# SPELLING MAGIC 3 vs Reading Train Starter Books

The clearest difference is rating: Reading Train Starter Books at 4.1 against SPELLING MAGIC 3's 3.9. On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SPELLING MAGIC 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Reading Train Starter Books sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Reading Train Starter Books holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 28 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of SPELLING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 78% of Reading Train Starter Books's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, Reading Train Starter Books every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SPELLING MAGIC 3 | Reading Train Starter Books |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-magic-3/id446294881/reviews) | **[4.1 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-train-starter-books/id702227884/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **28** |
| Positive reviews | **80.0% of reviews** | 78.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 184 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [The Learning Station, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/702227887) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Reading Train Starter Books

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-train-starter-books/id702227884)

This app offers a growing library of over 300 beginner books, songs, and quizzes designed to help children develop reading skills, confidence, and a love for reading. It includes professional narration, a word dictionary, and interactive games.

**Highlights:** 300+ beginner books, Songs and quizzes, Professional narration, 450+ word dictionary, Interactive train game, Leveled reading, Unlimited user accounts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Reading Train | $1.99 | per month |
| The Reading Train | $6.99 | per 6 months |
| The Reading Train | $9.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Engaging for kids
- 💡 Interactive learning
- 🚀 Builds reading fluency
- 🎵 Fun songs and rewards
- 🗣️ Recording feature valuable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 No sound issue
- 💸 Charged after trial
- ❌ Cannot unsubscribe easily
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Subscription not shareable

**Reported bugs**

- App has no sound
- App does not open/crashes
- Charged after trial period
- Cannot unsubscribe after trial
- Error with earning coins for songs

**Requested features**

- Higher level books
- More songs
- Update progress across devices
- Dark mode option
- Option to buy content outright (no subscription)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SPELLING MAGIC 3 free?

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

### Is Reading Train Starter Books free?

Reading Train Starter Books is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Reading Train Starter Books?

Reading Train Starter Books is rated higher. SPELLING MAGIC 3 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Reading Train Starter Books averages 4.1 from 28 ratings.

### Do SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Reading Train Starter Books have ads?

Neither SPELLING MAGIC 3 nor Reading Train Starter Books shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Reading Train Starter Books?

SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, and Reading Train Starter Books every 3 months. Most recently, SPELLING MAGIC 3 was updated on October 30, 2026 and Reading Train Starter Books on October 29, 2026.

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