Comparison

Reading Train vs ABCs with BiBo

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

Head to head
About

Reading Train

This app offers a comprehensive reading program for young learners, featuring interactive ABC books, engaging games, and songs. It helps children develop foundational reading skills, build vocabulary, and boost their confidence through a fun, safe, and ad-free experience.

Highlights
  • 24 ABC books at 3 reading levels
  • Interactive train game for word learning
  • Built-in picture/audio dictionary
  • 18 song books
  • Professional narration
  • User recording of books
  • Student reporting tools
Features
Read full description

Listen, read, and record 24 fun ABC books at 3 easy reading levels: 72 books in all! Play the train game; win coins for the music store; collect and learn new words in the train yard. "Beautifully designed storybooks and related games that teach foundational reading": Appolicious.com Books, songs and games to build skills, self confidence and a love of reading. Real reading, for fun and information, right from the start. "A dynamic tool to augment any beginning readers program": Teachers With Apps Safe for Kids: The Learning Station is a Proud Member of Moms With Apps Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org * Listen, read and record books at 3 different beginning reading levels to grow as a reader. * Play the train game after every book to learn letters and words * Built-in picture/audio dictionary * 18 song books * Professional narration- American English. All books can be recorded by users. * Unlimited user accounts * Powerful student reporting tools Books Kids CAN Read. Written by Libby Curran, a People Magazine Teacher of the Year, these engaging little books are field tested in real classrooms to get kids started on the path to reading independence. Books Kids LOVE to Read and Re-read. Children are naturally curious, so encourage them to explore our ABC books to learn new vocabulary and build the foundational knowledge they need to succeed in school. After reading stories they can play the train quiz game, explore the picture/audio dictionary and listen to song books. Give Your Kids the Tools to Succeed. Stuck on a word? Tap and hold to hear every word and access the built in audio dictionary filled with hundreds of words. Play a unique quiz game at the end of every book to extend the learning. The Reading Train Alphabet is packed full of tools to help children succeed, all on their own. Read to Learn- Meet Common Core Standards Read beginning level books with purpose and understanding. Develop the concepts of print: reading left to right and matching written words with spoken words. Learn letter names and sounds, build background knowledge and improve reading comprehension and foundational skills. Quizzes Disguised as Games. Play the train game after finishing every book, but don't tell them it's a quiz! Check progress on the parent's page to see all the books children have read and recorded as well as detailed scores on the quizzes. The Right Team For the Job Created by award winning master teacher and early literacy expert, Libby Curran,The Reading Train Alphabet is the culmination of 20+ years of teaching experience. Backed by an all-star team of teachers turned iOS developers and a professional children's musician, The Reading Train Alphabet is serious about making learning fun. Keep in Touch We welcome your feedback, to keep up with all things Reading Train check out: readingtrain.org facebook.com/readingtrain email: support@readingtrain.org We welcome suggestions on future books and curriculum. Contact Libby with suggestions about new content at: libby@readingtrain.org

About

ABCs with BiBo

Features
Read full description

Meet Billy and Bonnie - your fun friends who love the ABCs! With colorful and bright flashcards, teaching your kids the alphabet just got a whole lot more exciting! Features: EXCELLENT LEARNING TOOL Identify letters, colors and words with simple and fun flashcards PROMOTES BETTER VOCABULARY Choose from different categories featuring the entire alphabet IMPROVES VISUAL MEMORY Fun illustrations promote association of words and concepts EASY TO USE Swipe or use arrows to move from one card to the next PLAY AND TEACH Use the flash cards for a "what comes next?" challenge or memory game

Screenshots

Reading Train4 screens
ABCs with BiBo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ABCs with BiBo at Free against Reading Train's $3.99. ABCs with BiBo also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 11.0). Reading Train's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On ads and device support 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

ABCs with BiBo is free to download; Reading Train costs $3.99 up front. ABCs with BiBo sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Reading Train asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading Train ships an update every 5 months, ABCs with BiBo every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Reading Train versus ABCs with BiBo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading TrainABCs with BiBo
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size698 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Learning Station, LLCSVEN Ingenuity, Inc.

In-app purchases

None

Reading Train

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

ABCs with BiBo

One-time6
  • Animal Alphabets$0.99
  • Color Alphabet$0.99
  • Food Alphabet$0.99
Show 3 more
  • Object Alphabet$0.99
  • People Alphabet$0.99
  • Places Alphabet$0.99

Questions

Is Reading Train free?
Reading Train costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ABCs with BiBo free?
ABCs with BiBo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Reading Train or ABCs with BiBo have ads?
Neither Reading Train nor ABCs with BiBo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading Train or ABCs with BiBo?
Reading Train ships an update every 5 months, and ABCs with BiBo every 2 months. Most recently, Reading Train was updated on October 12, 2026 and ABCs with BiBo on September 27, 2026.

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