Comparison

Phonics & ABC vs first steps Guide

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

Head to head
About

Phonics & ABC

This educational tool teaches children phonemes and letter sounds through interactive books, activities, and flashcards. It focuses on building letter sound knowledge, aiding speech development, and enhancing early literacy skills for school readiness.

Highlights
  • Interactive read-along books
  • Learning activities with feedback
  • Comprehensive flashcards
  • Human voice narration
  • Focus on 44 phonemes
  • Speech and language development support
Features
Read full description

The Phonics app for children is a powerful educational tool designed to teach children the 44 phonemes and letter sounds through fun and interactive read along books, learning activities, and flashcards. Developed by Smart Kidz Club with the "just right" reading condition without any animations and distractions, this app uses human voice narration and is designed to make learning phonics focused, easy, and enjoyable for young children. The Phonics app will help children • Build a solid letter sound knowledge • Help with speech and language development • Enhance their early literacy and reading skills • Get a head start at school with higher reading readiness The app introduces children to each of the 44 phonemes (letter sounds) and their corresponding graphemes, letters that make up that sound. Each phoneme is taught through a list of that contains that sound and is supported by an image. There is a separate book and flashcard for the beginning, middle, and ending sounds of vowels, consonants, and digraphs. Once children have learned the phonemes and letter sounds, they can move on to the practice activities. These learning activities are designed to help children practice their phonics skills such as matching sounds to pictures. The activities are interactive and provide immediate feedback, allowing children to learn from their mistakes and improve their phonics skills. The app also includes a comprehensive set of flashcards that children can use to practice their phonics skills. The flashcards are organized by phoneme and include pictures and words that use the corresponding sound. Children can swipe through the flashcards at their own pace, listening to the sound and practicing saying the word. This feature is perfect for children who prefer to learn at their own pace and for parents who want to help their children practice phonics skills outside of the app. The Phonics app for children is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with simple navigation and clear instructions. The app is suitable for children of all ages, from preschoolers to early elementary school students. It can be used both in the classroom and at home. The Phonics app for children is an excellent tool for teaching children the 44 phonemes and letter sounds. Whether used in the classroom or at home, the Phonics app for children is an excellent tool for supporting children's literacy development.

About

first steps Guide

Features
Read full description

First Steps is an inclusive educational app designed to cater to learners of all ages. Our app offers a comprehensive learning experience, featuring interactive games, puzzles, stories, and activities that stimulate cognitive development, literacy, numeracy, creativity, and social skills. The user-friendly interface and age-appropriate content enable individuals to navigate independently, fostering a sense of confidence and accomplishment. Parents, educators, and learners can track progress, personalize learning paths, and actively participate in the educational journey. First Steps goes beyond being just an app; it becomes a valuable partner in the pursuit of lifelong learning.

Screenshots

Phonics & ABC4 screens
first steps Guide3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: first steps Guide at none against Phonics & ABC's 3. first steps Guide also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.6). Phonics & ABC's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, ads 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

Both are free to download. Phonics & ABC sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. first steps Guide asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phonics & ABC ships an update monthly, first steps Guide every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Phonics & ABC versus first steps Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhonics & ABCfirst steps Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (84 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings84 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB33 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperSmart Kidz Club Inc.ELYAS QAID

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Phonics & ABC

Subscriptions3
  • Phonics for Kids:1M$2.991 Month
  • Phonics for Kids:3M3 Days trial$3.993 Months
  • Phonics for Kids:6M3 Days trial$4.996 Months
None

first steps Guide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Phonics & ABC free?
Phonics & ABC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is first steps Guide free?
first steps Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Phonics & ABC or first steps Guide have ads?
Neither Phonics & ABC nor first steps Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Phonics & ABC or first steps Guide?
Phonics & ABC ships an update monthly, and first steps Guide every 3 months. Most recently, Phonics & ABC was updated on September 23, 2026 and first steps Guide on September 9, 2026.

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