Comparison

Phono Learning Center vs Articulation Test Center Hive

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

Head to head
About

Phono Learning Center

This research-based speech therapy app helps children with sound system disorders improve their speech intelligibility. It utilizes engaging games and structured activities based on the evidence-based Cycles Approach, designed by a certified speech-language pathologist.

Highlights
  • Research-based Cycles Approach
  • Engaging and structured activities
  • Individual and group data tracking
  • Customizable scoring systems
  • Printable homework sheets
  • Word, phrase, and sentence levels
Features
Read full description

Phono Learning Center (PLC) is a research-based speech therapy app designed for children with phonological or sound-system disorders. Based on the evidence-based Cycles Approach, PLC helps children who are highly unintelligible improve their sound production through engaging and structured activities. Created by a certified speech-language pathologist trained in the Cycles technique, PLC combines effective intervention strategies with motivating, child-friendly games that make therapy fun and productive. Evidence-Based and Flexible PLC follows the principles of Barbara W. Hodson’s Cycles for Phonological Pattern Remediation, using carefully selected target words that support correct co-articulation and facilitate speech development. The app can be used with a true Cycles framework or easily customized for traditional articulation therapy. Designed for Individual or Group Sessions PLC allows multiple players in one session, automatically tracking each child’s performance. Clinicians can collect detailed data on multiple utterances without losing time on manual scoring, making it an ideal tool for busy speech-language pathologists. Engaging Activities That Motivate Learning Each activity encourages repeated practice of target words at the word, phrase, or sentence level: • Auditory Bombardment: Tap balloons to hear target words and improve listening skills. • Hot-Air Balloon: Say a target word, drag it into the basket, and watch the balloon lift off. • Matching Game: Strengthen memory and production through a fun matching activity. • Basket Paper: Say the word, crumple the paper, and toss it into the basket for points. • Puzzle Game: Reveal a picture piece-by-piece by saying each target word correctly. Comprehensive Data Collection PLC includes two data collection options: • Standard Scoring: Correct, Almost, or Missed. • Level of Prompts: Prompted, Imitated, or Independent. Each session report includes percentage accuracy, targets, session duration, and scoring method. Data can be printed, emailed, or exported to the Therapy Report Center app for efficient progress monitoring and reporting. Homework and Home Practice PLC provides printable and emailable homework sheets for each target area, allowing for consistent practice between therapy sessions and at home. Features • Based on the Cycles Approach by Barbara Hodson • Four fun and motivating games • Word, phrase, and sentence levels • Individual and group data tracking • Customizable scoring systems • Compatible with Therapy Report Center • Supports literacy with printed text • Homework for each target area • Developed by Mary Huston, MS, CCC-SLP Professional Reviews “Instead of adapting apps to meet evidence-based strategies, PLC was built around them.” — The Speech Room News “It’s more engaging than most articulation apps, with real flexibility for Cycles therapy.” — Busy Bee Speech Empower Communication Through Play Phono Learning Center transforms research-based intervention into interactive learning. Designed for professionals, loved by kids, and trusted by SLPs worldwide.

About

Articulation Test Center Hive

This app provides a comprehensive tool for assessing speech sound disorders in children and adults. It offers flexible testing options, intelligent scoring with auto-marked phonological processes, and interactive scenes for speech sampling. Generate data-driven reports to track progress and identify areas for practice.

Highlights
  • Flexible testing options (Screener, Full Test)
  • Intelligent scoring with auto-marked processes
  • Interactive speech scenes for sample collection
  • Comprehensive test results and progress graphs
  • Auto-generated, editable reports
  • Speech sample recording and playback
Features
Read full description

