Comparison

SPELLING MAGIC 2 vs A Leader Is

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

A Leader Is

This app uses visual symbols and interactive stories to help early readers build vocabulary, encourage literacy, and support comprehension. It offers various activities like reading, cloze exercises, and leveled games to reinforce learning.

Highlights
  • SymbolStix graphic support
  • Interactive story reading
  • 3 levels of cloze activities
  • Leveled vocabulary games
  • Switch training support
  • Customizable for low vision
Features
Read full description

The Click To Read series is a collection of stories for early readers using SymbolStix communication symbols to build vocabulary, encourage early literacy and support comprehension PLUS opportunities for switch training with meaningful content. A Leader Is teaches about the leaders in our community and our nation. Activities Read the Story - hear the story read in cause and effect mode; independent access to text. Interactive Story - expand the meaning of text and picture symbols. Tell the Story - demonstrate understanding with 3 levels of cloze activities. Show What You Know - additional practice and opportunity to demonstrate understanding of core vocabulary in these 3 leveled games: Bingo, Vocabulary Practice and Concentration. Features - SymbolStix graphic support color-coded for Aided Language Support - Supports mouse, touch screen, keyboard, up to 3 switches, and interactive technology - 3 levels of scaffolding for cloze activities, BINGO, Vocabulary Practice and Concentration - Answer choices are randomly generated so the student experiences a new activity with each interaction - Story reading, prompting and reinforcement with either male or female voice - Customize for low vision, scan prompts, auditory reinforcement - Built-in auto and 2-switch step scanning with cueing options

Screenshots

SPELLING MAGIC 24 screens
A Leader Is4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: A Leader Is at 5.0 against SPELLING MAGIC 2's 4.3. A Leader Is also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (4.3 vs 12.4). SPELLING MAGIC 2's advantage is review sentiment (63% vs 50%) and ratings volume (16 vs 3). On price, update cadence, 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. A Leader Is asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

A Leader Is holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SPELLING MAGIC 2 has 16 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of SPELLING MAGIC 2's written reviews are positive against 50% of A Leader Is'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, A Leader Is every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SPELLING MAGIC 2 versus A Leader Is: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPELLING MAGIC 2A Leader Is
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (16 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.44.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size185 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYMarblesoft

Customer experience

SPELLING MAGIC 2

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

A Leader Is

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SPELLING MAGIC 2

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

A Leader Is

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPELLING MAGIC 2 free?
SPELLING MAGIC 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is A Leader Is free?
A Leader Is is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or A Leader Is?
A Leader Is is rated higher. SPELLING MAGIC 2 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while A Leader Is averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do SPELLING MAGIC 2 or A Leader Is have ads?
Neither SPELLING MAGIC 2 nor A Leader Is shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or A Leader Is?
SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, and A Leader Is every 5 months. Most recently, SPELLING MAGIC 2 was updated on November 1, 2026 and A Leader Is on November 1, 2026.

Other comparisons