SPELLING MAGIC 2 vs LightUp Learning
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.
LightUp Learning
Build and learn about electronic circuits using magnetic blocks. Visualize electricity flow and program projects with drag-and-drop coding. Requires a physical LightUp kit.
- Magnetic circuit block assembly
- Visualize electricity flow
- Drag-and-drop coding interface
- Project building guides
- X-ray vision for circuits
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This is a companion app for the LightUp Edison and Tesla Kit. Build and learn about electronic circuits with LightUp kits and the LightUp Learning app. Magnetically snap together circuit blocks to build cool projects without needing to use wires, breadboards, or soldering irons. Take a photo and the LightUp Learning app will help out when you need a hand. It even gives you x-ray vision, letting you see the electricity flowing around your circuit! Ready to code? Simply drag and drop code blocks on your iPad to make a Music Box, Alarm and more! Purchase your very own LightUp kit at www.lightup.io.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SPELLING MAGIC 2 at 4.3 against LightUp Learning's 3.0. SPELLING MAGIC 2 also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 32%). LightUp Learning's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 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
Both are free to download. SPELLING MAGIC 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. LightUp Learning asks for nothing beyond the download.
SPELLING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of SPELLING MAGIC 2's written reviews are positive against 32% of LightUp Learning's.
SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, LightUp Learning every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SPELLING MAGIC 2 | LightUp Learning |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (16 ratings) — better | 3.0 (10 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews — better | 31.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| 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 | 8.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 185 MB | 143 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY | LightUp |
Customer experience
SPELLING MAGIC 2
LightUp Learning
In-app purchases
SPELLING MAGIC 2
- Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
LightUp Learning
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SPELLING MAGIC 2 free?
Is LightUp Learning free?
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or LightUp Learning?
Do SPELLING MAGIC 2 or LightUp Learning have ads?
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or LightUp Learning?
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