Comparison

SplashLearn vs Starfall

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

Head to head
About

SplashLearn

This app offers curriculum-aligned math and reading lessons for children aged 2-11 through interactive games, books, and activities. It adapts to each child's learning level, providing personalized support and challenges to build foundational skills and confidence.

Highlights
  • Curriculum-aligned math and reading lessons
  • Interactive learning games and activities
  • Personalized learning paths
  • Progress tracking for parents
  • 4000+ games, books, and challenges
  • Safe, ad-free environment
Read full description

Loved by over 60 million kids and used in 1 in 3 US schools, SplashLearn is a learning app for ages 2 to 11. It blends curriculum-aligned lessons with fun learning games, books, worksheets, and rewards that keep children curious, motivated, and confident. With SplashLearn, children build strong foundations in math, reading, and critical thinking through interactive, hands-on activities. The app adapts to each child’s level, offering support when they need it and challenge when they’re ready. Whether your child is tracing letters or solving complex word problems, SplashLearn meets them exactly where they are and guides them forward with confidence. WHY PARENTS TRUST SPLASHLEARN - Covers Preschool to Grade 5 curriculum for both Math and Reading - Perfect blend of educational games, stories, puzzles, activities, and flash cards - Free learning games for kids that build real skills, not just screen time - Designed for independent use- kids can learn on their own - Real-time progress tracking and insights for parents - Safe, ad-free, COPPA & GDPR compliant learning app for kids WHY KIDS LOVE IT - 4000+ fun learning games, decodable books, math challenges, and story books - Exciting learning worlds where they collect coins, rewards, and new characters - Engaging animation, and kid-friendly design - Play math games, reading games, phonics puzzles, spelling challenges- all in one place WHAT MATH SKILLS WILL MY CHILD LEARN? - Preschool & Kindergarten: Counting, shapes, tracing numbers, addition with visuals, patterns - Grade 1: Place value, subtraction, telling time, math facts, measurement, basic word problems - Grade 2: Multiplication, money, regrouping, critical thinking, understanding number relationships - Grade 3: Division, fractions, time, measurement, advanced math games - Grade 4 & 5: Multi-step word problems, decimals, geometry, fractions, data charts, reasoning Each grade has interactive learning games that make abstract concepts easy and memorable. Kids don’t just memorize, they understand by doing. WHAT READING SKILLS WILL MY CHILD LEARN? - Letter recognition (ABC), phonics, sight words, and tracing - Blending sounds to build words - Picture-based vocabulary learning - Fun decodable books and bedtime reading stories - Spelling games and reading fluency boosters - Comprehension through questions, animation, and narration Kids hear the word, see the word, say the word, and use it- making learning natural and playful. PERSONALIZED & SMART LEARNING PATH The app adjusts difficulty based on each child’s progress. If your child needs more help with subtraction or phonics, it slows down and gives extra practice. If they’re ready for more challenge, it moves ahead. It’s like a personal tutor, inside a game. PROVEN & AWARD-WINNING - Featured on Fox News - Editor’s Choice- Children’s Technology Review - Parent Choice Award winner - Trusted by teachers, used in 1 in 3 US schools - Best Educational Game for Kids (Multiple categories) SAFE FOR KIDS, PEACEFUL FOR PARENTS No ads, no pop-ups, no distractions. Just thoughtfully designed kids’ educational games in a clean, safe, and friendly environment. FREE TRIAL & EASY SUBSCRIPTION Try it free! Get full access during your free trial, then choose a flexible plan that fits your family. Enjoy unlimited learning games, lessons, and rewards with one subscription. SUPPORT We’re here for you → https://support.splashlearn.com/hc/en-us PRIVACY & TERMS - https://www.splashlearn.com/privacy - https://www.splashlearn.com/terms-of-use

About

Starfall

This app offers engaging reading and math activities for children from preschool to 5th grade. It features games, songs, and interactive lessons designed by educators to support early literacy and numeracy skills. The platform also includes accessibility features for children with impairments.

Highlights
  • Reading phonics and fluency
  • Math concepts and operations
  • Interactive games and songs
  • Accessibility features
  • Sequential learning objectives
  • Holiday activities and sing-alongs
Features
Read full description

