# ABC SPELLING MAGIC vs Ultimate Phonics Reading App

ABC SPELLING MAGIC and Ultimate Phonics Reading App both sit at 3.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 94% of ABC SPELLING MAGIC's written reviews are positive against 46% of Ultimate Phonics Reading App's. ABC SPELLING MAGIC also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 9 months). Ultimate Phonics Reading App's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ABC SPELLING MAGIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Ultimate Phonics Reading App sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.8 for ABC SPELLING MAGIC against 3.8 for Ultimate Phonics Reading App. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 29 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of ABC SPELLING MAGIC's written reviews are positive against 46% of Ultimate Phonics Reading App's.

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, Ultimate Phonics Reading App every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ABC SPELLING MAGIC | Ultimate Phonics Reading App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-spelling-magic/id429301553/reviews)** | [3.8 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ultimate-phonics-reading-app/id1315910462/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **42** | 29 |
| Positive reviews | **94.2% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 132 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Brian Spencer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1315910461) |

## What reviewers say

### ABC SPELLING MAGIC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-spelling-magic/id429301553)

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)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for learning basic CVC words
- 👍 Helps build and spell words
- 👍 Good introduction to phonics
- 👍 Focuses on spelling and building CVC words
- 👍 Teaches letter sounds effectively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Letters won't move for spelling
- 🇺🇸 American accent only
- 🤔 Vowels in blue, consonants in red is confusing
- 🖼️ Pictures can be misleading
- 🎨 Interface could be more attractive

**Reported bugs**

- Letters will not move to be dragged into place
- Screen freezing

**Requested features**

- 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


### Ultimate Phonics Reading App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ultimate-phonics-reading-app/id1315910462)

This app teaches reading and English pronunciation through a structured phonics system. It's designed for beginners, struggling readers, dyslexic individuals, adult learners, and ESL students. The program offers over 4,400 words and 2,100 sentences across 12 levels, with the first level available for free.

**Highlights:** Phonics-based reading instruction, Pronunciation practice for English, Suitable for all ages and reading levels, Effective for dyslexia and struggling readers, Extensive word and sentence library, Structured lessons across 12 levels

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Level 2 (Lessons 51 to 80) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Level 3 (Lessons 81 to 106) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Level 4 (Lessons 107 to 124) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Level 5 (Lessons 125 to 147) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Level 6 (Lessons 148 to 155) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Level 10 (Lessons 210 to 225) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Levels 5-12 (Lessons 125-262) | $23.99 | one-time |
| Levels 4-12 (Lessons 107-262) | $25.99 | one-time |
| Levels 3-12 (Lessons 81-262) | $27.99 | one-time |
| Levels 2-12 (Lessons 51-262) | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ABC SPELLING MAGIC free?

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

### Is Ultimate Phonics Reading App free?

Ultimate Phonics Reading App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Ultimate Phonics Reading App?

ABC SPELLING MAGIC is rated higher. ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Ultimate Phonics Reading App averages 3.8 from 29 ratings.

### Do ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Ultimate Phonics Reading App have ads?

Neither ABC SPELLING MAGIC nor Ultimate Phonics Reading App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Ultimate Phonics Reading App?

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, and Ultimate Phonics Reading App every 9 months. Most recently, ABC SPELLING MAGIC was updated on November 1, 2026 and Ultimate Phonics Reading App on November 4, 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.*