TestNav vs PowerTools for Reading
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TestNav
This application provides a secure and reliable platform for delivering educational tests online. It ensures test items are presented consistently across devices.
- Secure test delivery
- Reliable online platform
- Consistent test item presentation
- iOS device compatibility
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TestNav is Pearson's online test delivery platform. It enables test items to be delivered online securely and reliably in a consistent manner. The TestNav for iOS app allows TestNav to run on iOS devices.
PowerTools for Reading
This literacy platform uses research-backed methods to help children in kindergarten through third grade develop reading skills. It integrates science content with an intelligent scaffolding system and provides teachers with data to track progress and personalize instruction.
- Literacy learning platform
- Neuroscience-based approach
- Intelligent scaffolding system
- Integrated science content
- Executive functions practice
- Teacher dashboard with analytics
- Personalized feedback
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PowerTools by Tools of the Mind® is an innovative literacy learning platform based on decades of research on the neuroscience of learning and literacy development. The PowerTools for Reading iPad application was designed from the ground up to support children’s literacy development, with multiple levels of carefully crafted eBook text integrating key science content combined with a proprietary intelligent scaffolding system that supports children in developing core literacy skills. Designed to help all children K-3 learn to read and reach grade level expectations in reading, PowerTools embeds executive functions practice in reading and increases the time spent, level of motivation, and effectiveness of young readers’ decoding practice. Continuous, adaptive, personalized feedback is displayed on a PowerTools dashboard for teachers and literacy specialists, with classroom and child level data and analytics to help teachers improve instruction, track children’s progress, and provide targeted individual scaffolding to each student. Please note: In order to use the PowerTools app, users must have a current contract with Tools of the Mind that includes access to the PowerTools Literacy Learning Platform. For more information or to begin that process please contact us at information@toolsofthemind.org .
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PowerTools for Reading at 5.0 against TestNav's 1.6. PowerTools for Reading also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 8 months). TestNav's advantage is ratings volume (104 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
PowerTools for Reading holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TestNav has 104 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
TestNav ships an update every 8 months, PowerTools for Reading monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TestNav | PowerTools for Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.6 (104 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 23.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 104 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pearson | Tools of the Mind |
Customer experience
TestNav
PowerTools for Reading
Bugs and requests
TestNav
Reported bugs
6 issues- Open response boxes never work properly
- Drag and drop not working
- Permission errors for speech, mic, etc.
- App crashes all the time
- App doesn't work
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- App needs update but cannot update
Requested features
10 requests- Way to lower brightness
- Actual Dark Mode
- Allow access to Accessibility Shortcuts menu during testing
- Enable/disable inverted colors during testing
- Enable zoom during testing
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- Enable VoiceOver during testing
- Add dancing GIFs of Nick Young
- Add mini games with golf balls and levels
- Add Flappy golf extreme
- Add cross map tomahawks
PowerTools for Reading
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
TestNav
No in-app purchases
PowerTools for Reading
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is TestNav free?
Is PowerTools for Reading free?
Which has better reviews, TestNav or PowerTools for Reading?
Do TestNav or PowerTools for Reading have ads?
Which is updated more often, TestNav or PowerTools for Reading?
Other comparisons
