SPELLING MAGIC 2 vs Stickleback Evolution Lab
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.
Stickleback Evolution Lab
Explore the science of evolution by analyzing the pelvic structures of threespine stickleback fish. This virtual lab offers three experiments using real fish specimens and fossils, complete with graphing and statistical analysis tools for drawing conclusions about population evolution.
- Analyze pelvic structures of threespine stickleback fish
- Conduct experiments with living specimens and fossils
- Collect and analyze biological data
- Graphing and statistical analysis tools
- Learn about evolutionary science
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The Stickleback Evolution Virtual Lab will introduce you to the science and techniques used to analyze the forms and structures of organisms–in particular, the pelvic structures of the threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus). The lab includes three experiments in which you will collect data using photographs of living fish specimens and fossils to draw conclusions about the evolution of stickleback fish populations. The lab includes graphing and statistical analysis of biological data. This app is geared to high school and college biology students, and anyone interested in the biological sciences. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is a nonprofit medical research organization that ranks as one of the nation's largest philanthropies. HHMI plays a powerful role in advancing biomedical research and science education. HHMI brings the latest biomedical research into the classroom with the award-winning BioInteractive website, featuring free resources for science education, including lectures, animations, short films, interactive features, and classroom-ready lesson plans and activities. Topics include all areas of biology and earth and environmental science. Vist the website at www.biointeractive.org.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SPELLING MAGIC 2 at 4.3 against Stickleback Evolution Lab's 2.6. SPELLING MAGIC 2 also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 28 months) and device support (3 vs 1). Stickleback Evolution Lab's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume and ads 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. Stickleback Evolution Lab asks for nothing beyond the download.
SPELLING MAGIC 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of SPELLING MAGIC 2's written reviews are positive against 100% of Stickleback Evolution Lab'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, Stickleback Evolution Lab every 28 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.
| Parameter | SPELLING MAGIC 2 | Stickleback Evolution Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (16 ratings) — better | 2.6 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 28 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 185 MB | 264 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY | Howard Hughes Medical Institute |
Customer experience
SPELLING MAGIC 2
Stickleback Evolution Lab
In-app purchases
SPELLING MAGIC 2
- Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
Stickleback Evolution Lab
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SPELLING MAGIC 2 free?
Is Stickleback Evolution Lab free?
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Stickleback Evolution Lab?
Do SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Stickleback Evolution Lab have ads?
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 2 or Stickleback Evolution Lab?
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