# Starfall Learn to Read vs Sound It Out

The clearest difference is price: Starfall Learn to Read at Free against Sound It Out's $0.99. Starfall Learn to Read also leads on ratings volume (228 vs 3) and review sentiment (75% vs 60%). Sound It Out's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and chart position (#143 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Starfall Learn to Read is free to download; Sound It Out costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sound It Out 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 3, 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 60% of Sound It Out'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, Sound It Out every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starfall Learn to Read | Sound It Out |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (228 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-learn-to-read/id551817261/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-it-out/id558334203/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **228** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **74.7% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#143** |
| Size | 91 MB | 16 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) | [I Teach Tiny Humans, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1175634279) |

## 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


### Sound It Out

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sound-it-out/id558334203)

**Currently charting:** #143 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This educational game helps children learn foundational phonics skills through interactive word blending. It offers two levels of play with options for tracing and spelling, supported by colorful visuals and progress tracking for unlimited students.

**Highlights:** Phonics and word blending, Beginning, middle, and ending sounds, Trace and spell options, Two difficulty levels, Progress tracking for multiple students, CVC word focus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starfall Learn to Read free?

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

### Is Sound It Out free?

Sound It Out costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

Sound It Out is rated higher. Starfall Learn to Read averages 4.2 out of 5 from 228 ratings, while Sound It Out averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Starfall Learn to Read or Sound It Out have ads?

Neither Starfall Learn to Read nor Sound It Out shows ads.

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

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, and Sound It Out every 5 months. Most recently, Starfall Learn to Read was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sound It Out on October 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.*