# Phonogram Sounds vs Phonograms by SEI

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Phonogram Sounds at 70% against Phonograms by SEI's 20%. Phonogram Sounds also leads on price (Free vs $3.99) and rating (4.0 vs 1.8). Phonograms by SEI's advantage is chart position (#66 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Phonogram Sounds is free to download; Phonograms by SEI costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Phonogram Sounds holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 84 and 220 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Phonogram Sounds's written reviews are positive against 20% of Phonograms by SEI's.

Phonogram Sounds ships an update every 6 months, Phonograms by SEI every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phonogram Sounds | Phonograms by SEI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[4.0 (84 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonogram-sounds/id797098295/reviews)** | [1.8 (220 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonograms-by-sei/id934525008/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 84 | **220** |
| Positive reviews | **69.6% of reviews** | 19.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#66** |
| Size | 27 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [All About Learning Press, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/786428125) | [Spalding Education International](https://appshunter.io/developer/934525007) |

## What reviewers say

### Phonogram Sounds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonogram-sounds/id797098295)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great supplement for AAS/AAR
- 👍 Helpful for parents/teachers
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Clear phonetic sounds
- 👍 Good for practice

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Incorrect 'r' sound
- 👎 Incomplete phonogram set
- 👎 Not a standalone lesson
- 👎 Not for fun
- 👎 Missing Spalding compatibility

**Reported bugs**

- R says /er/ instead of /r/
- Sound not working
- App crashes
- No sound when tapping phonograms
- Sound only works with ringer on

**Requested features**

- Videos showing lip/tongue placement
- Interactive game app
- App for building words/movable tiles
- Level-based sound availability
- Enlarging tapped tile


### Phonograms by SEI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonograms-by-sei/id934525008)

**Currently charting:** #66 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

This app helps students learn the connection between speech sounds and written symbols (phonograms). Mastering phonograms is crucial for accurate reading, writing, and spelling, expanding vocabulary and improving communication skills.

**Highlights:** Learn phonogram sound-symbol relationships, Phonogram introduction by group, Oral phonogram review with sound check, Written phonogram review with writing practice, Differentiated practice for specific phonograms, Supports phonemic awareness and letter recognition

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Effective for learning phonograms and improving reading skills
- 🎯 Differentiated practice allows selecting specific phonograms
- 🔊 Clear audio narration when functioning properly
- 📱 Works well on multiple devices (iPhone, iPad)
- 💰 Affordable price point at $3.99-$4.27

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Sound frequently doesn't work or is inconsistent
- 🐛 Written practice shows blank/black screen
- ⚙️ Poor app design and user interface
- 🔧 Requires phone settings changes to function properly
- ⏱️ Slow performance and long loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Sound not playing despite volume settings being correct
- Written phonogram review displays blank screen
- App requires phone ringer to be off silent mode for audio
- Letters not visible in dark mode display
- Written practice button 'Show Me' displays nothing

**Requested features**

- Save selected phonogram lists for future sessions
- Allow writing directly in the app instead of on paper
- Add FAQ or troubleshooting guide
- Implement dark mode compatibility
- Enable sound to work while phone is on silent


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phonogram Sounds free?

Phonogram Sounds is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Phonograms by SEI free?

Phonograms by SEI costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Phonogram Sounds or Phonograms by SEI?

Phonogram Sounds is rated higher. Phonogram Sounds averages 4.0 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while Phonograms by SEI averages 1.8 from 220 ratings.

### Do Phonogram Sounds or Phonograms by SEI have ads?

Neither Phonogram Sounds nor Phonograms by SEI shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phonogram Sounds or Phonograms by SEI?

Phonogram Sounds ships an update every 6 months, and Phonograms by SEI every 4 months. Most recently, Phonogram Sounds was updated on October 16, 2026 and Phonograms by SEI on October 15, 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.*