Comparison

ABC SPELLING MAGIC vs Learn by doing! (Beginner)

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

This educational app helps children learn to spell CVC words using the principles of the Science of Reading. It focuses on letter sounds and word construction with two levels of challenge, aiding early literacy development.

Highlights
  • Teaches letter sounds
  • Word construction with CVC words
  • Two levels of challenge
  • Incorporates Science of Reading principles
  • Montessori-inspired learning
  • Customizable voice and font options (DELUXE)
Read full description

Introducing ABC Spelling Magic, where learning to spell is fun and engaging! ABC SPELLING MAGIC incorporates the main principles of the Science of Reading. This app is designed to teach children the sounds of the letters and how to construct words, aligning with the science of reading. With two levels of challenge, it indirectly imparts the essential reading skill of segmenting while focusing on the skill of learning to spell words with three phonetic sounds using short vowel words. Incorporating the science of reading, the app's comprehensive approach is tailored to assist children in learning the sounds of the alphabet and honing their blending and segmenting skills, essential for early literacy development based on the science of reading. SPELLING MAGIC 1 focuses on CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words, such as cat, box, and pig, which are fundamental for phonics instruction based on the science of reading. The app categorizes words by middle vowel sounds in the first part and by categories in the second part, offering a well-rounded approach to phonics and word construction, rooted in the principles of the science of reading. The DELUXE version provides 245 words and offers a variety of options in the menu, including two types of voices, three types of fonts, two letter color styles, a special feature to connect the letters together, and over 185 additional words from the free version, enhancing the learning experience based on the principles of the science of reading. Developed by a team of educators utilizing accelerated learning techniques and Montessori principles, this app has been tested and approved by preschoolers, aligning with the science of reading and providing an enjoyable and beneficial experience in learning letter sounds. We welcome your feedback and suggestions as we strive to provide an enriching educational experience for young learners, rooted in the science of reading.

About

Learn by doing! (Beginner)

Learn a new language through interactive, real-world scenarios like driving, cooking, and home repair. This app focuses on immersion to help you think in the target language, starting with foundational vocabulary for young learners.

Highlights
  • Immersive learning environment
  • Real-world scenario simulations
  • Focus on thinking in the new language
  • Beginner to low intermediate level
  • Spanish, French, English included
  • Ages 4-7 focus
Features
Read full description

Drive a car, cook in a real kitchen, fix up the house- all in a new language! Are you translating everything when you study a language? Is this slowing you down? Immersion will help you THINK in the new language, the first step to real fluency. This version is for ages 4-7, teaching the first words. For students aged 8+, who know some words in the new language, download level 2. -Spanish, French, English included -Beginner to low intermediate level

Screenshots

ABC SPELLING MAGIC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Learn by doing! (Beginner) at 4.8 against ABC SPELLING MAGIC's 3.8. Learn by doing! (Beginner) also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). ABC SPELLING MAGIC's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (42 vs 6). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ABC SPELLING MAGIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Learn by doing! (Beginner) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Learn by doing! (Beginner) holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ABC SPELLING MAGIC has 42 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of ABC SPELLING MAGIC's written reviews are positive against 100% of Learn by doing! (Beginner)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, Learn by doing! (Beginner) every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
ABC SPELLING MAGIC versus Learn by doing! (Beginner): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterABC SPELLING MAGICLearn by doing! (Beginner)
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (42 ratings)4.8 (6 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings42 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.4 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB629 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYInteract and Immerse

Customer experience

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

All ratings42 ratings
Positive69.0%
Neutral11.9%
Negative19.0%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive94.2%
Neutral3.8%
Negative1.9%

Learn by doing! (Beginner)

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Letters will not move to be dragged into place
  • Screen freezing

Requested features

8 requests
  • Ability to hear the full word, slowly articulated
  • Option for English accent
  • Vowels in red and consonants in blue
  • More advanced content
  • Animated graphics for interactivity
Show 3 more
  • Option to pick letters from the full alphabet
  • Improve sound quality
  • Improve graphics and sounds

Learn by doing! (Beginner)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

Learn by doing! (Beginner)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ABC SPELLING MAGIC free?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Learn by doing! (Beginner) free?
Learn by doing! (Beginner) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Learn by doing! (Beginner)?
Learn by doing! (Beginner) is rated higher. ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Learn by doing! (Beginner) averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.
Do ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Learn by doing! (Beginner) have ads?
Neither ABC SPELLING MAGIC nor Learn by doing! (Beginner) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Learn by doing! (Beginner)?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, and Learn by doing! (Beginner) every 3 months. Most recently, ABC SPELLING MAGIC was updated on October 23, 2026 and Learn by doing! (Beginner) on October 29, 2026.

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