# Hooked on Phonics Learning vs Decodable Readers L1 Sample

The clearest difference is rating: Hooked on Phonics Learning at 4.5 against Decodable Readers L1 Sample's 1.0. Hooked on Phonics Learning also leads on review sentiment (42% vs 0%) and ratings volume (18K vs 1). Decodable Readers L1 Sample's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (10.2 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hooked on Phonics Learning sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Decodable Readers L1 Sample asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hooked on Phonics Learning holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hooked on Phonics Learning has 18K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Hooked on Phonics Learning's written reviews are positive against 0% of Decodable Readers L1 Sample's.

Hooked on Phonics Learning ships an update monthly, Decodable Readers L1 Sample every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hooked on Phonics Learning | Decodable Readers L1 Sample |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hooked-on-phonics-learning/id588868907/reviews)** | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decodable-readers-l1-sample/id1450470178/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **42.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#72** | — |
| Size | 352 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hooked on Phonics](https://appshunter.io/developer/588869030) | [Decodable Readers Australia](https://appshunter.io/developer/1291420175) |

## What reviewers say

### Hooked on Phonics Learning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hooked-on-phonics-learning/id588868907)

**Currently charting:** #72 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app helps children learn to read, write, and do math through engaging games and activities. It offers phonics lessons, spelling practice, and math concepts for kids from preschool to second grade. Daily practice builds essential literacy and numeracy skills.

**Highlights:** Phonics and reading lessons, Math games and activities, Spelling and handwriting practice, Interactive storybooks, Vocabulary building, Progress tracking, Personalized learning paths

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hooked on Phonics | $6.99 | per month |
| 1 month 7.99 | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly $7.99 | $7.99 | per month |
| Hooked on Phonics | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly $12.99 | $12.99 | per month |
| Monthly $14.99 | $14.99 | per month |
| Semi-Annual $29.99 | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Annual $49.99 | $49.99 | per year |
| Annual $79.99 | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helped child learn to read quickly
- 👍 Fun and engaging for kids
- 🚀 Effective for teaching phonics
- 👍 Great customer service
- 👍 Workbooks and app work well together

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes and crashes frequently
- 🐛 Progress not saved properly
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate and use
- 🔋 Slow loading times
- 🔒 Subscription issues and billing problems

**Reported bugs**

- Avatar creation feature broken
- Incorrect letter pronunciations
- Levels not loading properly
- Login issues after updates

**Requested features**

- More variety in activities and games
- Ability to skip or customize lessons
- Offline mode for using the app without internet
- Support for larger families with more user profiles


### Decodable Readers L1 Sample

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decodable-readers-l1-sample/id1450470178)

This app provides a systematic approach to learning to read for children, using "right-fit" books that only contain words made from sounds the child has learned. It introduces sounds progressively through engaging stories with audio support and interactive features.

**Highlights:** Systematic sound introduction, Phonic readers with "right-fit" books, Progressive sound complexity, Audio support for stories, Interactive word tapping, Australian themes and illustrations

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hooked on Phonics Learning free?

Hooked on Phonics Learning is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Decodable Readers L1 Sample free?

Decodable Readers L1 Sample is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hooked on Phonics Learning or Decodable Readers L1 Sample?

Hooked on Phonics Learning is rated higher. Hooked on Phonics Learning averages 4.5 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Decodable Readers L1 Sample averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Hooked on Phonics Learning or Decodable Readers L1 Sample have ads?

Neither Hooked on Phonics Learning nor Decodable Readers L1 Sample shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hooked on Phonics Learning or Decodable Readers L1 Sample?

Hooked on Phonics Learning ships an update monthly, and Decodable Readers L1 Sample every 2 months. Most recently, Hooked on Phonics Learning was updated on November 14, 2026 and Decodable Readers L1 Sample on November 2, 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.*