SPELLING MAGIC 3 vs Native Numbers
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.
Native Numbers
This app offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to build a strong foundation in number sense for young learners. It features 25 engaging activities that help children understand number representations and relationships through visual and interactive methods.
- Comprehensive number sense curriculum
- 25 engaging and sequenced activities
- Develops number representations
- Teaches number relations
- Individualized learning experience
- Inspired by research
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*** Top Rank of #2 in Education! 350,000 kids, 70 million math tasks, and counting! *** WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING - 12 BEST Children's Educational Apps of 2012: “Native Numbers is a fabulous app, promoting deeper learning and providing a much needed foundation in math for all children.” - TeachersWithApps.com - “The kids loved the gameplay feel of the app… This is a great app to help young kids learn the concept of numbers and basic math skills.” -iHeartThisApp.com - "A Math App Worth Bragging About!" - Karen Mahon, Ed. D, Learning Scientist OVERVIEW - Number Sense is widely cited as the most critical math skill a child ever learns - Native Numbers is the first and only comprehensive Number Sense curriculum in the App Store Inspired by research, designed by Harvard Education School graduate Dr. Michael W. Connell, and developed by a team of MIT engineers, Native Numbers is the first of its kind - a complete curriculum to help early learners develop Number Sense. THE PROBLEM There are countless "early math apps" available in the App Store - but are any of these effective in laying down a proper Number Sense foundation? THE REALITY Unfortunately, most math app developers ignore the complex sequence of activities required to properly develop Number Sense. Instead, some claim to develop math knowledge as a side effect of other, non-mathematical games and activities. Others inflate a single, narrow math concept into a game that they promise will provide "hours of fun and learning." This random approach to early math simply does not work. Researchers Douglas Clements and Julie Sarama found, for example, that while it might appear that kids are "doing mathematics" when engaged with puzzles, blocks, songs, and the like, "evidence suggests that such an approach is ineffective, owing to a lack of explicit attention to mathematical concepts and procedures along with a lack of intentionality to engage in mathematical practices" (Science Magazine, Aug 2011). THE SOLUTION The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Common Core State Standards have made Number Sense a focus area of elementary mathematics education for all children. Native Numbers is based on high-quality learning research and is designed to engage each child directly in an individualized, intrinsically rewarding learning experience while minimizing distractions – what some people call "hard fun.” (For a brief video that explains why Number Sense is so important and how Native Numbers develops it, search for "Native Numbers" on YouTube.) Native Numbers challenges children with 25 engaging and carefully sequenced activities that develop an understanding of several core concepts and skills, including: - Number Representations: Identify the numbers 1-9 as continuous quantities (rods), discrete quantities (sets of animals), and symbols (numerals) - Number Relations: Answer questions about number relationships using a variety of visual representations and vocabulary (greater/less, bigger/smaller, heavier/lighter, etc.) - Ordering: Arrange numbers in order from small to big and big to small - Counting: Use numbers to put a set of objects in order (ordinal numbers) and to determine how many objects are in a set (cardinal numbers) - Demonstrate Mastery: Apply concepts from previous activities to novel, untrained examples Recommended Ages: 4-7 (home or school) although many younger and older children can benefit as well *** Teachers - Learn about Classroom Functionality here: http://bit.ly/WHHSJ1 THE PRICE Teachers With Apps said that, "Native Numbers is a fabulous app, promoting deeper learning and providing a much needed foundation in math for all children. We highly recommend this app and please, don’t let the price stop you from purchasing this extensive curriculum, it’s worth every penny of the $9.99."
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Native Numbers at none against SPELLING MAGIC 3's 1. Native Numbers also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.4). SPELLING MAGIC 3's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Native Numbers asks for nothing beyond the download.
SPELLING MAGIC 3 holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 80% and 81% positive.
SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, Native Numbers every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SPELLING MAGIC 3 | Native Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (11 ratings) — better | 3.7 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | 81.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 months — better |
| 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 | 184 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY | Native Brain, Inc. |
Customer experience
SPELLING MAGIC 3
Native Numbers
In-app purchases
SPELLING MAGIC 3
- Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
Native Numbers
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SPELLING MAGIC 3 free?
Is Native Numbers free?
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Native Numbers?
Do SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Native Numbers have ads?
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Native Numbers?
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