Comparison

Pip and Tim Stage 4 vs Decodable Readers L2 Sample

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

Head to head
About

Pip and Tim Stage 4

This app provides a series of illustrated books designed to teach children how to read using a phonics-based approach. Stories feature characters Tim and Pip, with audio support for reading aloud and word pronunciation. It's suitable for home or classroom use.

Highlights
  • Sequenced phonics reading program
  • Illustrated stories with Tim and Pip
  • Professionally recorded audio
  • Words highlighted as read
  • Tap word for pronunciation
  • Vocabulary and comprehension questions
Features
Read full description

Little Learners Love Literacy® is a sequenced phonics reading program to give children confidence and success. Letters and sounds are introduced in stages. Each stage has 5 beautifully illustrated books with real stories about Tim and Pip and their adventures. The Little Learners Apps are enhanced with professionally recorded and produced audio. Each story can be read aloud, and most importantly, the words are highlighted as they are read. In addition, children can tap a word which is then highlighted and spoken. The audio can be turned off from the book home screen. They are Australia’s favourite learn-to-read books. Created by reading experts and based on best practice teaching, the lively stories and sequenced progression will ensure children learn to read. Little Learners Love Literacy® is perfect for home or in the classroom. Evidence-based research has shown that the explicit teaching of phonics is the most effective way of teaching children to read. Learning to read is too important not to use these Little Leaners Love Literacy books. Once children know 8 sounds, they can blend these together to start reading our first 5 books in Stage One. Each book has a fun story about Tim and Pip and their adventures. Children become engaged with the characters, their family, friends and pets. This app is true to the books and focuses on learning-to-read in a modern and enjoyable way with audio support: • child reads the sounds and Heart Words (high frequency words that cannot be sounded out at this stage) • or tap each sound to hear it pronounced • child reads the story using ‘sounding out’ as their first strategy • tap on a word to hear it being read Hints and Tips: Each book provides vocabulary and comprehension questions. Encourage children to run their fingers under each word as they read All words, except for Heart Words, in these books can be ‘sounded out’. To do this, children point to each letter or digraph, saying the sounds and then blending the sounds together to read the word. Little Learners Love Literacy Stage 4 • At the fun run • Mud • In the log hut • On the bus • The big red box Stage 4 sounds include the initial alphabetic code – a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p qu r s t u v w x y z New Heart words : he to was we she These five books use all the sounds of the initial alphabetic code. There are NO tricks as children use their phonic skills to read. These books are audio enhanced – tap on a word to have it read aloud.

About

Decodable Readers L2 Sample

Read full description

The Decodable Readers Australia books support a systematic approach of learning to read. This approach ensures kids are given the “right-fit” book. Decodable, or phonic readers, only contain words made up of the sounds a child has learnt. Within each level in the Decodable Readers Australia Series, a new group of sounds is introduced. As children move through each level the sounds progress from simple to complex. The Decodable Readers Australia – Level 2 books introduce the sounds m, d, g, o, c, k, ck, e u and r. All the words in each of the 20 books in Level 2 are made up of these sounds and those introduced in Level 1, along with minimal sight words. After having mastered the Level 1 sounds and the basic reading skills of blending and tracking, children should have gained the confidence to read Australian stories with new words and more text on each page. Each story in Level 2 can be enjoyed by listening to the professional audio or read aloud with the support of tapping and hearing the word if required. The audio function can be controlled independently within each page. Both parents and teachers can continue to support children with vocab and comprehension development through using the post-reading activities provided within each story. An addition to the Level 2 readers are the wide range of pre-reading activities that can be used to help set the purpose for reading. Key Features: • listen to each story being read to them using the audio function • use each book to practice reading independently • tap each word to hear the sounds and the word if support is needed • tap to turn each page for individual reading pace • all Australian themes and characters • beautifully illustrated with detail for engagement and enjoyment

Screenshots

Pip and Tim Stage 44 screens
Decodable Readers L2 Sample1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Decodable Readers L2 Sample at Free against Pip and Tim Stage 4's $3.99. Decodable Readers L2 Sample also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 19 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Decodable Readers L2 Sample is free to download; Pip and Tim Stage 4 costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pip and Tim Stage 4 ships an update every 19 months, Decodable Readers L2 Sample every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
Pip and Tim Stage 4 versus Decodable Readers L2 Sample: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPip and Tim Stage 4Decodable Readers L2 Sample
Price$3.99Free — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 19 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better10.2
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB101 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLearning LogicDecodable Readers Australia

In-app purchases

None

Pip and Tim Stage 4

No in-app purchases

None

Decodable Readers L2 Sample

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pip and Tim Stage 4 free?
Pip and Tim Stage 4 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Decodable Readers L2 Sample free?
Decodable Readers L2 Sample is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pip and Tim Stage 4 or Decodable Readers L2 Sample have ads?
Neither Pip and Tim Stage 4 nor Decodable Readers L2 Sample shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pip and Tim Stage 4 or Decodable Readers L2 Sample?
Pip and Tim Stage 4 ships an update every 19 months, and Decodable Readers L2 Sample every 2 months. Most recently, Pip and Tim Stage 4 was updated on November 6, 2026 and Decodable Readers L2 Sample on October 28, 2026.

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