Comparison

Phonics 1b Pupils vs Trace ABC

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

Head to head
About

Phonics 1b Pupils

Features
Read full description

Phonics 1b Pupils application for iOS provides young learners of English with the digital tools to learn and practice the sounds of the English alphabet in an educational and entertaining manner. It consists of: Sound presentations along with letter tracing Animated songs (per Unit) Chants (per Unit) Interactive fun activities (colouring, draw lines etc) Learning tasks (circle the right letters, listening) with automatic feedback Interactive games per Unit (“pelmanism”, “maze”, “puzzle pieces”, “floating balloons”, “froggie”, “letter cubes” and many more) Picture dictionary with audio All of the interactive material is presented in a playful way, in which learners are able to tap on various items and listen to the corresponding sounds. Stories are enriched with smart sound effects and the “Listen and Point” sections are enriched with smart animations. Learners can practice the sounds of letters in various ways (by animated presentation of the letters and then by selecting animated items to listen to words in full sentences or by listening to animated songs). Learners can access the Picture Dictionary and the Letter Sounds sections any time they want to revise or simply listen again to a particular letter sound. Learning takes place sub-consciously in a stress-free environment. It’s an innovative interaction than only this application can offer!

About

Trace ABC

Features
Read full description

Trace ABC helps your little one learn to recognize, write, and sound out all 26 letters — the warm, screen-safe way. Built for ages 2–6, every activity is designed with early educators to turn practice into play. ▸ GUIDED TRACING ENGINE Little fingers follow friendly dots along each letter, with gentle magnetic snapping and instant feedback. Kids build real muscle memory and correct stroke order — not random scribbles. ▸ REAL, HUMAN-QUALITY VOICE Crystal-clear, child-friendly narration reads every letter name, letter sound (accurate phonics-level pronunciation), and example word aloud. ▸ PHONICS THAT CLICKS From single letter sounds to blending c-a-t, kids move through the proven SATPIN teaching order and reach that magic "I can read a word!" moment. ▸ JOURNEY MAP & STAR REWARDS A colorful adventure map, collectible stars, and a cheerful mascot keep kids motivated and proud of every step forward. ▸ MADE FOR FAMILIES • Parental gate protects settings and links • Screen-time limits you control • Simple parent progress reports ▸ SAFE BY DESIGN No ads. No third-party tracking. No pop-up purchase traps. Just focused, joyful learning your family can trust. Start your child's reading journey today — one letter, one sound, one proud smile at a time. Questions or ideas? We'd love to hear from you.

Screenshots

Phonics 1b Pupils1 screens
Trace ABC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Phonics 1b Pupils at 9.0 against Trace ABC's 13.0. 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.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Phonics 1b Pupils versus Trace ABC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhonics 1b PupilsTrace ABC
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 39 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size390 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperExpress Publishingzhenyu song

In-app purchases

None

Phonics 1b Pupils

No in-app purchases

None

Trace ABC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Phonics 1b Pupils free?
Phonics 1b Pupils is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Trace ABC free?
Trace ABC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Phonics 1b Pupils or Trace ABC have ads?
Neither Phonics 1b Pupils nor Trace ABC shows ads.

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