# ABC SPELLING MAGIC vs Starting Words

The clearest difference is rating: Starting Words at 5.0 against ABC SPELLING MAGIC's 3.8. Starting Words also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). ABC SPELLING MAGIC's advantage is ratings volume (42 vs 5) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ABC SPELLING MAGIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Starting Words asks for nothing beyond the download.

Starting Words holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ABC SPELLING MAGIC has 42 ratings behind it against 5, 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 Starting Words's.

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, Starting Words every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ABC SPELLING MAGIC | Starting Words |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-spelling-magic/id429301553/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starting-words/id1633668479/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **42** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 94.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 132 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Curtis Fischer](https://appshunter.io/developer/506810099) |

## 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 |


### Starting Words

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starting-words/id1633668479)

This educational app helps young learners build essential spelling skills. Users drag and drop letters to form words, with audio pronunciation provided for each word. It focuses on recognizing letters and spelling simple, everyday words.

**Highlights:** Letter dragging and dropping, Audio word pronunciation, Image association with words, Spelling practice, Focus on everyday words

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ABC SPELLING MAGIC free?

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

### Is Starting Words free?

Starting Words is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Starting Words?

Starting Words is rated higher. ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Starting Words averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Starting Words have ads?

Neither ABC SPELLING MAGIC nor Starting Words shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Starting Words?

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, and Starting Words every 3 weeks. Most recently, ABC SPELLING MAGIC was updated on September 21, 2026 and Starting Words on September 25, 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.*