# SPELLING MAGIC 2 vs Hairy Phonics 1

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SPELLING MAGIC 2 at 63% against Hairy Phonics 1's 10%. SPELLING MAGIC 2 also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.7) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months). Hairy Phonics 1's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 12.4). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

SPELLING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 19 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of SPELLING MAGIC 2's written reviews are positive against 10% of Hairy Phonics 1's.

SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, Hairy Phonics 1 every 12 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SPELLING MAGIC 2 | Hairy Phonics 1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-magic-2/id438133737/reviews)** | [2.7 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-1/id938108978/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **19** |
| Positive reviews | **62.5% of reviews** | 10.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 185 MB | 239 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Nessy Learning Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/410276291) |

## What reviewers say

### SPELLING MAGIC 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-magic-2/id438133737)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |


### Hairy Phonics 1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-1/id938108978)

This educational app helps children aged 4-6 develop phonemic awareness by introducing consonant digraphs. It features interactive animations, letter tracing, and games to blend sounds into words, making learning fun and engaging.

**Highlights:** Learn 9 consonant digraph phonemes, Structured learning sequence, Phonic animations with actions, Interactive letter tracing, Word blending games, Save and collect characters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SPELLING MAGIC 2 free?

SPELLING MAGIC 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hairy Phonics 1 free?

Hairy Phonics 1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Hairy Phonics 1?

SPELLING MAGIC 2 is rated higher. SPELLING MAGIC 2 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Hairy Phonics 1 averages 2.7 from 19 ratings.

### Do SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Hairy Phonics 1 have ads?

Neither SPELLING MAGIC 2 nor Hairy Phonics 1 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Hairy Phonics 1?

SPELLING MAGIC 2 ships an update every 4 months, and Hairy Phonics 1 every 12 months. Most recently, SPELLING MAGIC 2 was updated on November 1, 2026 and Hairy Phonics 1 on November 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*