SPELLING MAGIC 2 vs Sound Boxes for Word Study
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SPELLING MAGIC 2
This app teaches children to read by focusing on consonant blend words. It uses interactive activities to help build words and understand letter sounds, aligning with Science of Reading principles. Two versions are available, offering different word counts and customization options.
- Teaches CVCC and CCVC words
- Focuses on letter sounds and word construction
- Word Building section
- Moveable Alphabet section
- Two levels of challenge
- Developed with educators and Montessori principles
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Introducing SPELLING MAGIC 2, a key to your child's future reading success. SPELLING MAGIC 2 incorporates the main principles of the Science of Reading. SPELLING MAGIC 2 is tailored to focus on CVCC (consonant-vowel-consonant-consonant) words like "hand," "sent," and "gift," as well as CCVC (consonant-consonant-vowel-consonant) words such as "spin," "flap," and "stop." These types of words are also known as "consonant blend words" and are categorized into themes for enhanced learning. This app is designed to teach children the sounds of letters and how to construct words. It emphasizes the skill of building CCVC/CVCC words with four phonemes using short vowel words, indirectly imparting the essential reading skill of segmenting. With two levels of challenge, it offers a comprehensive learning experience. In the "Word Building" section of the app, only the components (letters) of the word are used for building, while the "Moveable Alphabet" section utilizes the entire alphabet for word construction. Please note that the purpose of this app is to provide ample opportunities for practicing building CCVC & CVCC words, presenting a chance to expand vocabulary. When tapped, the pictures always pronounce the sound of the word that the app prompts the child to build. The free version of SPELLING MAGIC 2 includes 72 words, while the DELUXE version offers 235 words and provides several choices in the options menu, including two types of voices, three font styles, two letter color options, a special feature to connect letters, and over 160 additional words from the free version. Developed by a team of educators using accelerated learning techniques and Montessori principles, this app has been tested and approved by preschoolers, who found it enjoyable and beneficial for learning letter sounds. We eagerly await your feedback and suggestions as we strive to provide a rewarding educational experience for young learners.
Sound Boxes for Word Study
This educational app helps children develop foundational literacy skills by teaching them how letters and sounds combine to form words. It uses sound boxes to aid in segmenting word sounds, supporting both reading and writing development.
- Letter-sound association
- Word segmentation
- Supports reading skills
- Supports writing skills
- Foundational literacy development
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Children must develop the fundamental understanding that letters and sounds work together in systematic ways to form words. This understanding provides the foundation for the development of decoding skills. Word work is an essential component of literacy development. Utilizing sound boxes can help children segment sounds in words, which supports reading and writing.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SPELLING MAGIC 2 at 4.3 against Sound Boxes for Word Study's 3.1. SPELLING MAGIC 2 also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Sound Boxes for Word Study's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.4). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. SPELLING MAGIC 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sound Boxes for Word Study asks for nothing beyond the download.
SPELLING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of SPELLING MAGIC 2's written reviews are positive against 60% of Sound Boxes for Word Study's.
SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, Sound Boxes for Word Study every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SPELLING MAGIC 2 | Sound Boxes for Word Study |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (16 ratings) — better | 3.1 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews — better | 60.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 185 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY | Classroom Focused Software |
Customer experience
SPELLING MAGIC 2
Sound Boxes for Word Study
In-app purchases
SPELLING MAGIC 2
- Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
Sound Boxes for Word Study
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SPELLING MAGIC 2 free?
Is Sound Boxes for Word Study free?
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Sound Boxes for Word Study?
Do SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Sound Boxes for Word Study have ads?
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Sound Boxes for Word Study?
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