Comparison

SPELLING MAGIC 3 vs Sound Boxes for Word Study

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SPELLING MAGIC 3

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)
Read full description

Introducing SPELLING MAGIC 3 – the key to unlocking your child's future reading success! SPELLING MAGIC 3 incorporates the main principles of the Science of Reading. SPELLING MAGIC 3 is designed to focus on words with multiple syllables, providing an engaging platform for learning. From everyday words like "pretzel" and "button" to compound words such as "bobcat" and "hotdog," this app covers a wide range of vocabulary, all grouped into themed categories for easy organization and enhanced interest. With a strong emphasis on teaching letter sounds and word building, SPELLING MAGIC 3 not only helps children learn the sounds of the alphabet but also indirectly teaches essential reading skills like segmenting. The app offers two levels of challenge to cater to different learning abilities. In the "Word Building" section, children use the components (letters) of the word to build it, while the "Moveable Alphabet" section allows them to use the entire alphabet for word construction. It's important to note that SPELLING MAGIC 3 aims to provide ample opportunities for practicing building multiple-syllable words, even including words that may not be part of a young learner's everyday vocabulary. This presents a unique chance to expand their word bank and vocabulary. Additionally, tapping on pictures will prompt the app to pronounce the word, aiding in pronunciation and comprehension. The free version of SPELLING MAGIC 3 offers 72 words, while the DELUXE version boasts an impressive 335 words, along with a range of customizable options such as two types of voices, three types of fonts, two letter color styles, a special feature to connect the letters, and a lesson progress tracker. This version includes over 260 additional words compared to the free version, providing an even more comprehensive learning experience. This app was developed by a team of educators using the Science of Reading Principles, accelerated learning techniques and Montessori principles. SPELLING MAGIC 3 has been thoroughly tested and approved by preschool children and their teachers in various settings. Your feedback and suggestions are highly valued as we continue to refine and enhance the app for an optimal learning experience.

About

Sound Boxes for Word Study

This educational app helps children develop foundational literacy skills by teaching them how letters and sounds combine to form words. It uses sound boxes to aid in segmenting word sounds, supporting both reading and writing development.

Highlights
  • Letter-sound association
  • Word segmentation
  • Supports reading skills
  • Supports writing skills
  • Foundational literacy development
Features
Read full description

Children must develop the fundamental understanding that letters and sounds work together in systematic ways to form words. This understanding provides the foundation for the development of decoding skills. Word work is an essential component of literacy development. Utilizing sound boxes can help children segment sounds in words, which supports reading and writing.

Screenshots

SPELLING MAGIC 34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SPELLING MAGIC 3 at 3.9 against Sound Boxes for Word Study's 3.1. SPELLING MAGIC 3 also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 60%) and device support (3 vs 1). Sound Boxes for Word Study's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SPELLING MAGIC 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sound Boxes for Word Study asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SPELLING MAGIC 3 holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of SPELLING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 60% of Sound Boxes for Word Study's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, Sound Boxes for Word Study every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SPELLING MAGIC 3 versus Sound Boxes for Word Study: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPELLING MAGIC 3Sound Boxes for Word Study
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (11 ratings) — better3.1 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.410.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYClassroom Focused Software

Customer experience

SPELLING MAGIC 3

All ratings11 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral9.1%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

Sound Boxes for Word Study

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SPELLING MAGIC 3

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

Sound Boxes for Word Study

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPELLING MAGIC 3 free?
SPELLING MAGIC 3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sound Boxes for Word Study free?
Sound Boxes for Word Study is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Sound Boxes for Word Study?
SPELLING MAGIC 3 is rated higher. SPELLING MAGIC 3 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Sound Boxes for Word Study averages 3.1 from 7 ratings.
Do SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Sound Boxes for Word Study have ads?
Neither SPELLING MAGIC 3 nor Sound Boxes for Word Study shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Sound Boxes for Word Study?
SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, and Sound Boxes for Word Study every 6 months. Most recently, SPELLING MAGIC 3 was updated on November 1, 2026 and Sound Boxes for Word Study on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons