# Stem Cards vs RootWords

The clearest difference is rating: Stem Cards at 4.8 against RootWords's 4.0. Stem Cards also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (29 vs 4). RootWords's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stem Cards sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RootWords asks for nothing beyond the download.

Stem Cards holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stem Cards has 29 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Stem Cards ships an update every 9 days, RootWords monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stem Cards | RootWords |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stem-cards-vocabulary-builder/id6478243260/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootwords/id6503809963/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **29** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 22 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Le Huang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1015141828) | [Charlotte OConnell](https://appshunter.io/developer/1258048613) |

## What reviewers say

### Stem Cards

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stem-cards-vocabulary-builder/id6478243260)

Learn vocabulary by understanding word roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Interactive flashcards, daily reviews, and quizzes help master word families and prepare for standardized tests. Audio pronunciation and instant dictionary search enhance learning.

**Highlights:** Interactive flashcards for stems, prefixes, suffixes, Daily review and mistake tracking, Audio pronunciation for stems and words, Vocabulary builder for SAT/GRE prep, Challenge quizzes (untimed and timed), Instant dictionary search for stems, Favorites and bookmarks for weak spots

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stem Cards Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


### RootWords

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootwords/id6503809963)

This word game helps users expand their vocabulary by building words from root components. It offers a fun way to learn word meanings and improve reading skills, beneficial for standardized tests and general language learning.

**Highlights:** Build words from root components, Learn word meanings, Improve vocabulary, Enhance reading skills, Test preparation aid

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stem Cards free?

Stem Cards is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is RootWords free?

RootWords is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Stem Cards or RootWords?

Stem Cards is rated higher. Stem Cards averages 4.8 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while RootWords averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Stem Cards or RootWords have ads?

Neither Stem Cards nor RootWords shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stem Cards or RootWords?

Stem Cards ships an update every 9 days, and RootWords monthly. Most recently, Stem Cards was updated on October 30, 2026 and RootWords on October 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.*