# AlphaBaby Play vs Writing Wizard

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Writing Wizard at 5.2K against AlphaBaby Play's 36. Writing Wizard also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.2). AlphaBaby Play's advantage is review sentiment (89% vs 74%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AlphaBaby Play sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Writing Wizard sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Writing Wizard holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Writing Wizard has 5.2K ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of AlphaBaby Play's written reviews are positive against 74% of Writing Wizard's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AlphaBaby Play | Writing Wizard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphababy-play/id333177252/reviews) | **[4.4 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writing-wizard-learn-to-write/id1305242235/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 36 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **89.1% of reviews** | 73.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Little Potato Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/321916103) | [Pierre Abel](https://appshunter.io/developer/367460664) |

## What reviewers say

### AlphaBaby Play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphababy-play/id333177252)

This app introduces toddlers to letters and shapes through interactive touch and sound. Users can personalize the experience by recording their own voices and adding custom images and captions, fostering early learning and engagement.

**Highlights:** Interactive letters and shapes, Voice recording for customization, Add custom images and captions, Shrink and grow letter animations, Flick and fly animations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Full AlphaBaby | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👶 Excellent for babies and toddlers (ages 8 months to 4 years)
- 🎓 Educational tool teaching letters, numbers, shapes, and colors
- 🎤 Ability to record custom voice and add personal photos
- 🆓 Free version available with quality features
- 🛡️ Child-proof design prevents accidental app store clicks

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 Random presentation lacks structured learning approach
- 📚 Uses letter names instead of phonetic sounds
- 🔊 Volume control not available
- 💾 In-app purchases not persisting across device changes
- 🎙️ Custom sound recording feature unreliable for some users

**Reported bugs**

- In-app purchases lost when changing iOS devices
- Custom sound recording not working reliably
- In-app upgrade icon not updating after purchase
- Same objects appearing consecutively in random mode
- Settings menu difficult to access and discover

**Requested features**

- Phonetic sound options instead of letter names
- Extended number range (up to 50+)
- Sound/volume level control
- Delay option to discourage button mashing
- Multiple voice recordings per object for multilingual families


### Writing Wizard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/writing-wizard-learn-to-write/id1305242235)

This app helps children learn to trace letters, numbers, and words with a fun, motivating system. It offers customizable tracing practice, interactive games, and progress reports for parents and educators.

**Highlights:** Trace letters, numbers, and words, Customizable tracing practice, Interactive games and animated stickers, Create custom word lists with audio, Progress reports for tracking, Printable PDF worksheets

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Access - Monthly | $2.49 | per month |
| All Letters and Numbers | $5.99 | one-time |
| Add Your Words and Word Lists | $5.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Full Access | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Engaging animations
- 💡 Customizable word lists
- 👍 Helpful for children with special needs
- 👍 Effective for improving handwriting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔒 Paid version not working as expected
- 💰 Expensive for the limited features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to access locked features
- Purchased content not unlocking properly
- Inconsistent letter formation guidance

**Requested features**

- Add more letters, numbers, and shapes
- Allow recording of custom voice instructions
- Improve compatibility with stylus/digital pens
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AlphaBaby Play free?

AlphaBaby Play is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Writing Wizard free?

Writing Wizard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AlphaBaby Play or Writing Wizard?

Writing Wizard is rated higher. AlphaBaby Play averages 4.2 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Writing Wizard averages 4.4 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do AlphaBaby Play or Writing Wizard have ads?

Neither AlphaBaby Play nor Writing Wizard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AlphaBaby Play or Writing Wizard?

AlphaBaby Play ships an update every 4 months, and Writing Wizard every 4 months. Most recently, AlphaBaby Play was updated on October 5, 2026 and Writing Wizard on October 22, 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.*