Comparison

Phonics 1a Activities vs Smart Phonics 3rd 1

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

Head to head
About

Phonics 1a Activities

Features
Read full description

Phonics 1a Activities application for iOS provides young learners of English with the digital tools to practise the sounds of the English alphabet in an educational and entertaining manner. It consists of: Letter tracing and practice Interactive fun activities (colouring, draw lines etc) Learning tasks (listening, circle the right letters, look and choose and many more) with automatic feedback All activities are presented in a playful way, in which learners are able to tap on various items and listen to the corresponding sounds. Learning takes place sub-consciously in a stress-free environment. It’s an innovative interaction than only this application can offer!

About

Smart Phonics 3rd 1

This app makes learning phonics engaging and accessible through a variety of interactive materials. It offers AI-powered speaking practice, animated songs and stories, and a collection of games and flashcards to build essential English literacy skills.

Highlights
  • AI-powered phonics speaking practice
  • Animated chants, songs, and stories
  • Flashcards and practice games
  • Class audio files
  • QR code download
Features
Read full description

Smart Phonics series now in its third edition! Smart Phonics is a five-level series designed to make phonics fun and easy to learn. Students establish key skills that allow them to prepare for the greater world of English education. To ensure a diverse and communicative learning environment, Smart Phonics provides students with a wide variety of materials. Songs, chants, stories, animations, games, and a newly added phonics AI app keep students engaged and invested in their studies. Features 1. Phonics speaking practice assessed by AI Andi 2. Class audio files found in one easy-to-use location 3. Chant, song, and story animations for easy replay 4. Flashcards, practice activities, and games for phonics practice Easy download via QR code!

Screenshots

Phonics 1a Activities1 screens
Smart Phonics 3rd 14 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Smart Phonics 3rd 1 at every 2 weeks against Phonics 1a Activities's every 20 months. Phonics 1a Activities's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 11.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phonics 1a Activities ships an update every 20 months, Smart Phonics 3rd 1 every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Phonics 1a Activities versus Smart Phonics 3rd 1: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhonics 1a ActivitiesSmart Phonics 3rd 1
PriceFreeFree
Rating—2.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—5.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 20 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB1.6 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExpress Publishinge-future Co., Ltd.

Bugs and requests

Phonics 1a Activities

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Smart Phonics 3rd 1

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • No sound on iPhone
  • No sound on iPad
  • Sound not working initially
  • Sound stops working
  • Bluetooth speaker works, but device does not
Show 3 more
  • App does not progress to next letter
  • No sound in activities or audio tracks
  • No sound on iPhone in silent mode

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve sound functionality
  • Fix sound bugs
  • Update app for sound
  • Provide guidance on sound issues

In-app purchases

None

Phonics 1a Activities

No in-app purchases

None

Smart Phonics 3rd 1

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Phonics 1a Activities free?
Phonics 1a Activities is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smart Phonics 3rd 1 free?
Smart Phonics 3rd 1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Phonics 1a Activities or Smart Phonics 3rd 1 have ads?
Neither Phonics 1a Activities nor Smart Phonics 3rd 1 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Phonics 1a Activities or Smart Phonics 3rd 1?
Phonics 1a Activities ships an update every 20 months, and Smart Phonics 3rd 1 every 2 weeks. Most recently, Phonics 1a Activities was updated on November 11, 2026 and Smart Phonics 3rd 1 on November 3, 2026.

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