# READING MAGIC 3 vs Phonics Inventory

The clearest difference is rating: READING MAGIC 3 at 4.9 against Phonics Inventory's 3.0. READING MAGIC 3 also leads on ratings volume (16 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). Phonics Inventory's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 22 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. READING MAGIC 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Phonics Inventory asks for nothing beyond the download.

READING MAGIC 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: READING MAGIC 3 has 16 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

READING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 22 months, Phonics Inventory every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC 3 | Phonics Inventory |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-3/id446469837/reviews)** | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-inventory/id899200953/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 89.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 250 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.7 | **10.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Houghton Mifflin Harcourt](https://appshunter.io/developer/409368007) |

## What reviewers say

### READING MAGIC 3

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-3/id446469837)

This app makes learning to read an exciting adventure for children. It uses interactive activities and science-backed methods to help master words with two or more syllables, building essential literacy skills.

**Highlights:** Science of Reading methodology, Focus on multi-syllable words, Blending and segmenting skills, Phonemic awareness development, Three engaging learning modes, Interactive reading games, Progress tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $3.99 | one-time |


### Phonics Inventory

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phonics-inventory/id899200953)

This digital tool assesses reading fluency and foundational skills for students in grades 3-12+. It measures decoding, sight word recognition, and letter recognition quickly and efficiently. The assessment can be used for universal screening, intervention placement, and progress monitoring.

**Highlights:** Measures decoding and sight word fluency, Assesses letter recognition, Tracks reading progress, Universal screening, Intervention placement, Administered on iPads

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is READING MAGIC 3 free?

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

### Is Phonics Inventory free?

Phonics Inventory is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, READING MAGIC 3 or Phonics Inventory?

READING MAGIC 3 is rated higher. READING MAGIC 3 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Phonics Inventory averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do READING MAGIC 3 or Phonics Inventory have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC 3 nor Phonics Inventory shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, READING MAGIC 3 or Phonics Inventory?

READING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 22 months, and Phonics Inventory every 4 months. Most recently, READING MAGIC 3 was updated on November 14, 2026 and Phonics Inventory on November 1, 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.*