Comparison

Count, Sort and Match vs Phonological Awareness Lab

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Count, Sort and Match

This app offers three engaging mini-games designed to introduce preschoolers and young children to foundational math concepts. Activities focus on counting, sorting by various attributes, and matching numbers to quantities, all presented with cheerful audio and clear visuals.

Highlights
  • Counting up to 20
  • Numeral and number word tracing
  • Sorting by shape, color, and size
  • Matching numerals to quantities
  • Puzzle completion for correct matches
  • Fine-motor skill development
Features
Read full description

Give little learners a joyful start in math. Count, Sort & Match turns early numeracy into play with three mini-games for preschool to age six. Count • Tap to count up to 20 as playful objects appear with cheerful audio prompts. • Trace numerals and number words in the clouds to build recognition and fine-motor control. • Choose to count in sequence or at random. Sort • Drag laundry from the clothesline into baskets. • Sort by shape, then colour, then size to deepen core classification skills. Match • Flip number cards (1–12) and match numerals to quantities. • Each correct match reveals a puzzle piece; complete all pairs to finish the picture. Why it works • Short, replayable activities that keep attention. • Clear audio guidance for pre-readers. • Gentle progression from simple to more challenging tasks. • Clean visuals and large touch targets for small hands. Skills practiced • Counting and one-to-one correspondence (to 20). • Number recognition (numerals and number words). • Sorting and classifying (shape, colour, size). • Matching quantities to numerals. • Fine-motor coordination and focus. Perfect for home practice, classrooms and on-the-go moments—math, made delightful.

About

Phonological Awareness Lab

This app transforms learning pre-reading skills into a science adventure for children. It offers interactive labs focusing on sounds, syllables, and words through engaging games and activities. Progress is tracked with detailed reports for effective learning.

Highlights
  • Interactive science-themed labs
  • Practice with sounds, syllables, and words
  • Adaptive learning levels
  • Multi-player functionality
  • Automatic data tracking and reports
  • Engaging visuals and sound effects
Features
Read full description

Phonological Awareness Lab (PAL) turns learning into an interactive science adventure where children experiment with sounds, syllables, and words to build essential pre-reading skills. Designed by a certified speech-language pathologist and developed by Smarty Ears, PAL combines evidence-based learning with a fun, game-like environment that keeps students motivated from start to finish. Explore Four Interactive Labs: • Sentence Experiment Lab: Practice identifying and counting words within sentences. • Decoding Room: Strengthen blending skills with two interactive games—Blending Syllables and Blending Sounds. • Rhyming Compound: Build rhyming skills with three levels of play—Rhyming Identification, Rhyming Selection, and Rhyming Match. • Syllable X-Ray: Learn to identify and count syllables while exploring engaging visuals. Each lab features colorful graphics, animated environments, and dynamic sound effects that transform phonological awareness practice into play. Children feel like scientists conducting sound “experiments,” making learning fun and meaningful. Engaging Gameplay • Students choose their avatar and participate in hands-on activities across multiple labs. • Adaptive levels allow learners to progress at their own pace. • Motivating visuals, animations, and immediate feedback keep children actively involved. • Designed to support classroom, home, or therapy use. Multi-Player Functionality • Add multiple players with custom names and photos or avatars. • Switch easily between players during sessions. • Perfect for small-group therapy, classroom centers, or home learning. Data Tracking and Reports • Automatically tracks accuracy for each skill area. • Generates a detailed “Report Card” showing performance by activity, date, and session. • Includes easy-to-read graphs for quick progress monitoring. • Export data to the free Therapy Report Center or email reports to caregivers or educators. Evidence-Based and RTI-Friendly Phonological awareness is one of the strongest predictors of reading success. Research shows that children who develop phonological awareness skills—such as rhyming, blending, and segmenting—read more fluently and with greater comprehension. PAL provides targeted practice for these skills, making it ideal for Response to Intervention (RTI) and literacy support programs. Features • Multi-player capability • Four labs targeting essential pre-reading skills • Seven activities of increasing complexity • Customizable player profiles with avatars • Automatic data tracking and progress reports • Fun animations and immediate feedback • Research-based learning approach • High-quality images and sound Developed by Smarty Ears, trusted by over 250,000 educators and speech-language pathologists in more than 70 countries, Phonological Awareness Lab empowers children to learn, communicate, and thrive through technology.

Screenshots

Count, Sort and Match4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Count, Sort and Match at $2.99 against Phonological Awareness Lab's $21.99. Count, Sort and Match also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 8 months vs every 31 months). Phonological Awareness Lab's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Count, Sort and Match costs $2.99 and Phonological Awareness Lab $21.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Count, Sort and Match holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Count, Sort and Match ships an update every 8 months, Phonological Awareness Lab every 31 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Count, Sort and Match versus Phonological Awareness Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCount, Sort and MatchPhonological Awareness Lab
Price$2.99 — better$21.99
Rating4.0 (1 ratings) — better3.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings13 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 months — betterEvery 31 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRipple Digital PublishingSmarty Ears

Customer experience

Count, Sort and Match

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Phonological Awareness Lab

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Count, Sort and Match

No in-app purchases

None

Phonological Awareness Lab

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Count, Sort and Match free?
Count, Sort and Match costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Phonological Awareness Lab free?
Phonological Awareness Lab costs $21.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Count, Sort and Match or Phonological Awareness Lab?
Count, Sort and Match is rated higher. Count, Sort and Match averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Phonological Awareness Lab averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Count, Sort and Match or Phonological Awareness Lab have ads?
Neither Count, Sort and Match nor Phonological Awareness Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Count, Sort and Match or Phonological Awareness Lab?
Count, Sort and Match ships an update every 8 months, and Phonological Awareness Lab every 31 months. Most recently, Count, Sort and Match was updated on November 1, 2026 and Phonological Awareness Lab on November 1, 2026.

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