How to use Appysmarts

1. Check our reviews, recommendations and ratings of the apps. To find an app simply type the name of this app into the search box.

2. Be up to date with new app reviews in the Reviews section.

Reviews are published every Friday. We try to review at least 10 new apps every week.

You can follow the reviews on Appysmarts Twitter feed by subscribing to our weekly newsletter or simply by regularly visiting the Reviews page.

3. Check the Rankings.

Major changes usually occur on Fridays, when new apps are added. Of course rankings are influenced by user votes (user recommendations) as well, so smaller changes can occur on a daily or hourly basis.

Please read the 'How we rate apps' page for more info how the Rankings are created.

4. Check the 'What's popular' section (at the bottom the page) featuring selected sets of apps based on users' requests and inquiries.

5. Create an account and use our Appysmarts Recommendation Engine (coming soon).

How to understand the main Appysmarts parameters

Overall Score

This 'measures' the overall quality of an app, combining several factors like our Editor Ratings and User Recommendations.

Please note that the Overall Score parameter is relevant to the age group for which an app was designed.

Comparing the Overall Score of an app designed for 1-2 year olds with one of an app designed for 4-5 year olds in mind does not make too much sense.

This is why we strongly recommend using the Age Filter at all times when you use our Rankings or Recommendations.

Recommended Age and Age Filter

An app which is too easy will quickly bore the child.
An app which is too difficult will frustrate him or her.

Matching an app to the child's 'readiness level' and parents' expectations is a very difficult task.

Here is how we solved this.

During the review process, each app is assigned three age levels.

Minimal Age - this is the 'starting' age level for the particular app

Recommended Age - this is the optimal age to introduce app for most children

Upper Age - this is the 'cutoff' level, above which this app will be a waste of time for an average child

Only Recommended Age is displayed for each App, the two remaining parameters are used by our recommendation algorithm.

When looking for the best apps for your child, look for the apps whose Recommended Age is no less or more than 6-9 months above or below the real age of your child.

Please note that if you are lucky to have an extremely bright or competent children you may add another 6-9 months to the Recommended Age parameter.

In the case of children with special needs, you may wish to do the opposite (our Recommendation Engine can do it for you automatically when you set the correct parameters after you set up your account)

Other parameters

Artistic Value

5 stars - exceptional 'artistic experience' (illustrations, animations, music)
4 stars - better than average
3 stars - OK (we expect all apps for kids to be at least of this level)
2 stars - not much 'artistry' in this app
1 stars - no 'artistic experience' at all (but the app may be still ok in terms of graphics design!)

Length of Play

5 stars - this app is very engaging and has many options, will occupy your child for a long time
4 stars - very good value
3 stars - OK (we expect an app to be at least of this level)
2 stars - below average, don't expect too much from this app
1 stars - worst - probably it will be a 'one off'

Educational Value

5 stars - this app has exceptional educational qualities
4 stars - very good value
3 stars - OK (we expect an app to be at least of this level)
2 stars - there are some educational factors in this app but don't expect too much
1 stars - don't expect this app to be of much of educational value, rather consider it as a 'time filler'