Comparison

Starfall Learn to Read vs Next Numbers 2

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

Head to head
About

Starfall Learn to Read

This free app offers engaging books, games, and movies to help children learn to read. It focuses on vowel sounds and spelling through interactive activities, songs, and movies, fostering a love for language and reading.

Highlights
  • Interactive reading activities
  • Engaging games and movies
  • Focus on vowel sounds and spelling
  • Songs and positive reinforcement
  • Suitable for emerging readers
  • Supports English language learners
Features
Read full description

Starfall® Learn to Read is the second step of Starfall’s Learn to Read phonics sequence, which teaches the foundational skills for learning to read. Step 1: ABCs Step 2: Learn to Read Step 3: It’s Fun to Read Step 4: I’m Reading! In Starfall Learn to Read, children explore early phonics in a sequential, stress-free environment. Each step of the learning journey comes to life with help from the Vowel Pals—delightful characters that add depth and personality to each vowel sound. Children develop their phonics skills through the use of CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words, sight words, and vowel teams. Mastering the skills taught in Starfall Learn to Read helps children become confident, independent readers. Travel-ready. No internet connection required. Find Starfall Learn to Read, along with 700+ additional activities and counting across reading, math, music, and more in the Starfall app. The Starfall website and applications are program services of Starfall Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) publicly supported nonprofit organization. Starfall® and Starfall.com® are registered trademarks in the US, the European Union, and various other countries. Copyright © 2002–2026 by Starfall Education. All rights reserved. Starfall apps are inclusively designed to support all children, including English Language Learners (ELLs). Starfall also provides an Enhanced Accessible Index for children with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. For more information, please contact Customer Service at (+1) 303-417-6414.

About

Next Numbers 2

This brain training game enhances concentration, reaction time, memory, and focus through a fast-paced number-tapping challenge. Improve your cognitive skills with engaging gameplay and increasing difficulty.

Highlights
  • Improves concentration and reaction
  • Enhances memory and speed
  • 50+ challenging levels
  • Offline gameplay
  • Smooth and engaging gameplay
  • Great design and sounds
Features
Read full description

*** FREE for a limited time*** Can you think quicker than others? Do you feel your reaction/memory/concentration are getting worse? Want to keep your mind sharp, but don’t know how? Just looking for the coolest time killer? We know what you need! Next Numbers 2 is a fun brain game training concentration, reaction, memory, speed, focus and attention. Use this entertaining numbers game to increase brain searching skills and quicken your mind. By training with this app for just a few minutes a day, you will be able to improve your reaction and memory significantly. See for yourself and be careful… this reaction app is EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE!!! Next Numbers 2 is a great choice whether you want just to kill time with fun or intend to improve concentration and reaction. This numbers game is good for kids, adults, boys, girls and everyone who loves cool things. Reaction app - How to play? Tap the numbers in order, one by one, as fast as you can. Not as easy as you may think! Time is limited, the difficulty increases steadily, everything around confuses and misleads you! Don't give up and try to catch bonuses - they assist your gameplay. Game Highlights: - smooth gameplay; - reaction app works offline; - nice sounds; - great design; - 50+ challenging levels (don’t forget to challenge your friends!); - easy to use. “Can’t stop playing” - is about this game. Next Numbers 2 a great concentration app to workout the mind, keep it sharp and focus. ENJOY!

Screenshots

Starfall Learn to Read4 screens
Next Numbers 24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Next Numbers 2 at 4.7 against Starfall Learn to Read's 4.2. Next Numbers 2 also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (88% vs 71%). Starfall Learn to Read's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (228 vs 31). On price, ads and device support 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. Next Numbers 2 sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Starfall Learn to Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Next Numbers 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starfall Learn to Read has 228 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Starfall Learn to Read's written reviews are positive against 88% of Next Numbers 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, Next Numbers 2 every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Starfall Learn to Read versus Next Numbers 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarfall Learn to ReadNext Numbers 2
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (228 ratings)4.7 (31 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.3% of reviews88.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings228 — better31
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.07.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB143 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarfall Education FoundationVito Technology Inc.

Customer experience

Starfall Learn to Read

All ratings228 ratings
Positive77.2%
Neutral7.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews87 reviews
Positive71.3%
Neutral3.4%
Negative25.3%

Next Numbers 2

All ratings30 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive88.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative8.5%

Bugs and requests

Starfall Learn to Read

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • App won't load beyond launch screen (black or green screen)
  • Math games incompatible with iPhone updates
  • Sound not playing in some instances
  • App requires deletion and reinstallation to function
  • Crashes on iOS 9.2.1 and older versions
Show 3 more
  • Glitches when pressing letter machine words
  • App needs to be opened twice each time to run
  • Compatibility issues with various iOS versions

Requested features

10 requests
  • Reward/star system for motivation and progress tracking
  • Lesson progression markers showing mastery of modules
  • Writing and spelling exercises to reinforce learning
  • More stories and content variety
  • UK English version option
Show 5 more
  • Settings to control word pronunciation features
  • More word-building exercises
  • Sight vocabulary games for common words
  • Additional phonics rules (ng, tch, ck, tion, sion)
  • Level progression system to track advancement

Next Numbers 2

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Starfall Learn to Read

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Next Numbers 2

One-time4
  • Refill Lives$0.99
  • Time Boost Pack$0.99
  • Remove Ads$0.99
Show 1 more
  • Endless Lives$2.99

Questions

Is Starfall Learn to Read free?
Starfall Learn to Read is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Next Numbers 2 free?
Next Numbers 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Starfall Learn to Read or Next Numbers 2?
Next Numbers 2 is rated higher. Starfall Learn to Read averages 4.2 out of 5 from 228 ratings, while Next Numbers 2 averages 4.7 from 31 ratings.
Do Starfall Learn to Read or Next Numbers 2 have ads?
Neither Starfall Learn to Read nor Next Numbers 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Starfall Learn to Read or Next Numbers 2?
Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, and Next Numbers 2 every 4 weeks. Most recently, Starfall Learn to Read was updated on November 3, 2026 and Next Numbers 2 on November 1, 2026.

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