# Spark Reading for Kids vs Mental Math

The clearest difference is rating: Spark Reading for Kids at 4.6 against Mental Math's 3.7. Spark Reading for Kids also leads on ratings volume (8K vs 19) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spark Reading for Kids sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Mental Math sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Spark Reading for Kids holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spark Reading for Kids has 8K ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Spark Reading for Kids's written reviews are positive against 63% of Mental Math's.

Spark Reading for Kids ships an update every 10 days, Mental Math every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spark Reading for Kids | Mental Math |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-reading-for-kids/id739985631/reviews)** | [3.7 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mental-math-arithmetic-games/id1628058449/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8K** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | **77.7% of reviews** | 62.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 350 MB | 91 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peekaboo Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/375031868) | [Mehul Mistri](https://appshunter.io/developer/1628058451) |

## What reviewers say

### Spark Reading for Kids

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spark-reading-for-kids/id739985631)

This app offers a digital library of age-appropriate books for children in grades 2-8 to improve reading skills. It features interactive comprehension questions, progress tracking, and stories aligned with school curricula. Users can listen to stories and follow along, making reading practice engaging and accessible.

**Highlights:** Age-appropriate books (grades 2-8), Interactive comprehension questions, Listen and follow along feature, Progress and score tracking, Aligned with school curriculum, Offline access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| All Access | $6.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual Subscription | $23.99 | per year |
| All Access | $23.99 | per year |
| All Access | $23.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for reading comprehension
- 🚀 Engaging and interactive
- 💡 Customizable reading levels
- 🤩 Fun and educational

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid content/subscription required
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🤔 Limited content for higher grade levels
- 🤖 Robotic/monotonous reading voices

**Reported bugs**

- Login/account issues
- Compatibility problems on older devices
- Syncing issues across multiple devices

**Requested features**

- More free content and books
- Ability to highlight/take notes
- Customizable reading difficulty
- Support for dyslexic readers


### Mental Math

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mental-math-arithmetic-games/id1628058449)

This app teaches children arithmetic and calculation skills using an abacus and mental math techniques. It offers fun quizzes and practice problems to improve cognitive performance and mathematical ability.

**Highlights:** Abacus learning, Mental calculation techniques, Vedic math tricks, Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Quiz-based learning, Progress monitoring

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mental Math Premium | $0.99 | per month |
| Mental Math Premium | $1.99 | per 3 months |
| Mental Math Premium | $6.99 | per year |
| Premium Ad-Free | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spark Reading for Kids free?

Spark Reading for Kids is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mental Math free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Spark Reading for Kids or Mental Math?

Spark Reading for Kids is rated higher. Spark Reading for Kids averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8K ratings, while Mental Math averages 3.7 from 19 ratings.

### Do Spark Reading for Kids or Mental Math have ads?

Neither Spark Reading for Kids nor Mental Math shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spark Reading for Kids or Mental Math?

Spark Reading for Kids ships an update every 10 days, and Mental Math every 5 weeks. Most recently, Spark Reading for Kids was updated on October 29, 2026 and Mental Math on October 21, 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.*