# The Math Gym vs Phonics Explorer

The clearest difference is ads: Phonics Explorer at none against The Math Gym's shown. Phonics Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). The Math Gym's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Math Gym sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month and Phonics Explorer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Math Gym ships an update every 2 months, Phonics Explorer every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Math Gym | Phonics Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Size | 56 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CHIN CHIH CHIU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831923879) | [Jingling Zhu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1632188995) |

## What reviewers say

### The Math Gym

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-math-gym/id6751757404)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Math Gym Pro (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |


### Phonics Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-explorer/id6758260197)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quiz Unlock (Lifetime) | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Math Gym free?

The Math Gym is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Phonics Explorer free?

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

### Do The Math Gym or Phonics Explorer have ads?

The Math Gym shows ads; Phonics Explorer does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Math Gym or Phonics Explorer?

The Math Gym ships an update every 2 months, and Phonics Explorer every 5 days. Most recently, The Math Gym was updated on October 7, 2026 and Phonics Explorer on October 24, 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.*