# ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 vs Critical Thinking Activities

The clearest difference is price: ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 at Free against Critical Thinking Activities's $1.99. ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 also leads on update cadence (every 12 months vs every 26 months). Critical Thinking Activities's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 is free to download; Critical Thinking Activities costs $1.99 up front. ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Critical Thinking Activities asks for nothing beyond the download.

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 ships an update every 12 months, Critical Thinking Activities every 26 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 | Critical Thinking Activities |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.3 (707 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-magic-phonics-2/id411576364/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **707** | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 12 months** | Every 26 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 109 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Ventura Educational Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/371324172) |

## 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


### Critical Thinking Activities

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/critical-thinking-activities/id1493209960)

**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 Critical Thinking Activities free?

Critical Thinking Activities costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Critical Thinking Activities have ads?

Neither ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 nor Critical Thinking Activities shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Critical Thinking Activities?

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 ships an update every 12 months, and Critical Thinking Activities every 26 months. Most recently, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 was updated on September 26, 2026 and Critical Thinking Activities on September 14, 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.*