# Build A Word Express - Practice spelling and learn letter sounds and names — user reviews > 68 indexed App Store user reviews of Build A Word Express by natasa gajic, rated 2.82/5 from 11 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-a-word-express-practice-spelling-and-learn-letter-sounds-and-names/id445774924/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/build-a-word-express-practice-spelling-and-learn-letter-sounds-and-names/id445774924.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 3 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 2 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 4 ## Newest reviews (12 of 68) ### 4/5 — Kids love this *2013-04-18, version 3.2* My kids love this game and I love that they are getting better with their spelling which was stuck around a 70% all year. The bubbles are great. I can save their spelling lists to this so they are practicing what they are getting tested on. The only thing I have a complaint about is that it doesn't save the settings for each child. One of my kids has 6 spelling words and the other has 12 every week and I have to pick a larger quiz number than each of those so that they end up doing the same word a few times on the test section, that and after I change the user, I have to remember to go in and change the active spelling list too or my 2nd grader ends up practicing my kindergarteners spelling words. But all in all, a great practice tool. ### 4/5 — Great for reading support *2012-11-27, version 2.4* I use this app with students who are struggling in reading. It's a great way to practice spelling patterns, letter-sound correspondence, and the love popping the bubbles. One thing I'd change is that students can't correct if they drag he wrong letter up in a quiz even if they realize before the word is done. But, overall a great app! ### 4/5 — Great App! *2012-11-26, version 2.4* Thanks for making the settings & upgrades press & hold! My toddler hasn't figured it out yet… He loves popping the bubbles, too. Like popping packing bubbles -- only better! Great app! ### 4/5 — Phonics *2012-11-24, version 2.4* I like this app because it uses sounds and not just letter names. So many kids have difficulty with sound - letter correspondence. Awesome that the app is free. I will use this with my kids at school who need practice. ### 4/5 — Lovely animation and learning for kids *2012-11-19* Lovely animation and learning for kids! ### 5/5 — Best Free Spelling App Ever! *2012-11-17, version 2.4* My son played with this app the second it went on the iPad! It is fantastic, with more than on difficulty level, depending on the child's need. Not to mention, when the child does well, there is a cool visual and auditory reward that is not "babyish". It is a huge hit here, and I would recommend it and Classroom Spelling to anyone. ### 5/5 — Great app *2012-11-17, version 2.4* This is a terrific app for beginning readers. Three ways to build the words offers lots of support ### 5/5 — Good app *2012-11-17, version 2.4* This looks great for my aspie son to learn how to better say his words, thank you. ### 4/5 — With a few tweaks could be great app *2012-11-13* What I liked about the app: - you spell right to left and you cannot try to spell it any other way - random arrangement of letters with no overlapping of them - that access to the app store is now hidden What I would like to have fixed/ explained: - why is there a timer, there is no data collection within the app itself so I am not sure of its purpose - would be nice to see an option for zed ### 4/5 — Great app! *2012-11-12* Excellent colour scheme and really fun for my younger cousins ### 4/5 — Great learning app! *2012-11-11, version 2.3* I really like the "learn" part of the app and how the parts if the word are sounded out. I wish that the "upgrade" options were slightly less prominent, although I do understand why the option is there. I think this will be a great app for my son! ### 4/5 — Great app! *2012-11-10, version 2.3* I just tried out this app and love it. I really like the practice part. I do wish there was more than one vowel to choose from though. Many of my students struggle with the vowels. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Produces sounds incorrectly *2021-03-15, version 4.3* Example: the phonemes for “think” are not /th/, /i/, /n/, and /k/. The app also sometimes produces vowels in a very clipped and auditorily distorted fashion. ### 1/5 — Frustrated *2019-08-15, version 4.3* I paid for the ability to create my own list but it doesn’t work because you can’t hear the recorded word. How do I get a refund? ### 1/5 — Can’t get voice to record *2019-03-20, version 4.3* Paid the extra money to customize list and record my kids spelling words but it doesn’t work....:/ ### 1/5 — Sound doesn't record. *2014-07-15* I downloaded this app thinking it would help my son with his spelling words, but you can't record the words so the $7.47 I just spent was a waste of money until this glitch is fixed. ### 2/5 — No sound ??? *2022-10-27, version 4.3* Tried everything… no sound ### 2/5 — Great App *2012-03-10, version 1.1* This App is great, my only suggestion would be for there to be a way to get back to the main menu. Once you choose a mode you can't get out of it and are forever stuck in that mode! ### 2/5 — No sound *2012-02-20* The sound function doesn't work for some reasons. ### 3/5 — Almost *2014-10-01* What I really wanted was a spelling program that actually used phonics. This is close but misses the target. If you could choose from the phonics lists then add your own words that are not in there, it would be so much better. I am trying to help my son learn the lists provided by the school. ### 3/5 — Cute, but not entirely accurate *2014-05-07, version 3.4* This app is aesthetically pleasing and kids would have fun with it, but I would not put this in the hands of a beginning or struggling reader. It does not account for vowels and others letter combos having more than one sound. Example: /i/ in think and /i/ in pig; /th/ in bath and /th/ in there. The sound of the letter tiles only offers one sound. ### 3/5 — Express limitations.. *2013-01-12* We have only tried the 'create your own list'. It's useful for practising school work, but frustratingly words can only be a maximum of 8 letters long - we have 'furniture' in the list this week. It would also be useful if you could undo a letter when you realise it's wrong... ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Fun and useful free spelling app *2016-11-27, version 4.3* Thumbs up! ### 5/5 — Awesome *2014-05-08, version 3.4* My students love this app!!! I like that you can add your own list into the app. It is a great, engaging spelling practice app. ### 5/5 — Great app *2014-01-15* I love this app and my kids do too. It would be great if there was a French version too. ### 5/5 — Great App! *2013-09-15, version 3.2* I love the fact that I can share spellig-word lists with the students! ### 5/5 — Excellent *2013-08-22* This app was very helpful for my daughter (in year 6) and she got a 5 in English she is very happy and it's all thanks to this app ### 5/5 — Great learning tool *2012-12-01* Perfect for kids that know their letters and need to start putting them into words. ### 5/5 — Great App For Speech *2012-11-25, version 2.4* I think this app is wonderful, I love that you hear the sounds for the letter. Its what my son needs for his speech delay. The levels are great and the child is able to learn while having fun. The graphics are eye catching and holds the interest of the child. ### 5/5 — fun app *2012-11-24, version 2.4* I use this app in my speech therapy sessions. I can adapt it to fit the varied needs of my students. Sometimes we are working on cooperation and trying to solve a word together, sometimes we are working on sounding out the letters, sometimes we are working on defining the words, and more! ### 5/5 — Perfect! *2012-11-22, version 2.4* Uses sounds to build words instead of letter names. ### 5/5 — Great app *2012-11-21, version 2.4* My son has been playing with another similar app for a long time. This is a natural step up for him with the test function. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*