# Elmo Loves 123s vs Alphablocks, How to Write

The clearest difference is rating: Elmo Loves 123s at 4.4 against Alphablocks, How to Write's 3.9. Elmo Loves 123s also leads on chart position (#196 vs unranked) and ratings volume (95 vs 24). Alphablocks, How to Write's advantage is review sentiment (56% vs 40%) and price ($3.99 vs $4.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Elmo Loves 123s costs $4.99 and Alphablocks, How to Write $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Elmo Loves 123s holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 95 and 24 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of Elmo Loves 123s's written reviews are positive against 56% of Alphablocks, How to Write's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elmo Loves 123s | Alphablocks, How to Write |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$3.99** |
| Rating | **[4.4 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elmo-loves-123s/id581585669/reviews)** | [3.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphablocks-how-to-write/id1582623084/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **95** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#196** | — |
| Size | 459 MB | 323 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sesame Workshop (Apps)](https://appshunter.io/developer/339077104) | [Blue-Zoo](https://appshunter.io/developer/938119031) |

## What reviewers say

### Elmo Loves 123s

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elmo-loves-123s/id581585669)

**Currently charting:** #196 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app offers a variety of games, activities, and videos designed to teach young children about numbers and counting. It features interactive tracing, puzzles, and songs with beloved characters, covering numbers 1 through 20.

**Highlights:** Number tracing with surprises, Interactive games and puzzles, Songs and videos about numbers, Coloring pages, Learning tracker for parents, Addition & Subtraction practice

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for learning numbers
- 👍 Engaging and fun activities
- 👍 Loved by toddlers
- 👍 Interactive play
- 👍 Educational content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Elmo not prominent
- 😞 Videos with crying
- 😞 Tracing not accurate
- 😞 Inconsistent learning
- 😞 Paid app issues

**Reported bugs**

- Videos with crying in them
- Count video for number 14 missing
- Purchased features gone
- Elmo nowhere to be seen after intro
- Advert added to paid app

**Requested features**

- Remove videos with crying
- Restore Count video for number 14
- Add numbers above 20
- Add music videos
- Add number 0


### Alphablocks, How to Write

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphablocks-how-to-write/id1582623084)

This app uses animated characters to teach children how to write letters and numbers. It features a guided learning path with pre-writing exercises, letter families, and tracing practice with rhymes. The app is designed by educational experts and is ad-free.

**Highlights:** Pre-writing line practice, Letter families based on shape, Scaffolded learning trajectory, Letter and numeral tracing, Writing rhymes for memorization, Adventure-based learning

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elmo Loves 123s free?

Elmo Loves 123s costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Alphablocks, How to Write free?

Alphablocks, How to Write costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Elmo Loves 123s or Alphablocks, How to Write?

Elmo Loves 123s is rated higher. Elmo Loves 123s averages 4.4 out of 5 from 95 ratings, while Alphablocks, How to Write averages 3.9 from 24 ratings.

### Do Elmo Loves 123s or Alphablocks, How to Write have ads?

Neither Elmo Loves 123s nor Alphablocks, How to Write shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elmo Loves 123s or Alphablocks, How to Write?

Elmo Loves 123s ships an update every 5 months, and Alphablocks, How to Write every 5 months. Most recently, Elmo Loves 123s was updated on October 29, 2026 and Alphablocks, How to Write on October 29, 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.*