# READING MAGIC 2 vs Hello Crayons

The clearest difference is rating: READING MAGIC 2 at 4.8 against Hello Crayons's 4.0. Hello Crayons's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 19 months) and ratings volume (68 vs 21). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. READING MAGIC 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hello Crayons sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

READING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 68 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 81% and 82% positive.

READING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 19 months, Hello Crayons every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC 2 | Hello Crayons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-2/id432526055/reviews)** | [4.0 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hello-crayons/id440149103/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **68** |
| Positive reviews | 81.3% of reviews | **81.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 19 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 258 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.7 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Raysoft.co](https://appshunter.io/developer/433279490) |

## What reviewers say

### READING MAGIC 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-2/id432526055)

This app helps children master consonant blends, a key skill for reading success. It offers interactive modes for blending sounds, segmenting words, and independent reading practice with over 300 words and engaging themes.

**Highlights:** Blending Mode for sound practice, Segmenting Mode for word breakdown, Reading Mode for independent word reading, Focus on CCVC and CVCC words, Advanced consonant blend practice, Over 300 words with male/female voices, Themed lessons for engagement

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |


### Hello Crayons

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hello-crayons/id440149103)

This app offers a fun and easy drawing experience for children, featuring realistic crayon and marker pen simulations. It includes cool drawing sounds and an intuitive interface, with free coloring sketches available.

**Highlights:** Realistic crayon and marker pen simulation, Cool drawing sound effects, Intuitive user interface, Free coloring sketches, Part of a drawing series

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 32 color crayons | $0.99 | one-time |
| 32 color marker pens | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coloring book #1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coloring Book #2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coloring Book #3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coloring Book #4 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Flood Fills & Brush Pens | $0.99 | one-time |
| crayon_cbook5 | $0.99 | one-time |
| crayon_cbook6 | $0.99 | one-time |
| crayon_cbook7 | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for kids and toddlers
- 🎨 Realistic crayon texture and appearance
- 😌 Relaxing and stress-relieving activity
- 👍 Easy and intuitive to use
- 🎯 Good for creative expression and drawing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- ⏸️ App doesn't open or loads to blank screen
- 💾 Pictures not saving to camera roll
- 🔄 Lost purchases after updates
- ⏳ No updates for years

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup or during use
- Blank white screen after loading
- Pictures not saving to camera roll despite showing saved
- Coloring books disappear after app update
- Purchased extras lost after updates

**Requested features**

- Zoom in and out capability
- Multiple crayon/marker tip sizes
- More colors and drawing tools
- Import and trace pictures feature
- More coloring book pages


## Frequently asked questions

### Is READING MAGIC 2 free?

READING MAGIC 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hello Crayons free?

Hello Crayons is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, READING MAGIC 2 or Hello Crayons?

READING MAGIC 2 is rated higher. READING MAGIC 2 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Hello Crayons averages 4.0 from 68 ratings.

### Do READING MAGIC 2 or Hello Crayons have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC 2 nor Hello Crayons shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, READING MAGIC 2 or Hello Crayons?

READING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 19 months, and Hello Crayons every 6 weeks. Most recently, READING MAGIC 2 was updated on November 10, 2026 and Hello Crayons 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.*