# The Phonics App vs Parently Loop

The clearest difference is update cadence: Parently Loop at daily against The Phonics App's monthly. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and Parently Loop sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Phonics App ships an update monthly, Parently Loop daily. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Phonics App | Parently Loop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 248 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Phonics Folk Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1799167050) | [GOINNOVATEHUB LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896277048) |

## 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


### Parently Loop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parently-loop-school-emails/id6766327987)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parently Loop Pro - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Parently Loop Pro - Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Phonics App free?

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

### Is Parently Loop free?

Parently Loop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do The Phonics App or Parently Loop have ads?

Neither The Phonics App nor Parently Loop shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Phonics App or Parently Loop?

The Phonics App ships an update monthly, and Parently Loop daily. Most recently, The Phonics App was updated on October 14, 2026 and Parently Loop on October 2, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*