Comparison

Random Name Selector Pro vs Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

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

Head to head
About

Random Name Selector Pro

This app helps teachers manage classrooms by randomly selecting students for participation. It allows for group creation, exclusion of specific students, and customization of selection parameters. Features like animated graphics, sound effects, and data backup enhance engagement and usability.

Highlights
  • Random student selection
  • Create and manage student groups
  • Exclude students from selection
  • Import student lists
  • Customizable selection limits
  • Cloud backup and sync
  • Animated graphics and themes
Features
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A Fun, classroom management tool, designed for Teachers, that will engage and entertain students. Simply create one or more groups (a Class or Group of Students). Add students to those groups. The App will then randomly select students from the highlighted group. All names will be displayed before a name is displayed for a second time. Features: • Call on your students in a different order every time. • If you want to exclude a Student/s from the selection, simply turn them off in the settings screen. This can be particularly useful for any absentees. • You can delete and edit Groups / Group member names easily inside the app. • The number of Students / Groups is limited only by the amount of free space on your device. • Use a FREE Dropbox account to backup and “Sync” your Groups/Group members with your other devices. You can even use the same Groups/Group members in our “Random Team Selector Pro” app (separate purchase). • If you have a lot of Groups/Group Members to define you can even import them from a text or CSV file. • The teacher can determine how many times any single name can be displayed. This avoids the problem of students “switching off” once their name has been selected once. • This is a Universal App for iPhone and iPad. • The Animated Graphics and multiple themes make the whole experience a pleasure and keep things fresh for the students. You can even create your own backgrounds. • Sound effects and background music help make the app more engaging but can also be switched ON/OFF individually as required. • You can apply a “Passcode” to access the settings screen. • Need to know where you are in the selection process. We have added a display option that shows the number of names drawn and the number of names remaining in the particular selection process. • Provide Feedback to the Developers directly from within the App….let us know how we can make it better. • Share with your friends on Facebook or Twitter from within the App. We value your feedback. Many of the features above are the direct result of Teacher feedback. If you have any ideas of ways the app can be improved we would love to hear them. Also, if you want to report a bug please use the “Email Support” button inside the app, or email us directly at support@edtechmonster.com We will always get back to you.

About

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

This app offers a comprehensive reading curriculum for young learners with over 300 picture books, songs, and interactive quizzes. It supports listening, reading, and recording, building phonics and vocabulary skills. Designed by an award-winning educator, it aims to foster a love of reading and confidence in beginning readers.

Highlights
  • Library of 300+ picture books
  • Sing-along song books
  • Interactive train game quizzes
  • Listen, read, and record functionality
  • Integrated word dictionary
  • Progress reporting tools
  • Unlimited user accounts
Features
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Every child can learn to read with this growing library of 300+ playful picture books, 21 sing-along song books and unlimited train game quizzes. "No other app is as specifically tailored to the needs of beginning readers." KinderTown.com Now beginning readers can listen, read and record, all by themselves. Pay once and receive all the books PLUS regular updates with brand new books at no additional cost! Play the train game, win coins for the music store, collect and learn new vocabulary words in the train yard. Created by Libby Curran, People Magazine Teacher of the Year, based on her award winning books. Grand Prize Winner of the 2015 Technology and Reading Award, International Literacy Association. Please note this is the same app as Reading Train Endless Books Songs & Games but includes all books with no in-app purchases. "Beautifully designed storybooks and related games that teach foundational reading": Appolicious.com "A vast selection of mini books to help kids reach reading independence" Geeks With Juniors. Not just a game or set of e-books but a complete reading curriculum from pre- reading to reading independence, building phonics and vocabulary skills, self confidence and a love of reading. Safe for Kids: The Learning Station is a Proud Member of Moms With Apps Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org * Listen, read and record books at 3 different beginning reading levels. * Professional narration: American English. All books can be recorded by users. * Play the train game after every book. * 450+ word integrated dictionary * 20 sing along song books * Unlimited user accounts and individual bookshelves * Powerful reporting tools Books Kids CAN Read. Written by Libby Curran, a People Magazine Teacher of the Year, these fun little books are field tested in real classrooms to get kids started on the path to reading independence. Books Kids LOVE to Read. Children are naturally curious, so encourage them to explore our leveled books on numbers, colors, animals, shapes, and science. Beginning readers need to read little books, but the Reading Train's unique design allows kids to explore big ideas, reading to learn at the same time as they learn to read. After reading, they can play the train quiz game, explore the audio dictionary and sing along with song books. Give Your Kids the Tools to Succeed. Stuck on a word? Tap and hold to hear every word and access the built in dictionary filled with hundreds of words. Play a unique quiz game at the end of every book to extend the learning. The Reading Train is packed full of tools to help children succeed, all on their own. Read To Learn- Meets Common Core Standards Kids can choose funny fiction and fascinating nonfiction on kid-friendly topics to build background knowledge while improving reading comprehension and foundational skills. Quizzes Disguised as Games. Play the train game after finishing every book, but don't tell them it's a quiz! Check progress on the parent's page which shows books read and recorded and detailed scores on the quizzes. The Right Team for the Job The Reading Train is the culmination of 30+ years of teaching experience. Backed by an all-star team of teachers turned iOS developers and a professional children's musician, the Reading Train is serious about making learning fun. Safe for Kids Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org We welcome your feedback: email: support@readingtrain.org http://www.readingtrain.org http://www.facebook.com/readingtrain Contact Libby with suggestions about books at: libby@readingtrain.org Not compatible with iPad 1. Requires iOS 7 or higher.

Screenshots

Random Name Selector Pro4 screens
Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead at 5.0 against Random Name Selector Pro's 3.6. Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (75% vs 42%). Random Name Selector Pro's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $9.99) and ratings volume (30 vs 2). On update cadence, in-app purchases and device support 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

Random Name Selector Pro costs $4.99 and Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Random Name Selector Pro has 30 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Random Name Selector Pro's written reviews are positive against 75% of Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Random Name Selector Pro ships an update every 5 months, Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Random Name Selector Pro versus Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRandom Name Selector ProReading Train Full STEAM Ahead
Price$4.99 — better$9.99
Rating3.6 (30 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.4% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings30 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size190 MB1.4 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEDTECH MONSTER LIMITEDThe Learning Station, LLC

Customer experience

Random Name Selector Pro

All ratings30 ratings
Positive53.3%
Neutral20.0%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive42.4%
Neutral15.2%
Negative42.4%

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

Random Name Selector Pro

No in-app purchases

None

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Random Name Selector Pro free?
Random Name Selector Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead free?
Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Random Name Selector Pro or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead?
Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead is rated higher. Random Name Selector Pro averages 3.6 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Random Name Selector Pro or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead have ads?
Random Name Selector Pro shows ads; Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead does not.
Which is updated more often, Random Name Selector Pro or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead?
Random Name Selector Pro ships an update every 5 months, and Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead every 3 months. Most recently, Random Name Selector Pro was updated on October 16, 2026 and Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead on October 12, 2026.

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