Comparison

Starfall Learn to Read vs Hoopla

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

Hoopla

This app uses fun, expert-designed activities to help children aged 3-8 reduce anxiety and build emotional skills. It offers meditations, games, and songs to improve sleep, manage tantrums, and strengthen family bonds through interactive play.

Highlights
  • Expert-backed activities for children
  • Interactive family games
  • Multi-sensory emotional regulation tools
  • Quick, effective mindfulness exercises
  • Builds emotional skills
  • Simplifies parenting resources
Features
Read full description

Reduce anxiety and promote mental wellness in children aged 3-8 through fun, engaging activities. Hoopla combines the power of play with evidence-based strategies. Each activity is under 5 minutes instilling healthy habits and designed by experts to calm tantrums, improve sleep, and strengthen emotional bonds. Discover our collection of meditations, mindfulness exercises, songs, and interactive games crafted to relieve stress, enhance emotional growth, and deepen family connections. Start transforming screen time into positive family time with Hoopla. Why Hoopla Stands Out: Expert-Backed for Kids: Developed with child psychologists and educators, tailored for young children’s developmental stages. Interactive Family Fun: All games and activities are designed for parents and kids to enjoy together, strengthening family connections. Multi-Sensory Tools: Using the vibration of the phone, calm and regulate emotions by effectively engaging your child’s senses with tools designed to mimic physical sensory toys. Quick and Effective: Fit mindfulness, emotional regulation, and social-emotional learning seamlessly into your child’s day, requiring no special setup or props. Build Emotional Skills: Equip your children with essential skills to manage emotions, navigate challenges, and thrive through active play and engaging activities. Simplify Parenting: Access resources, tips, and follow-up activities that support your child’s and your own mental health. Start Your Free Trial: Download Hoopla today for a 7-day free trial. Manage subscriptions easily within the app. Privacy and Terms: We prioritize your family's privacy. Read our full privacy policy and terms of service at https://hooplafun.com.

Screenshots

Starfall Learn to Read4 screens
Hoopla4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Starfall Learn to Read at none against Hoopla's 4. Starfall Learn to Read also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (228 vs 5). Hoopla's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 71%). On price, rating, 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. Hoopla sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Starfall Learn to Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Starfall Learn to Read against 4.2 for Hoopla. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starfall Learn to Read has 228 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 71% of Starfall Learn to Read's written reviews are positive against 100% of Hoopla's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, Hoopla every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Starfall Learn to Read versus Hoopla: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarfall Learn to ReadHoopla
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (228 ratings)4.2 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings228 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarfall Education FoundationHoopla FZ-LLC

Customer experience

Starfall Learn to Read

All ratings228 ratings
Positive77.2%
Neutral7.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews87 reviews
Positive71.3%
Neutral3.4%
Negative25.3%

Hoopla

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Hoopla

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Starfall Learn to Read

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Hoopla

Subscriptions4
  • Hoopla$9.991 Month
  • Hoopla$12.991 Month
  • Hoopla$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Hoopla$44.991 Year

Questions

Is Starfall Learn to Read free?
Starfall Learn to Read is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hoopla free?
Hoopla is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Starfall Learn to Read or Hoopla?
Hoopla is rated higher. Starfall Learn to Read averages 4.2 out of 5 from 228 ratings, while Hoopla averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Starfall Learn to Read or Hoopla have ads?
Hoopla shows ads; Starfall Learn to Read does not.
Which is updated more often, Starfall Learn to Read or Hoopla?
Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, and Hoopla every 3 weeks. Most recently, Starfall Learn to Read was updated on November 3, 2026 and Hoopla on November 3, 2026.

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