# READING MAGIC vs Hairy Phonics 2

The clearest difference is price: READING MAGIC at Free against Hairy Phonics 2's $2.99. READING MAGIC also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.1) and review sentiment (62% vs 33%). Hairy Phonics 2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 13.7). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

READING MAGIC is free to download; Hairy Phonics 2 costs $2.99 up front. READING MAGIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hairy Phonics 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

READING MAGIC holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of READING MAGIC's written reviews are positive against 33% of Hairy Phonics 2's.

READING MAGIC ships an update every 6 months, Hairy Phonics 2 every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC | Hairy Phonics 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-learning-to-read/id416896853/reviews)** | [3.1 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-2/id938109205/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **42** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | **62.2% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 208 MB | 250 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 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-2/id938109205)

This educational app helps children aged 4-6 learn vowel digraphs through interactive games and animations. It guides users through a structured learning sequence, reinforcing sounds and letter formation, and is particularly beneficial for children with dyslexia.

**Highlights:** Learn 9 vowel digraph phonemes, Structured learning sequence, Phonic animations with actions, Letter tracing for writing practice, Games for blending phonemes, Sounding out words

**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 2 free?

Hairy Phonics 2 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, READING MAGIC or Hairy Phonics 2?

READING MAGIC is rated higher. READING MAGIC averages 4.6 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Hairy Phonics 2 averages 3.1 from 9 ratings.

### Do READING MAGIC or Hairy Phonics 2 have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC nor Hairy Phonics 2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, READING MAGIC or Hairy Phonics 2?

READING MAGIC ships an update every 6 months, and Hairy Phonics 2 every 12 months. Most recently, READING MAGIC was updated on October 23, 2026 and Hairy Phonics 2 on October 22, 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.*