Comparison

ABC SPELLING MAGIC vs Journals alive

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

Journals alive

This app enhances printed journals for early learners, bringing letters, numbers, and shapes to life with interactive zoo animals. It offers an engaging way to master foundational educational concepts at home or in the classroom.

Highlights
  • Interactive learning experience
  • Master alphabet letters
  • Learn numbers 0-20
  • Explore basic geometric shapes
  • Augmented reality zoo animals
  • Engaging for home and classroom
Read full description

This app makes our printed journals (My Letters alive Journal and My Math alive Journal) come alive for an interactive learning experience. Early learners can master the 26 letters of the English alphabet, numbers 0 to 20 (0 to 10 for Pre-K), and basic geometric shapes. Watch our zoo animals come alive for an engaging experience in the classroom or at home!

Screenshots

ABC SPELLING MAGIC4 screens
Journals alive1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Journals alive at 4.4 against ABC SPELLING MAGIC's 3.8. Journals alive also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 12.4). ABC SPELLING MAGIC's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (42 vs 11). On price, ads and device support 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. Journals alive asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Journals alive holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 11 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, Journals alive every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ABC SPELLING MAGIC versus Journals alive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterABC SPELLING MAGICJournals alive
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (42 ratings)4.4 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings42 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.48.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB273 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYAlive Studios, LLC

Customer experience

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

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

Journals alive

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

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

Journals alive

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

Journals alive

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ABC SPELLING MAGIC free?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Journals alive free?
Journals alive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Journals alive?
Journals alive is rated higher. ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Journals alive averages 4.4 from 11 ratings.
Do ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Journals alive have ads?
Neither ABC SPELLING MAGIC nor Journals alive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Journals alive?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, and Journals alive every 6 months. Most recently, ABC SPELLING MAGIC was updated on November 1, 2026 and Journals alive on November 3, 2026.

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