# Starfall Learn to Read vs Jolly Phonics

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Starfall Learn to Read at none against Jolly Phonics's 7. Starfall Learn to Read also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 42%). Jolly Phonics's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (4.8K vs 228). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Jolly Phonics sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Starfall Learn to Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

Jolly Phonics holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Jolly Phonics has 4.8K ratings behind it against 228, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Starfall Learn to Read's written reviews are positive against 42% of Jolly Phonics's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, Jolly Phonics every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starfall Learn to Read | Jolly Phonics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (228 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-learn-to-read/id551817261/reviews) | **[4.4 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jolly-phonics-learn-to-read/id1149029299/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 228 | **4.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **71.3% of reviews** | 42.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 91 MB | 227 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Starfall Education Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771099820) | [Jolly Learning](https://appshunter.io/developer/897894555) |

## What reviewers say

### Starfall Learn to Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-learn-to-read/id551817261)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Excellent phonics and reading instruction method
- 🎵 Engaging songs and catchy tunes that maintain interest
- 🎨 Well-designed animations and interactive stories
- 👶 Effective for children with learning difficulties (dyslexia, ADHD, special needs)
- 💰 Free version available with substantial content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and fails to load on some devices
- ❌ Math games incompatible with certain iOS versions
- 📱 Technical issues with black/green screens on launch
- 🔄 Requires multiple restarts to function properly
- 💳 Misleading pricing - paid version converted to free

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Jolly Phonics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jolly-phonics-learn-to-read/id1149029299)

This interactive app teaches children to read and write using a systematic synthetic phonics approach. It offers engaging lessons, songs, and games to build phonemic awareness and handwriting skills, aligned with the Science of Reading.

**Highlights:** Explore 42 letter sounds with songs and audio, Interactive tools for reading practice, Step-by-step handwriting animations, Phonics learning games, Progress tracking and assessments

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full access (monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Writing | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sounding | $1.99 | one-time |
| Alternatives | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tricky Words | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sound Groups 2 to 7 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Everything | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent for teaching phonics
- 🎓 Helpful for learning letter sounds
- 🎨 Multi-sensory approach (writing, reading, signing, singing)
- 🏫 Aligns with school curriculum

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔇 Audio issues (sound cutting out, missing sounds)
- 🤖 Unresponsive touch controls
- 💰 Expensive for limited content
- 🔁 Requires re-purchase on new devices

**Reported bugs**

- Account login issues
- Inability to restore purchases
- Blank/white screen problems
- Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- More games and interactive activities
- Print letter option instead of pre-cursive
- Ability to share purchases across devices
- Improved customer support and bug fixes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starfall Learn to Read free?

Starfall Learn to Read is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Jolly Phonics free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Starfall Learn to Read or Jolly Phonics?

Jolly Phonics is rated higher. Starfall Learn to Read averages 4.2 out of 5 from 228 ratings, while Jolly Phonics averages 4.4 from 4.8K ratings.

### Do Starfall Learn to Read or Jolly Phonics have ads?

Neither Starfall Learn to Read nor Jolly Phonics shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starfall Learn to Read or Jolly Phonics?

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, and Jolly Phonics every 5 weeks. Most recently, Starfall Learn to Read was updated on November 3, 2026 and Jolly Phonics on November 2, 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.*