Comparison

Decoding Chart vs AutiBuddy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Sound-to-letter decoding
  • Color-coded spelling guidance
  • Frequency-based spelling order
  • Part of a comprehensive reading program
  • Supports beginning readers
Features
Read full description

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

About

AutiBuddy

This app offers interactive games designed to help children develop essential social, emotional, and communication skills. It features adaptive age modes and a sensory-friendly option for a personalized learning experience. Parents can track progress through a private dashboard.

Highlights
  • Interactive learning games
  • Social and emotional skill development
  • Adaptive age modes (4-6 and 7-12)
  • Sensory-friendly quiet mode
  • Parent progress dashboard
  • Reward system with badges and charts
Features
Read full description

Meet Bamboo the panda - your child's new learning buddy! AutiBuddy is a fun, safe, research-inspired app that helps children build essential life skills through interactive games and activities. Designed with neurodivergent and autistic learners in mind, but loved by every child who wants to grow social, emotional, and communication skills at their own pace. FOUR ENGAGING GAMES - Emotions - Bamboo shows feelings for kids to identify and understand - Social Skills - Navigate real-life scenarios with Bamboo - Communication - Match words and gestures to everyday situations - Sensory Studio - Pop bubbles, draw rainbows, paint with light, breathe with Bamboo TWO AGE MODES - Ages 4-6 (Toddler) - Big pictures, simple choices, gentle sounds - Ages 7-12 (Kids) - Stories, scenarios, and fun challenges Switch modes anytime as your child grows. 12 LEVELS PER GAME Progressive difficulty with star-based unlocks. Your child grows with the content - from recognizing basic feelings to handling real-life moments like online kindness, honesty after mistakes, and big overwhelming feelings. QUIET MODE A sensory-friendly toggle that turns off confetti, mutes celebration sounds, and creates a calmer experience for kids who need less stimulation. PARENT DASHBOARD Private, on-device insights for parents: - Weekly summaries of your child's progress - Strengths and growth areas - Recent activity log - Shareable reports - perfect for IEP meetings, therapy sessions, and school check-ins REWARDS & PROGRESS - Earn badges and fill your Trophy Room - Track progress with detailed charts - Build daily streaks to keep learning consistent - Earn 1, 2, or 3 stars per game SAFE & PRIVATE - Zero ads, ever - No data collection - No external links - No accounts or sign-ins required - 100% on-device storage - Full COPPA compliance PREMIUM FEATURES - Unlimited daily plays (free version offers 3 plays per day) - All 12 levels in every game unlocked - Full Sensory Studio access (8 calming activities) - Monthly: $4.99/month - Yearly: $29.99/year (save 50%) - 7-day free trial included Start your child's learning journey with Bamboo today! Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

AutiBuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AutiBuddy at 5.0 against Decoding Chart's 3.5. AutiBuddy also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 71 months). Decoding Chart's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AutiBuddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Decoding Chart asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AutiBuddy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Decoding Chart ships an update every 71 months, AutiBuddy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Decoding Chart versus AutiBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDecoding ChartAutiBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 71 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS15.6 — better26.4
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB662 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBob Baratta-LortonADRIAN VAZQUEZ

Customer experience

Decoding Chart

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

AutiBuddy

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Decoding Chart

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

AutiBuddy

Subscriptions2
  • AutiBuddy Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • AutiBuddy Premium Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Decoding Chart free?
Decoding Chart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AutiBuddy free?
AutiBuddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Decoding Chart or AutiBuddy?
AutiBuddy is rated higher. Decoding Chart averages 3.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while AutiBuddy averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Decoding Chart or AutiBuddy have ads?
Neither Decoding Chart nor AutiBuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Decoding Chart or AutiBuddy?
Decoding Chart ships an update every 71 months, and AutiBuddy every 3 weeks. Most recently, Decoding Chart was updated on November 1, 2026 and AutiBuddy on October 31, 2026.

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