# The Phonics App vs SMARTgame®

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SMARTgame® at none against The Phonics App's 3. SMARTgame® also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.6). 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. SMARTgame® asks for nothing beyond the download.

The Phonics App ships an update monthly, SMARTgame® every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Phonics App | SMARTgame® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (100 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-phonics-app/id6742649576/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **100** | — |
| Positive reviews | 92.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 248 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Phonics Folk Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1799167050) | [J. Grace Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1855545870) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### SMARTgame®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartgame/id6755685931)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Phonics App free?

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

### Is SMARTgame® free?

SMARTgame® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do The Phonics App or SMARTgame® have ads?

Neither The Phonics App nor SMARTgame® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Phonics App or SMARTgame®?

The Phonics App ships an update monthly, and SMARTgame® every 6 weeks. Most recently, The Phonics App was updated on October 21, 2026 and SMARTgame® on October 15, 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.*