Comparison

Starfall vs PBS KIDS Games

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

Head to head
About

Starfall

This app offers engaging reading and math activities for children from preschool to 5th grade. It features games, songs, and interactive lessons designed by educators to support early literacy and numeracy skills. The platform also includes accessibility features for children with impairments.

Highlights
  • Reading phonics and fluency
  • Math concepts and operations
  • Interactive games and songs
  • Accessibility features
  • Sequential learning objectives
  • Holiday activities and sing-alongs
Features
Read full description

Starfall® fun activities, games, and songs includes reading, math, music, and more – read, learn, and play preschool to fifth grade. Includes free and subscriber content. Starfall provides an Enhanced Accessible Index for children with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. For more information, please contact Customer Service at (+1) 303-417-6414. Join Zac the Rat® and his friends on an exciting learning journey, starting with the ABCs and 123s and advancing up to grade 5 grammar and mathematics. Starfall's playful open format intuitively guides children through sequential learning objectives for reading, math, art, music, and social subjects like kindness and caring. *Highlights* *Reading (phonics, fluency, grammar) -- ABCs, Learn to Read, I’m Reading, Talking Library, Punctuation, Parts of Speech *Math -- Numbers, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division, Geometry and Measurement, Fractions *More -- Holiday Activities, Nursery Rhymes, Sing-Alongs, Interactive Calendar *Why Starfall* *Research based, teacher tested, child approved. The Starfall® systematic approach was created by experienced educators using time-tested instructional methods. *Try it for free. All of the basics for learning how to read are available to everyone. *No advertisements. Whether a free user or subscriber, you won’t see any ads. *Pass it forward! Subscribers gain access to hundreds of additional activities and support the free sections for others to enjoy. *What people are saying about Starfall* Listed on PC Magazine’s “15 best Online Learning Services for Kids,” Think Five’s “Top 5 Most Used Apps by Elementary Teachers,” and as one Parent's Magazine's "70 Best Apps for Families." "Kids can learn about letter recognition, phonics, and reading. Skill acquisition is appropriately gradual... Starfall does an excellent job of offering clear and intriguing early literacy lessons." —Common Sense Media “I truly believe that Starfall set the foundation for my future.” —Sarah, undergraduate at Stanford University *Subscription information* If you choose to purchase a Starfall subscription, a $5.99 (USD) payment will be applied to your Apple ID account upon confirmation of purchase and monthly after that. Your subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. This subscription is valid only for home use. It can be used on devices signed in with your Apple ID, as well as any associated Family Sharing devices. *Additional Info* This app requires an internet connection and is intended for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1-5. It also supports English language development, special education, and homeschool environments. Privacy Policy: https://teach.starfall.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://teach.starfall.com/terms The Starfall website and applications are program services of Starfall Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) publicly supported nonprofit. Copyright © 2002–2024 by Starfall Education and its licensors. All rights reserved. Starfall® and Starfall.com® are registered trademarks in the U.S., the European Union, and various other countries.

About

PBS KIDS Games

Explore over 280 free educational games designed for children ages 2-8, featuring beloved PBS KIDS characters. These kid-tested games cover subjects like math, reading, and science, promoting early learning and STEM skills in a safe, engaging environment.

Highlights
  • 280+ curriculum-based educational games
  • Features favorite PBS KIDS characters
  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Offline play capability
  • STEM, math, reading, and science games
  • Kid-tested and safe interface
  • New games added weekly
Currently charting
Read full description

PBS KIDS Games makes learning fun and safe with 280+ educational games from your child's favorite shows. Play hundreds of free educational games that are kid tested and designed for your child. Watch as they learn with their favorite PBS characters like Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Lyla in the Loop, Weather Hunters, Carl the Collector, and more! Your child can play and learn with PBS KIDS in English and Spanish thanks to familiar faces like Alma, Rosie, and more. Quickly play games from the safety of your home and keep playing anywhere you take your device to keep the fun going. Make preschool and early elementary education fun and easy with a safe, kid friendly interface. Start your child’s learning adventure today! SAFE GAMES DESIGNED FOR KIDS * PBS KIDS Games are kid tested and provides a safe, friendly playing experience for toddlers and kids * Play mini games that boost imagination and allow kids to learn early school subjects with beloved PBS KIDS characters LEARNING GAMES FOR GRADE SCHOOL EDUCATION * 280+ FREE curriculum-based games for kids ages 2-8 * Encourage early learning with educational games for kids with different school subjects * Instantly explore mazes, puzzles, numbers, play dress-up, coloring, and more * Elementary school games * Math games * Reading games * Science games * Art games NEW GAMES ADDED WEEKLY * Kids will learn and have fun with new games added frequently * Play new games with accessibility features to enhance the fun! * Build STEM skills with science, math, and puzzles * Play games about social concepts like kindness, mindfulness, and emotions * Foster healthy habits by learning daily routines * Spark creativity and imagination with art games PLAY GAMES FROM PBS KIDS SHOWS * Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood * Wild Kratts * Lyla in the Loop * Weather Hunters * Carl the Collector * Acoustic Rooster * Work It Out Wombats! * Rosie’s Rules * Alma’s Way * Donkey Hodie * Odd Squad * Pinkalicious & Peterrific * Arthur * Elinor Wonders Why * Let’s go Luna * Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum * Scribbles and Ink * Clifford * Molly of Denali * Sesame Street * Nature Cat * And more! PLAY IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH * Bilingual kids will enjoy playing with Alma, Rosie, and more in English and Spanish * Spanish speakers can play 50+ fun-filled, educational games PARENT RESOURCES * Download related PBS KIDS apps to expand your child’s learning * Learn more about PBS TV shows, such as intended age and learning goals * Find your local PBS KIDS station schedule Play fun games and join your kids on an educational adventure alongside their favorite PBS KIDS characters with the PBS KIDS Games app! Download and play the PBS KIDS Games app to start learning and having fun today! ABOUT PBS KIDS PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital platforms, and community-based programs. PBS KIDS Games is a key part of PBS KIDS’ commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of children through curriculum-based media—wherever kids are. More free PBS KIDS games are also available online at pbskids.org/games. You can support PBS KIDS by downloading other PBS KIDS apps in the App Store. AWARDS * Kidscreen Best Games App (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) * Webby Winner (2023, 2024) * Webby People’s Voice Winner (2021, 2023, 2024) PRIVACY Across all media platforms, PBS KIDS is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for children and families and being transparent about what information is collected from users. To learn more about PBS KIDS’ privacy policy, visit pbskids.org/privacy

