Comparison

Starfall Learn to Read vs Upgradors

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

Upgradors

This app offers a K-6 math and reading curriculum through engaging songs, games, and adventures. It aims to make learning fun and exciting for children, supporting homeschool, classroom, and after-school use. A free trial or subscription is required for full access.

Highlights
  • K-6 Math & Reading Curriculum
  • Educational Songs
  • Interactive Learning Games
  • Adventure-based Learning
  • Progress Tracking
  • Animated Characters
  • Rewards System
Features
Read full description

Upgradors: Kids Math & Reading Games Learn math and reading through songs, games, and adventure. Upgradors requires a free trial or active subscription to access the app and its complete K–6 math and reading curriculum described below. Start today with a 7-day free trial! Join the Upgradors on an epic quest to defeat the Bandits, restore the stolen Keystones of Knowledge, and save the Land of Learning. Designed as a full math and reading curriculum for children in Kindergarten through 6th Grade, Upgradors combines educational songs, interactive games, and engaging challenges to make learning fun and exciting. Perfect for: • Homeschool learning • Classroom support • After-school practice • Summer learning • Kids who love music, games, and adventure Learn Through Music & Games Children build real academic skills with: • Educational songs • Interactive learning games • Practice challenges • Animated characters • Rewards and progression Learning feels like an adventure instead of homework. Subjects Included: Math Skills • Addition & subtraction • Multiplication & division • Fractions • Geometry • Measurement • Word problems • Skip counting • Times tables Reading & English Skills • Phonics • Sight words • Letter sounds • Rhyming • Short & long vowels • Reading fluency • Vocabulary • Word families Save the Land of Learning The Bandits have stolen the magical Keystones of Knowledge. Travel through exciting worlds, complete lessons and games, and help the Upgradors restore learning across the kingdom. Every activity helps players unlock progress and become learning heroes. Companion to the Upgradors Show The Upgradors app connects with the Upgradors YouTube series, giving kids even more songs, characters, lessons, and educational adventures to enjoy. Free Trial & Subscription A free trial or active subscription is required to access the Upgradors app. Your subscription includes unlimited access to all learning games, lessons, songs, and educational adventures across the complete K–6 math and reading curriculum. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your App Store Account Settings. Built for Kids. Loved by Parents & Teachers. • Standards-aligned learning • Fun educational songs • Engaging gameplay • Builds confidence and fluency • Great for homeschool and classrooms • Encourages independent learning Download Upgradors today and turn learning into an adventure. Privacy Policy: https://upgradors.com/privacypolicy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Starfall Learn to Read4 screens
Upgradors4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Upgradors at 5.0 against Starfall Learn to Read's 4.2. Upgradors also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 71%). Starfall Learn to Read's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (228 vs 4). On price, ads and device support 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. Upgradors sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. Starfall Learn to Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Upgradors holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Starfall Learn to Read has 228 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Starfall Learn to Read's written reviews are positive against 100% of Upgradors's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, Upgradors every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Starfall Learn to Read versus Upgradors: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarfall Learn to ReadUpgradors
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (228 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings228 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB192 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarfall Education FoundationLearning Upgrade

Customer experience

Starfall Learn to Read

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

Upgradors

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 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

Upgradors

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Starfall Learn to Read

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Upgradors

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Subscription Upgradors7 Days trial$5.991 Month

Questions

Is Starfall Learn to Read free?
Starfall Learn to Read is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Upgradors free?
Upgradors is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Starfall Learn to Read or Upgradors?
Upgradors is rated higher. Starfall Learn to Read averages 4.2 out of 5 from 228 ratings, while Upgradors averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Starfall Learn to Read or Upgradors have ads?
Neither Starfall Learn to Read nor Upgradors shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Starfall Learn to Read or Upgradors?
Starfall Learn to Read ships an update every 9 months, and Upgradors every 5 days. Most recently, Starfall Learn to Read was updated on November 7, 2026 and Upgradors on October 31, 2026.

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