Review Insights · App Store
Hooked on Phonics Learning
Hooked on Phonics · 16,318 ratings · ★ 4.5
4.5
★★★★★
16,318 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 36 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"been"
8 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Impossible to cancel. I’ve been trying to cancel for months. If I try to clicked the cancel button online or through the app it takes me to a page that shows as an error. It’s not showing my Apple account to cancel. It’s been very frustrating" - jdubs4real
2
"program"
8 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Mad. Love this program but can no longer use it on an eye gaze device because they made it for only android or Apple or Amazon. The eye gazed device runs off windows. Tobii Dynovox" - Education lover100
3
"lesson"
7 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slop disguised as education. The app features an arcade-style game section that sucks up young kids’ attention. Once my child found it, it was game over for the reading lessons. Furious I paid for a year subscription. Educational apps should not be full of distractions…" - salvatore Cipolla
4
"phonics"
7 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Inappropriate rewards. Hooked on phonics is great for learning. However I find many of the “rewards” to my child’s progress disturbing. For instance children get to watch the characters belch/burping, use the toilet and drown in response to the child’s correct an…" - ruthyoh
5
"through"
6 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Tedious. Had to jump through hoops just to cancel my membership. It shouldn’t be like that and that’s super sketch.." - juuuuuuuujiiiiiiiiiiii
6
"kids"
6 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slop disguised as education. The app features an arcade-style game section that sucks up young kids’ attention. Once my child found it, it was game over for the reading lessons. Furious I paid for a year subscription. Educational apps should not be full of distractions…" - salvatore Cipolla
7
"child"
6 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slop disguised as education. The app features an arcade-style game section that sucks up young kids’ attention. Once my child found it, it was game over for the reading lessons. Furious I paid for a year subscription. Educational apps should not be full of distractions…" - salvatore Cipolla
8
"year"
6 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slop disguised as education. The app features an arcade-style game section that sucks up young kids’ attention. Once my child found it, it was game over for the reading lessons. Furious I paid for a year subscription. Educational apps should not be full of distractions…" - salvatore Cipolla
9
"subscription"
6 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slop disguised as education. The app features an arcade-style game section that sucks up young kids’ attention. Once my child found it, it was game over for the reading lessons. Furious I paid for a year subscription. Educational apps should not be full of distractions…" - salvatore Cipolla
10
"love"
6 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Mad. Love this program but can no longer use it on an eye gaze device because they made it for only android or Apple or Amazon. The eye gazed device runs off windows. Tobii Dynovox" - Education lover100
11
"hooked"
6 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Inappropriate rewards. Hooked on phonics is great for learning. However I find many of the “rewards” to my child’s progress disturbing. For instance children get to watch the characters belch/burping, use the toilet and drown in response to the child’s correct an…" - ruthyoh
12
"learning"
6 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Inappropriate rewards. Hooked on phonics is great for learning. However I find many of the “rewards” to my child’s progress disturbing. For instance children get to watch the characters belch/burping, use the toilet and drown in response to the child’s correct an…" - ruthyoh
📋 All 36 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Tedious
Had to jump through hoops just to cancel my membership. It shouldn’t be like that and that’s super sketch..
Impossible to cancel
I’ve been trying to cancel for months. If I try to clicked the cancel button online or through the app it takes me to a page that shows as an error. It’s not showing my Apple account to cancel. It’s been very frustrating
Slop disguised as education
The app features an arcade-style game section that sucks up young kids’ attention. Once my child found it, it was game over for the reading lessons. Furious I paid for a year subscription. Educational apps should not be full of distractions.
Mad
Love this program but can no longer use it on an eye gaze device because they made it for only android or Apple or Amazon. The eye gazed device runs off windows. Tobii Dynovox
Buggy and Overpriced
There are a few lesson/games that have significant bugs that make those ones unplayable. I thought they would be fixed after a few months, but no. Additionally, the pricing model for this app is scummy. There is 0 added benefit from a subscription but that is the only option. You are renting software with no option to buy. There are other comparable education options with much better pricing.
