Comparison

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.

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

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

ABC SPELLING MAGIC4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
ABC SPELLING MAGIC versus Number Rack, by MLC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterABC SPELLING MAGICNumber Rack, by MLC
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (42 ratings) — better3.2 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews94.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings42 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 25 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.4 — better14.7
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYThe Math Learning Center

Customer experience

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

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

Number Rack, by MLC

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews1 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

Number Rack, by MLC

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

Number Rack, by MLC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ABC SPELLING MAGIC free?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Number Rack, by MLC free?
Number Rack, by MLC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Number Rack, by MLC?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC is rated higher. ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Number Rack, by MLC averages 3.2 from 9 ratings.
Do ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Number Rack, by MLC have ads?
Neither ABC SPELLING MAGIC nor Number Rack, by MLC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Number Rack, by MLC?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, and Number Rack, by MLC every 25 months. Most recently, ABC SPELLING MAGIC was updated on November 1, 2026 and Number Rack, by MLC on November 3, 2026.

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