# READING MAGIC 3 vs Hairy Phonics 2

The clearest difference is review sentiment: READING MAGIC 3 at 89% against Hairy Phonics 2's 33%. READING MAGIC 3 also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (5.0 vs 3.1). Hairy Phonics 2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 13.7). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

READING MAGIC 3 is free to download; Hairy Phonics 2 costs $2.99 up front. READING MAGIC 3 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hairy Phonics 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

READING MAGIC 3 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of READING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 33% of Hairy Phonics 2's.

READING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 22 months, Hairy Phonics 2 every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC 3 | Hairy Phonics 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-3/id446469837/reviews)** | [3.1 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-2/id938109205/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | **89.5% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Every 12 months** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 250 MB | 250 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.7 | **9.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Nessy Learning Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/410276291) |

## 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 |


### Hairy Phonics 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hairy-phonics-2/id938109205)

This educational app helps children aged 4-6 learn vowel digraphs through interactive games and animations. It guides users through a structured learning sequence, reinforcing sounds and letter formation, and is particularly beneficial for children with dyslexia.

**Highlights:** Learn 9 vowel digraph phonemes, Structured learning sequence, Phonic animations with actions, Letter tracing for writing practice, Games for blending phonemes, Sounding out words

**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 Hairy Phonics 2 free?

Hairy Phonics 2 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, READING MAGIC 3 or Hairy Phonics 2?

READING MAGIC 3 is rated higher. READING MAGIC 3 averages 5.0 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Hairy Phonics 2 averages 3.1 from 9 ratings.

### Do READING MAGIC 3 or Hairy Phonics 2 have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC 3 nor Hairy Phonics 2 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, READING MAGIC 3 or Hairy Phonics 2?

READING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 22 months, and Hairy Phonics 2 every 12 months. Most recently, READING MAGIC 3 was updated on October 7, 2026 and Hairy Phonics 2 on October 22, 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.*