# ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 vs Bluster!

The clearest difference is ratings volume: ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 at 717 against Bluster!'s 8. ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Bluster!'s advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Bluster! sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bluster! 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 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 72% and 73% positive.

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 ships an update every 12 months, Bluster! every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 | Bluster! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (717 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-magic-phonics-2/id411576364/reviews) | **[4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluster/id416160693/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **717** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | **72.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 12 months** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 109 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [McGraw-Hill School Education Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/413312889) |

## 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


### Bluster!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bluster/id416160693)

This word matching game enhances vocabulary and word comprehension for school-aged children and adults. Engage in single-player practice, team collaboration, or competitive head-to-head battles with weather-themed attacks. It offers over 800 words and various skill-building activities.

**Highlights:** Vocabulary building, Word matching, Single-player mode, Two-player collaboration, Head-to-head versus mode, Over 800 vocabulary words, Grade-level appropriate content

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Base Words | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra Rhyming Words | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra Prefixes | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra Synonyms | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra Words | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra Word Roots | $0.99 | one-time |
| Extra Adjectives | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 free?

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

### Is Bluster! free?

Bluster! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Bluster!?

Bluster! is rated higher. ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 717 ratings, while Bluster! averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.

### Do ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Bluster! have ads?

Neither ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 nor Bluster! shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 or Bluster!?

ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 ships an update every 12 months, and Bluster! every 13 months. Most recently, ABC MAGIC PHONICS 2 was updated on November 10, 2026 and Bluster! on November 6, 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.*