# Starfall Learn to Read vs Learn to Read

The clearest difference is update cadence: Learn to Read at every 10 days against Starfall Learn to Read's every 11 months. Learn to Read also leads on ratings volume (3.8K vs 226) and chart position (#210 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 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 Starfall Learn to Read against 4.2 for Learn to Read. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Learn to Read has 3.8K ratings behind it against 226, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of Starfall Learn to Read's written reviews are positive against 68% of Learn to Read's.

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 11 months, Learn to Read every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starfall Learn to Read | Learn to Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (226 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-learn-to-read/id551817261/reviews) | **[4.2 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-to-read-duolingo-abc/id1440502568/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 226 | **3.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.7% of reviews** | 67.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#210** |
| Size | 91 MB | 212 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Starfall Education Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771099820) | [Duolingo](https://appshunter.io/developer/570060151) |

## 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


### Learn to Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-to-read-duolingo-abc/id1440502568)

**Currently charting:** #210 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app provides interactive stories and over 700 hands-on lessons designed to help children from preschool to second grade learn to read. It focuses on phonics, sight words, and vocabulary through engaging, multi-sensory activities and mini-games, all in a kid-safe, ad-free environment.

**Highlights:** Interactive stories, Over 700 hands-on lessons, Phonics and sight word learning, Vocabulary building, Multi-sensory activities, Mini-games and rewards, Offline learning

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for kids with autism
- 👍 Engaging and fun for young learners
- 👍 Helps with speech and language development
- 👍 Effective for teaching reading and writing
- 👍 Free and ad-free app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent voice recognition
- 🐛 Allows incorrect answers to be marked as correct
- 🐛 Levels can get repetitive
- 🐛 Difficulty settings not customizable
- 🐛 Progress not saved properly

**Reported bugs**

- Levels getting stuck on certain content
- App crashing or freezing
- Login/password reset issues
- Incorrect information in some stories

**Requested features**

- Add more languages beyond English
- Introduce British English accent option
- Provide progress tracking and analytics for parents
- Offer more advanced content for older kids
- Add math and other subject areas


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starfall Learn to Read free?

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

### Is Learn to Read free?

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

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

Learn to Read is rated higher. Starfall Learn to Read averages 4.2 out of 5 from 226 ratings, while Learn to Read averages 4.2 from 3.8K ratings.

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

Neither Starfall Learn to Read nor Learn to Read shows ads.

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

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 11 months, and Learn to Read every 10 days. Most recently, Starfall Learn to Read was updated on September 5, 2026 and Learn to Read on September 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.*