Comparison

Ello 2.0 vs Screen Time Learning Challenge

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

Head to head
About

Ello 2.0

This educational app uses AI to personalize reading and math lessons for children aged 4-9. It listens to children read aloud, identifies mistakes, and adapts content in real-time. Features include daily quests, a large book library, and early math exercises.

Highlights
  • AI reading tutor listens and corrects in real-time
  • Adaptive learning adjusts to child's level
  • 1,200+ decodable books based on Science of Reading
  • Daily personalized reading and math quests
  • Early math skills development
  • Supports pre-readers and up to Grade 5
Currently charting
Read full description

Your child is unique. Their learning should be too. More than games. Real teaching. Ages 4–9. Ello listens to your child, catches mistakes, and adjusts to their level — built by literacy researchers and speech scientists. Most kids' apps are tappable games with a quiz bolted on. Ello actually teaches. It listens to your child read out loud, catches mistakes, and adjusts the next session based on what they got wrong. Featured by Good Morning America, Time Magazine, and Common Sense Media. Free to start. No ads. Ever. Download and explore Ello's reading games, math games, and Daily Quests completely free. How Ello actually teaches: Ello's AI listens to your child read out loud, catches mistakes, and adjusts the next session to match. No other reading app does real-time listening, a full book library, and early math in a single daily session. - Daily Quests — a personalized mix of reading and math, up to 15 min per day - 1,200+ decodable books built on the Science of Reading - Math for kids — counting, numbers, and addition - AI reading tutor — listens, corrects, and guides in real time - Pre-K ready — supports pre-readers starting in pre-K - Adaptive learning — meets your child exactly where they are - Kid-safe — no ads, no in-app purchases Reading, math, and a reason to keep coming back. Ello covers phonics, early reading, and math for kids from preschool through Grade 5. Whether your child is a pre-reader learning the alphabet, a kindergartener building phonics skills, or a 2nd grader who needs a math tutor — Ello adapts to them. "She struggled with reading, but Ello makes it fun. Now she asks to read every day." — Jamie M. "My son's reading level jumped two grades in three months." — Lola P. Reading tutor. Math tutor. One app. Download free — your child's first Daily Quest is waiting.

About

Screen Time Learning Challenge

This app helps families establish a healthy routine by requiring children to complete educational challenges before accessing games or other apps. Parents can customize blocked apps, set learning goals, and schedule screen time. A free preview mode is available to explore core features.

Highlights
  • Educational challenges for screen time access
  • Customizable blocked apps and categories
  • Math and spelling learning modules
  • Parent-controlled challenge goals and difficulty
  • Scheduled screen time (bedtime, homework)
  • Progress tracking for learning achievements
Features
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Screen Time Learning Challenge Turn screen time into learning time. Screen Time Learning Challenge lets parents choose which apps and categories to limit, then gives kids a simple way to earn access by completing math or spelling practice. Parents choose the learning activity, difficulty, number of correct answers, schedules, and apps to protect. Kids complete their challenge, make progress toward their goal, and unlock their apps when they finish. Math, Spelling, or Both Choose the type of learning that works best for your child. Math includes: Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division Mixed operations Facts through 12 Customizable challenge lengths Spelling lets parents create custom word lists using the exact words their child is learning. Spelling includes: Up to 50 custom spelling words Typed answers Word replay Built-in Natural Voice Multiple Natural Voice options Optional Apple Voice Adjustable challenge length Parents can choose math, spelling, or a combination of both. Natural Voice for Spelling Spelling practice includes Natural Voice for clearer, more natural-sounding word playback. Kids can hear each spelling word, replay it when needed, and practice with a voice designed to make listening and learning more comfortable. Control Which Apps Unlock Parents select individual apps or entire categories such as games, social media, and video. Once a learning challenge is completed, protected apps can unlock according to the rules you choose. Flexible Screen Time Controls Manual Shield Lock selected apps whenever you choose. Bedtime Create a strict bedtime schedule where protected apps remain unavailable even if a learning challenge is completed. Homework / Focus Time Create protected study periods where distracting apps stay locked. Re-Lock Schedules Automatically require another learning challenge after a selected amount of time. Parent Controls Parents can manage: Math, spelling, or both Math operations and difficulty Number of correct answers required Custom spelling lists Natural Voice selection Apps and categories to protect Bedtime schedules Homework / Focus schedules Re-Lock timing Device protection settings A secure Parent PIN helps prevent children from changing settings. Remote Management Premium Remote Management lets a parent configure a child’s settings from another device. Supported settings include: Learning activity Challenge length Math settings Spelling words Schedules Protected apps and categories Device Controls Manual Shield Device Controls Quick access to commonly used Screen Time protections helps parents manage settings such as: App installation App deletion In-app purchases Account changes Passcode changes Explicit content Kid-Friendly Experience Designed to keep practice simple and encouraging: Clear progress toward the unlock goal Custom math keypad Keyboard-friendly spelling input Optional sound effects Streak celebrations Positive feedback Completion celebrations Saved math best times Guided Parent Setup A step-by-step setup process helps parents create a PIN, authorize Screen Time, choose protected apps, select learning activities, configure schedules, and test that app locking and unlocking works. Subscription A subscription provides access to the complete Screen Time Learning Challenge experience. Eligible new subscribers may receive an introductory free trial through the App Store. Trial availability and length are shown before purchase. Subscriptions are managed through your Apple ID and can be canceled through Apple Subscriptions. Requirements Works on iPhone and iPad Requires iOS 18 or later Apple Screen Time authorization is required Parental setup is required Privacy Policy: https://screentimelearning.app/privacy-policy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Ello 2.04 screens
Screen Time Learning Challenge4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ello 2.0 at none against Screen Time Learning Challenge's 4. Ello 2.0 also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks) and chart position (#101 vs unranked). Screen Time Learning Challenge's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 80%). On price, ads and device support 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. Screen Time Learning Challenge sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Ello 2.0 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Screen Time Learning Challenge holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ello 2.0 has 20 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Ello 2.0's written reviews are positive against 100% of Screen Time Learning Challenge's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ello 2.0 ships an update daily, Screen Time Learning Challenge every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Ello 2.0 versus Screen Time Learning Challenge: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEllo 2.0Screen Time Learning Challenge
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (20 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20 — better3
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
Best chart rank#101 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size193 MB498 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEllo Technology, Inc.Domenic Talese

Customer experience

Ello 2.0

All ratings20 ratings
Positive85.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Screen Time Learning Challenge

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Ello 2.0

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Screen Time Learning Challenge

Subscriptions4
  • Screen Time Math Challenge7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • STMC Premium Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • STMC Base Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • STMC Premium Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Ello 2.0 free?
Ello 2.0 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Screen Time Learning Challenge free?
Screen Time Learning Challenge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ello 2.0 or Screen Time Learning Challenge?
Screen Time Learning Challenge is rated higher. Ello 2.0 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while Screen Time Learning Challenge averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Ello 2.0 or Screen Time Learning Challenge have ads?
Neither Ello 2.0 nor Screen Time Learning Challenge shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ello 2.0 or Screen Time Learning Challenge?
Ello 2.0 ships an update daily, and Screen Time Learning Challenge every 2 weeks. Most recently, Ello 2.0 was updated on October 7, 2026 and Screen Time Learning Challenge on October 15, 2026.

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