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Head-to-head · Phonics Apps

Phonics Hero vs Grow the Code

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Phonics Hero #5 in Phonics Apps 7.5/10 Free plan · paid from $36/mo · 7-day trial Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Phonics Hero
Grow the Code #6 in Phonics Apps 7.3/10 14-day trial ✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Grow the Code

Phonics Hero leads on 1 check, Grow the Code on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePhonics Hero · 7.5/10
  • Free planonly Phonics Hero

Phonics Hero scores higher on our rubric for phonics apps: 7.5 against 7.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

Phonics Hero offers free plan; Grow the Code doesn't. On instruction focus, Phonics Hero gives you Early reading where Grow the Code offers Blending.

Phonics Hero is the better fit for learners needing structured, game-based phonics drills. Grow the Code is the better fit for schools seeking a sequenced phonics curriculum.

  • Phonics Hero fits best

    Learners needing structured, game-based phonics drills

  • Grow the Code fits best

    Schools seeking a sequenced phonics curriculum

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Phonics Hero 7.5/10 Visit ↗ Grow the Code 7.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.5 7.3
Ranking #5 in Phonics Apps #6 in Phonics Apps
Best for Learners needing structured, game-based phonics drills Schools seeking a sequenced phonics curriculum
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $36/mo Not published
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Free trial length 7 days · no card needed 14 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS
Support Email Email
Built for Solo, Small business Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Phonics Hero 1/2 · Grow the Code 1/2
Progress tracking ✓ ✓
Offline access Not published Not published
Specs
Age range Not published Not published
Instruction focus Early reading Blending
Supported platforms web, iOS, Android web, ios
Learner profiles Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • More than 850 games span 26 levels, from letter sounds to sentence reading.
  • Parent reporting tracks skills and sub-skills; teachers can manage accounts and homework.
  • Available on desktop, iOS, and Android, with English, American, and Australian accents.
  • More than 500 sequenced daily phonics lesson plans
  • More than 250 fully decodable online books
  • Assessment supports class, individual and targeted keep-up lessons
Cons
  • The Games Subscription costs $36 every six months.
  • The free option is the teacher Learning Library, not an unlimited parent subscription.
  • Its focus is phonics practice rather than a broad early-learning curriculum.
  • Available on web and iOS, not a broader range of platforms
  • Paid product with no free plan
  • School subscriptions are capped at 10 or 20 teachers per plan
Our verdict

Phonics Hero guides children through sequenced phonics practice, from letter-sound associations to blending, spelling, tricky words, and sentence reading. It is aimed at families and educators who want learners to work through structured,…

Read the review →

Grow the Code is a systematic synthetic phonics programme from Smart Kids for schools, teachers and homeschool families. Its curriculum moves through oral blending, blending for reading and segmenting for spelling, with instruction in…

Read the review →
  1. Phonics HeroPhonics Apps 7.5Free plan · paid from $36/mo · 7-day trial
  2. Grow the CodePhonics Apps 7.314-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Phonics Hero — where it wins

    • More than 850 games span 26 levels, from letter sounds to sentence reading.
    • Parent reporting tracks skills and sub-skills; teachers can manage accounts and homework.
    • Available on desktop, iOS, and Android, with English, American, and Australian accents.

    Where it doesn't

    • The Games Subscription costs $36 every six months.
    • The free option is the teacher Learning Library, not an unlimited parent subscription.
    • Its focus is phonics practice rather than a broad early-learning curriculum.

  • Grow the Code — where it wins

    • More than 500 sequenced daily phonics lesson plans
    • More than 250 fully decodable online books
    • Assessment supports class, individual and targeted keep-up lessons

    Where it doesn't

    • Available on web and iOS, not a broader range of platforms
    • Paid product with no free plan
    • School subscriptions are capped at 10 or 20 teachers per plan

More comparisons

All phonics apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update