Articulation Test Center Hive (ATC Hive) is a criterion-referenced, articulation and phonology test, created by SLPs for SLPs to assess speech sound disorders in children and adults. It is a smart testing solution that offers flexible testing options, interactive speech scenes, comprehensive test results, and auto-generated, data-driven reports that will save you time! ARTICULATION TEST CENTER HIVE OFFERS: FLEXIBLE TESTING OPTIONS: Screener: Assesses the sounds and words that are developmentally appropriate based on age. Full Test: Assesses all the speech sounds in the English language including initial sounds, medial sounds, final sounds, blends, vowels, and R sounds or any combination of these sound sets. INTELLIGENT SCORING: - Quickly mark sounds incorrect or approximate - Easily mark substitutions and omissions - Enjoy 19 auto-marked phonological processes & distortions - Rate intelligibility INTERACTIVE SPEECH SCENES: Speech Sample: Offers two beautifully illustrated and interactive speech scenes for children to explore with question prompts to keep them talking. It is a fun and easy way to record and save a connected speech sample for assessing a student’s speech and language skills, and it provides a more accurate way to measure intelligibility. COMPREHENSIVE TEST RESULTS: Scores Overview: Displays progress graphs for Percent Phonemes Correct and Intelligibility, and a list of tests given. Words Tested: Displays all the words tested, how they were scored, and phonological processes & distortions marked. You can listen to recordings made and view notes. If edits are needed you can return to the test to make changes. Sound Errors: Displays the sound errors by sound position and age of acquisition. You can also mark sound errors for stimulability. Place/Manner: Displays sound errors based on the place of articulation and on the manner of articulation. It also displays vowel errors by position and quadrant. Substitutions: Displays all the substitutions made and omissions marked. Processes/Distortions: Displays all the phonological processes and distortions marked in the test. It does this with a visual graph as well as a list of processes marked. Speech Sample: The audio recording taken from the speech sample is saved and available for playback. The intelligibility can be updated and a transcription can be entered or viewed. Recommendation: Shows a quick summary of sounds and phonological processes recommended for practice and sounds processes that should be monitored for appropriate development. AUTO-GENERATED REPORTS: The Report tab presents a full written report summarizing the test results. The report can be edited and/or shared with parents, teachers, and others involved in the intervention process. Once you immerse yourself in ATC Hive’s many testing and reporting features you will come to know we invested an enormous amount of our resources and our best thinking in both the testing experience, and in the test administrator–YOU! We’re proud to offer ATC Hive as part of the Little Bee Hive membership which includes access to both Articulation Test Center Hive and Articulation Station Hive. If you are already subscribed to Articulation Station Hive (Pro tier) you may download and login to Articulation Test Center Hive with your same login information at no additional cost. SUBSCRIPTION, PRICING & TERMS: Articulation Test Center Hive offers a 14-day free trial which includes unlimited access to both Articulation Test Center Hive and Articulation Station Hive. The subscription automatically renews unless the auto-renew feature is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your Apple account at the end of your 14-day trial period. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off at any time.

Screenshots

Articulation Test Center Hive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Articulation Test Center Hive at Free against Phono Learning Center's $19.99. Articulation Test Center Hive also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months). Phono Learning Center's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Articulation Test Center Hive is free to download; Phono Learning Center costs $19.99 up front. Articulation Test Center Hive sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Phono Learning Center asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Articulation Test Center Hive holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Articulation Test Center Hive has 162 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 67% and 67% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phono Learning Center ships an update every 7 months, Articulation Test Center Hive monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Phono Learning Center versus Articulation Test Center Hive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhono Learning CenterArticulation Test Center Hive
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (4 ratings)4.8 (162 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings4162 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB162 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmarty EarsLittle Bee Speech

Customer experience

Phono Learning Center

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%

Articulation Test Center Hive

All ratings161 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral1.2%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral13.3%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

None

Phono Learning Center

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Articulation Test Center Hive

Subscriptions2
  • Hive Pro (Monthly)14 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Hive Pro (Yearly)14 Days trial$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Phono Learning Center free?
Phono Learning Center costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Articulation Test Center Hive free?
Articulation Test Center Hive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Phono Learning Center or Articulation Test Center Hive?
Articulation Test Center Hive is rated higher. Phono Learning Center averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Articulation Test Center Hive averages 4.8 from 162 ratings.
Do Phono Learning Center or Articulation Test Center Hive have ads?
Neither Phono Learning Center nor Articulation Test Center Hive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Phono Learning Center or Articulation Test Center Hive?
Phono Learning Center ships an update every 7 months, and Articulation Test Center Hive monthly. Most recently, Phono Learning Center was updated on November 1, 2026 and Articulation Test Center Hive on November 4, 2026.

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