# Phonograms by SEI vs iPhonogram

The clearest difference is price: iPhonogram at Free against Phonograms by SEI's $3.99. iPhonogram also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.8) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). Phonograms by SEI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#12 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

iPhonogram is free to download; Phonograms by SEI costs $3.99 up front. iPhonogram sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Phonograms by SEI asks for nothing beyond the download.

iPhonogram holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Phonograms by SEI has 220 ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Phonograms by SEI's written reviews are positive against 33% of iPhonogram's.

Phonograms by SEI ships an update every 4 months, iPhonogram fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phonograms by SEI | iPhonogram |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [1.8 (220 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonograms-by-sei/id934525008/reviews) | **[4.2 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iphonogram/id6444019725/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **220** | 27 |
| Positive reviews | 19.8% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#12** | — |
| Size | 13 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Spalding Education International](https://appshunter.io/developer/934525007) | [Wozete LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1490459546) |

## What reviewers say

### Phonograms by SEI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonograms-by-sei/id934525008)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Paid · Education, #143 Top Paid (US App Store)

This app helps students learn the connection between speech sounds and written symbols (phonograms). Mastering phonograms is crucial for accurate reading, writing, and spelling, expanding vocabulary and improving communication skills.

**Highlights:** Learn phonogram sound-symbol relationships, Phonogram introduction by group, Oral phonogram review with sound check, Written phonogram review with writing practice, Differentiated practice for specific phonograms, Supports phonemic awareness and letter recognition

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Effective for learning phonograms and improving reading skills
- 🎯 Differentiated practice allows selecting specific phonograms
- 🔊 Clear audio narration when functioning properly
- 📱 Works well on multiple devices (iPhone, iPad)
- 💰 Affordable price point at $3.99-$4.27

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Sound frequently doesn't work or is inconsistent
- 🐛 Written practice shows blank/black screen
- ⚙️ Poor app design and user interface
- 🔧 Requires phone settings changes to function properly
- ⏱️ Slow performance and long loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Sound not playing despite volume settings being correct
- Written phonogram review displays blank screen
- App requires phone ringer to be off silent mode for audio
- Letters not visible in dark mode display
- Written practice button 'Show Me' displays nothing

**Requested features**

- Save selected phonogram lists for future sessions
- Allow writing directly in the app instead of on paper
- Add FAQ or troubleshooting guide
- Implement dark mode compatibility
- Enable sound to work while phone is on silent


### iPhonogram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iphonogram/id6444019725)

This app helps children and students improve reading skills by teaching phonics. It offers a wide range of phonogram sounds and interactive exercises to make learning engaging and fun. Users can search, sort, and create custom phonogram lists for personalized practice.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive phonogram sound collection, Interactive learning interface, Searchable phonogram database, Sort phonograms by type, Custom phonogram list creation, Personalized study and practice

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock More Features | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phonograms by SEI free?

Phonograms by SEI costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is iPhonogram free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Phonograms by SEI or iPhonogram?

iPhonogram is rated higher. Phonograms by SEI averages 1.8 out of 5 from 220 ratings, while iPhonogram averages 4.2 from 27 ratings.

### Do Phonograms by SEI or iPhonogram have ads?

Neither Phonograms by SEI nor iPhonogram shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Phonograms by SEI or iPhonogram?

Phonograms by SEI ships an update every 4 months, and iPhonogram fortnightly. Most recently, Phonograms by SEI was updated on October 11, 2026 and iPhonogram on October 6, 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.*