Comparison

Initial Code Full Version vs Shape Coding

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Initial Code Full Version

This app supports learning to read and spell in English through a phonics program. It offers activities for blending, segmenting, and word/sentence reading and writing, with units unlocking as progress is made.

Highlights
  • Phonics-based reading and spelling
  • Blending and segmenting activities
  • Sound-spelling correspondence
  • Word and sentence reading/writing
  • Unit-based progression
Read full description

The official app for the Sounds-Write Initial Code phonics programme, for learning to read and spell in English. ******* IPAD ONLY ******* This app is currently unavailable on the iPhone because of the writing element of the app. For young children to become fluent readers and spellers they need to rehearse and consolidate what they are learning. It is this, repeated over and over again, that enables their access to alphabetic code knowledge and skills to become totally automatic and internalised processes. This app offers a variety of activities to develop the skills of blending and segmenting, sound spelling correspondence, word reading and writing and some sentences reading and writing. The app has been designed to introduce all the sound-spelling correspondences your child(ren) needs to learn to put them well on the way to learning to read and write. Each unit will be locked until the child has completed enough of the current unit to be able to progress. For more information on the Sounds-Write programme please visit www.sounds-write.co.uk

About

Shape Coding

This app uses a visual coding system to help children and young people improve their understanding and production of English sentence structure and grammar. It's designed for educators and therapists to personalize learning for individual students.

Highlights
  • Visual coding system for grammar
  • Color-coded word classes
  • Arrow indicators for tense
  • Shape indicators for syntax
  • Personalized student profiles
  • Customizable word lists
  • Text-to-speech functionality
Features
Read full description

Please try the free Lite version before purchase to ensure all functionality will work on your device. SHAPE CODING® by Susan Ebbels is a flexible app designed for teachers and speech and language therapists / pathologists to use with children and young people who are having difficulties producing and understanding English sentence structure and grammar. It uses the SHAPE CODING® system which has been shown in several research projects to help children and young people with language disorders increase the length and complexity of sentences they can understand and use and to improve the accuracy of their sentence production. The SHAPE CODING® system uses a visual coding system to show the rules for how words are put together in sentences, to develop the child’s understanding of spoken and written grammar and to develop their ability to use grammar successfully to express themselves. The system includes use of colours (word classes), arrows (tense and aspect), lines (singular and plural) and shapes (syntactic structure). These are all included in the app, but the professional controlling the app can choose which features display for individual students. Multiple “teachers” can use the app and each “teacher” can have multiple students. The app is personalised for each student. The app is designed to be flexible so that professionals can adapt the levels and information displayed to suit the current levels and targets of individual students. The default first setting for each new student includes only basic sentence structures. Further complexity can be turned on (and off) by the “teacher” and individual settings are preserved for each student between uses. The app is equipped with a basic set of words which can be inserted into the shapes to make sentences. However, additional words can be added for individual students, or indeed for all students working with a particular “teacher” (this can be useful for names and topics which are common across a class of students for example). These can either be added before a session with a student, or during a session and can be saved for future use if desired. The app uses text-to-speech, so that students who struggle to read can also use the app. This app assumes a certain degree of familiarity with the SHAPE CODING® system. For more information see www.shapecoding.com. Training on how to use the SHAPE CODING® system is available from https://training.moorhouseinstitute.co.uk/. For a demonstration of some of the features of the app see https://shapecoding.com/demo-videos/, and for Frequently Asked Questions see: https://shapecoding.com/app-info/faqs/. Follow us on Twitter @ShapeCoding, Facebook @ShapeCoding and Instagram @shape_coding or if you have any problems or feedback, please contact us at training@moorhouseschool.co.uk Please review our privacy policy https://shapecoding.com/privacy-policy-apple/

Screenshots

Shape Coding4 screens

Verdict

The call

Initial Code Full Version and Shape Coding both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Initial Code Full Version's written reviews are positive against 44% of Shape Coding's. Initial Code Full Version also leads on price ($5.99 vs $19.99). Shape Coding's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Initial Code Full Version costs $5.99 and Shape Coding $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Initial Code Full Version against 5.0 for Shape Coding. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Initial Code Full Version's written reviews are positive against 44% of Shape Coding's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Initial Code Full Version ships an update every 5 months, Shape Coding every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Initial Code Full Version versus Shape Coding: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInitial Code Full VersionShape Coding
Price$5.99 — better$19.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB357 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSounds-Write LtdMoor House School & College

Customer experience

Initial Code Full Version

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Shape Coding

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative55.6%

In-app purchases

None

Initial Code Full Version

No in-app purchases

None

Shape Coding

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Initial Code Full Version free?
Initial Code Full Version costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shape Coding free?
Shape Coding costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Initial Code Full Version or Shape Coding?
Initial Code Full Version and Shape Coding are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Initial Code Full Version or Shape Coding have ads?
Neither Initial Code Full Version nor Shape Coding shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Initial Code Full Version or Shape Coding?
Initial Code Full Version ships an update every 5 months, and Shape Coding every 2 months. Most recently, Initial Code Full Version was updated on November 11, 2026 and Shape Coding on November 2, 2026.

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