# READING MAGIC 3 vs Playground Physics

The clearest difference is review sentiment: READING MAGIC 3 at 89% against Playground Physics's 40%. READING MAGIC 3 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and device support (3 vs 1). Playground Physics's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 5 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. Playground Physics asks for nothing beyond the download.

READING MAGIC 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of READING MAGIC 3's written reviews are positive against 40% of Playground Physics's.

READING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 22 months, Playground Physics every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | READING MAGIC 3 | Playground Physics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reading-magic-3/id446469837/reviews)** | [4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playground-physics/id947124790/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **89.5% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 22 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 250 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.7** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [New York Hall of Science](https://appshunter.io/developer/947124789) |

## 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 |


### Playground Physics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playground-physics/id947124790)

Record videos of motion, trace paths, and analyze physics concepts like forces and energy. This tool helps educators bring Newton's Laws to life with interactive graphs and slow-motion playback. Ideal for middle and high school science.

**Highlights:** Record and analyze motion in videos, Trace paths and examine movement, Interactive scrubbable graphs, Slow-motion playback, Calculate forces and energy, Save and share performance videos

**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 Playground Physics free?

Playground Physics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, READING MAGIC 3 or Playground Physics?

READING MAGIC 3 is rated higher. READING MAGIC 3 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Playground Physics averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do READING MAGIC 3 or Playground Physics have ads?

Neither READING MAGIC 3 nor Playground Physics shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, READING MAGIC 3 or Playground Physics?

READING MAGIC 3 ships an update every 22 months, and Playground Physics every 5 months. Most recently, READING MAGIC 3 was updated on November 6, 2026 and Playground Physics 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.*