# SplashLearn vs 1st Grade Reading & Phonics

The clearest difference is update cadence: SplashLearn at every 11 days against 1st Grade Reading & Phonics's every 3 months. SplashLearn also leads on ratings volume (32K vs 606) and chart position (#74 vs unranked). 1st Grade Reading & Phonics's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 74%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SplashLearn sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and 1st Grade Reading & Phonics sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for SplashLearn against 4.6 for 1st Grade Reading & Phonics. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SplashLearn has 32K ratings behind it against 606, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of SplashLearn's written reviews are positive against 100% of 1st Grade Reading & Phonics's.

SplashLearn ships an update every 11 days, 1st Grade Reading & Phonics every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SplashLearn | 1st Grade Reading & Phonics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (32K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/splashlearn-learning-games/id672658828/reviews) | **[4.6 (606 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1st-grade-reading-and-phonics/id6468936170/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **32K** | 606 |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#74** | — |
| Size | 498 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [StudyPad, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/432105528) | [Smart Kidz Club Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/947115810) |

## What reviewers say

### SplashLearn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/splashlearn-learning-games/id672658828)

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app offers curriculum-aligned lessons in math and reading for children aged 2-11 through engaging games, books, and activities. It personalizes the learning experience to each child's pace, building confidence and foundational skills.

**Highlights:** Curriculum-aligned math and reading lessons, Interactive learning games and books, Personalized learning paths, Progress tracking for parents, Rewards and motivation system, Covers Preschool to Grade 5

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SplashLearn Membership Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| SplashLearn Membership Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| SplashLearn Membership Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| SplashLearn Membership Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| SplashLearn Solo - Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| SplashLearn Membership 3-Month | $23.99 | per 3 months |
| SplashLearn Membership Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| SplashLearn Solo - Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| SplashLearn Membership Yearly | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging learning experience
- 💡 Effective for reinforcing math and reading skills
- 🚀 Constant updates and progress reports
- 👍 Motivating reward system with coins and achievements
- 💡 Personalized learning paths and curriculum

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Technical issues like crashes, freezing, and loading problems
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Difficulty canceling subscription
- 🤔 Limited free access, forces paid subscription
- 🤔 Repetitive content and lack of variety in some areas

**Reported bugs**

- Progress not saving properly
- Incorrect answers being marked as correct
- Profiles not working or logging out unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- More advanced content for higher grade levels
- Option to turn off answers and allow more time for students
- Improved sync between app and web versions
- Better customer support and responsiveness


### 1st Grade Reading & Phonics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1st-grade-reading-and-phonics/id6468936170)

This app offers a comprehensive reading experience for first graders, featuring a vast library of stories, science topics, folktales, and social-emotional learning. It uses interactive activities and engaging visuals to make learning fun and accessible, even offline.

**Highlights:** Vast library of diverse books, Interactive learning activities and quizzes, Educational content on science, SEL, and health, Offline reading capability, Immersive audio-visual experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading Books for Grade 1:1W | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Reading Books for Grade 1:1M | $3.99 | per month |
| Reading Books for Grade 1:3M | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Reading Books for Grade 1:6M | $6.99 | per 6 months |
| Reading Books for Grade 1:1Y | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SplashLearn free?

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

### Is 1st Grade Reading & Phonics free?

1st Grade Reading & Phonics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SplashLearn or 1st Grade Reading & Phonics?

1st Grade Reading & Phonics is rated higher. SplashLearn averages 4.5 out of 5 from 32K ratings, while 1st Grade Reading & Phonics averages 4.6 from 606 ratings.

### Do SplashLearn or 1st Grade Reading & Phonics have ads?

Neither SplashLearn nor 1st Grade Reading & Phonics shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SplashLearn or 1st Grade Reading & Phonics?

SplashLearn ships an update every 11 days, and 1st Grade Reading & Phonics every 3 months. Most recently, SplashLearn was updated on November 3, 2026 and 1st Grade Reading & Phonics on October 30, 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.*