Comparison

The Phonics App vs Zolu Learn

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

Zolu Learn

Features
Read full description

Zolu Learn is a maths tutor for children aged four to ten. It teaches the way a patient teacher does: one idea at a time, spoken out loud, with something on the screen to move. Eight units and 154 lessons — place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, time, and a bonus unit on where numbers came from. Every line is spoken, in English or Hindi. A child does not sit and watch. They tap, drag, build a number out of blocks, cut a square into equal pieces, set the hands on a clock. Zolu answers what a child actually does, and one who is stuck is walked through it rather than marked wrong. FOR GROWN-UPS • Up to three children, each with their own place on the map and their own settings • A note every few days on WhatsApp: how your child is getting on, and one small thing to try at home • Choose English or Hindi, and how fast Zolu speaks • No advertising of any kind, and no third-party analytics • Buying, and anything that leaves the app, sits behind a grown-up's door Every plan starts with three days free. After that a subscription opens every lesson and every game, renewing by itself at the price shown until you cancel — and you can cancel at any time in your App Store subscription settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://zolulearn.com/privacy/

Screenshots

The Phonics App4 screens
Zolu Learn4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Zolu Learn at weekly against The Phonics App's monthly. 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 Zolu Learn sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Phonics App ships an update monthly, Zolu Learn weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
The Phonics App versus Zolu Learn: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Phonics AppZolu Learn
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (231 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings231 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size248 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhonics Folk LtdWystan Health Pvt. Ltd.

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

Zolu Learn

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

Zolu Learn

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is The Phonics App free?
The Phonics App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zolu Learn free?
Zolu Learn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do The Phonics App or Zolu Learn have ads?
Neither The Phonics App nor Zolu Learn shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Phonics App or Zolu Learn?
The Phonics App ships an update monthly, and Zolu Learn weekly. Most recently, The Phonics App was updated on November 4, 2026 and Zolu Learn on October 31, 2026.

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