# Initial Code vs Jolly Phonics

The clearest difference is rating: Initial Code at 5.0 against Jolly Phonics's 4.4. Initial Code also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 42%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Jolly Phonics's advantage is ratings volume (4.7K vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Initial Code sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Jolly Phonics sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Initial Code holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Jolly Phonics has 4.7K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Initial Code's written reviews are positive against 42% of Jolly Phonics's.

Initial Code ships an update every 2 months, Jolly Phonics every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Initial Code | Jolly Phonics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/initial-code/id769196201/reviews)** | [4.4 (4.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jolly-phonics-learn-to-read/id1149029299/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **4.7K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 42.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 83 MB | 227 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sounds-Write Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/769196204) | [Jolly Learning](https://appshunter.io/developer/897894555) |

## What reviewers say

### Initial Code

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/initial-code/id769196201)

This educational app helps young children learn to read and spell in English through interactive activities. It focuses on blending, segmenting, and sound-spelling correspondences, with units unlocking as progress is made. Designed for iPad, it reinforces learning for automatic reading and writing skills.

**Highlights:** Reading and spelling practice, Blending and segmenting activities, Sound-spelling correspondence, Word and sentence reading/writing, Unit-based progression, Reinforces learning through repetition

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Content | $5.99 | one-time |


### Jolly Phonics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jolly-phonics-learn-to-read/id1149029299)

This interactive app teaches children to read and write using a systematic synthetic phonics approach. It offers engaging lessons, songs, and games to build phonemic awareness and handwriting skills, aligned with the Science of Reading.

**Highlights:** Explore 42 letter sounds with songs and audio, Interactive tools for reading practice, Step-by-step handwriting animations, Phonics learning games, Progress tracking and assessments

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full access (monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Writing | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sounding | $1.99 | one-time |
| Alternatives | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tricky Words | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sound Groups 2 to 7 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Everything | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent for teaching phonics
- 🎓 Helpful for learning letter sounds
- 🎨 Multi-sensory approach (writing, reading, signing, singing)
- 🏫 Aligns with school curriculum

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔇 Audio issues (sound cutting out, missing sounds)
- 🤖 Unresponsive touch controls
- 💰 Expensive for limited content
- 🔁 Requires re-purchase on new devices

**Reported bugs**

- Account login issues
- Inability to restore purchases
- Blank/white screen problems
- Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- More games and interactive activities
- Print letter option instead of pre-cursive
- Ability to share purchases across devices
- Improved customer support and bug fixes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Initial Code free?

Initial Code is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Jolly Phonics free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Initial Code or Jolly Phonics?

Initial Code is rated higher. Initial Code averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Jolly Phonics averages 4.4 from 4.7K ratings.

### Do Initial Code or Jolly Phonics have ads?

Neither Initial Code nor Jolly Phonics shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Initial Code or Jolly Phonics?

Initial Code ships an update every 2 months, and Jolly Phonics every 5 weeks. Most recently, Initial Code was updated on October 13, 2026 and Jolly Phonics 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.*