Comparison

Math Shelf vs Letter Recognition

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

Head to head
About

Math Shelf

This app provides an experimentally proven program to enhance early mathematics achievement for preschool and kindergarten students. It offers on-level instruction through adaptive learning and placement tests, aligning with Common Core Standards.

Highlights
  • Experimentally proven to increase math achievement
  • Common Core Aligned content
  • Adaptive learning and placement tests
  • Cloud-based syncing for school and home
  • Free 7-day trial
  • Supports iPhone, iPad, and iPod
Read full description

Math Shelf is experimentally proven to increase preschool and Kindergarten students' mathematics achievement. **** Winner Re-Imagine Education Best Learning App **** From over 3,000 entries Math Shelf won the Silver Medal for best learning app. **** Common Core Aligned ***** Math Shelf's content exceeds the expectations in the Kindergarten Common Core Standards. **** On Level Instruction for Every Student **** Placement tests and adaptive learning provide on level learning for every student in your class. **** Cloud Based ***** Play Math Shelf on any iPad or iPhone. Students can play for free at home and data will sync to their school account. **** Experimentally Proven **** Read our 3 peer-reviewed published studies at www.mathshelf.com/research. ****Valhalla Foundation Funded**** Program Related Investment and grant recipient from the Valhalla Foundation to improve early math education. **** Heising-Simons Foundation Funded **** Grant recipient Heising-Simons Foundation to improve early mathematics education. **** Free Trial **** Try Math Shelf with your students for 7 days. **** Technology Requirements **** iPhone 6 and above. Plays on iOS 12.0 and above. You may purchase an auto-renewing subscription through an In-App Purchase. You can access all games and administrative features. Auto-renewable subscription -1 month ($4.99) period, for 2 students access. -1 year ($41.99) period, for 2 students access. Your subscription will be charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Current subscription may not be cancelled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your Apple Account Settings after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://mathshelf.com/privacy Terms Of Use: https://mathshelf.com/terms

About

Letter Recognition

This educational app helps children recognize letters by matching pairs of letter pebbles. It teaches letter names, sounds, and shapes through a memory game, with customizable settings for different learning levels. Designed to enhance early literacy skills, it offers a focused and engaging learning experience.

Highlights
  • Match uppercase and lowercase letters
  • Learn letter names and sounds
  • Customizable game difficulty
  • Focuses on visual and auditory learning
  • Supports early writing development
  • No ads or in-app purchases
Features
Read full description

Recognising and remembering the different forms that a letter can take increases children’s awareness as they see them in other contexts and begin to use them in their early writing. The simple game play of this visually-engaging app follows the rules of pelmanism. Select a pair of letter pebbles, hear their name and sound and watch to see if they match. If a pair is found, they remain face up. If not, they turn over. Try to remember what you saw though as you might need some of those pebbles later! When a game is over, a new set of pebbles appears with letters selected randomly. Teacher options allow you to choose what matching takes place: lowercase to lowercase, uppercase to uppercase or uppercase to lowercase. FEATURES - Learn the name and sound of each letter and its lowercase/uppercase shape - Turn a pair of pebbles to find matching letters - Use settings to choose matching options: UC-UC, lc-lc or lc-UC - Use settings to reduce/increase the number of pebbles used in a game - A Read Me file with guidance on other ways to support letter recognition in children - No third-party advertising - No in-app purchases. WHO IS YELLOW DOOR? We are a publisher offering a range of inspiring and innovative literacy and maths resources. From multisensory games to interactive software, we combine hands-on learning with open-ended technology to promote communication and language, collaborative play and creativity across the curriculum. Our aim is to produce resources that are appealing to small hands and curious minds, and that will help build an engaging, playful learning environment for all young children. OTHER APPS FROM YELLOW DOOR Pre-Writing App Letter Formation App Come Alive Traditional Tales (6 individual apps) Come Alive Nursery Rhymes Come Alive Sound and Letters Come Alive Listening. REVIEW THE APP We would love to know what you think of our new app, so please leave a review!

Screenshots

Math Shelf2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Math Shelf at 80% against Letter Recognition's 0%. Math Shelf also leads on price (Free vs $19.99) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 39 months). Letter Recognition's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ads and iOS requirement 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

Math Shelf is free to download; Letter Recognition costs $19.99 up front. Math Shelf sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Letter Recognition asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Math Shelf ships an update every 4 months, Letter Recognition every 39 months. The most recent releases landed on July 7, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Math Shelf versus Letter Recognition: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMath ShelfLetter Recognition
PriceFree — better$19.99
Rating4.7 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 39 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size380 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn SchacterYellow Door Ltd

Customer experience

Math Shelf

All ratings13 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Letter Recognition

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Math Shelf

Subscriptions2
  • 1 Month Access7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • 1 Year Access7 Days trial$41.991 Year
One-time8
  • 1 Students Monthly Subscription$1.99
  • 1 Student Monthly Subscription$2.99
  • 2 Students Monthly Subscription$3.99
Show 5 more
  • 3 Students Monthly Subscription$5.99
  • 2 Students Monthly Subscription$5.99
  • 3 Students Monthly Subscription$8.99
  • 3 Students Subscription$9.99
  • 4 Students Monthly Subscription$11.99
None

Letter Recognition

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Math Shelf free?
Math Shelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Letter Recognition free?
Letter Recognition costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Math Shelf or Letter Recognition have ads?
Neither Math Shelf nor Letter Recognition shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Math Shelf or Letter Recognition?
Math Shelf ships an update every 4 months, and Letter Recognition every 39 months. Most recently, Math Shelf was updated on July 7, 2026 and Letter Recognition on June 7, 2026.

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