# ER School District vs Smart Tales

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Tales at 4.6 against ER School District's 2.5. Smart Tales also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (19K vs 8). ER School District's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Tales sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. ER School District asks for nothing beyond the download.

Smart Tales holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smart Tales has 19K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of ER School District's written reviews are positive against 55% of Smart Tales's.

ER School District ships an update every 9 months, Smart Tales every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ER School District | Smart Tales |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/er-school-district/id955859708/reviews) | **[4.6 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **19K** |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **54.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#173** |
| Size | 24 MB | 289 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [East Rutherford Board of Education](https://appshunter.io/developer/1446336297) | [Marshmallow Games SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/955873246) |

## What reviewers say

### ER School District

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/er-school-district/id955859708)

Stay informed about your local school district with personalized news and updates. Access important information, contact details, and receive timely notifications. Get involved with your school community through this official communication tool.

**Highlights:** Personalized news feed, District and school news, District tip line, Customizable notifications, District directory access, Contact information management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Smart Tales

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-tales-learning-games/id1452196861)

**Currently charting:** #173 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app offers over 2500 interactive educational games and stories for children aged 2-11. It covers reading, writing, STEM, and math, with a focus on personalized learning paths and inclusivity for all learners, including neurodivergent children. Parents can monitor progress and set limits.

**Highlights:** Interactive educational games, Award-winning stories, Math skills development, Reading and vocabulary building, STEM and science exploration, Logic and reasoning challenges, Personalized learning paths

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $5.49 | per month |
| Monthly Learning Plan for Kids | $14.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Smart Tales Semi Annual | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Smart Tales Quarterly | $34.99 | per 3 months |
| Smart Family Promo | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Promo Subscription | $54.99 | per year |
| Yearly Learning Plan for Kids | $89.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Improved school performance
- 👍 Engaging and fun for kids
- 🤩 Positive impact on child's mood
- 🎉 Great content and creativity
- 💯 Effective learning tool

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Errors and bugs in the app
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Lack of family sharing
- ⚠️ Inappropriate content for kids
- 🤯 Confusing and frustrating user experience

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Incorrect shape identification
- Subscription issues and double charges
- Content not loading properly
- Accessibility features not working as expected

**Requested features**

- More writing and grade-level options
- Improved voice-text synchronization
- Better customization for child's level
- Easier unsubscription process
- Compatibility with family sharing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ER School District free?

ER School District is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Smart Tales free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ER School District or Smart Tales?

Smart Tales is rated higher. ER School District averages 2.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Smart Tales averages 4.6 from 19K ratings.

### Do ER School District or Smart Tales have ads?

Neither ER School District nor Smart Tales shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ER School District or Smart Tales?

ER School District ships an update every 9 months, and Smart Tales every 3 weeks. Most recently, ER School District was updated on November 6, 2026 and Smart Tales on November 8, 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.*