Comparison

Tic Tac Math 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

Tic Tac Math

This educational game combines the familiar fun of Tic Tac Toe with math practice. Players solve equations to earn squares, making learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division engaging for elementary through high school students.

Highlights
  • Tic Tac Toe gameplay with math equations
  • Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division practice
  • Adjustable difficulty with one, two, or three-digit numbers
  • Scratchpad for working out answers
  • Play against computer or in two-player mode
  • Universal app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad
Features
Read full description

Kids love Tic Tac Math because it’s a game that they know how to play and it’s fun. Parents and teachers understand that a game that is fun, familiar and educational is a great use of iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch technology before the kids start playing “other” games. And it doesn’t require a lot of time on their part to get things going because every kid knows how to play Tic Tac Toe. This unique app combines the time-tested, kid approved favorite Tic Tac Toe game with math game equations for an educationally fun experience. Kids love to play this math game; parents and teachers love that their elementary school, middle school and even high school kids are honing their math skills. Click “...More” to learn why you should download this App today! Great App for Kids! “This app is really cool on the iPad! The scratch pad rocks and saves paper too.” - Mathevangelist A great classroom story with Tic Tac Math “I began using Tic Tac Math with my fourth grade class this winter and spring as a way to get kids motivated to prepare for standardized testing. Tic Tac Math was quick, the kids loved playing, it requires no explanation and the kids scores went up. I recommend Tic Tac Math to anyone looking for a fun way to help a kids who may be struggling with math.” - Beth Harstad, Fourth Grade Teacher, Mound-Westonka Schools, Mound, Minnesota Tic Tac Math game combines the fun and strategy of Tic Tac Toe with the skill building of math flash cards. Your child can choose which skill to play – addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. There is even the option of playing one, two or three digit numbers in the equations, so they can increase the difficulty as their skills improve. It's easy to get started, no rules to figure out because kids already know the rules! Just as in regular Tic Tac Toe, if you get three squares in a row, you win. To gain a square, you must first solve the math equation. A scratch pad has been included for working out answers, if necessary. This app is great for all ages. You can play against the computer or use that opportunity for a bonding, two-person game. It’s an excellent way for parents to spend time with their children while helping them sharpen their minds. Or, use the two-player mode as an opportunity for an older child to help a younger one. This builds confidence and reinforces math skills at the same time. The fun Tic Tac Math app is the first math game developed to work on all three devices – iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Regardless of which you use, you essentially have a portable classroom and teacher anytime you open Tic Tac Math. There aren’t 30 other kids here, though. When your child is playing Tic Tac Math, he or she is the only student. Features: * First creation of a universal math app; works on iPhone, iPod Touch and optimized for the unique features of the iPad * Offers four skills to play – addition, subtraction, multiplication or division * Challenging one, two or three digit number equations * Includes a scratch pad for figuring out answers * Concept is based on Tic Tac Toe, so it’s easy for your child to understand gameplay * Builds math skills in a fun way * Can eliminate the boredom that smart kids often experience while on long trips, waiting in lines or sitting in restaurants * Teachers report that starting out each day with a couple of rounds on Tic Tac Math help kids improve their math facts and gets them settled down to begin learning. So do your child a favor. The next time they site down to play their favorite game on the iPad, ask them to beat the computer on 4 games of Tic Tac Math. They’ll probably think it a bit strange at first, but before you know it they’ll be improving their math scores, building their math confidence and building a path to a better life!

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

Tic Tac Math4 screens
ABC SPELLING MAGIC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ABC SPELLING MAGIC at Free against Tic Tac Math's $1.99. ABC SPELLING MAGIC also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 66 months) and ratings volume (42 vs 5). Tic Tac Math's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On review sentiment, ads and device support 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

ABC SPELLING MAGIC is free to download; Tic Tac Math costs $1.99 up front. ABC SPELLING MAGIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Tic Tac Math asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tic Tac Math holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ABC SPELLING MAGIC has 42 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of Tic Tac Math's written reviews are positive against 94% of ABC SPELLING MAGIC's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tic Tac Math ships an update every 66 months, ABC SPELLING MAGIC every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Tic Tac Math versus ABC SPELLING MAGIC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTic Tac MathABC SPELLING MAGIC
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (5 ratings) — better3.8 (42 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews94.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings542 — better
Update frequencyEvery 66 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.1 — better12.4
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB132 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMath Geek Mama Educational Resources Inc.PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY

Customer experience

Tic Tac Math

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

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

Bugs and requests

Tic Tac Math

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

Tic Tac Math

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99

Questions

Is Tic Tac Math free?
Tic Tac Math costs $1.99, 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, Tic Tac Math or ABC SPELLING MAGIC?
Tic Tac Math is rated higher. Tic Tac Math averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 from 42 ratings.
Do Tic Tac Math or ABC SPELLING MAGIC have ads?
Neither Tic Tac Math nor ABC SPELLING MAGIC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tic Tac Math or ABC SPELLING MAGIC?
Tic Tac Math ships an update every 66 months, and ABC SPELLING MAGIC every 6 weeks. Most recently, Tic Tac Math was updated on October 4, 2026 and ABC SPELLING MAGIC on October 17, 2026.

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