Comparison

Initial Code vs Phonogram Sounds

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

Head to head
About

Initial Code

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
Read full description

The official app for the Sounds-Write Initial Code phonics programme, for learning to read and spell in English. ******* IPAD ONLY ******* This app is currently unavailable on the iPhone because of the writing element of the app. For young children to become fluent readers and spellers they need to rehearse and consolidate what they are learning. It is this, repeated over and over again, that enables their access to alphabetic code knowledge and skills to become totally automatic and internalised processes. This app offers a variety of activities to develop the skills of blending and segmenting, sound spelling correspondence, word reading and writing and some sentences reading and writing. The app has been designed to introduce all the sound-spelling correspondences your child(ren) needs to learn to put them well on the way to learning to read and write. Each unit will be locked until the child has completed enough of the current unit to be able to progress. For more information on the Sounds-Write programme please visit www.sounds-write.co.uk

About

Phonogram Sounds

This interactive app provides clear audio pronunciations for letter sounds and combinations, featuring all 72 basic phonograms from a popular language arts curriculum. It's designed to support reading and spelling development for learners of all ages.

Highlights
  • Hear correct pronunciation of sounds
  • Clear enunciation of letters and combinations
  • Includes all 72 basic phonograms
  • Supports reading and spelling skills
  • Interactive learning experience
Features
Read full description

Touch a button and hear the correct pronunciation! *Check that your sound is turned on!* This interactive program features clear enunciation of the sounds of the letters and letter combinations (also known as phonograms). Contains all 72 of the basic phonograms as taught in the All About Reading and All About Spelling language arts curriculum. All About Reading is a multisensory, mastery-based program that starts with essential pre-reading skills and continues on to teach all five key components of reading. All About Spelling teaches encoding skills, spelling rules, and multisensory strategies to help your student become a proficient speller for life. Our lightly scripted “open and go” lesson plans and mastery-based approach leave no gaps and make this curriculum a favorite of homeschool families everywhere. Suitable for all ages and learning styles!

Screenshots

Phonogram Sounds3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Initial Code at 5.0 against Phonogram Sounds's 4.0. Initial Code also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Phonogram Sounds's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (84 vs 2). On price, review sentiment and ads 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. Initial Code sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Phonogram Sounds asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Initial Code holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phonogram Sounds has 84 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Initial Code's written reviews are positive against 70% of Phonogram Sounds's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Initial Code ships an update every 2 months, Phonogram Sounds every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Initial Code versus Phonogram Sounds: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInitial CodePhonogram Sounds
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.0 (84 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews69.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings284 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSounds-Write LtdAll About Learning Press, Inc.

Customer experience

Initial Code

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral13.3%
Negative20.0%

Phonogram Sounds

All ratings84 ratings
Positive70.2%
Neutral14.3%
Negative15.5%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive69.6%
Neutral13.0%
Negative17.4%

Bugs and requests

Initial Code

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Phonogram Sounds

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • R says /er/ instead of /r/
  • Sound not working
  • App crashes
  • No sound when tapping phonograms
  • Sound only works with ringer on
Show 2 more
  • List of phonograms cut off on iPad
  • App is stick, no audio, no movement

Requested features

9 requests
  • Videos showing lip/tongue placement
  • Interactive game app
  • App for building words/movable tiles
  • Level-based sound availability
  • Enlarging tapped tile
Show 4 more
  • Adding missing phonograms (Level 6, Spalding)
  • Adding more sounds for /i/, /e/, /x/, /ou/, /ei/, /oe/, /wor/, /ear/
  • Spelling lists for review
  • All About Reading app with word reading

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Initial Code

One-time1
  • Unlock All Content$5.99
None

Phonogram Sounds

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Initial Code free?
Initial Code is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Phonogram Sounds free?
Phonogram Sounds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Initial Code or Phonogram Sounds?
Initial Code is rated higher. Initial Code averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Phonogram Sounds averages 4.0 from 84 ratings.
Do Initial Code or Phonogram Sounds have ads?
Neither Initial Code nor Phonogram Sounds shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Initial Code or Phonogram Sounds?
Initial Code ships an update every 2 months, and Phonogram Sounds every 6 months. Most recently, Initial Code was updated on October 13, 2026 and Phonogram Sounds on October 20, 2026.

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