# Main Idea vs ABA Play

The clearest difference is rating: ABA Play at 5.0 against Main Idea's 3.8. ABA Play also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 71%). Main Idea's advantage is ratings volume (19 vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Main Idea sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and ABA Play sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ABA Play holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Main Idea has 19 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Main Idea's written reviews are positive against 100% of ABA Play's.

Main Idea ships an update every 3 months, ABA Play every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Main Idea | ABA Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/main-idea-sentences/id895683482/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aba-play/id6794402252/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 22 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Janine Toole](https://appshunter.io/developer/839832427) | [MATTHEW ODELL BLANEY](https://appshunter.io/developer/6794402254) |

## 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 |


### ABA Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aba-play/id6794402252)

This educational app uses AI-generated content and data-driven teaching principles to create a customizable learning environment for early learners. It supports multiple profiles and includes autopilot modes for independent exploration, with on-device data tracking to monitor progress.

**Highlights:** Customizable learning environment, AI-generated images and voice prompts, Multiple learner profiles, Autopilot exploration modes, On-device local data tracking

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access | $9.99 | one-time |
| Add 8 Additional Profiles | $29.99 | one-time |
| Upgraded Access AND 10 Profiles | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Main Idea free?

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

### Is ABA Play free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Main Idea or ABA Play?

ABA Play is rated higher. Main Idea averages 3.8 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while ABA Play averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Main Idea or ABA Play have ads?

Neither Main Idea nor ABA Play shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Main Idea or ABA Play?

Main Idea ships an update every 3 months, and ABA Play every 5 days. Most recently, Main Idea was updated on October 17, 2026 and ABA Play on October 14, 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.*