Comparison

Starfall Learn to Read vs Math

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

Math

This app offers engaging math learning games for children, focusing on numbers up to 20. It features 15 mini-games with 150 levels designed for progressive learning, covering essential math skills from counting to basic arithmetic. The game adapts to each child's pace and aligns with common core standards.

Highlights
  • 15 captivating mini-games
  • 150 levels for progressive learning
  • Covers addition, subtraction, counting, and more
  • Adapts to child's learning pace
  • Aligned with common core standards
  • No ads
Features
Read full description

The fun game for kids learning math! Try Teach Your Monster: Number Skills free today and unlock the full adventure with a subscription. Subscriptions give you access to all the number games (plus every new update we add!), and can be easily managed or cancelled anytime in your App Store settings. No ads, just evidence-based, teacher-approved, fun monster learning! WHY CHOOSE TEACH YOUR MONSTER NUMBER SKILLS? • Developed by the Usborne Foundation, creators of the acclaimed game Teach Your Monster to Read • Collaboratively designed with early math specialists Bernie Westacott, Dr. Helen J. Williams, and Dr. Sue Gifford • Aligns with the USA's common core standards from Pre-K through to Kindergarten and beyond • Game supports math learning worldwide, emphasising numbers up to 20 • Featuring 15 captivating mini-games with 150 levels tailored for progressive learning • Join Queenie Bee and pals in Number Park: from dodgems to bouncy castles, learn math through play CORE BENEFITS • Tailored Pacing: The game adapts to each child’s progress, ensuring comprehensive understanding. • Curriculum Aligned: Seamlessly blend classroom teachings across the USA with at-home practice. • Engaging Play: Kids adore practicing numbers when every mini-game offers exhilarating math fun. SKILLS COVERED • Addition/Subtraction • The foundations of multiplication • Counting Mastery: Grasp stable order, 1-2-1 correspondence, and cardinality. • Subitizing: Instantly recognise number quantities. • Number Bonds: Understand numbers up to 10, their compositions, and versatile uses. • Arithmetic Basics: Gain proficiency in addition and subtraction. • Ordinality & Magnitude: Know the sequence and relational aspects of numbers. • Place Value: Learn how the order of numbers affects their value • Arrays: Develop the foundations of multiplication • Manipulatives: Use teaching aids familiar from the classroom like fingers, five frames, and number tracks SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS This app includes a free trial and a subscription that unlocks all the fun math games — plus every new update we add in the future! • Subscriptions are charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase. • Your plan will automatically renew unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the current period ends. • You can manage your subscription or cancel anytime in your iTunes & App Store Account Settings. • Payment for renewal will be charged within 24 hours before the end of the current period, at the price of your chosen plan. • If you start a free trial and then subscribe, any unused trial time will be lost. • Your subscription works across any device signed in with the same Apple ID. Try Number Skills free today — help your monster learn numbers in a fun, friendly way, with no ads! Terms of use: https://teachyourmonster.org/legals Privacy Policy: https://www.teachyourmonster.org/privacy-policy Help and Support: https://help.teachyourmonster.org/ CONNECT WITH US Get updates, tips, and more: Facebook: @TeachYourMonster Instagram: @teachyourmonster YouTube: @teachyourmonster Twitter: @teachmonsters ABOUT TEACH YOUR MONSTER We’re more than just games! As a non-profit, we dream big: blending fun, magic, and expert insights to craft games children love. Collaborating with The Usborne Foundation, we're committed to fostering early years learning for every child. Dive into a world where learning meets play. Download Teach Your Monster Number Skills now!

Screenshots

Starfall Learn to Read4 screens
Math4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Starfall Learn to Read at none against Math's 4. Starfall Learn to Read also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 48%). Math's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 9 months) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Math sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Starfall Learn to Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Math holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Math has 7.7K ratings behind it against 229, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Starfall Learn to Read's written reviews are positive against 48% of Math's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, Math monthly. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Starfall Learn to Read versus Math: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarfall Learn to ReadMath
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (229 ratings)4.5 (7.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.7% of reviews — better47.8% of reviews
Number of ratings2297.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB226 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarfall Education FoundationTeach Your Monster

Customer experience

Starfall Learn to Read

All ratings229 ratings
Positive77.3%
Neutral7.0%
Negative15.7%
Written reviews75 reviews
Positive74.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative24.0%

Math

All ratings7,736 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral6.4%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive47.8%
Neutral10.4%
Negative41.8%

User reviews

Starfall Learn to Read

From 229 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📚 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Math

From 7.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great learning game
  • 🎨 Awesome graphics and characters
  • 💡 Engaging and fun for kids

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔒 Login and account issues
  • ⏱️ Slow and laggy performance
  • 💰 Transitioned from free to paid

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

Math

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unable to progress past certain levels
  • Sound issues and complete loss of audio
  • Login and account problems

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add more advanced math levels
  • Improve sound and stability
  • Allow parents to set starting levels

In-app purchases

None

Starfall Learn to Read

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Math

Subscriptions3
  • Number Skills: Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Number Skills: Yearly$49.991 Year
  • Number Skills: Annual7 Days trial$69.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock lifetime access$9.99

Questions

Is Starfall Learn to Read free?
Starfall Learn to Read is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Math free?
Math is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Starfall Learn to Read or Math?
Math is rated higher. Starfall Learn to Read averages 4.2 out of 5 from 229 ratings, while Math averages 4.5 from 7.7K ratings.
Do Starfall Learn to Read or Math have ads?
Neither Starfall Learn to Read nor Math shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Starfall Learn to Read or Math?
Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, and Math monthly. Most recently, Starfall Learn to Read was updated on October 17, 2026 and Math on October 17, 2026.

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