7 Best Spelling Apps for Kids in 2026
An honest comparison of the top spelling practice platforms available today. We cover features, pricing, age ranges, and clear recommendations for which app suits which family. Yes, SpellCrush is on this list — we built it, so we know its strengths and weaknesses better than anyone.
Quick Overview
Disclosure: SpellCrush is our product. This article includes SpellCrush alongside competitors with the same factual treatment. All pricing and feature claims were verified from official sources in February 2026. Where SpellCrush falls short, we say so.
There is no single "best" spelling app for every family. A teacher managing 30 students has different needs than a homeschool parent with three children at different grade levels, and both differ from a parent of a child with dyslexia. What follows is our attempt to map each platform to the families it serves best.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | SpellCrush | SpellingJoy | Vocab A-Z | Spelling Shed | DoodleSpell | SpellQuiz | SpellMe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Hints / Visual Aids | ✓ (Premium) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Adaptive Difficulty | ✓ (age-based) | ✗ | Limited | 4 levels | ✓ (Proxima™) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gamification | XP/levels/badges | ✗ | ✓ (35+ games) | Leagues/points | Stars/potions | Leaderboard | Effort-based |
| Custom Word Lists | ✓ (Premium) | ✓ (free) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (school lists) | ✓ (Premium) | ✓ |
| Free Plan | 1 child | 100% free | ✗ | 7-day data | 7-day trial | Limited | Yes |
| Age Range | Pre-K – 12th | K–6 | K–5 | Ages 5–11 | Ages 5–11 | K–12+ | Ages 5–11 |
| Native Mobile App | ✗ (web) | ✗ (web) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ (web) | ✗ (web) |
| Dyslexia Support | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | OpenDyslexic | Accessibility opts | ✗ | OpenDyslexic |
| Parent Reports | AI weekly email | Basic stats | Dashboard | Dashboard | DoodleConnect | Dashboard | Session tracking |
Detailed Reviews
1. SpellCrush
Best for AI-powered adaptive practice for families
SpellCrush is a web-based spelling practice platform that uses AI to generate personalized spelling hints, visual memory aid images, and weekly narrative progress reports for parents. The adaptive difficulty system automatically maps word difficulty to a child's age: ages 4–6 see levels 1–3, ages 7–8 see levels 1–5, ages 9–10 see levels 3–7, ages 11–12 see levels 5–9, and ages 13+ see levels 7–10. Words a child struggles with appear more frequently; mastered words (5 correct out of 7+ attempts) rotate out of practice.
Strengths
- +AI-generated personalized spelling hints and visual memory aids
- +Broadest age range: Pre-K through 12th grade
- +Full gamification: XP, 10 levels, 15 achievements, streaks
- +Parent-controlled reward store with money or points mode
- +AI weekly progress reports emailed to parents
- +4-digit PIN login for kids, no child email required
- +Free spelling bee generator with 500+ curated words
Weaknesses
- –AI features and custom word lists require $4.99/month premium
- –Free plan limited to 1 child
- –Web-only — no native iOS or Android app
- –Newer platform, smaller user base than established competitors
Best for:
Families wanting AI-powered hints and visual aids to help struggling spellers, parents with children across multiple age groups (Pre-K through high school), and parents who want gamification combined with a reward system they control.
2. SpellingJoy
Best completely free option
SpellingJoy is a 100% free spelling practice platform for K–6 students. It offers unlimited spelling games, tests, word lists, custom list creation, and progress tracking with no subscriptions, no in-app purchases, and no premium tiers. Teachers can create unlimited classes with join codes and track student progress. SpellingJoy has built a significant content marketing presence, publishing comparison articles and spelling resource guides that rank well in search results.
Strengths
- +Completely free with no limitations or paywalls
- +Unlimited students and custom word lists at no cost
- +Teacher dashboard with class management
- +Simple, focused interface with minimal distractions
- +Text-to-speech pronunciation for all words
Weaknesses
- –No AI features (no hints, no visual aids, no reports)
- –No gamification system (no XP, levels, achievements, or rewards)
- –Limited to K–6; no support for Pre-K or grades 7–12
- –Basic progress tracking compared to paid alternatives
- –Web-only, no native mobile app
Best for:
Families and teachers who need solid spelling practice at zero cost. Best for elementary-age children (K–6) who don't need gamification or AI assistance. Ideal for budget-conscious classrooms.
3. Vocabulary A-Z (formerly VocabularySpellingCity)
Best for activity variety and classroom integration
Vocabulary A-Z, formerly known as VocabularySpellingCity, is the longest-running spelling and vocabulary platform. Acquired by Learning A-Z, it offers 35+ interactive word games covering spelling, vocabulary, phonics, and writing. It is classroom-focused with teacher dashboards, assignment management, and student tracking. The price increased significantly from about $35/year to $108–125/year after the acquisition, causing many schools to drop the platform. The individual family-use experience is limited compared to its classroom tools.
