Comparison

The Phonics App vs I Can Read

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

Head to head
About

The Phonics App

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
Read full description

This multi-award-winning phonics app can help absolutely anyone learn to read. Join thousands of people around the world learning to read with The Phonics App! "We loved The Phonics App, as it has been specifically designed NOT to be addictive, and doesn't rely on dopamine hits for kids' rewards." - MadeForMums Tech Awards 2025 Editor's Choice. "A beautifully designed, calm, and research-led approach to early literacy that stands out in a market dominated by highly gamified products" - Digital Education Awards 2025 Highly Commended The Phonics App Features: * Learn the a-z sounds and how to blend 2 and 3 letter words completely free. * Subscribe to learn all the other sounds and practise with 400+ words. * ⁠⁠Video guidance from an expert phonics teacher every step of the way. * Beautifully simple - just tap the words to hear the sounds they're made of. * Learn how to pronounce all of the sounds of English (with an English accent). * ⁠Build up your knowledge of phonics, one sound at a time. * ⁠Learn how to read and understand common irregular (tricky) words. * ⁠Informal checks at the end of each section to reinforce your learning. * ⁠Learn both lower case and capital letters. * Learn to decode nearly every English word. * No collectibles, coins or dopamine rewards! Why did we make this app? Jonny is a father of two and started making this app to teach his kids to read. It worked really well, so he showed it to Miss Mabel (founder of Reading Roots, community of 750k parents and teachers learning phonics) to see if it would be useful to other people. She said yes, and had a lot of ideas how to make it better! So they spent AGES making 'The Phonics App', and now it's finally ready for you. We hope it helps you learn to read too! Miss Mabel & Jonny Subscriptions in this app follow standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA) which you can read here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

I Can Read

Features
Read full description

Welcome to I Can Read! With over 25 years of experience, we are well-equipped to help children with online learning, reading, and phonics. An AI voice-recorded recognition phonics programme that helps you to get instant feedback that supports your child’s education. Designed by child educational psychologists & experienced teachers, we are revolutionising the world of digital learning in English. I Can Read is perfect for little learners aged 2 years & above with bite-sized mini lessons in phonics and early English reading. Make learning fun with a curriculum full of comprehensive, synthetic phonics. Expand your child’s imagination and foster their love for reading. Access 1000+ engaging activities that teach sequencing, higher-order critical thinking, creativity, & problem solving. Learn to read by starting with learning the ABCs. Graduate to more challenging lessons in our online programme that is designed for self-paced learning and education. Download today to start your adventure with online, AI-powered learning! I CAN READ FEATURES: AI-POWERED TECHNOLOGY HELPING YOU LEARN PHONICS AI-powered voice recognition technology will accept or decline responses as your child records themselves answering questions and forming sounds in English. - Allows for instant feedback while reading. - Fosters the ability to be more attuned to the sounds of language while reading or sounding out basic phonics. READING WITH STELLA - Reading begins with play in our follow-up programme, Stella. - Stella the star and her friends guide children through early language learning in English. - Phonics awareness technology will teach your child sounds, rhyming, segmenting, blending, and the principles of ABCs. - Education is built on foundational skills that will lead your child to successful reading. SELF-PACED PORTABLE EDUCATION: - Reading and learning are mobile thanks to our reading app. - 100% Kid-safe with no ads to distract your child from having fun - Phonics and reading lessons will help support your child’s education. - Tailored learning starts with self-paced reading. ENGLISH READING AND PHONICS LESSONS - ALL AT A GREAT VALUE - Up to 3 users can grow, play, and learn reading and the ABCs. - Once accessed, the programme remains open so that children can revise & consolidate as needed. Set your child up for success with I Can Read, the app where learning to read is fun! Download today to jump-start your kid’s reading. I CAN READ SUBSCRIPTION - We use Apple’s auto-renewing subscription functionality - Please find Apple’s EULA here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS - Up to 3 children are covered under a single-family subscription - Free to try for 3 days with access to the entire program. Free trial auto-renews to a paid subscription unless cancelled at least 24 hours before it ends. Subscriptions are $26 monthly or $68 quarterly. - You can manage this in your Apple ID settings.

Screenshots

The Phonics App4 screens
I Can Read4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: I Can Read at weekly against The Phonics App's monthly. I Can Read also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. The Phonics App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and I Can Read sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Phonics App ships an update monthly, I Can Read weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
The Phonics App versus I Can Read: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Phonics AppI Can Read
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (233 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings233 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.613.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size248 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhonics Folk LtdVaiva

Bugs and requests

The Phonics App

Requested features

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

I Can Read

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

The Phonics App

Subscriptions3
  • Access Everything Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Access Everything Quarterly$12.993 Months
  • Access Everything Yearly$29.991 Year
2 purchases

I Can Read

Subscriptions2
  • ICR Monthly Plan3 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • ICR Three-Monthly Plan3 Days trial$29.993 Months

Questions

Is The Phonics App free?
The Phonics App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is I Can Read free?
I Can Read is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do The Phonics App or I Can Read have ads?
Neither The Phonics App nor I Can Read shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Phonics App or I Can Read?
The Phonics App ships an update monthly, and I Can Read weekly. Most recently, The Phonics App was updated on November 8, 2026 and I Can Read on November 4, 2026.

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