Screenshots

Starfall4 screens
PBS KIDS Games4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PBS KIDS Games at none against Starfall's 1. PBS KIDS Games also leads on ratings volume (372K vs 4.3K) and rating (4.4 vs 4.1). Starfall's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 61%). 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. Starfall sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. PBS KIDS Games asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PBS KIDS Games holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PBS KIDS Games has 372K ratings behind it against 4.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Starfall's written reviews are positive against 61% of PBS KIDS Games's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Starfall ships an update every 2 months, PBS KIDS Games fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Starfall versus PBS KIDS Games: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarfallPBS KIDS Games
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (4.3K ratings)4.4 (372K ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.7% of reviews — better60.7% of reviews
Number of ratings4.3K372K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#103 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size155 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarfall Education FoundationPBS KIDS

Customer experience

Starfall

All ratings4,287 ratings
Positive74.9%
Neutral6.5%
Negative18.6%
Written reviews261 reviews
Positive74.7%
Neutral7.3%
Negative18.0%

PBS KIDS Games

All ratings371,764 ratings
Positive83.1%
Neutral8.6%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews974 reviews
Positive60.7%
Neutral10.3%
Negative29.1%

User reviews

Starfall

From 4.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy and fun learning
  • 🎨 Engaging activities and games
  • 🧠 Helps with reading, math, and more
  • 🌟 Nostalgic childhood memories
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for kids of all ages

Room to improve

  • 💰 Limited free content, requires subscription
  • 🔒 Difficulty managing parental controls
  • 🐛 Technical issues like crashes and freezes
  • 📱 Compatibility problems on mobile devices
  • 🔍 Repetitive content and lack of updates

PBS KIDS Games

From 372K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fantastic app with great quality games
  • 👍 Variety of educational and engaging games
  • 💡 Daily game feature
  • 🔒 No ads or links to take kids elsewhere

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent freezing and glitches
  • 🐛 Buggy games like Rosie's Rules and Donkey's Froyo Stand
  • 🐛 Sound issues and random volume loss
  • 🐛 Games disappearing after updates
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues on older devices

Bugs and requests

Starfall

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Subscription issues and trouble logging in
  • Freezing and crashing on certain devices
  • Glitches in specific games and activities
  • Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
  • Incorrect pronunciation of numbers and dates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more advanced content for older kids
  • Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
  • Provide offline mode for use without internet
  • Allow customization of character and settings
  • Integrate with other educational platforms

PBS KIDS Games

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Odd Squad game level issues with missing elements
  • Cooking School game getting stuck on same recipe
  • Greens Hill race in Kart Racer game always resulting in second place
  • Downloading games not working for some users

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more Kart Kingdom features like customization and online play
  • Ability to reset individual games
  • Sort games by age/difficulty level
  • Add a search function
  • Increase offline storage capacity

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Starfall

Subscriptions1
  • Starfall Monthly$5.991 Month
None

PBS KIDS Games

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Starfall free?
Starfall is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PBS KIDS Games free?
PBS KIDS Games is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Starfall or PBS KIDS Games?
PBS KIDS Games is rated higher. Starfall averages 4.1 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while PBS KIDS Games averages 4.4 from 372K ratings.
Do Starfall or PBS KIDS Games have ads?
Neither Starfall nor PBS KIDS Games shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Starfall or PBS KIDS Games?
Starfall ships an update every 2 months, and PBS KIDS Games fortnightly. Most recently, Starfall was updated on September 24, 2026 and PBS KIDS Games on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons