# READING MAGIC vs Hairy Phonics 1

The clearest difference is review sentiment: READING MAGIC at 62% against Hairy Phonics 1's 10%. READING MAGIC also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.7). Hairy Phonics 1's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 13.7). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. READING MAGIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hairy Phonics 1 asks for nothing beyond the download.

READING MAGIC holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 19 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of READING MAGIC's written reviews are positive against 10% of Hairy Phonics 1's.

READING MAGIC ships an update every 6 months, Hairy Phonics 1 every 12 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC | Hairy Phonics 1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-learning-to-read/id416896853/reviews)** | [2.7 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-1/id938108978/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **42** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | **62.2% of reviews** | 10.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 208 MB | 239 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.7 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Nessy Learning Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/410276291) |

## What reviewers say

### READING MAGIC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-learning-to-read/id416896853)

This app makes learning to read an exciting adventure for young children. It focuses on CVC words and uses science-based phonics principles to build essential reading skills like blending and segmenting.

**Highlights:** CVC word focus, Blending and segmenting practice, Phonemic awareness building, Phonological processing improvement, Engaging games and activities, Discourages picture guessing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |


### Hairy Phonics 1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-1/id938108978)

This educational app helps children aged 4-6 develop phonemic awareness by introducing consonant digraphs. It features interactive animations, letter tracing, and games to blend sounds into words, making learning fun and engaging.

**Highlights:** Learn 9 consonant digraph phonemes, Structured learning sequence, Phonic animations with actions, Interactive letter tracing, Word blending games, Save and collect characters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is READING MAGIC free?

READING MAGIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hairy Phonics 1 free?

Hairy Phonics 1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, READING MAGIC or Hairy Phonics 1?

READING MAGIC is rated higher. READING MAGIC averages 4.6 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Hairy Phonics 1 averages 2.7 from 19 ratings.

### Do READING MAGIC or Hairy Phonics 1 have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC nor Hairy Phonics 1 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, READING MAGIC or Hairy Phonics 1?

READING MAGIC ships an update every 6 months, and Hairy Phonics 1 every 12 months. Most recently, READING MAGIC was updated on November 1, 2026 and Hairy Phonics 1 on November 1, 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.*