# ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 vs Reading Hero

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Reading Hero at none against ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2's 1. Reading Hero also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 12 months) and review sentiment (90% vs 72%). ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2's advantage is ratings volume (717 vs 25). 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. Reading Hero asks for nothing beyond the download.

Reading Hero holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 has 717 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2's written reviews are positive against 90% of Reading Hero's.

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 ships an update every 12 months, Reading Hero monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 | Reading Hero |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (717 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-magic-phonics-2/id411576364/reviews) | **[4.5 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-hero/id1435544632/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **717** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 109 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Josh Glazer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1386490207) |

## 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


### Reading Hero

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-hero/id1435544632)

This reading tutor transforms sight word practice into an engaging game. It utilizes voice recognition for real-time feedback, offering audio guidance from a teacher. The app progresses through research-backed word lists, suitable for young learners and English language students.

**Highlights:** Sight word reading game, Real-time voice recognition feedback, Teacher audio recordings, DOLCH word lists, Progressive difficulty levels, Suitable for ages 4-8

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 Reading Hero free?

Reading Hero is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Reading Hero?

Reading Hero is rated higher. ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 717 ratings, while Reading Hero averages 4.5 from 25 ratings.

### Do ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Reading Hero have ads?

Neither ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 nor Reading Hero shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Reading Hero?

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 ships an update every 12 months, and Reading Hero monthly. Most recently, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 was updated on November 6, 2026 and Reading Hero on November 2, 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.*