# Main Idea vs Comprehend

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Main Idea at 71% against Comprehend's 0%. Main Idea also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and ratings volume (19 vs 5). Comprehend's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Main Idea sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Comprehend sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Comprehend holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 5 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Main Idea's written reviews are positive against 0% of Comprehend's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Main Idea ships an update every 3 months, Comprehend every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and July 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Main Idea | Comprehend |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/main-idea-sentences/id895683482/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comprehend-reading/id6467381455/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **71.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 22 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 16.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Janine Toole](https://appshunter.io/developer/839832427) | [Victoria Park](https://appshunter.io/developer/1546920769) |

## What reviewers say

### Main Idea

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/main-idea-sentences/id895683482)

This app helps children in grades 2-5 develop reading comprehension skills by focusing on identifying the main idea of sentences. It uses a fun, game-like approach with step-by-step learning and rewards to keep kids motivated. Designed by educators, it's suitable for both typical and special needs children.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step skill building, Game-like environment, Frustration-free learning, Reward Center for motivation, Parental review and reporting, Over 600 examples, Designed by teachers and researchers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to 2 Users | $1.99 | one-time |
| Access All Levels | $2.99 | one-time |
| Up to 10 Users | $2.99 | one-time |


### Comprehend

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comprehend-reading/id6467381455)

This educational app helps students in grades 2-12 enhance their reading comprehension. It allows users to create custom reading passages and quizzes, utilize text-to-speech, and track progress. AI features can generate stories and assist in writing custom content for a more engaging learning experience.

**Highlights:** Custom quiz creation, Text-to-speech functionality, AI story generation, Progress tracking, AI-assisted story writing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Main Idea free?

Main Idea is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Comprehend free?

Comprehend is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Main Idea or Comprehend?

Comprehend is rated higher. Main Idea averages 3.8 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Comprehend averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Main Idea or Comprehend have ads?

Neither Main Idea nor Comprehend shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Main Idea or Comprehend?

Main Idea ships an update every 3 months, and Comprehend every 6 weeks. Most recently, Main Idea was updated on September 19, 2026 and Comprehend on July 30, 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.*