# First Words Phonics Pro vs First Words Learning

The clearest difference is price: First Words Learning at Free against First Words Phonics Pro's $4.99. First Words Learning also leads on ratings volume (275 vs 22) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). First Words Phonics Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (67% vs 43%). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

First Words Learning is free to download; First Words Phonics Pro costs $4.99 up front. First Words Learning sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. First Words Phonics Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

First Words Phonics Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: First Words Learning has 275 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of First Words Phonics Pro's written reviews are positive against 43% of First Words Learning's.

First Words Phonics Pro ships an update every 2 months, First Words Learning monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Words Phonics Pro | First Words Learning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.3 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709/reviews)** | [4.1 (275 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-learning/id6451044351/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **275** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 84 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Read 'n' Learn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005499252) | [Lidwien Veugen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1448601467) |

## What reviewers say

### First Words Phonics Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709)

This educational app teaches children reading and spelling through synthetic phonics. It offers two learning levels and various hint options to customize difficulty, making learning engaging with colorful visuals and sound effects.

**Highlights:** Synthetic phonics learning levels, Learn words and spelling, Letter recognition and matching, Interactive exploration interface, Child-friendly user interface, Engaging artwork and sound effects, 121 words in 5 categories

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### First Words Learning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-learning/id6451044351)

This app helps babies and toddlers learn their first words through interactive flashcards and games. It features colorful illustrations, animations, and sounds covering animals, vehicles, food, and everyday objects, designed for early learners aged 1-3.

**Highlights:** Interactive flashcards, Touch-based learning games, Animal sounds and object noises, Hand-drawn graphics and animations, Offline access, Available in 25 languages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First Words for Baby & Toddler | $5.99 | per month |
| First Words for Baby & Toddler | $19.99 | per year |
| First Words for Baby & Toddler | $34.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Words Phonics Pro free?

First Words Phonics Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Words Learning free?

First Words Learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, First Words Phonics Pro or First Words Learning?

First Words Phonics Pro is rated higher. First Words Phonics Pro averages 4.3 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while First Words Learning averages 4.1 from 275 ratings.

### Do First Words Phonics Pro or First Words Learning have ads?

Neither First Words Phonics Pro nor First Words Learning shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Words Phonics Pro or First Words Learning?

First Words Phonics Pro ships an update every 2 months, and First Words Learning monthly. Most recently, First Words Phonics Pro was updated on October 7, 2026 and First Words Learning on October 16, 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.*