SPELLING MAGIC 3 vs Monkey Drum
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Multi-syllable word focus
- Science of Reading principles
- Word building activities
- Themed vocabulary categories
- Two challenge levels
- Pronunciation aid via pictures
- Progress tracker (DELUXE)
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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.
Monkey Drum
Create music by drawing or playing instruments, then watch jungle animals react to your tunes. Customize characters and unlock new instruments and items by playing or using in-app currency.
- Create music by drawing
- Play instruments with mini-keyboard
- Customize characters
- Save and remix songs
- Unlock new instruments and items
- True 3D graphics
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ATTENTION: Some users have experienced problems with Monkey Drum on devices running iOS 8. "…no reason not to try this one out: it’s free!" - GEEKDAD (By Wired.com) "It’s a really great way to use creativity and rhythm and wrap it into a whole lot of fun." - MusiciansWithApps.com Featured by Apple in Apps For Learning Music! ------------------------- Making music has never been so fun, or so easy! Play realistic instruments and watch as little jungle animals copy your tunes. See their funny reactions as you feed them bananas, spin them, or bop them on the head! Make them happy and see them reward you with a special song! Create real music just by drawing and watch as the creatures play your creation. Get creative and re-mix your songs with different instruments, or accessorize your characters with a hat and sunglasses. Use Heart Coins to unlock new instruments and other fun items. Features: * Create songs by drawing on the screen * Play cool instruments with a mini-keyboard * Customize your characters with a hat or sunglasses * Save and name your songs * Remix songs - change instruments and tempo * True 3D graphics with tons of surprises! * Djembe drum, marimba, and kalimba included * Earn Heart Coins and bananas just by playing! * Unlock new instruments and other fun items! Items you can unlock: * Microphone * Acoustic Guitar * Congas * Girl Monkey * Panda * Sunglasses * Baseball Hat * Bunches of Bananas Note: This app is completely free to play and all items can be unlocked simply by playing. We also offer the option to buy additional Heart Coins with real money - if you'd like to disable this option, see the settings on your device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Monkey Drum at 4.4 against SPELLING MAGIC 3's 3.9. Monkey Drum also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (116 vs 11). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Monkey Drum sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Monkey Drum holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monkey Drum has 116 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of SPELLING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 92% of Monkey Drum's.
SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, Monkey Drum every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.
| Parameter | SPELLING MAGIC 3 | Monkey Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (11 ratings) | 4.4 (116 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | 92.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 11 | 116 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | 4.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 184 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY | Flippfly, LLC |
Customer experience
SPELLING MAGIC 3
Monkey Drum
Bugs and requests
SPELLING MAGIC 3
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Monkey Drum
Reported bugs
5 issues- Screen goes black after filling hearts/coins
- Game sounds can be heard but screen is black
- App not letting phone go into sleep mode
- No sound reported
- Repeated glitches
Requested features
8 requests- Update Monkey Drum
- Update for latest iOS
- More instruments
- Button to record
- Clear all / start new song option
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Fix xylophone (backwards notes)
- Add legs to animals
- Dark mode option
In-app purchases
SPELLING MAGIC 3
- Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
Monkey Drum
- Small Chest (300 Heart Coins)$0.99
- Medium Chest (1000 Heart Coins)$1.99
- Large Chest (3500 Heart Coins)$5.99
Questions
Is SPELLING MAGIC 3 free?
Is Monkey Drum free?
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Monkey Drum?
Do SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Monkey Drum have ads?
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Monkey Drum?
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