ABC SPELLING MAGIC vs Number Rack, by MLC
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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)
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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.
Number Rack, by MLC
This virtual manipulative tool helps children develop number sense through interactive bead groupings. It supports exploration of addition and subtraction strategies with customizable rows and colors. Ideal for elementary classrooms, it includes annotation and sharing features.
- 1-10 rows of 10 beads
- Resizable bead covers for subtraction
- Color-coded bead rows
- Annotation and drawing tools
- Math text and writing tools
- Shareable work via image or code
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Number Rack facilitates the natural development of children’s number sense. The movable, colored beads encourage learners to think in groups of fives and tens, helping them to explore and discover a variety of addition and subtraction strategies. This virtual version of the manipulative is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms and other learning environments. FEATURES • Display 1 to 10 rows of beads, 10 beads per row. • Hide beads with resizable covers, which allows teachers or learners to model subtraction or difference problems. • Reverse the colors of rows 6 to 10 to distinguish (or not) groupings of 25 beads. • Use the drawing tools to annotate work and show understanding. • Add equations, expressions, and descriptions with the math text and writing tools. • Share work by saving an image or providing a share code to others. Great for creating the initial setup of an activity, then sharing it with students so they can explore it further.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ABC SPELLING MAGIC at 3.8 against Number Rack, by MLC's 3.2. ABC SPELLING MAGIC also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 25 months) and ratings volume (42 vs 9). Number Rack, by MLC's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). 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
Both are free to download. ABC SPELLING MAGIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Number Rack, by MLC asks for nothing beyond the download.
ABC SPELLING MAGIC holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 94% of ABC SPELLING MAGIC's written reviews are positive against 100% of Number Rack, by MLC's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, Number Rack, by MLC every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ABC SPELLING MAGIC | Number Rack, by MLC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (42 ratings) — better | 3.2 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 94.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 42 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 25 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 — better | 14.7 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 132 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY | The Math Learning Center |
Customer experience
ABC SPELLING MAGIC
Number Rack, by MLC
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
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- Option to pick letters from the full alphabet
- Improve sound quality
- Improve graphics and sounds
Number Rack, by MLC
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ABC SPELLING MAGIC
- Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
Number Rack, by MLC
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ABC SPELLING MAGIC free?
Is Number Rack, by MLC free?
Which has better reviews, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Number Rack, by MLC?
Do ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Number Rack, by MLC have ads?
Which is updated more often, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Number Rack, by MLC?
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