# READING MAGIC 2 vs Hideout

The clearest difference is price: READING MAGIC 2 at Free against Hideout's $2.99. READING MAGIC 2 also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4). Hideout's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 19 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.7). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

READING MAGIC 2 is free to download; Hideout costs $2.99 up front. READING MAGIC 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Hideout sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

READING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 33 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of READING MAGIC 2's written reviews are positive against 89% of Hideout's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

READING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 19 months, Hideout every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC 2 | Hideout |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-2/id432526055/reviews)** | [4.4 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hideout-early-reading/id625966929/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 21 | **33** |
| Positive reviews | 81.3% of reviews | **88.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 19 months | **Every 7 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 258 MB | 226 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.7 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Third Rail Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/602934098) |

## 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 |


### Hideout

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hideout-early-reading/id625966929)

This app uses engaging, research-based mini-games to teach early reading skills. Children learn phonic patterns in playful contexts, practicing word recognition and building reading fluency through interactive activities.

**Highlights:** Research-based early reading instruction, Engaging mini-games for phonic patterns, Contextualized word learning, Practice word recognition, Interactive and playful learning, Sequenced skill development

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Workshop Area | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Catchy, engaging music and sound design
- 🎨 Colorful, attractive visuals and artwork
- 📚 Excellent phonics and early reading instruction
- 🎮 Interactive games that keep children engaged
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Effective for diverse learners including special needs children

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔊 Sound issues and volume problems on some devices
- ⏱️ Limited content - only three word families
- 🚪 Navigation issues - difficulty exiting screens
- 💰 In-app purchases blocking access to full content
- ⚡ App feels too fast-paced for some learners

**Reported bugs**

- Sound not working on some devices despite volume settings being correct
- No way to exit screens or return to home menu
- App crashes or freezes on certain devices
- In-app purchase system incompatible with school MDM systems
- Support website broken with outdated information

**Requested features**

- Add more word families and sound combinations
- Expand content with additional phonetic patterns (ch, wh, th, sh, long vowels)
- Create a paid full version with more content
- Add controls for presentation speed for auditory processing needs
- Implement proper menu buttons for navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is READING MAGIC 2 free?

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

### Is Hideout free?

Hideout costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, READING MAGIC 2 or Hideout?

READING MAGIC 2 is rated higher. READING MAGIC 2 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Hideout averages 4.4 from 33 ratings.

### Do READING MAGIC 2 or Hideout have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC 2 nor Hideout shows ads.

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

READING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 19 months, and Hideout every 7 months. Most recently, READING MAGIC 2 was updated on October 6, 2026 and Hideout on October 13, 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.*