# ABC SPELLING MAGIC vs Howtosmile

The clearest difference is rating: Howtosmile at 5.0 against ABC SPELLING MAGIC's 3.8. Howtosmile also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 12.4). ABC SPELLING MAGIC's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 21 months) and ratings volume (42 vs 1). 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. Howtosmile asks for nothing beyond the download.

Howtosmile 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 1, 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 Howtosmile's.

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, Howtosmile every 21 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ABC SPELLING MAGIC | Howtosmile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-spelling-magic/id429301553/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/howtosmile/id462994547/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **42** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 94.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 21 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 132 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | **7.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [The Lawrence Hall of Science](https://appshunter.io/developer/462994550) |

## 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


### Howtosmile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/howtosmile/id462994547)

Discover and perform fun, hands-on STEM activities for all ages. Explore a vast collection of experiments, games, and projects created by leading science centers. Search by keyword, topic, cost, or age to find your next engaging learning experience.

**Highlights:** Hands-on STEM activities, Searchable activity collection, Filter by topic, cost, and age, Created by science centers, Blog with fresh ideas, Suitable for all ages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**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 Howtosmile free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Howtosmile?

Howtosmile is rated higher. ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Howtosmile averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Howtosmile have ads?

Neither ABC SPELLING MAGIC nor Howtosmile shows ads.

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

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, and Howtosmile every 21 months. Most recently, ABC SPELLING MAGIC was updated on November 1, 2026 and Howtosmile on November 1, 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.*