Love HOP, Hate the App!
The latest update is awful. We waste so much time trying to scroll back to the proper lesson because there seems to be a glitch that keeps forcing our learners’ profiles to start up near the final lesson, in a completely different section that they are working in. I timed it and it takes 3 minutes every single time we utilize the app between worksheets, approximately 8 times per workbook, for 2 different children. That’s nearly 1 hour wasted trying to scroll back! Please fix this awful interface!
Inappropriate rewards
Hooked on phonics is great for learning. However I find many of the “rewards” to my child’s progress disturbing. For instance children get to watch the characters belch/burping, use the toilet and drown in response to the child’s correct answers. I find this disgusting as it teaches indecency. We would like those scenes removed or at least parents should be able to skip lessons they find inappropriate for their children.
Bad experience
signed up for the 7-day free trial of Hooked on Phonics through Apple. After the trial ended, Apple billed me $53.99. The problem is I cannot locate “My Account” inside the app to manage my subscription, and I am completely locked out.
When I contacted Hooked on Phonics support, they told me they have no record of my account - even though Apple charged me $53.99. I was only able to use the app for one day, and now I can’t log in, can’t access account settings, and can’t use the program I paid for.
Apple was willing to issue a refund, but it is extremely frustrating that I was charged and Hooked on Phonics claims there is no account tied to my purchase. There is no clear way inside the app to verify your subscription or access support from within your account.
For a program marketed to families, billing and account access should be much clearer and better supported. Very disappointed with this experience.
When I contacted Hooked on Phonics support, they told me they have no record of my account - even though Apple charged me $53.99. I was only able to use the app for one day, and now I can’t log in, can’t access account settings, and can’t use the program I paid for.
Apple was willing to issue a refund, but it is extremely frustrating that I was charged and Hooked on Phonics claims there is no account tied to my purchase. There is no clear way inside the app to verify your subscription or access support from within your account.
For a program marketed to families, billing and account access should be much clearer and better supported. Very disappointed with this experience.
terrible support
so my little sister charged $12.99 on my card and I try to get it refund refunded and they denied it. I’ve been trying to get in contact with them for like the last and they have not been responding to me and I really need this money because I’m only a steady income I really hope they can situate this because I cannot afford this. I’ve put in my second review. I’ve been trying to get in contact with them. They told me wait an hour. I waited an hour. I waited two hours. I wait
Disappointed
My entire life I’ve always heard amazing things about hooked on phonics. I purchased it for my 3 year old and it hasn’t been helpful at all. The only sounds he’s confident about are the ones I had already taught him previous to starting the program. The system moves on to the next lesson even if he doesn’t grasp the current lesson. He doesn’t seem to enjoy it at all I’m just overall disappointed!
186% price increase
This has been such a good brand for over 30 years and the curriculum used to be one of a kind. In January 2026 they sent an email saying that pricing for the app. Would increase from $6.99 per month to $12.99 per month. That is a 186% price increase.
There are so many great education and homeschool apps now that Hooked On Phonics, hooked on spelling, and Hooked On Math are no longer the only option.
It is sad that the private equity company that has purchased them does not understand the brand trust that they have broken or that this may result in a 80% sure in families using the product. It is still such a great application that I am saddened that so many thousands of families will never use this system of learning again.
There are so many great education and homeschool apps now that Hooked On Phonics, hooked on spelling, and Hooked On Math are no longer the only option.
It is sad that the private equity company that has purchased them does not understand the brand trust that they have broken or that this may result in a 80% sure in families using the product. It is still such a great application that I am saddened that so many thousands of families will never use this system of learning again.
Increasing price from $6.99/mo to $12.99
This was a a one great company and the materials helped so many generations of kids, but it will clearly go under because they are now increasing the price in January 2026 to 12.99, from 6.99.
