# Hooked on Phonics Learning vs Lola's ABC Party

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lola's ABC Party at 71% against Hooked on Phonics Learning's 42%. Lola's ABC Party also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Hooked on Phonics Learning's advantage is ratings volume (18K vs 13) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and Lola's ABC Party sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Hooked on Phonics Learning holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hooked on Phonics Learning has 18K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 42% of Hooked on Phonics Learning's written reviews are positive against 71% of Lola's ABC Party's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Hooked on Phonics Learning ships an update monthly, Lola's ABC Party every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hooked on Phonics Learning | Lola's ABC Party |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hooked-on-phonics-learning/id588868907/reviews)** | [4.2 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lolas-abc-party-reading-fun/id665857713/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | 42.2% of reviews | **71.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#77** | — |
| Size | 635 MB | 153 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hooked on Phonics](https://appshunter.io/developer/588869030) | [BeiZ](https://appshunter.io/developer/656542520) |

## What reviewers say

### Hooked on Phonics Learning

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

**Currently charting:** #77 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


### Lola's ABC Party

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lolas-abc-party-reading-fun/id665857713)

This app helps young children develop early reading skills through fun, step-by-step activities. It focuses on sounds, first words, and syllables in a safe, ad-free environment. Designed for ages 4-8, it bridges the gap from alphabet recognition to reading fluency.

**Highlights:** Sound recognition, Letter-sound relationship, Forming first words, Syllable practice, Auditory perception exercises, Matching letters and words, Word-building tasks

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full version | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hooked on Phonics Learning free?

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

### Is Lola's ABC Party free?

Lola's ABC Party is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Hooked on Phonics Learning or Lola's ABC Party?

Hooked on Phonics Learning is rated higher. Hooked on Phonics Learning averages 4.5 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Lola's ABC Party averages 4.2 from 13 ratings.

### Do Hooked on Phonics Learning or Lola's ABC Party have ads?

Neither Hooked on Phonics Learning nor Lola's ABC Party shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hooked on Phonics Learning or Lola's ABC Party?

Hooked on Phonics Learning ships an update monthly, and Lola's ABC Party every 2 months. Most recently, Hooked on Phonics Learning was updated on September 24, 2026 and Lola's ABC Party on August 26, 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.*