Comparison

ABC SPELLING MAGIC vs Notepad by mathies

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

Notepad by mathies

This app allows users to record mathematical thinking by writing solutions, sketching diagrams, and creating graphs. Users can customize backgrounds, use text and pencil tools, and add various drawing objects. Work can be shared via screenshots.

Highlights
  • Customizable backgrounds (grid, lined, blank)
  • Text and pencil tools for notes and drawings
  • Extensive drawing objects (arrows, shapes, grids)
  • Adjustable object colors, thickness, and transparency
  • Screenshot sharing for portfolios
  • Resizing and repositioning of elements
Features
Read full description

Write solutions, sketch diagrams, create graphs and record your mathematical thinking using the Notepad by mathies. Take a screenshot of your work to share with others or add to a portfolio. Features: •Select the background: grid, isometric dot, lined or blank •Customize the background’s appearance by adjusting colours or the number of rows and columns, resizing and/or repositioning •Type notes using the text tool •Use the pencil tool for freestyle writing and drawings •Include drawing objects: arrows, lines, number lines, rulers, hops, dots, rectangles, squares, ovals, circles, triangles, starbursts, grids and polygons •Change colour, line thickness, fill colour and transparency •Copy and rotate all annotation objects

Screenshots

ABC SPELLING MAGIC4 screens
Notepad by mathies4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ABC SPELLING MAGIC at 3.8 against Notepad by mathies's 2.3. ABC SPELLING MAGIC also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 67%) and ratings volume (42 vs 3). Notepad by mathies's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 12.4). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. Notepad by mathies asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ABC SPELLING MAGIC holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ABC SPELLING MAGIC has 42 ratings behind it against 3, 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 67% of Notepad by mathies's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, Notepad by mathies every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ABC SPELLING MAGIC versus Notepad by mathies: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterABC SPELLING MAGICNotepad by mathies
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (42 ratings) — better2.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews94.2% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings42 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.46.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYOAME

Customer experience

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

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

Notepad by mathies

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

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

Notepad by mathies

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ABC SPELLING MAGIC

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

Notepad by mathies

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ABC SPELLING MAGIC free?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notepad by mathies free?
Notepad by mathies is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Notepad by mathies?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC is rated higher. ABC SPELLING MAGIC averages 3.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Notepad by mathies averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.
Do ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Notepad by mathies have ads?
Neither ABC SPELLING MAGIC nor Notepad by mathies shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ABC SPELLING MAGIC or Notepad by mathies?
ABC SPELLING MAGIC ships an update every 6 weeks, and Notepad by mathies every 2 months. Most recently, ABC SPELLING MAGIC was updated on October 22, 2026 and Notepad by mathies on October 6, 2026.

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