloud, so developing readers can participate confidently. Topics include science, nature, animals, feelings, colors and everyday knowledge. MATH GAMES THAT GROW WITH THEM Children can build confidence with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Math Race offers quick, lively challenges that become more difficult as children progress. Skate Plus turns the number line into an adventure, while Galaxy Count makes counting and comparison fun. MORE THAN 5,000 COLORING PAGES Children can color Owlo, Koko and their adventures directly inside the app. Finished pictures can be saved and printed at home, giving creativity somewhere to continue after screen time ends. MEET THE OWLO METHOD Koko is curious. Owlo helps make each answer clear. The Owlo Method combines Montessori-inspired independence with Socratic-style questions. Children choose what interests them, wonder about meaningful questions, follow clear explanations and practice what they discover. CHOOSE. WONDER. EXPLAIN. PRACTICE. MADE FOR CHILDREN. REASSURING FOR PARENTS. • Designed for children ages 4 to 12 • No ads • No open-ended chat • English, Dutch and Arabic • Spoken questions and instructions • Large, child-friendly controls • Parent settings kept separate from children’s play • Suitable for independent or shared family time MADE WITH LOVE IN AMSTERDAM AskOwlo was created by a small team that believes children deserve digital experiences that are thoughtful, beautiful and genuinely useful. We would love to hear from you. Send questions, feedback or story ideas to team@askowlo.com.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: AskOwlo at every 2 weeks against Decoding Chart's every 71 months. AskOwlo also leads on device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Decoding Chart ships an update every 71 months, AskOwlo every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Decoding Chart | AskOwlo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 71 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 16 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 92 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bob Baratta-Lorton | AskOwlo B.V. |
In-app purchases
Decoding Chart
No in-app purchases
AskOwlo
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Decoding Chart free?
Is AskOwlo free?
Do Decoding Chart or AskOwlo have ads?
Which is updated more often, Decoding Chart or AskOwlo?
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