# SENTENCE READING MAGIC vs Journals alive

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Journals alive at none against SENTENCE READING MAGIC's 2. Journals alive also leads on iOS requirement (8.1 vs 12.0). SENTENCE READING MAGIC's advantage is ratings volume (123 vs 11). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SENTENCE READING MAGIC sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Journals alive asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for SENTENCE READING MAGIC against 4.4 for Journals alive. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SENTENCE READING MAGIC has 123 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two.

SENTENCE READING MAGIC ships an update every 10 months, Journals alive every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SENTENCE READING MAGIC | Journals alive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentence-reading-magic/id454581599/reviews)** | [4.4 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journals-alive/id1289969334/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **123** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 74.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 310 MB | 273 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **8.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PRESCHOOL UNIVERSITY](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048727) | [Alive Studios, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/856124778) |

## What reviewers say

### SENTENCE READING MAGIC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sentence-reading-magic/id454581599)

This app helps children develop reading fluency and comprehension by focusing on reading sentences. It uses evidence-based methods and engaging games to build skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

**Highlights:** Sentence reading practice, High-frequency word games, Phonemic awareness activities, Phonics and blending, Vocabulary building, Fluency and comprehension focus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Deluxe Upgrade | $2.99 | one-time |
| More Sentences for Learning | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for learning sentences
- 👍 Helps with reading skills
- 👍 Good for beginners
- 👍 Educational content
- 👍 Clear pronunciation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🥱 Can be boring
- 🐛 Inconsistent grammar
- 🐛 Lacks capitalization
- 🐛 Lacks punctuation
- 🐛 Repetitive content

**Reported bugs**

- Errors in subject-verb agreement
- Sentences are not complete
- Missing capitalization and punctuation
- Spelling error in instructions

**Requested features**

- More levels and longer sentences
- Option for different vowel sounds
- Add animation effects
- Randomize sentences
- More options and sentences to buy


### Journals alive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journals-alive/id1289969334)

This app enhances printed journals for early learners, bringing letters, numbers, and shapes to life with interactive zoo animals. It offers an engaging way to master foundational educational concepts at home or in the classroom.

**Highlights:** Interactive learning experience, Master alphabet letters, Learn numbers 0-20, Explore basic geometric shapes, Augmented reality zoo animals, Engaging for home and classroom

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SENTENCE READING MAGIC free?

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

### Is Journals alive free?

Journals alive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SENTENCE READING MAGIC or Journals alive?

SENTENCE READING MAGIC is rated higher. SENTENCE READING MAGIC averages 4.4 out of 5 from 123 ratings, while Journals alive averages 4.4 from 11 ratings.

### Do SENTENCE READING MAGIC or Journals alive have ads?

Neither SENTENCE READING MAGIC nor Journals alive shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SENTENCE READING MAGIC or Journals alive?

SENTENCE READING MAGIC ships an update every 10 months, and Journals alive every 6 months. Most recently, SENTENCE READING MAGIC was updated on November 1, 2026 and Journals alive on November 3, 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.*