# Starfish Academy vs The Phonics App

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Starfish Academy at none against The Phonics App's 3. Starfish Academy also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.6). The Phonics App's advantage is ratings volume (233 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Phonics App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Starfish Academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Starfish Academy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Phonics App has 233 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Starfish Academy ships an update every 6 weeks, The Phonics App monthly. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starfish Academy | The Phonics App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfish-academy/id6742445794/reviews)** | [4.6 (233 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-phonics-app/id6742649576/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **233** |
| Positive reviews | — | 92.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 161 MB | 248 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Little Stars By Starfish](https://appshunter.io/developer/1672847113) | [Phonics Folk Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1799167050) |

## What reviewers say

### Starfish Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfish-academy/id6742445794)

This app offers an immersive educational gaming experience to master English language skills for students in grades 1-12. It focuses on vocabulary, grammar, phonics, pronunciation, writing, listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and critical thinking through interactive activities and games.

**Highlights:** Interactive learning activities and games, Comprehensive English skill development, Effective communication practice, Foundation for academic excellence, Personalized learning with progress reports, Achievement certificates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Phonics App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-phonics-app/id6742649576)

This app teaches reading through phonics, focusing on sounds and blending words. It offers a research-led, non-addictive approach with expert guidance and informal checks to reinforce learning. Learn to decode nearly every English word with a focus on clear pronunciation.

**Highlights:** Learn a-z sounds and word blending, Expert video guidance, Simple tap-to-hear sound interface, Learn English sound pronunciation, Practice with 400+ words, Learn irregular (tricky) words, Informal learning checks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Access Everything Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Access Everything Quarterly | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Access Everything Yearly | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and to the point
- 👍 Great for teaching phonics sounds
- 👍 Helps children learn to read CVC words
- 👍 Effective for year 1 screening
- 👍 Builds reading confidence

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Pronunciation issues with vowels 'o' and 'u' (American English)
- 🐛 Schwa pronunciation for some letters (e.g., 'g')
- 🐛 Some sounds differ from school curriculum
- 💰 Subscription model is a disappointment for some

**Requested features**

- Option to open pictures for letter sounds
- Accent options for narration (e.g., American English)
- Offer app in Mandarin


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starfish Academy free?

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

### Is The Phonics App free?

The Phonics App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Starfish Academy or The Phonics App?

Starfish Academy is rated higher. Starfish Academy averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while The Phonics App averages 4.6 from 233 ratings.

### Do Starfish Academy or The Phonics App have ads?

Neither Starfish Academy nor The Phonics App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starfish Academy or The Phonics App?

Starfish Academy ships an update every 6 weeks, and The Phonics App monthly. Most recently, Starfish Academy was updated on November 8, 2026 and The Phonics App on November 8, 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.*