Comparison

MathTappers vs ABC SPELLING MAGIC

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MathTappers

This game helps learners master addition and subtraction facts through engaging visual and symbolic models. It offers two modes to support both younger and older learners in building accuracy and speed with basic math concepts.

Highlights
  • Addition and subtraction fact mastery
  • Visual grid mode for younger learners
  • Symbolic part-part-whole model
  • Focus on sense-making and accuracy
  • Develops fluency and recall speed
  • Supports understanding of fact families
Features
Read full description

MathTappers: Find Sums – learn basic facts for addition and subtraction Version 2.0 Description MathTappers: Find Sums is a simple game designed to help learners to make sense of addition (and subtraction), and then to support them in developing accuracy and improving their speed. Please go to MathTappers.com for additional information on all of our apps. For Parents: There are two modes provided to support your child as they play the game. The first mode is designed for younger learners and uses a picture of a grid in which apples are placed and both apples and blank spaces can easily be counted. The goal is to choose a pair of numbers that cause all of the un-shaded spaces to be filled with apples. The second mode uses a symbolic part-part-whole model designed to help older learners to efficiently and accurately recognize addition and subtraction facts. In this mode the goal is to pick two numbers that when placed in the top spaces add together to equal the value in the bottom space. The focus should always be on sense-making and accuracy before speed. Ask your child to explain how they know what the other number should be and what strategies they are using. Remember that this game is not intended to replace instruction – but rather to supplement it with a self-paced activity to support mastery and fluency. Mastering the concepts of addition and subtraction and building fluency in recalling the basic associations presented in this game are essential to success in later mathematics. Fluency is an individual attribute – challenge yourself with the game to get a sense of what levels of fluency you might expect your child to achieve. For Educators: MathTappers: Find Sums is designed to help learners to master basic addition and subtraction facts with understanding and then to encourage them to continue playing to develop efficient strategies and eventually improve their recall speed (fluency). This app doesn’t rely on the ‘magic’ of flash cards but rather presents useful models to support learners as they make sense of addition and subtraction. Although the game appears to be focused only on addition – subtraction is an inherent part of their activity and learning. Learners using this app are developing a sense of the relationship between two addends and a sum - providing them with opportunities to master both addition and subtraction facts concurrently. You cannot really understand that 7+3=10 or 3+7=10 without also understanding the rest of the fact family – i.e., that 10-7=3 and 10-3=7. It is expected that working with groups of fact families that share a common sum (e.g., sum to 10) will help learners to make connections between these families and synergistically enhance their mastery process. About: Design: Tim Pelton & Leslee Francis Pelton Programming: Mike Anderson, Joshua E Smith, Chris Rail & Garrett Reimer The designers of the MathTappers Apps are math educators and researchers seeking to create simple games that will help learners to make sense of mathematics one concept at a time. In each App we try to present at least one useful visual model to support learners as they strive to master the challenges presented. The regular version of each app is provided to users for free and is designed to be useful as-is. In addition, most MathTappers Apps offer an option to expand the feature set for a minimal fee. Revenues received from these upgrades will be used to support research on the educational utility of MathTappers Apps and further refinement and expansion of the MathTappers App collection. Play, Explore and Understand! Tim Pelton Web Site MathTappers: Find Sums – a math game to help children learn basic facts for addition and subtraction Support

About

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

This educational app helps children learn to spell CVC words using the principles of the Science of Reading. It focuses on letter sounds and word construction with two levels of challenge, aiding early literacy development.

Highlights
  • Teaches letter sounds
  • Word construction with CVC words
  • Two levels of challenge
  • Incorporates Science of Reading principles
  • Montessori-inspired learning
  • Customizable voice and font options (DELUXE)
Read full description

Introducing ABC Spelling Magic, where learning to spell is fun and engaging! ABC SPELLING MAGIC incorporates the main principles of the Science of Reading. This app is designed to teach children the sounds of the letters and how to construct words, aligning with the science of reading. With two levels of challenge, it indirectly imparts the essential reading skill of segmenting while focusing on the skill of learning to spell words with three phonetic sounds using short vowel words. Incorporating the science of reading, the app's comprehensive approach is tailored to assist children in learning the sounds of the alphabet and honing their blending and segmenting skills, essential for early literacy development based on the science of reading. SPELLING MAGIC 1 focuses on CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words, such as cat, box, and pig, which are fundamental for phonics instruction based on the science of reading. The app categorizes words by middle vowel sounds in the first part and by categories in the second part, offering a well-rounded approach to phonics and word construction, rooted in the principles of the science of reading. The DELUXE version provides 245 words and offers a variety of options in the menu, including two types of voices, three types of fonts, two letter color styles, a special feature to connect the letters together, and over 185 additional words from the free version, enhancing the learning experience based on the principles of the science of reading. Developed by a team of educators utilizing accelerated learning techniques and Montessori principles, this app has been tested and approved by preschoolers, aligning with the science of reading and providing an enjoyable and beneficial experience in learning letter sounds. We welcome your feedback and suggestions as we strive to provide an enriching educational experience for young learners, rooted in the science of reading.

Screenshots

MathTappers4 screens
ABC SPELLING MAGIC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MathTappers at none against ABC SPELLING MAGIC's 1. ABC SPELLING MAGIC's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 18 months) and review sentiment (94% vs 83%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ABC SPELLING MAGIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MathTappers asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ABC SPELLING MAGIC holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 42 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of MathTappers's written reviews are positive against 94% of ABC SPELLING MAGIC's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MathTappers ships an update every 18 months, ABC SPELLING MAGIC every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
MathTappers versus ABC SPELLING MAGIC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMathTappersABC SPELLING MAGIC
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (52 ratings)3.8 (42 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews94.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings52 — better42
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB132 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua SmithPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY

Customer experience

MathTappers

All ratings52 ratings
Positive59.6%
Neutral19.2%
Negative21.2%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

All ratings42 ratings
Positive69.0%
Neutral11.9%
Negative19.0%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive94.2%
Neutral3.8%
Negative1.9%

Bugs and requests

MathTappers

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Letters will not move to be dragged into place
  • Screen freezing

Requested features

8 requests
  • Ability to hear the full word, slowly articulated
  • Option for English accent
  • Vowels in red and consonants in blue
  • More advanced content
  • Animated graphics for interactivity
Show 3 more
  • Option to pick letters from the full alphabet
  • Improve sound quality
  • Improve graphics and sounds

In-app purchases

None

MathTappers

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99

Questions

Is MathTappers free?
MathTappers is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ABC SPELLING MAGIC free?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, MathTappers or ABC SPELLING MAGIC?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC is rated higher. MathTappers averages 3.7 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 from 42 ratings.
Do MathTappers or ABC SPELLING MAGIC have ads?
Neither MathTappers nor ABC SPELLING MAGIC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MathTappers or ABC SPELLING MAGIC?
MathTappers ships an update every 18 months, and ABC SPELLING MAGIC every 6 weeks. Most recently, MathTappers was updated on October 23, 2026 and ABC SPELLING MAGIC on October 23, 2026.

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