At a time when there is more competition than ever in phonics and educational apps, the private equity firm that owns them think that it’s a great time to almost double pricing. I am seeing conversations in homeschool and parenting groups were 80% of people are canceling.
At a time when there is more competition than ever in phonics and educational apps, the private equity firm that owns them think that it’s a great time to almost double pricing. I am seeing conversations in homeschool and parenting groups were 80% of people are canceling.
Updated Format
After an update it is very hard to navigate through lessons and it takes too much time to scroll back and forth as it starts me on lesson 30 that was accidentally pressed while scrolling. I am very upset to pay for this.
Love the program but HATE the app design
I absolutely hate the update. I should not have to scroll through the learning path to find skipped lessons. Math constantly jumps forward by at least ten lessons and then I have to scroll back. I want a screen like before that shows each lesson so I can easily navigate to where my child needs to be.
Redesign horrible
I had to cancel due to the redesign. They messed up a good format and got sold by their internal team that this product design helps kids. No one is leaning in a linear format anymore.
Really don’t like the new format
Our kids loved the hooked on phonics series especially the Math, but the new format is terrible. Neither the kids nor the parents can easily navigate the lessons. It’s a shame, the content is the same, but much less accessible. Fortunately for us, we still have the old hooked on Math app which has the old format. If that goes away, we will discontinue the subscription. If you are going to chance something make it better and provide clear instructions for the new interface.
Keeps freezing
Keeps freezing up on loading up a new session!
WAS great
We’ve only had this app for a few weeks. We have a 3 year old so we are working on letter sounds. When we first started using the app you could choose what letters to work with and review them as needed. Now the update the app no longer lets you pick the letters you work with and insist we do skills we are not ready for. This is incredibly frustrating since she WAS learning and loving this app. I’ve looked everywhere and at all the setting and it still won’t let me choose which groups of letters she learns for a lesson or to put things back on a pre reader level.
Why we left
The pre- reading section needs to be just level A and B reading only. It jumps too advanced too quickly with longer paragraphs. We did not renew because the app doesn’t offer a lifetime subscription, which is unfair for those with disabilities. The other reason we ended the subscription, was because the graphics and content were not engaging enough to learn from. I repeatedly requested a lifetime special needs subscription. They repeatedly blew me off. They are a billion dollar industry that has been around for decades. They did away with lifetime subscriptions a few years ago. Knowing this all I refuse to continue my subscription. There are plenty of other reading apps that will do lifetime subscriptions.
Can’t access dashboard
I wanted to love this program, but I can’t access my dashboard. The kids can use the app pkay, but I went to cancel (because it just wasn’t what I was picturing with a reading app) and I can’t contact anyone or access my dashboard to cancel. Every contact link leads to a dead end or to have you log in-which it just spins and spins and says there is a problem.
Don’t get scammed
I would avoid subscribing because they will not let you cancel. An “error” will occur and then they will say it’s too much traffic on their site and to check back later. Do not fall for this beware! Try Duo its free. This was a waste and I’m highly disappointed they will not answer you back. What a way to steal peoples money.
The worst
For all of the years this company has been around, I really expected a lot I guess. The games on the app are very boring and there are so few of them. We have everything from a 2 to an 8 year old and all of them begged to not have to spend time on the app. A few of the print resources they sent home were OK but I can get free books from the library for my kids to read. I’m not sure how any child would learn to read using this program.
On top of all that, I have never been able to log into my dashboard to manage my account. When you try to contact the company, there’s no way to contact them directly other than to go through a chat bot. There’s no email link or anything. They sent me an email to see if everything was going OK, however, I have no way to respond to them and tell them it’s not because the link to contact them just takes me to the FAQ section.
