Comparison

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.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Reverse phonics approach
  • Contextual spelling rule hints
  • Letter-by-letter feedback
  • Over 50 high-frequency words
  • Spoken words in sentences
  • User stats and reporting
Features
Read full description

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 versions of Simplex Spelling 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 a full version of Simplex Spelling Sight Words, CVC Words, Phonics1, Phonics2, or Phonics3. Simplex Spelling Light contains the main features of the full versions, while targeting more than 50 all new high frequency words in the English language. This makes the Light version a beautiful compliment to the full versions of Simplex Spelling. The Light version also includes placement tests in the Phonics1, Phonics2, and Phonics 3 classrooms to help customers determine which app is the best fit. 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. 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. Privacy Disclosure: - No 3rd party ads - Does not share any data - No In-App purchases - Contains child protected links to Apple App Store. - Contains child protected links in app to developer's website for additional information, support and teaching tips. - Contains child protected link to developer email support. COPPA Compliant 
https://pyxwise.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

SPELLING MAGIC 24 screens
Simplex Spelling Light4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simplex Spelling Light at none against SPELLING MAGIC 2's 1. Simplex Spelling Light also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 63%). SPELLING MAGIC 2's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 10 months). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SPELLING MAGIC 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Simplex Spelling Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, Simplex Spelling Light every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SPELLING MAGIC 2 versus Simplex Spelling Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPELLING MAGIC 2Simplex Spelling Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (16 ratings) — better3.8 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews77.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings16 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.4 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size185 MB257 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYPyxwise Software Inc.

Customer experience

SPELLING MAGIC 2

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

Simplex Spelling Light

All ratings11 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive77.1%
Neutral12.5%
Negative10.4%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SPELLING MAGIC 2

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

Simplex Spelling Light

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPELLING MAGIC 2 free?
SPELLING MAGIC 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Simplex Spelling Light free?
Simplex Spelling Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Simplex Spelling Light?
SPELLING MAGIC 2 is rated higher. SPELLING MAGIC 2 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Simplex Spelling Light averages 3.8 from 11 ratings.
Do SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Simplex Spelling Light have ads?
Neither SPELLING MAGIC 2 nor Simplex Spelling Light shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Simplex Spelling Light?
SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, and Simplex Spelling Light every 10 months. Most recently, SPELLING MAGIC 2 was updated on October 7, 2026 and Simplex Spelling Light on October 12, 2026.

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