# Counting 123 vs SPELLING MAGIC 3

Counting 123 and SPELLING MAGIC 3 both sit at 3.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of SPELLING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 28% of Counting 123's. Counting 123's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Counting 123 sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and SPELLING MAGIC 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for Counting 123 against 3.9 for SPELLING MAGIC 3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 11 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 28% of Counting 123's written reviews are positive against 80% of SPELLING MAGIC 3's.

Counting 123 ships an update every 4 months, SPELLING MAGIC 3 every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Counting 123 | SPELLING MAGIC 3 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/counting-123-learn-to-count/id443158370/reviews)** | [3.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-magic-3/id446294881/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 28.1% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 months** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 76 MB | 184 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KID BABY TODDLER LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/477267603) | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) |

## What reviewers say

### Counting 123

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/counting-123-learn-to-count/id443158370)

This app offers a playful and engaging way for children to learn counting and number recognition. It features four distinct mini-games designed to make learning fun and interactive, with colorful animations and illustrations.

**Highlights:** Learn numbers 1-10, Pronunciation of digits, Tap & catch fish counting game, Spot the differences memory game, Interactive grasshopper activity, Dresses fashion show game

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads! | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock 12 Jigsaw Puzzles | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock 4 Match It Games | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock 12 Coloring Pages | $1.99 | one-time |
| Super Deal! | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great learning tool for counting
- 👍 Fun and engaging for young children
- 👍 Nice graphics and interactive activities
- 👍 Good for reinforcing numbers 1-10
- 👍 Educational and analytical skills development

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Ads block gameplay
- 😠 Ads are intrusive and disruptive
- 😠 Ads are poorly placed
- 😠 Ads redirect to other apps
- 😠 Inappropriate ads shown to children

**Reported bugs**

- Ads cover tap locations
- Paid features locked after purchase
- App crashes occasionally
- Inappropriate ads shown
- App restarts each time it's entered

**Requested features**

- Move ads to a less intrusive location
- Add an ads bar below gameplay
- Improve game engagement for older children
- Offer more stages or challenges


### SPELLING MAGIC 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-magic-3/id446294881)

This app helps children develop reading skills by focusing on multi-syllable words. It teaches letter sounds and word building through engaging activities and themed categories. Offers two challenge levels and a DELUXE version with expanded vocabulary and customization.

**Highlights:** Multi-syllable word focus, Science of Reading principles, Word building activities, Themed vocabulary categories, Two challenge levels, Pronunciation aid via pictures, Progress tracker (DELUXE)

**In-app purchases (1)**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Counting 123 free?

Counting 123 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SPELLING MAGIC 3 free?

SPELLING MAGIC 3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Counting 123 or SPELLING MAGIC 3?

Counting 123 is rated higher. Counting 123 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while SPELLING MAGIC 3 averages 3.9 from 11 ratings.

### Do Counting 123 or SPELLING MAGIC 3 have ads?

Neither Counting 123 nor SPELLING MAGIC 3 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Counting 123 or SPELLING MAGIC 3?

Counting 123 ships an update every 4 months, and SPELLING MAGIC 3 every 5 months. Most recently, Counting 123 was updated on November 1, 2026 and SPELLING MAGIC 3 on October 30, 2026.

---

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