Shape Match & Learn vs Read & Learn Languages
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
Shape Match & Learn
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Shape Match & Learn turns first words into a game a small child can play alone. Every round is three simple steps: Match the shape ā drag the emoji onto its turned-around shadow. Learn the word ā tap the right word out of a few choices, said out loud. Keep it ā the emoji comes to life and moves into your child's own world. 27 WORLDS, 540 WORDS Farm, Ocean, Sky, Picnic, Feelings, Safari, Space, Weather, Sports, Fantasy, Kitchen and more. Each world adds twenty new emoji friends to a scene your child fills up over time. The first seven worlds are free, in every language. THREE LANGUAGES TO LEARN IN English, Spanish and French ā each with its own complete 540-word catalogue, said aloud in that language's voice. You choose the learning language in Settings, and the menus follow whichever language you prefer, chosen separately. An English-speaking parent can set their child to learn Spanish without a single menu changing. MADE FOR SMALL HANDS ⢠No timers, no scores, no way to lose. Nothing to fail. ⢠Big drag targets and forgiving hit areas. ⢠Silhouettes, colouring-book outlines and peekaboo reveals keep shape-reading fresh across the worlds. ⢠Sound and voice can each be switched off. ⢠Works completely offline. No account, no sign-up. SAFE BY DESIGN No ads. No tracking. No analytics. Nothing leaves the device ā progress lives on your iPad or iPhone and nowhere else. Purchases and outside links sit behind a parental gate. ONE-TIME PURCHASES, NO SUBSCRIPTION Play the first seven worlds free for as long as you like. Unlock all 27 worlds in one language, or unlock every language at once for less than two on their own. Family Sharing included. For iPad and iPhone.
Read & Learn Languages
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Learn a language by binge-reading stories you can't put down. Contos is a library of serialized micro-fiction written for language learners ā cosy mysteries, romances, crime and everyday sci-fi, in seventeen languages, written exactly at your level. Every chapter takes about five minutes, ends on a cliffhanger, and quietly teaches you the language you're learning. A WHOLE LIBRARY AT YOUR LEVEL ⢠Hundreds of stories across dozens of series ā romance, mystery, crime, sci-fi, comedy and family drama ⢠Written for learners at every level, A1 to B2: you'll understand it from chapter one ⢠New stories land in the library every week ⢠Read stories for free. READ LIKE A NATIVE, LEARN LIKE A READER ⢠Tap any word for an instant translation ⢠Tap a phrase to translate the whole thing in context ⢠Save words and phrases as flashcards with spaced repetition built in PLUS: A STORY WRITTEN JUST FOR YOU, EVERY DAY ⢠Contos writes you a fresh personal story daily ā your level, your interests, your pace ⢠Around 75% words you already know, with new vocabulary introduced in context ⢠Rate each story and tomorrow's recalibrates WATCH YOURSELF IMPROVE ⢠Vocabulary milestones: 100, 500, 1,000 words and beyond ⢠Streaks and reading-time achievements keep you showing up ⢠Level up from A1 to B2 by reading, not by drilling SEVENTEEN LANGUAGES Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, English, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin Chinese ā with translations in your own language. WHY READING WORKS Languages aren't memorised ā they're absorbed. Comprehensible input (reading you mostly understand, with just enough new) is how vocabulary actually sticks. Contos keeps you at that sweet spot chapter after chapter, because you'll always want to know what happens next. CONTOS PREMIUM The first chapters of every series are free. Contos Premium unlocks every chapter of every series, plus your daily personalised story and unlimited flashcards ā pay monthly, or save with an annual plan. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase; the subscription renews for the same period (monthly or yearly, depending on your plan) unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel any time in Settings ā Subscriptions. Your progress is saved to your account with Sign in with Apple. Terms of Use: https://contosapp.com/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Shape Match & Learn at none against Read & Learn Languages's shown. Read & Learn Languages's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Shape Match & Learn sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Read & Learn Languages sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Shape Match & Learn ships an update every 3 months, Read & Learn Languages every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Shape Match & Learn | Read & Learn Languages |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 4 days ā better |
| Ads | No ā better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 ā better |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Theano Bertsia | Jake Harris |
In-app purchases
Shape Match & Learn
- Unlock All 27 Worlds$4.99
Read & Learn Languages
- Contos Premium Monthly$7.991 Month
Questions
Is Shape Match & Learn free?
Is Read & Learn Languages free?
Do Shape Match & Learn or Read & Learn Languages have ads?
Which is updated more often, Shape Match & Learn or Read & Learn Languages?
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