# READING MAGIC 4 vs Study Phonics

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Study Phonics at none against READING MAGIC 4's 1. Study Phonics also leads on update cadence (every 8 months vs every 26 months). READING MAGIC 4's advantage is iOS requirement (13.7 vs 15). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. READING MAGIC 4 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Study Phonics asks for nothing beyond the download.

READING MAGIC 4 ships an update every 26 months, Study Phonics every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC 4 | Study Phonics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (52 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-4/id1211351945/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **52** | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 26 months | **Every 8 months** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 208 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.7** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Masao Nakajima](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537219074) |

## What reviewers say

### READING MAGIC 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-4/id1211351945)

This app uses interactive activities based on the science of reading to help young learners develop essential reading skills. It focuses on phonograms, digraphs, blending, and segmenting through engaging modes and sequential lessons.

**Highlights:** Science of Reading methodology, Phonograms and digraphs focus, Blending and segmenting modes, Reading mode with hidden pictures, Sequential lessons, Progress tracking for multiple students, Diverse male and female voices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |


### Study Phonics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/study-phonics/id1548240927)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is READING MAGIC 4 free?

READING MAGIC 4 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Study Phonics free?

Study Phonics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do READING MAGIC 4 or Study Phonics have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC 4 nor Study Phonics shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, READING MAGIC 4 or Study Phonics?

READING MAGIC 4 ships an update every 26 months, and Study Phonics every 8 months. Most recently, READING MAGIC 4 was updated on September 20, 2026 and Study Phonics on September 14, 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.*