Comparison

StartDOT Handwriting vs Reading Train

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

Head to head
About

StartDOT Handwriting

This app offers a virtual handwriting workbook for children aged 3-7 and those with special needs. It uses engaging pictures and stories to teach letter and number formation through proven learning methods, with adjustable settings for progressive difficulty.

Highlights
  • Virtual handwriting workbook
  • Teaches letter and number formation
  • Engaging pictures and stories
  • Proven learning methods
  • Adjustable difficulty settings
  • Progress monitoring
  • Worksheet downloads
Read full description

**TOP 10 APPS FOR KIDS** Cool Mom Tech Smart Apps for Kids: TOP PICK ... 5 Star Handwriting App! Teachers with Apps CERTIFIED! "A beautifully crafted app, a true treasure!" Appy Mall - "This is an essential app!", "Highly recommended" The iMums - 5 Stars ... "a handwriting program that works!" New & Noteworthy Kids Apps 2014 KNOW What’s Inside™ Member: Best Practices for Kids’ Apps So much more than a tracing app... A virtual handwriting workbook, perfect for in-person or asynchronous learning. Unforgettable pictures and stories help children learn how to write their letters and numbers in a fun, new way! (ages 3-7 & special needs) Developed by an occupational therapist with over 26 years of experience working with handwriting for young children and children with special needs. OVERVIEW All the depth of a classroom experience, in your own home, with the fun and simplicity of the digital environment. Proven learning methods combined in an app that truly teaches letter and number formation! FEATURES ~ Wide error range for beginners ~ Free worksheet downloads on our website www.startdothandwriting.com/free-downloads ~ 2 Learning Orders: Kinesthetic (guided) or Alphabetic (free choice) ~ Rainbow Letters to increase accuracy ~ Look-Back Progress Monitoring: All handwriting samples saved for all users! ~ Adjustable settings increase difficulty ~ Two writing screens: Learning and Practice ~ Unique teaching method and concepts simplifies learning. ~ Striking graphics combine with gentle teaching voice BEST FOR ... ~ Ages 3-6, and 6+ children with developmental delays ~ Casual home use, preschool, kindergarten, first grade, home school, therapy PRIVACY TrishCo takes privacy and security matters seriously, and wishes to inform all users of the StartDOT application, whether parents, professionals, community members or our most important audience - our hardworking kids, of our privacy practices. We encourage you to review our policy at www.startdothandwriting.com/privacy.

About

Reading Train

This app offers a comprehensive reading program for young learners, featuring interactive ABC books, engaging games, and songs. It helps children develop foundational reading skills, build vocabulary, and boost their confidence through a fun, safe, and ad-free experience.

Highlights
  • 24 ABC books at 3 reading levels
  • Interactive train game for word learning
  • Built-in picture/audio dictionary
  • 18 song books
  • Professional narration
  • User recording of books
  • Student reporting tools
Features
Read full description

Listen, read, and record 24 fun ABC books at 3 easy reading levels: 72 books in all! Play the train game; win coins for the music store; collect and learn new words in the train yard. "Beautifully designed storybooks and related games that teach foundational reading": Appolicious.com Books, songs and games to build skills, self confidence and a love of reading. Real reading, for fun and information, right from the start. "A dynamic tool to augment any beginning readers program": Teachers With Apps 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 to grow as a reader. * Play the train game after every book to learn letters and words * Built-in picture/audio dictionary * 18 song books * Professional narration- American English. All books can be recorded by users. * Unlimited user accounts * Powerful student reporting tools Books Kids CAN Read. Written by Libby Curran, a People Magazine Teacher of the Year, these engaging little books are field tested in real classrooms to get kids started on the path to reading independence. Books Kids LOVE to Read and Re-read. Children are naturally curious, so encourage them to explore our ABC books to learn new vocabulary and build the foundational knowledge they need to succeed in school. After reading stories they can play the train quiz game, explore the picture/audio dictionary and listen to 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 audio dictionary filled with hundreds of words. Play a unique quiz game at the end of every book to extend the learning. The Reading Train Alphabet is packed full of tools to help children succeed, all on their own. Read to Learn- Meet Common Core Standards Read beginning level books with purpose and understanding. Develop the concepts of print: reading left to right and matching written words with spoken words. Learn letter names and sounds, build background knowledge and improve 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 to see all the books children have read and recorded as well as detailed scores on the quizzes. The Right Team For the Job Created by award winning master teacher and early literacy expert, Libby Curran,The Reading Train Alphabet is the culmination of 20+ years of teaching experience. Backed by an all-star team of teachers turned iOS developers and a professional children's musician, The Reading Train Alphabet is serious about making learning fun. Keep in Touch We welcome your feedback, to keep up with all things Reading Train check out: readingtrain.org facebook.com/readingtrain email: support@readingtrain.org We welcome suggestions on future books and curriculum. Contact Libby with suggestions about new content at: libby@readingtrain.org

Screenshots

Reading Train4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Reading Train at every 5 months against StartDOT Handwriting's every 43 months. Reading Train also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (100% vs 91%). StartDOT Handwriting's advantage is ratings volume (11 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

StartDOT Handwriting costs $4.99 and Reading Train $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reading Train holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StartDOT Handwriting has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of StartDOT Handwriting's written reviews are positive against 100% of Reading Train's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StartDOT Handwriting ships an update every 43 months, Reading Train every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
StartDOT Handwriting versus Reading Train: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStartDOT HandwritingReading Train
Price$4.99$3.99 — better
Rating4.7 (11 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 43 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size105 MB698 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTrishCO LLCThe Learning Station, LLC

Customer experience

StartDOT Handwriting

All ratings11 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral9.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral9.1%
Negative0.0%

Reading Train

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

StartDOT Handwriting

No in-app purchases

None

Reading Train

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StartDOT Handwriting free?
StartDOT Handwriting costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Reading Train free?
Reading Train costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, StartDOT Handwriting or Reading Train?
Reading Train is rated higher. StartDOT Handwriting averages 4.7 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Reading Train averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do StartDOT Handwriting or Reading Train have ads?
Neither StartDOT Handwriting nor Reading Train shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StartDOT Handwriting or Reading Train?
StartDOT Handwriting ships an update every 43 months, and Reading Train every 5 months. Most recently, StartDOT Handwriting was updated on October 23, 2026 and Reading Train on October 12, 2026.

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