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Head-to-head · Reading Apps

Starfall vs CommonLit

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Starfall #3 in Reading Apps 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Starfall
CommonLit #5 in Reading Apps 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit CommonLit

Starfall leads on 1 check, CommonLit on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreStarfall · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresStarfall · 4 of 4

Starfall scores higher on our rubric for reading apps: 9.2 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

Starfall offers offline access; CommonLit doesn't.

Starfall is the better fit for affordable early-literacy practice at home or school. CommonLit is the better fit for teachers and schools teaching grades 3–12.

  • Starfall fits best

    Affordable early-literacy practice at home or school

  • CommonLit fits best

    Teachers and schools teaching grades 3–12

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Side by side

Feature Starfall 9.2/10 Visit ↗ CommonLit 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.9
Ranking #3 in Reading Apps #5 in Reading Apps
Best for Affordable early-literacy practice at home or school Teachers and schools teaching grades 3–12
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $35/yr $4,000/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Integrations 2 integrations 4 integrations
Features Starfall 4/4 · CommonLit 2/4
Phonics instruction ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Comprehension practice ✓ ✓
Fluency practice ✓ ✓
Offline access ✓ (best) —
Specs
Age range Pre-K through 5th grade Grades 3–12
Content format Mixed Mixed
Supported platforms web, ios, android web
Our review
Pros
  • Systematic phonics covers CVC words, sight words, and vowel teams
  • Reading practice includes fluency, comprehension, fiction, and nonfiction
  • Offline standalone mobile apps and memberships for families and schools
  • Thousands of literary and informational texts for grades 3–12
  • Standards-aligned lessons with comprehension checks and annotations
  • Google Classroom, Canvas, Clever, and ClassLink integrations
Cons
  • The main Starfall app requires internet access
  • The lowest paid in-app plan is limited to app access
  • Advanced school access costs more than home membership
  • Student access is web-based rather than through a fully offline app
  • The free plan does not include school-level dashboards or assessments
  • Not designed as a phonics-verification tool
Our verdict

Starfall is a reading platform for children from Pre-K through fifth grade, combining alphabet activities, systematic phonics, sight words, books, games, songs, poetry, and reading practice. It is designed for families, teachers,…

Read the review →

CommonLit is a nonprofit educational platform for teachers and students in grades 3–12. Its free Text Library includes thousands of literary and informational texts, while standards-aligned reading and ELA lessons support classroom…

Read the review →
  1. StarfallReading Apps 9.2Free plan
  2. CommonLitReading Apps 8.9Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Starfall — where it wins

    • Systematic phonics covers CVC words, sight words, and vowel teams
    • Reading practice includes fluency, comprehension, fiction, and nonfiction
    • Offline standalone mobile apps and memberships for families and schools

    Where it doesn't

    • The main Starfall app requires internet access
    • The lowest paid in-app plan is limited to app access
    • Advanced school access costs more than home membership

  • CommonLit — where it wins

    • Thousands of literary and informational texts for grades 3–12
    • Standards-aligned lessons with comprehension checks and annotations
    • Google Classroom, Canvas, Clever, and ClassLink integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Student access is web-based rather than through a fully offline app
    • The free plan does not include school-level dashboards or assessments
    • Not designed as a phonics-verification tool

More comparisons

All reading apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update