Strengths
- +Most game variety of any spelling platform (35+ activities)
- +Strong classroom integration with teacher tools
- +Covers spelling, vocabulary, and phonics together
- +Native iOS and Android apps for offline use
- +Long-established platform with extensive word database
Weaknesses
- –Expensive: $108–125/year, up from $35/year before acquisition
- –Classroom-focused pricing model — poor fit for single families
- –No AI features
- –Rebranding confusion (SpellingCity → VocabularySpellingCity → Vocabulary A-Z)
- –Some teachers report interface feels dated after acquisition
Best for:
Schools and districts with budget for a comprehensive vocabulary and spelling platform. Best when the cost is spread across a full classroom of 36 students. Not ideal for individual families due to pricing.
4. Spelling Shed
Best for competitive gamification and UK curriculum
Spelling Shed is a UK-developed spelling platform built around competitive gamification. It features class leagues, school leagues, and a worldwide leaderboard where students earn points by spelling words correctly in timed games. The platform offers multiple game modes (Penalty Spell-Out, Hungry Horses, Spelling Bee, Shed Load, Buzz, Bee Keeper) with four difficulty levels each. It uses the OpenDyslexic font as standard, making it accessible for dyslexic learners. Spelling Shed was designed by primary school teachers and covers 100% of the UK National Curriculum and US Common Core spelling standards.
Strengths
- +Strong competitive gamification with class, school, and world leagues
- +500,000+ searchable word lists
- +OpenDyslexic font built in for accessibility
- +Multiple game modes with four difficulty levels each
- +Affordable home plan: $29.99/year for up to 5 children
- +Native iOS and Android apps with offline support
Weaknesses
- –UK curriculum focus — audio uses British pronunciation
- –Limited to primary school ages (5–11)
- –No AI features
- –Free account only saves 7 days of progress data
- –Mobile app has reported touch-input issues in some game modes
Best for:
UK families and schools following the National Curriculum. Also good for competitive-minded children who respond to leaderboards and timed challenges. Affordable option for families with up to 5 children.
5. DoodleSpell
Best for structured adaptive learning (UK focus)
DoodleSpell uses Proxima™, a proprietary adaptive algorithm that builds a personalized spelling program for each child based on their strengths and weaknesses. It is part of the DoodleLearning suite (DoodleMaths, DoodleEnglish, DoodleTables, DoodleSpell) developed by Discovery Education Europe. The platform is designed for 10-minute daily sessions and includes the DoodleConnect parent app for tracking progress. A DoodleSpell subscription includes full access to DoodleEnglish, which covers punctuation, grammar, and comprehension. DoodleSpell is aligned to the UK EYFS, KS1, and KS2 curriculum.
Strengths
- +Proxima™ adaptive algorithm personalizes every session
- +Designed for short, daily 10-minute sessions
- +Subscription includes DoodleEnglish (grammar and comprehension)
- +Offline capable on all platforms
- +Parent app (DoodleConnect) for progress tracking
- +Rewards effort over ability — encourages struggling spellers
- +School word lists can be imported directly
Weaknesses
- –Expensive: £7.99/month for spelling alone, £12.99/month for all 4 apps
- –UK curriculum focus with British English
- –No free tier — 7-day trial only
- –Automated voice pronunciation criticized in App Store reviews
- –Limited to ages 5–11
- –No AI features (hints, visual aids, or reports)
Best for:
UK families wanting a structured, adaptive spelling program that integrates with school homework. Good for parents who want spelling and English grammar in one subscription. Best for children who respond well to short, consistent daily sessions.
6. SpellQuiz
Best for ESL learners and spelling bee preparation
SpellQuiz is a dictation-based spelling and vocabulary platform developed in Calgary, Canada. It uses recordings by North American voice artists rather than synthetic text-to-speech. SpellQuiz offers spelling tests, spelling lessons, a vocabulary size assessment tool, reading comprehension exercises, fun quizzes, and an online Spelling Bee competition with a worldwide leaderboard. It is designed for both native English-speaking K–12 students and ESL/EFL learners of all ages. Teacher subscriptions support classroom management with student dashboards.
Strengths
- +Dictation-based approach with human voice recordings
- +Vocabulary size assessment estimates learner level
- +Covers K–12 and adult learners, including ESL/EFL
- +Online Spelling Bee with worldwide leaderboard
- +Reading comprehension exercises alongside spelling
- +Adaptive learning adjusts to student pace
Weaknesses
- –Premium pricing is steep: $12.95/month or $119.95/year for parents
- –Free tier has content and feature limitations
- –Web-only, no native mobile apps
- –Interface feels more quiz-oriented than game-oriented
- –No visual aids, AI hints, or gamification beyond leaderboards
- –No parent-controlled reward system
Best for:
ESL/EFL families and students preparing for spelling bee competitions. Also suits adults improving their English spelling and vocabulary. The dictation-based approach with human recordings is particularly effective for listening skills.
7. SpellMe
Best for dyslexia and learning differences
SpellMe is an adaptive spelling app designed specifically with dyslexic and ADHD learners in mind, though it supports all learners. Built by a parent of a child with dyslexia, it focuses on orthographic mapping — the process of building visual memory for word structure. SpellMe uses color-coded error feedback that shows exactly which letters match the correct spelling and which don't, rather than a generic 'incorrect' message. The interface is intentionally minimal to reduce cognitive overload. It uses the OpenDyslexic font throughout and rewards failed attempts to reduce shame around mistakes. SpellMe includes session-by-session progress tracking with detailed mistake analysis.
