Comparison

SPELLING MAGIC 3 vs Syllable Word Search

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

Syllable Word Search

This educational game helps children learn to break down words into syllables and build them. It features a space explorer theme with 27 missions that progressively increase in difficulty, offering customizable gameplay and phonics practice.

Highlights
  • Syllable identification and building
  • 27 progressive missions
  • Customizable mission creation
  • Phonics and spelling practice
  • Vocabulary building with 3,700+ words
  • Multiple English voice options
  • Dyslexia-friendly font option
Features
Read full description

Hard words are easier when you break them into syllables. In Syllable Word Search, kids find syllables on a board and put them together to build real English words, while they join Spike, the space explorer, on 27 missions across the planets. *** 2015 Academics' Choice Award – Smart Media Winner *** HOW TO PLAY Each mission shows a board of syllable cards and a list of words to find. Tap the syllables of each word to build it. Get it right and the cards disappear; get it wrong and they flip back. Clear the board to finish the mission and win up to 3 stars. 27 MISSIONS THAT GET HARDER The first missions are simple: short words, small boards and green hint cards that show which syllable comes next. As you move ahead, Spike adds new challenges: * Syllables must be picked in order, from first to last. * A limited number of moves for the whole board. * A time limit for the board, or a few seconds per word. * Cards that can only be turned a few times before they burn up. * Repeated syllables on the board, so you have to read carefully. * Bigger boards and longer words, from 2 up to 6 syllables. CREATE YOUR OWN MISSION Pick a planet (word theme) and set your own rules: syllable order, hints, repeated syllables, moves, flips per card, and time limits. Or start from a ready-made challenge: Hyperspace, Dangerous or Black Hole. WHAT KIDS PRACTICE * Breaking words into syllables (phonological awareness) * Phonics, spelling and decoding of longer words * Reading and vocabulary with 3,700+ English words in 14 themes: animals, food, people, places, school, sports, nature, transportation and more * Visual memory and attention MADE FOR EVERY READER * Hear each word read aloud with a US, UK, Australian, Irish or South African English voice. * Choose the card font: OpenDyslexic, designed for readers with dyslexia, or Futura. * Show the word whole or split into syllables (ex-am-ple) with one tap. * Menus in English or Spanish. FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS Great for elementary school, reading intervention, ESL/ELL classes, homeschool and learning centers. * No third-party ads. * Works offline. * Purchases and settings are protected by a parental gate. * Track progress with stars per mission and a top-10 records board. Looking for the Spanish version? Search for "Sopa de Sílabas". FREE AND PREMIUM ACCESS Download for free and play the first 3 missions. Premium Access (monthly or yearly) unlocks all 27 missions, the full word list with 14 themes, and Create Your Own Mission. Already bought the full version? You keep all the content at no extra cost: just tap "Restore Purchases". Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. For schools: look for "Syllable Word Search - School", with all the content included in a single purchase. Privacy Policy: https://bqware.com/privacy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SPELLING MAGIC 34 screens
Syllable Word Search4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SPELLING MAGIC 3 at 3.9 against Syllable Word Search's 2.3. SPELLING MAGIC 3 also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 13 months) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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 and Syllable Word Search sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SPELLING MAGIC 3 holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 6 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of SPELLING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 88% of Syllable Word Search's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, Syllable Word Search every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SPELLING MAGIC 3 versus Syllable Word Search: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPELLING MAGIC 3Syllable Word Search
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (11 ratings) — better2.3 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11 — better6
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 13 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.4 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYBQWare

Customer experience

SPELLING MAGIC 3

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

Syllable Word Search

All ratings6 ratings
Positive16.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral3.1%
Negative9.4%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SPELLING MAGIC 3

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
3 purchases

Syllable Word Search

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Access (1 Month)$2.991 Month
  • Premium Access (1 Year)$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full Version$29.99

Questions

Is SPELLING MAGIC 3 free?
SPELLING MAGIC 3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Syllable Word Search free?
Syllable Word Search is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Syllable Word Search?
SPELLING MAGIC 3 is rated higher. SPELLING MAGIC 3 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Syllable Word Search averages 2.3 from 6 ratings.
Do SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Syllable Word Search have ads?
Neither SPELLING MAGIC 3 nor Syllable Word Search shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or Syllable Word Search?
SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, and Syllable Word Search every 13 months. Most recently, SPELLING MAGIC 3 was updated on November 1, 2026 and Syllable Word Search on November 6, 2026.

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