Comparison

StartDOT Handwriting 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

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 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
Read full description

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

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead at every 3 months against StartDOT Handwriting's every 43 months. Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and device support (3 vs 1). StartDOT Handwriting's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $9.99) and review sentiment (91% vs 75%). 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 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 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: StartDOT Handwriting has 11 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of StartDOT Handwriting's written reviews are positive against 75% of Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

StartDOT Handwriting ships an update every 43 months, Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
StartDOT Handwriting versus Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStartDOT HandwritingReading Train Full STEAM Ahead
Price$4.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.7 (11 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 43 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size105 MB1.4 GB
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 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

StartDOT Handwriting

No in-app purchases

None

Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StartDOT Handwriting free?
StartDOT Handwriting 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, StartDOT Handwriting or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead?
Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead is rated higher. StartDOT Handwriting averages 4.7 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do StartDOT Handwriting or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead have ads?
Neither StartDOT Handwriting nor Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, StartDOT Handwriting or Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead?
StartDOT Handwriting ships an update every 43 months, and Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead every 3 months. Most recently, StartDOT Handwriting was updated on November 1, 2026 and Reading Train Full STEAM Ahead on November 1, 2026.

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