# Read Live vs Hairy Phonics 1

The clearest difference is rating: Read Live at 5.0 against Hairy Phonics 1's 2.7. Read Live also leads on review sentiment (29% vs 10%) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months). Hairy Phonics 1's advantage is ratings volume (19 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Read Live holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hairy Phonics 1 has 19 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Read Live's written reviews are positive against 10% of Hairy Phonics 1's.

Read Live ships an update every 4 months, Hairy Phonics 1 every 12 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Read Live | Hairy Phonics 1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-live/id821028327/reviews)** | [2.7 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-1/id938108978/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **19** |
| Positive reviews | **28.6% of reviews** | 10.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 11 MB | 239 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.3 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Read Naturally, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/465317542) | [Nessy Learning Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/410276291) |

## What reviewers say

### Read Live

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/read-live/id821028327)

This app provides a structured, audio-supported system to improve reading fluency, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension for learners of all ages. It offers access to four distinct curriculum options, including support for Spanish readers, and tracks student progress across devices. A Read Live account is required to use the program.

**Highlights:** Four curriculum options, Audio-supported system, Develops reading fluency, Improves comprehension, Tracks student progress, Spanish reading support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Hairy Phonics 1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-1/id938108978)

This educational app helps children aged 4-6 develop phonemic awareness by introducing consonant digraphs. It features interactive animations, letter tracing, and games to blend sounds into words, making learning fun and engaging.

**Highlights:** Learn 9 consonant digraph phonemes, Structured learning sequence, Phonic animations with actions, Interactive letter tracing, Word blending games, Save and collect characters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Read Live free?

Read Live is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hairy Phonics 1 free?

Hairy Phonics 1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Read Live or Hairy Phonics 1?

Read Live is rated higher. Read Live averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Hairy Phonics 1 averages 2.7 from 19 ratings.

### Do Read Live or Hairy Phonics 1 have ads?

Neither Read Live nor Hairy Phonics 1 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Read Live or Hairy Phonics 1?

Read Live ships an update every 4 months, and Hairy Phonics 1 every 12 months. Most recently, Read Live was updated on November 1, 2026 and Hairy Phonics 1 on November 1, 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.*