# BrainPOP Jr. vs Starfall

The clearest difference is rating: BrainPOP Jr. at 4.6 against Starfall's 4.1. BrainPOP Jr. also leads on ratings volume (21K vs 4.3K). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BrainPOP Jr. sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Starfall sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BrainPOP Jr. holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21K and 4.3K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of BrainPOP Jr.'s written reviews are positive against 75% of Starfall's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

BrainPOP Jr. ships an update every 6 weeks, Starfall every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainPOP Jr. | Starfall |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainpop-jr/id536371867/reviews)** | [4.1 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall/id707189889/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 4.3K |
| Positive reviews | 72.6% of reviews | **74.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 24 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BrainPOP®](https://appshunter.io/developer/364894355) | [Starfall Education Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771099820) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainPOP Jr.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainpop-jr/id536371867)

This app offers engaging animated movies, interactive activities, and quizzes for K-3 learners. It aims to transform passive screen time into active, enriched educational experiences with relatable characters guiding children through various subjects. The platform is designed to foster critical thinking and independent learning.

**Highlights:** Animated movies, Interactive activities, Quizzes, K-3 curriculum, Critical thinking focus, Independent learning

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BrainPOP Jr. Explorer Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Full Access Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| BrainPOP Jr. Monthly Combo | $19.99 | per month |
| Full Access Yearly | $119.00 | per year |
| BrainPOP Jr. Yearly Combo | $159.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Makes learning fun
- 👍 Engaging videos and quizzes
- 👍 Helpful for homeschooling and supplemental learning
- 👍 Informative and educational content
- 👍 Funny and entertaining

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 💰 Lack of free content
- 🐛 Crashes and technical issues
- 👎 Limited content selection

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to subscribe
- Videos not loading properly
- Quiz functionality not working

**Requested features**

- More free videos and content
- Lower subscription pricing
- Improved device compatibility
- Expanded topic coverage
- Better navigation and organization


### Starfall

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall/id707189889)

This app offers engaging reading and math activities for children from preschool to 5th grade. It features games, songs, and interactive lessons designed by educators to support early literacy and numeracy skills. The platform also includes accessibility features for children with impairments.

**Highlights:** Reading phonics and fluency, Math concepts and operations, Interactive games and songs, Accessibility features, Sequential learning objectives, Holiday activities and sing-alongs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starfall Monthly | $5.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy and fun learning
- 🎨 Engaging activities and games
- 🧠 Helps with reading, math, and more
- 🌟 Nostalgic childhood memories
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for kids of all ages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Limited free content, requires subscription
- 🔒 Difficulty managing parental controls
- 🐛 Technical issues like crashes and freezes
- 📱 Compatibility problems on mobile devices
- 🔍 Repetitive content and lack of updates

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues and trouble logging in
- Freezing and crashing on certain devices
- Glitches in specific games and activities
- Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
- Incorrect pronunciation of numbers and dates

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced content for older kids
- Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
- Provide offline mode for use without internet
- Allow customization of character and settings
- Integrate with other educational platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainPOP Jr. free?

BrainPOP Jr. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Starfall free?

Starfall is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BrainPOP Jr. or Starfall?

BrainPOP Jr. is rated higher. BrainPOP Jr. averages 4.6 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Starfall averages 4.1 from 4.3K ratings.

### Do BrainPOP Jr. or Starfall have ads?

Neither BrainPOP Jr. nor Starfall shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainPOP Jr. or Starfall?

BrainPOP Jr. ships an update every 6 weeks, and Starfall every 2 months. Most recently, BrainPOP Jr. was updated on September 22, 2026 and Starfall on September 24, 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.*