# NCTest vs ELSB Lite

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ELSB Lite at 50% against NCTest's 0%. ELSB Lite also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). NCTest's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ELSB Lite sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. NCTest asks for nothing beyond the download.

ELSB Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of NCTest's written reviews are positive against 50% of ELSB Lite's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NCTest | ELSB Lite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nctest/id669592120/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsb-lite/id825069440/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 0 MB | 236 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [North Carolina State University - CUACS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1427620139) | [Attainment Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/403989333) |

## What reviewers say

### NCTest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nctest/id669592120)

This application allows for the administration of online assessments for students in North Carolina, covering grades K-12. It is designed to facilitate educational testing and evaluation processes for the state.

**Highlights:** Online assessment administration, Supports K-12 grades, State-specific testing, Educational evaluation tool

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### ELSB Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elsb-lite/id825069440)

This app provides systematic instruction for print and phonemic awareness, featuring seven levels and ongoing assessments for personalized student progress. Research supports its effectiveness as a literacy program.

**Highlights:** Systematic print and phonemic awareness instruction, Seven distinct learning levels, Ongoing student assessments, Personalized progress tracking, Research-backed effectiveness

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Level 1 | $21.99 | one-time |
| Level 2 | $21.99 | one-time |
| Level 3 | $21.99 | one-time |
| Level 4 | $21.99 | one-time |
| Level 5 | $21.99 | one-time |
| Level 6 | $21.99 | one-time |
| Level 7 | $21.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NCTest free?

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

### Is ELSB Lite free?

ELSB Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NCTest or ELSB Lite?

ELSB Lite is rated higher. NCTest averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ELSB Lite averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do NCTest or ELSB Lite have ads?

Neither NCTest nor ELSB Lite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NCTest or ELSB Lite?

NCTest ships an update every 2 months, and ELSB Lite every 2 months. Most recently, NCTest was updated on November 6, 2026 and ELSB Lite on November 1, 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.*