Comparison

Starfall I'm Reading vs TurtleDiary

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

Head to head
About

Starfall I'm Reading

This app helps young children transition from learning to read to reading to learn. It offers a selection of stories and activities designed to build comprehension and fluency using high-frequency words in context. An AutoRead feature models fluent reading and can be toggled off for independent readers.

Highlights
  • Stories and activities for reading comprehension
  • Controlled vocabulary with high-frequency words
  • AutoRead feature to model fluent reading
  • Plays, fiction, non-fiction, comics, and fables
  • Audio support for fluency practice
Features
Read full description

Starfall® I’m Reading is the fourth step of Starfall’s Learn to Read phonics sequence, which teaches the foundational skills for learning to read. Step 1: ABCs Step 2: Learn to Read Step 3: It’s Fun to Read Step 4: I’m Reading! Starfall I’m Reading is the final step of Starfall’s free early learn-to-read sequence. I’m Reading! focuses on bridging the gap between basic phonics and true reading mastery. The program expands fluency and comprehension through exercise with words from the Dolch and Fry sight word lists. These words are challenging to sound out phonetically, but represent the majority of words found in children’s texts. Familiarity with these words builds confidence and natural ease with reading. The texts cover a wide range of multicultural fiction and nonfiction stories, with clickable words and sentences for fluency assistance throughout. Travel-ready. No internet connection required. Find Starfall I’m Reading, along with 700+ additional activities and counting across reading, math, music, and more in the Starfall app. The Starfall website and applications are program services of Starfall Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) publicly supported nonprofit organization. Starfall® and Starfall.com® are registered trademarks in the US, the European Union, and various other countries. Copyright © 2002–2026 by Starfall Education. All rights reserved. Starfall apps are inclusively designed to support all children, including English Language Learners (ELLs). Starfall also 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.

About

TurtleDiary

Interactive educational games, videos, quizzes, and worksheets for K-5 students. Covers math, language, typing, science, and geography to enhance classroom success and retention.

Highlights
  • 500+ educational games
  • 350+ learning videos
  • 500+ online quizzes
  • Interactive math games
  • Language and art games
  • Typing lessons
  • Multiplayer games
Features
Read full description

Our educational apps and games offer interactive educational activities for grades K to 5 presented through games, videos, quizzes, & worksheets. TurtleDiary activities & games enhance retention of material & increase success in the classroom. Educational Activities Games The TurtleDiary App offers 500+ educational games that are fun, learning, interactive & are 100% free to use. Math Games: From basic topics like Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, & Division, to more complex topics like Geometry, the kids will never stop learning. Language & Art Games: Kids will learn Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, & other Parts of Speech, mastering grammar skills right here in the app. Typing Games: In today’s world, typing is undoubtedly an essential skill. TurtleDiary includes many keyboarding games for kids that support necessary skills while providing plenty of fun. Multiplayer Games: For the kids who like to compete & challenge their skills, our multiplayer games let them choose to play with their classmates, a friend & anyone else in the world, in a safe environment. Science Games: Our science games are sure to fulfill your child's sense of curiosity. The app offers a vast collection of science games covering such topics as the human body, weather, life cycles, animals, & much more. Geography Games: With map games, the kids will learn the Geography of the US & the World. Students will find maps of the world divided into different regions, so learning is easier, & tasks feel less overwhelming. Videos: 350+ educational videos for kids span a variety of math, science, & language arts topics. Kids will find learning videos categorized by grade level, from preschool to fifth grade. Quizzes 500+ Online quizzes offered in the app enable children from first to fifth grade to become confident in applying learned concepts & receive instant evaluations. Math Quizzes: Each topic like Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division etc. divides into multiple different subtopics, progressing from easy to hard with multiple levels in between. Language & Art Quizzes: The quizzes will help kids learn Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, Compound Words, Conjunctions etc. Science Quizzes: Show your child how fun science can be! The study materials cover topics like Force, Matter, Motion, Magnet, Earth’s resources, Plants, Animals, Solar System in both engaging & educational ways. Geography Quizzes: Play & Learn quiz on different topics of the world & enhance geographical skills. Typing Lessons: The app offers 3 skill levels - basic, intermediate, & advanced that include multiple lessons in each. The basic level covers touch typing skills with introduction to the QWERTY keyboard. In the intermediate level, the student learns to type basic words & simple sentences. Get started by subscribing and unlock unlimited content:- -Receive new content & games on a regular basis. -Your subscription will auto-renew yearly & your credit card will be charged via your iTunes account. You can cancel at any time from your iTunes account settings. -Annual Family Account will be charged at $69.99. -Annual Teacher Account will be charged at $199.99. -Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. You can view our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use here:- https://www.turtlediary.com/privacy-policy.html https://www.turtlediary.com/terms-&-conditions.html Important Links • Web: https://www.turtlediary.com/ • App: https://bit.ly/3wUk62l • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurtleDiary • Twitter: https://twitter.com/turtlediarycom • Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/turtlediary/ • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/turtlediarydotcom

Screenshots

Starfall I'm Reading4 screens
TurtleDiary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Starfall I'm Reading at 100% against TurtleDiary's 29%. Starfall I'm Reading also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.1) and in-app purchases (none vs 9). TurtleDiary's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. TurtleDiary sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Starfall I'm Reading asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Starfall I'm Reading holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 55 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Starfall I'm Reading's written reviews are positive against 29% of TurtleDiary's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Starfall I'm Reading ships an update every 10 months, TurtleDiary every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Starfall I'm Reading versus TurtleDiary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStarfall I'm ReadingTurtleDiary
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (46 ratings) — better3.1 (55 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better29.4% of reviews
Number of ratings4655 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size102 MB306 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStarfall Education FoundationTurtleDiary LLC

Customer experience

Starfall I'm Reading

All ratings46 ratings
Positive82.6%
Neutral2.2%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

TurtleDiary

All ratings55 ratings
Positive45.5%
Neutral10.9%
Negative43.6%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive29.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative70.6%

In-app purchases

None

Starfall I'm Reading

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

TurtleDiary

Subscriptions7
  • Turtlediary Family Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Turtlediary Enterprise Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$29.491 Month
  • Turtlediary Family Annual Subscription7 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 4 more
  • Annual Parent Membership7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Turtlediary Enterprise Annual7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Turtlediary Enterprise Annual7 Days trial$189.991 Year
  • Annual Teacher Membership7 Days trial$199.991 Year
One-time2
  • Turtlediary Family Annual$69.99
  • TurtleDiary Teacher Annual$199.99

Questions

Is Starfall I'm Reading free?
Starfall I'm Reading is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TurtleDiary free?
TurtleDiary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Starfall I'm Reading or TurtleDiary?
Starfall I'm Reading is rated higher. Starfall I'm Reading averages 4.2 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while TurtleDiary averages 3.1 from 55 ratings.
Do Starfall I'm Reading or TurtleDiary have ads?
Neither Starfall I'm Reading nor TurtleDiary shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Starfall I'm Reading or TurtleDiary?
Starfall I'm Reading ships an update every 10 months, and TurtleDiary every 2 months. Most recently, Starfall I'm Reading was updated on September 27, 2026 and TurtleDiary on June 1, 2026.

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