Strengths
- +Designed for dyslexia and ADHD from the ground up
- +Color-coded error feedback shows exact letter-level mistakes
- +Minimal, distraction-free interface reduces cognitive overload
- +OpenDyslexic font used throughout
- +Rewards effort and failed attempts, not just correct answers
- +Session-by-session progress tracking with mistake details
- +Free to use with optional registration
Weaknesses
- –Smaller platform, still in active development
- –Limited word list selection compared to larger competitors
- –No AI features
- –No gamification system (XP, levels, or achievements)
- –No native mobile apps
- –Limited age range — focused on primary school
Best for:
Children with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning differences who need a distraction-free, supportive spelling environment. Also suits any child who experiences anxiety or frustration around spelling mistakes.
How to Choose
"I need something free and simple"
Start with SpellingJoy (100% free, K–6). If you want gamification on a free tier, try SpellCrush free plan (1 child, Pre-K–12).
"My child struggles with spelling and needs help"
SpellCrush Premium for AI-powered hints and visual memory aids. SpellMe if your child has dyslexia or ADHD. DoodleSpell for structured daily sessions.
"I have multiple children at different levels"
SpellCrush Premium ($4.99/month, unlimited children, Pre-K–12) or Spelling Shed ($29.99/year, up to 5 children, ages 5–11).
"I'm a teacher setting up a classroom"
Vocabulary A-Z if you have the budget ($108–125/year, 36 students, 35+ activities). SpellingJoy if you need free classroom management. Spelling Shed for competitive motivation at moderate cost.
"My child is preparing for a spelling bee"
SpellQuiz for online Spelling Bee competition with human recordings. SpellCrush free Spelling Bee Generator for printable word lists with IPA pronunciation and etymology.
"We follow the UK National Curriculum"
Spelling Shed (100% UK curriculum coverage, competitive leagues) or DoodleSpell (EYFS, KS1, KS2 aligned, with bundled grammar and comprehension).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free spelling app for kids?
SpellingJoy is the best completely free spelling app — it offers unlimited students, 134+ word lists, custom list creation, and progress tracking at no cost. SpellCrush also offers a free plan with 1 child, 4,000+ words, adaptive difficulty, AI audio pronunciation, and full gamification (XP, levels, achievements, streaks). Khan Academy Kids is another excellent free option for ages 2–8.
What is the best spelling app for kids with dyslexia?
SpellMe is designed specifically for dyslexic learners, with OpenDyslexic font, color-coded error feedback showing exact letter-level mistakes, and a minimal interface to reduce cognitive overload. Spelling Shed also supports dyslexic users with OpenDyslexic font. DoodleSpell includes accessibility options like colored overlays and audio dictation.
Which spelling app uses AI?
SpellCrush is the only spelling app in this comparison that uses AI (Claude by Anthropic) for personalized spelling hints, visual memory aid images, and weekly narrative progress reports. DoodleSpell uses Proxima™, a proprietary adaptive algorithm, but this is rule-based personalization rather than generative AI.
What is the best spelling app for spelling bee preparation?
SpellQuiz offers an online Spelling Bee competition with a worldwide leaderboard and dictation-based practice using human voice recordings. SpellCrush provides a free Spelling Bee Generator with 500+ curated words including IPA pronunciation, etymology, syllable counts, and Scripps list references.
Which spelling app covers the widest age range?
SpellCrush covers Pre-K through 12th grade (ages 4–18) with 10 difficulty levels. SpellQuiz covers K–12 plus adults. Most other spelling apps are limited to primary school ages (5–11).
Which spelling app is best for multiple children?
SpellingJoy supports unlimited children for free. SpellCrush Premium ($4.99/month) supports unlimited children with separate progress, rewards, achievements, and PIN login for each child. Spelling Shed's home plan ($29.99/year) covers up to 5 children. DoodleSpell's family plan supports up to 6 children.
Are there spelling apps that work offline?
DoodleSpell and Spelling Shed both have native iOS and Android apps that work offline. Vocabulary A-Z also has native apps. SpellCrush, SpellingJoy, SpellQuiz, and SpellMe are web-based and require an internet connection.
Methodology
This comparison was compiled by the SpellCrush team in February 2026. Feature details and pricing were verified directly from each platform's official website, app store listings, and publicly available documentation. We did not receive compensation from any competitor for inclusion in this list.
SpellCrush is our own product. We included it because an honest comparison should include all relevant options. Where competitors outperform SpellCrush — such as SpellingJoy's zero-cost model, Vocabulary A-Z's 35+ activity variety, or SpellMe's dyslexia-first design — we say so clearly.
Try SpellCrush Free
Free plan includes 1 child, 500+ words, adaptive difficulty, AI audio pronunciation, and full gamification. Premium adds AI hints, visual memory aids, unlimited children, 4000+ words, custom word lists, and weekly reports for $4.99/month with a 7-day free trial.