# Hooked on Phonics Learning vs Start Elementary School

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hooked on Phonics Learning at 42% against Start Elementary School's 0%. Hooked on Phonics Learning also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (18K vs 4). Start Elementary School's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 21) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hooked on Phonics Learning sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Start Elementary School asks for nothing beyond the download.

Hooked on Phonics Learning holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hooked on Phonics Learning has 18K ratings behind it against 4, 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 Start Elementary School's.

Hooked on Phonics Learning ships an update monthly, Start Elementary School every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hooked on Phonics Learning | Start Elementary School |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hooked-on-phonics-learning/id588868907/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-elementary-school/id6459196280/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **42.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#74** | — |
| Size | 635 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hooked on Phonics](https://appshunter.io/developer/588869030) | [Richland Parish School District](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701666770) |

## What reviewers say

### Hooked on Phonics Learning

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

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app transforms screen time into educational fun for children aged 3-8. It offers interactive games and activities across reading, math, and spelling, tailored to individual learning needs. Parents receive real-time progress insights and can track their child's development through a comprehensive ebook library and reward system.

**Highlights:** Reading, Math & Spelling Games, 1000+ Educational Activities, 100+ Ebook Library, Adaptive Learning Program, Virtual Rewards System, Multi-device Compatibility, Customizable Learner Profiles

**In-app purchases (18)**

| 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 |
| 1 month - 8.99 | $8.99 | per month |
| Hooked on Phonics | $9.99 | per month |
| Hooked on Phonics | $12.99 | 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 |
| Hooked on Phonics | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual $49.99 | $49.99 | per year |
| 1 year 49.99 | $49.99 | per year |
| Annual $79.99 | $79.99 | per year |
| Can Man eBook | $0.99 | one-time |
| Zap eBook | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlocking of Step 2 including 3 eBooks | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Complete 12 Step Set | $49.99 | one-time |

**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


### Start Elementary School

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-elementary-school/id6459196280)

This app connects parents, students, teachers, and administrators with school news, event calendars, and online resources. It provides quick access to essential information to keep the school community informed and engaged.

**Highlights:** School news updates, Interactive event calendars, Access to online resources, Connect school community, Stay informed

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 Start Elementary School free?

Start Elementary School is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Hooked on Phonics Learning or Start Elementary School?

Hooked on Phonics Learning is rated higher. Hooked on Phonics Learning averages 4.5 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Start Elementary School averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Hooked on Phonics Learning or Start Elementary School have ads?

Neither Hooked on Phonics Learning nor Start Elementary School shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hooked on Phonics Learning or Start Elementary School?

Hooked on Phonics Learning ships an update monthly, and Start Elementary School every 3 weeks. Most recently, Hooked on Phonics Learning was updated on October 15, 2026 and Start Elementary School on October 7, 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.*