# ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 vs Journals alive

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Journals alive at none against ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2's 1. Journals alive also leads on update cadence (every 6 months vs every 12 months) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 12.0). ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2's advantage is ratings volume (717 vs 11). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Journals alive asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 against 4.4 for Journals alive. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 has 717 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two.

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 ships an update every 12 months, Journals alive every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 | Journals alive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (717 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-magic-phonics-2/id411576364/reviews) | **[4.4 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journals-alive/id1289969334/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **717** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 109 MB | 273 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **8.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Alive Studios, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/856124778) |

## What reviewers say

### ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-magic-phonics-2/id411576364)

This app teaches early readers the essential sounds of lowercase letters, a foundational skill for reading success. It uses science-backed phonics, engaging visuals, and multi-sensory learning to help children decode words and build a strong reading foundation.

**Highlights:** Master lowercase letter sounds, Science of Reading based, Engaging phonetic visuals, Multi-sensory learning, Repetition and rhythm, Distraction-free environment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Version | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎓 Effective phonetic sound learning method
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Helpful visual imagery with realistic pictures
- 🔤 Uses lowercase letters for better reading preparation
- 👧 Engaging for young children with cute voice narration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes when selecting letters
- ❓ Unclear functionality for some users
- 🤔 Pedagogical debate over lowercase vs uppercase letter priority

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately when tapping on letters
- App crashes upon opening and selecting content

**Requested features**

- Display both uppercase and lowercase letters
- Correct the color of the letter 'h' to red
- Ensure letter pronunciation audio is clear and functional


### Journals alive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journals-alive/id1289969334)

This app enhances printed journals for early learners, bringing letters, numbers, and shapes to life with interactive zoo animals. It offers an engaging way to master foundational educational concepts at home or in the classroom.

**Highlights:** Interactive learning experience, Master alphabet letters, Learn numbers 0-20, Explore basic geometric shapes, Augmented reality zoo animals, Engaging for home and classroom

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 free?

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Journals alive free?

Journals alive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Journals alive?

Journals alive is rated higher. ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 717 ratings, while Journals alive averages 4.4 from 11 ratings.

### Do ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Journals alive have ads?

Neither ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 nor Journals alive shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Journals alive?

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 ships an update every 12 months, and Journals alive every 6 months. Most recently, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 was updated on November 6, 2026 and Journals alive on November 3, 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.*