On top of all that, I have never been able to log into my dashboard to manage my account. When you try to contact the company, there’s no way to contact them directly other than to go through a chat bot. There’s no email link or anything. They sent me an email to see if everything was going OK, however, I have no way to respond to them and tell them it’s not because the link to contact them just takes me to the FAQ section.
Can’t play
It tells me I’ve earned points and to play to earn more points…but won’t let me play.
No more
I don’t like it either
What it should be called
Dog water and trash
Something is broken, please fix
The actual hooked on phonics path will not open. We can open hooked on spelling and hooked on math, but that’s not what we’re wanting.
Never received any books
Would not even bother with this again. I tried to email and it’s like messaging a robot. I never received my package.
Just Ok
The content is pretty good, however, some of the letters that are being sounded out aren’t clear, like they didn’t upload it correctly. I also have a lot of offline issues where 1) the downloaded content won’t load / work offline 2) when we try to use offline content, it freezes after each attempt and I have to clear and restart the app. I wish there was a way to download whole sections or even all of the content as it takes a long time to download everything.
It’s super frustrating. It only works properly when it’s on WiFi.
Review updated 2026, 1 year after trying to use the app. It’s only good when on WiFi, don’t waste your time offline.
It’s super frustrating. It only works properly when it’s on WiFi.
Review updated 2026, 1 year after trying to use the app. It’s only good when on WiFi, don’t waste your time offline.
Bugs
We have been unable to utilize the app since the new upgrade. Not worth the cost for all the hassle.
Math
I think learning even and odd numbers is advanced for a beginner. Can there be other options.
The new update is horrible!!!
The recent update is horrible and makes it hard to continue on my daughter’s learning path. It opens to lesson 30, when she is still on lesson 9, so now I have to scroll for several minutes to get back to her level! Not happy, and may have to end my subscription if this is not fixed. D
Something is wrong
I usually love the program but the math portion have not been working for a while now and I pay monthly and I’m not getting access to all
Needs to be updated.
The context is great but ….
The person narrating the app is hard to understand with some words. My child has to turn the volume all the way up and place her ear close to the speaker in order to distinguish some letters sounds . Like “threw” sounds like too . End sounds like “and” it’s very frustrating when half the time is spent repeating the instructions and the word. Maybe just have an option to hear the word not “tap the button for the word …..” one part of the app is broken. The one on the lake where different words in lili pads appear and the correct word needs to be clicked. The screen breaks and an orange or green screen appears in half of the screen and the water and lili pads on the bottom.
The person narrating the app is hard to understand with some words. My child has to turn the volume all the way up and place her ear close to the speaker in order to distinguish some letters sounds . Like “threw” sounds like too . End sounds like “and” it’s very frustrating when half the time is spent repeating the instructions and the word. Maybe just have an option to hear the word not “tap the button for the word …..” one part of the app is broken. The one on the lake where different words in lili pads appear and the correct word needs to be clicked. The screen breaks and an orange or green screen appears in half of the screen and the water and lili pads on the bottom.
Repetitive and boring
My 4 year old got tired of this very fast. It’s the same 3-4 games over and over and over again. I encouraged him to keep going but it really doesn’t change much. He was a good sport about keeping going but it is really boring and doesn’t keep him engaged. Even I was getting annoyed by the same thing being said over and over. Definitely don’t subscribe for a year, try a month or two first to see if your little one likes it.
Kinda boring and repetitive
The info is good but it’s not interesting enough to keep my child’s attention. The app feels like an afterthought. The reading books that came with the trial were below the quality I’ve expected from the HOP brand. I’d love to use their other materials. I think it’s a great program; but this app isn’t worth the investment.
Great games… when they work
The games are great and everything but it is the glitchiest app ever which annoys me bc I pay for it. Half the time we go to use it and the sound doesn’t work or it freezes. Yes I have the newest version, my phone is updated and a brand new phone, so it’s not on my end
Sentiment summary
87%
Positive (4-5★)
4%
Neutral (3★)
9%
Negative (1-2★)