Comparison

Purple Mash Library Browser vs Phonics Play & Learn

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

Head to head
About

Purple Mash Library Browser

Features
Read full description

The Purple Mash Library Browser Application allows you to make the most of Purple Mash Library on your device. - A browser optimised for using Purple Mash Library on your device (recommended for use on iPads) - Requires an internet connection - Removes the gestures for going to the previous/next page. - Removes the tab bar which gives more space to Purple Mash Library. - Allows administrators to set the Purple Mash Library Home Page, Purple Mash Library Quick Login or Purple Mash Library Portal for ease of access. - Allows printing from the app - Allows switching to other 2Simple products that use has a subscription for, via the product switch feature

About

Phonics Play & Learn

This app makes learning to read fun for young children aged 3-8. It uses interactive lessons, games, and stories to teach phonics and reading skills in a safe, ad-free environment. A guided path ensures a clear learning progression.

Highlights
  • Interactive phonics lessons
  • Hands-on learning games
  • Delightful stories with audio
  • Guided learning path
  • Progress tracking for parents
  • Dyslexia-friendly typeface option
Features
Read full description

Phonics Play & Read makes learning to read fun and easy for young children. Designed for ages 3-8, the app teaches phonics through interactive lessons, hands-on games, and delightful stories, all in a safe, ad-free environment. PRIVACY No adverts. No analytics. No accounts, no sign-up, no data collection of any kind. Nothing your child does leaves the iPad. There is no third-party software in this app at all. It starts with the sound each letter makes and helps your child read get on the path to whole stories on their own. In between there is a path: one clear next thing to do, every time they open the app, so nobody has to decide what to practise. A GUIDED PATH 16 stages, from the alphabet to the first 100 words. Each stage mixes lessons, games and a story, and finishes with a short checkpoint so you can see the learning has stuck. Nothing is timed and nothing is ever lost a checkpoint that does not go well can be tried again straight away. WHAT IS INSIDE - 173 lessons: every letter sound, short vowel words, digraphs, blends, long vowels, and the 100 words that make up half of everything your child will read - 60 stories in six levels, every one read aloud in a warm human voice - 12 games, including tracing letters in the night sky, catching falling sounds in a bucket, and building words from bubbles - Comprehension questions after every story, because reading the words is only half of reading BUILT FOR SMALL CHILDREN FOR THE GROWN-UPS A parent area behind a simple gate shows which sounds your child is finding tricky, not just how many stars they have. You can open the whole path if your child already knows their letters, set the difficulty, switch on a dyslexia-friendly typeface, and save a copy of everything they have earned so a new iPad never loses it. WHAT IS FREE The whole first stage all 26 letters and their sounds is free, along with the first three stories and every game. A subscription opens the rest of the path, all 60 stories and unlimited play. Monthly and annual subscriptions are available. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period; manage or cancel in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Terms: https://phillipmakusha-ops.github.io/phonicsplay-legal/terms.html Privacy: https://phillipmakusha-ops.github.io/phonicsplay-legal/privacy.html

Screenshots

Purple Mash Library Browser4 screens
Phonics Play & Learn4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Purple Mash Library Browser at none against Phonics Play & Learn's 2. Phonics Play & Learn's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Phonics Play & Learn sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Purple Mash Library Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Purple Mash Library Browser ships an update every 3 months, Phonics Play & Learn every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Purple Mash Library Browser versus Phonics Play & Learn: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPurple Mash Library BrowserPhonics Play & Learn
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB118 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer2 Simple LimitedPhillip Makusha

In-app purchases

None

Purple Mash Library Browser

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Phonics Play & Learn

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium$2.991 Month
  • Annual Premium$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Purple Mash Library Browser free?
Purple Mash Library Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Phonics Play & Learn free?
Phonics Play & Learn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Purple Mash Library Browser or Phonics Play & Learn have ads?
Neither Purple Mash Library Browser nor Phonics Play & Learn shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Purple Mash Library Browser or Phonics Play & Learn?
Purple Mash Library Browser ships an update every 3 months, and Phonics Play & Learn every 2 weeks. Most recently, Purple Mash Library Browser was updated on October 28, 2026 and Phonics Play & Learn on October 31, 2026.

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