SPELLING MAGIC 2 vs Simplex Spelling Light
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.
Simplex Spelling Light
This app enhances spelling and reading skills with a unique "reverse phonics" approach and contextually relevant spelling rules. It offers interactive learning for various student types, providing immediate feedback and explanations for word construction.
- Reverse phonics approach
- Contextual spelling rule hints
- Letter-by-letter feedback
- Over 50 high-frequency words
- Spoken words in sentences
- User stats and reporting
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Simplex Spelling Light improves spelling and reading skills in a fun and interactive way using a unique “reverse phonics” approach in combination with contextually relevant spelling rules. It has the same critically acclaimed design and features as the full version of Simplex Spelling HD but comes with its own new high frequency word spelling lists. This Light version has been made available, so that customers can evaluate the Simplex Spelling software to decide if they want to purchase the full version of Simplex Spelling HD. Simplex Spelling Light contains over 50 new high frequency English words that do not appear in the full version of Simplex Spelling HD so the two products compliment each other beautifully. It also contains all of the great learning features of the full version of Simplex Spelling HD. In contrast with many of the current approaches that use flash cards, Simplex Spelling enables the student to build each word. Students gain skills above and beyond the sheer memorization of words, as the informative spelling rule hint feature explains why words are spelled in a particular manner. Simplex Spelling's unique, immediate letter by letter feedback system is designed with clues and hints that will enable every student to spell each word successfully. Simplex Spelling enhances understanding in a variety of students as it appeals to audio, visual and tactile learners. It is great tool to have for kids learning to spell, remedial students, or those learning English as a second language. - "Top Rated" - Balefire Labs. Recommended for ages 5+. Note: You can not create your own spelling lists in Simplex Spelling Light. Features: - Over 50 high frequency spelling words to help build literacy. - Spelling words are spoken and used in a sentence to establish context. - The introduction spelling list seamlessly leads a student through all of the application’s features by providing spoken information while having the student spell new words. - A powerful phonics hint feature sounds out each word and provides a list of possible phonograms for each sound. - Features a full “reverse phonics” approach that includes sounds made by all the different letter combinations. This is in addition to the basic “single letter” phonics that most applications are limited to. - Contextually relevant spelling rule hints that help explain “how to spell” English words. - Unique letter by letter feedback system that provides feedback while the student is in the process of spelling each word. - Guaranteed success on every word. - Support for 40 user accounts. - User stats screen that allows you to see at a glance words that have been mastered and words that require further practice. - Ability to export & email student reports. - Remembers each user’s position in every list, so that you can immediately resume from where you last left off. - Supports both upper and lower case letters. - Supports both alphabetic and QWERTY keyboard layouts. - Supports both US, UK and Canadian English spelling of words. - An approach that appeals to audio, visual and tactile learners. KNOW WHAT'S INSIDE As a MOMs with Apps member, we follow the "Know what's inside" best practices for kids' apps We care about your child's privacy. Privacy Disclosure: - Does not contain 3rd party ads. - Does not share any data. - Does not track your child's location. - Does not contain In-App purchases. - Does not contain links to social media. - Does not contain push notifications. - Contains in app links to view a safe enclosed version of the developer's website for additional information, support and teaching tips. - Contains child protected links that allow you to : "email the developer questions", to rate the app and to view other Pyxwise apps. COPPA Compliant http://www.pyxwise.com/privacypolicy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SPELLING MAGIC 2 at 4.3 against Simplex Spelling Light's 3.8. SPELLING MAGIC 2 also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months). Simplex Spelling Light's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (77% vs 63%). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. SPELLING MAGIC 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Simplex Spelling Light asks for nothing beyond the download.
SPELLING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 11 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of SPELLING MAGIC 2's written reviews are positive against 77% of Simplex Spelling Light's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, Simplex Spelling Light every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SPELLING MAGIC 2 | Simplex Spelling Light |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (16 ratings) — better | 3.8 (11 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 77.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 185 MB | 121 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY | Pyxwise Software Inc. |
Customer experience
SPELLING MAGIC 2
Simplex Spelling Light
In-app purchases
SPELLING MAGIC 2
- Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
Simplex Spelling Light
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SPELLING MAGIC 2 free?
Is Simplex Spelling Light free?
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Simplex Spelling Light?
Do SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Simplex Spelling Light have ads?
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Simplex Spelling Light?
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