# Starfall Learn to Read vs Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC

The clearest difference is price: Starfall Learn to Read at Free against Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC's $4.99. Starfall Learn to Read also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (226 vs 9). Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Starfall Learn to Read is free to download; Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Starfall Learn to Read holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starfall Learn to Read has 226 ratings behind it against 9, 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 100% of Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC'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 11 months, Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and July 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starfall Learn to Read | Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.2 (226 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall-learn-to-read/id551817261/reviews)** | [3.7 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-spelling-phonics-cvc/id580762950/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **226** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 74.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 months** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 91 MB | 153 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Starfall Education Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771099820) | [Pyxwise Software Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/456744015) |

## 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


### Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplex-spelling-phonics-cvc/id580762950)

This app teaches foundational reading skills for young learners, focusing on rhyming, segmenting, and blending CVC words. It uses a unique "reverse phonics" approach with interactive feedback to build phonemic awareness and improve spelling and reading.

**Highlights:** Teaches CVC words and short vowel sounds, Interactive "reverse phonics" approach, Phonics hint feature for blending, Spelling rule hints, Letter-by-letter feedback, Supports up to 40 user accounts, Progress reports and user stats

**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 Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC free?

Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Starfall Learn to Read or Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC?

Starfall Learn to Read is rated higher. Starfall Learn to Read averages 4.2 out of 5 from 226 ratings, while Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC averages 3.7 from 9 ratings.

### Do Starfall Learn to Read or Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC have ads?

Neither Starfall Learn to Read nor Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starfall Learn to Read or Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC?

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 11 months, and Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC every 13 months. Most recently, Starfall Learn to Read was updated on September 5, 2026 and Simplex Spelling Phonics CVC on July 21, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*