Comparison

SPELLING MAGIC 3 vs TERC EarthLabs

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

TERC EarthLabs

This app offers free high school Earth science curriculum units with interactive visualizations, videos, and hands-on labs. It allows users to run Flash-based videos and interactives on their iPad for engaging science education.

Highlights
  • Interactive visualizations
  • Video content
  • Hands-on labs
  • Flash-based interactives
  • Curriculum units
Features
Read full description

EarthLabs (http://serc.carleton.edu/earthlabs) is a free set of high school Earth science curriculum units developed by TERC that engage students through a variety of modes including interactive visualizations, video, and hands-on labs. Download the EarthLabs App to run many of the Flash-based videos and interactives on your iPad.

Screenshots

SPELLING MAGIC 34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TERC EarthLabs at 5.0 against SPELLING MAGIC 3's 3.9. TERC EarthLabs also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.4). SPELLING MAGIC 3's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 40%) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 53 months). On price 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. TERC EarthLabs asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TERC EarthLabs holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SPELLING MAGIC 3 has 11 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of SPELLING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 40% of TERC EarthLabs'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, TERC EarthLabs every 53 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
SPELLING MAGIC 3 versus TERC EarthLabs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPELLING MAGIC 3TERC EarthLabs
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (11 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 53 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.48.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPRESCHOOL UNIVERSITYTERC, Inc.

Customer experience

SPELLING MAGIC 3

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

TERC EarthLabs

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SPELLING MAGIC 3

One-time1
  • Deluxe Upgrade$1.99
None

TERC EarthLabs

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPELLING MAGIC 3 free?
SPELLING MAGIC 3 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TERC EarthLabs free?
TERC EarthLabs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or TERC EarthLabs?
TERC EarthLabs is rated higher. SPELLING MAGIC 3 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while TERC EarthLabs averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SPELLING MAGIC 3 or TERC EarthLabs have ads?
Neither SPELLING MAGIC 3 nor TERC EarthLabs shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPELLING MAGIC 3 or TERC EarthLabs?
SPELLING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 5 months, and TERC EarthLabs every 53 months. Most recently, SPELLING MAGIC 3 was updated on November 1, 2026 and TERC EarthLabs on November 1, 2026.

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