Starfall® fun activities, games, and songs includes reading, math, music, and more – read, learn, and play preschool to fifth grade. Includes free and subscriber content. Starfall provides an Enhanced Accessible Index for children with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. For more information, please contact Customer Service at (+1) 303-417-6414. Join Zac the Rat® and his friends on an exciting learning journey, starting with the ABCs and 123s and advancing up to grade 5 grammar and mathematics. Starfall's playful open format intuitively guides children through sequential learning objectives for reading, math, art, music, and social subjects like kindness and caring. *Highlights* *Reading (phonics, fluency, grammar) -- ABCs, Learn to Read, I’m Reading, Talking Library, Punctuation, Parts of Speech *Math -- Numbers, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division, Geometry and Measurement, Fractions *More -- Holiday Activities, Nursery Rhymes, Sing-Alongs, Interactive Calendar *Why Starfall* *Research based, teacher tested, child approved. The Starfall® systematic approach was created by experienced educators using time-tested instructional methods. *Try it for free. All of the basics for learning how to read are available to everyone. *No advertisements. Whether a free user or subscriber, you won’t see any ads. *Pass it forward! Subscribers gain access to hundreds of additional activities and support the free sections for others to enjoy. *What people are saying about Starfall* Listed on PC Magazine’s “15 best Online Learning Services for Kids,” Think Five’s “Top 5 Most Used Apps by Elementary Teachers,” and as one Parent's Magazine's "70 Best Apps for Families." "Kids can learn about letter recognition, phonics, and reading. Skill acquisition is appropriately gradual... Starfall does an excellent job of offering clear and intriguing early literacy lessons." —Common Sense Media “I truly believe that Starfall set the foundation for my future.” —Sarah, undergraduate at Stanford University *Subscription information* If you choose to purchase a Starfall subscription, a $5.99 (USD) payment will be applied to your Apple ID account upon confirmation of purchase and monthly after that. Your subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. This subscription is valid only for home use. It can be used on devices signed in with your Apple ID, as well as any associated Family Sharing devices. *Additional Info* This app requires an internet connection and is intended for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1-5. It also supports English language development, special education, and homeschool environments. Privacy Policy: https://teach.starfall.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://teach.starfall.com/terms The Starfall website and applications are program services of Starfall Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) publicly supported nonprofit. Copyright © 2002–2024 by Starfall Education and its licensors. All rights reserved. Starfall® and Starfall.com® are registered trademarks in the U.S., the European Union, and various other countries.

Screenshots

SplashLearn4 screens
Starfall4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SplashLearn at 4.5 against Starfall's 4.1. SplashLearn also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and chart position (#73 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. SplashLearn sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and Starfall sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SplashLearn holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SplashLearn has 32K ratings behind it against 4.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 75% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SplashLearn ships an update every 9 days, Starfall every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
SplashLearn versus Starfall: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSplashLearnStarfall
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (32K ratings) — better4.1 (4.3K ratings)
Positive reviews74.6% of reviews74.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings32K — better4.3K
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#73 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size493 MB155 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStudyPad, Inc.Starfall Education Foundation

Customer experience

SplashLearn

All ratings32,109 ratings
Positive87.9%
Neutral3.7%
Negative8.5%
Written reviews861 reviews
Positive74.6%
Neutral4.4%
Negative21.0%

Starfall

All ratings4,287 ratings
Positive74.9%
Neutral6.5%
Negative18.6%
Written reviews261 reviews
Positive74.7%
Neutral7.3%
Negative18.0%

User reviews

SplashLearn

From 32K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Starfall

From 4.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy and fun learning
  • 🎨 Engaging activities and games
  • 🧠 Helps with reading, math, and more
  • 🌟 Nostalgic childhood memories
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for kids of all ages

Room to improve

  • 💰 Limited free content, requires subscription
  • 🔒 Difficulty managing parental controls
  • 🐛 Technical issues like crashes and freezes
  • 📱 Compatibility problems on mobile devices
  • 🔍 Repetitive content and lack of updates

Bugs and requests

SplashLearn

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Starfall

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Subscription issues and trouble logging in
  • Freezing and crashing on certain devices
  • Glitches in specific games and activities
  • Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
  • Incorrect pronunciation of numbers and dates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more advanced content for older kids
  • Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
  • Provide offline mode for use without internet
  • Allow customization of character and settings
  • Integrate with other educational platforms

In-app purchases

9 purchases

SplashLearn

Subscriptions9
  • SplashLearn Membership Monthly7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • SplashLearn Membership Monthly7 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • SplashLearn Membership Monthly7 Days trial2 variants$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • SplashLearn Membership Monthly7 Days trial2 variants$11.991 Month
  • SplashLearn Solo - Monthly7 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • SplashLearn Membership 3-Month7 Days trial$23.993 Months
  • SplashLearn Membership Yearly7 Days trial2 variants$69.991 Year
  • SplashLearn Solo - Yearly7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • SplashLearn Membership Yearly7 Days trial$89.991 Year
1 purchases

Starfall

Subscriptions1
  • Starfall Monthly$5.991 Month

Questions

Is SplashLearn free?
SplashLearn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Starfall free?
Starfall is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SplashLearn or Starfall?
SplashLearn is rated higher. SplashLearn averages 4.5 out of 5 from 32K ratings, while Starfall averages 4.1 from 4.3K ratings.
Do SplashLearn or Starfall have ads?
Neither SplashLearn nor Starfall shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SplashLearn or Starfall?
SplashLearn ships an update every 9 days, and Starfall every 2 months. Most recently, SplashLearn was updated on September 24, 2026 and Starfall on September 24, 2026.

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