# Marvin's Magic vs LEGO® Play

The clearest difference is rating: LEGO® Play at 4.5 against Marvin's Magic's 3.0. LEGO® Play also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). Marvin's Magic's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.4). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Marvin's Magic sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. LEGO® Play asks for nothing beyond the download.

LEGO® Play holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LEGO® Play has 13K ratings behind it against 139, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Marvin's Magic's written reviews are positive against 43% of LEGO® Play's.

Marvin's Magic ships an update every 3 months, LEGO® Play weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Marvin's Magic | LEGO® Play |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (139 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marvins-magic/id1181404310/reviews) | **[4.5 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lego-play/id6502331190/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 139 | **13K** |
| Positive reviews | 34.1% of reviews | **43.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 278 MB | 165 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Starz-UK Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/868769318) | [LEGO](https://appshunter.io/developer/347363505) |

## What reviewers say

### Marvin's Magic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marvins-magic/id1181404310)

Enhance your magic tricks with augmented reality and interactive elements. This app brings your magic set to life, offering video instructions and bonus features when you register your product. Experience magic in a new, engaging way.

**Highlights:** Augmented Reality enhancements, Interactive magic tricks, Video instructions, Product registration, Bonus features access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Magic Academy Access | $0.99 | per month |
| Magic Academy Access | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 📚 Helpful video instructions for learning tricks
- 🎯 Works well with compatible magic sets
- ✨ Engaging augmented reality features (when functional)
- 🎬 High-quality video content
- 👨‍🎓 Useful for beginners learning magic

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 QR code scanning frequently fails or doesn't work
- 🐛 App crashes constantly during video playback
- 🔊 Missing audio on videos
- 📵 404 error pages when accessing content
- 🐛 Augmented reality features malfunction

**Reported bugs**

- QR code scanning returns 404 errors
- App crashes when loading or playing videos
- Missing audio on video content
- Augmented reality features not functioning
- Camera image appears flipped or upside down

**Requested features**

- Optional QR code scanning (allow manual code entry)
- Better offline access to instructions
- More tricks and weekly content updates
- Alternative registration methods besides QR codes
- Improved camera functionality and orientation


### LEGO® Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lego-play/id6502331190)

This app offers a safe digital space for creative building, drawing, storytelling, and game playing. Users can design avatars, build digital homes, and explore content from popular LEGO themes. It provides tools for stop-motion animation, 3D brick building, and pattern design.

**Highlights:** Creative Canvas for drawing and art, Stop-Motion Studio for filmmaking, Brick Builder for 3D LEGO creations, Pattern Designer for custom art, Avatar and digital home customization, Explore LEGO stories and characters, Collection of creative games for kids

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick mods
- 💡 Ability to post more than one photo
- 👍 Smooth and easy to navigate

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy and buggy
- 👎 Lack of features compared to Lego Life
- 😕 Confusing interface and layout
- 🤔 Strict moderation process

**Reported bugs**

- Difficulty logging in and creating accounts
- Inability to change avatar or username
- Posting issues and long moderation times
- Disappearing posts and comments

**Requested features**

- Bring back Lego Life
- Add more games and activities
- Allow posting of videos
- Implement a friends list and notifications
- Restore the trending page and community groups


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Marvin's Magic free?

Marvin's Magic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is LEGO® Play free?

LEGO® Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Marvin's Magic or LEGO® Play?

LEGO® Play is rated higher. Marvin's Magic averages 3.0 out of 5 from 139 ratings, while LEGO® Play averages 4.5 from 13K ratings.

### Do Marvin's Magic or LEGO® Play have ads?

Marvin's Magic shows ads; LEGO® Play does not.

### Which is updated more often, Marvin's Magic or LEGO® Play?

Marvin's Magic ships an update every 3 months, and LEGO® Play weekly. Most recently, Marvin's Magic was updated on November 2, 2026 and LEGO® Play on November 5, 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.*