# First Words Professional vs First Words Phonics Pro

The clearest difference is update cadence: First Words Phonics Pro at every 2 months against First Words Professional's every 16 months. First Words Phonics Pro also leads on price ($4.99 vs $9.99) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.2). First Words Professional's advantage is chart position (#192 vs unranked) and review sentiment (77% vs 67%). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

First Words Professional costs $9.99 and First Words Phonics Pro $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for First Words Professional against 4.3 for First Words Phonics Pro. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 22 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of First Words Professional's written reviews are positive against 67% of First Words Phonics Pro's.

First Words Professional ships an update every 16 months, First Words Phonics Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Words Professional | First Words Phonics Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **$4.99** |
| Rating | [4.2 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-professional/id507560748/reviews) | **[4.3 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **39** | 22 |
| Positive reviews | **77.4% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#192** | — |
| Size | 103 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Learning Touch LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/773246929) | [Read 'n' Learn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005499252) |

## What reviewers say

### First Words Professional

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-professional/id507560748)

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app helps children develop early reading and language skills through interactive word and letter recognition. It offers extensive customization for educators and parents, including word selection, category management, and language options.

**Highlights:** Over 350 words in 12 categories, Six language options, Phonics or letter name spelling, Customizable word categories, Customizable word lists, Develops fine motor control and letter recognition

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### First Words Phonics Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709)

This educational app teaches children reading and spelling through synthetic phonics. It offers two learning levels and various hint options to customize difficulty, making learning engaging with colorful visuals and sound effects.

**Highlights:** Synthetic phonics learning levels, Learn words and spelling, Letter recognition and matching, Interactive exploration interface, Child-friendly user interface, Engaging artwork and sound effects, 121 words in 5 categories

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Words Professional free?

First Words Professional costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Words Phonics Pro free?

First Words Phonics Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Words Professional or First Words Phonics Pro?

First Words Phonics Pro is rated higher. First Words Professional averages 4.2 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while First Words Phonics Pro averages 4.3 from 22 ratings.

### Do First Words Professional or First Words Phonics Pro have ads?

Neither First Words Professional nor First Words Phonics Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Words Professional or First Words Phonics Pro?

First Words Professional ships an update every 16 months, and First Words Phonics Pro every 2 months. Most recently, First Words Professional was updated on November 1, 2026 and First Words Phonics Pro on October 23, 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.*