Comparison

Shape Coding vs Colourful Semantics Classic

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

Head to head
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/

About

Colourful Semantics Classic

Features
Read full description

Unlock the Power of Sentence Building with Colourful Semantics Classic! Get ready to boost sentence-building skills through fun, interactive activities! Using vibrant images and symbols, you can create a variety of scenarios that make learning engaging and enjoyable. Designed by a certified Speech-Language Therapist, these dynamic resources are perfect for speech and language therapy, classroom use, or even at home. Help learners improve sentence structure with ease! What is Colourful Semantics? It’s a proven approach to help learners master sentence construction and develop stronger writing skills in a way that's both fun and effective. So Simple, So Fun! Dive right in—select an activity, and drag the right answers into place. Each activity is designed to be intuitive and entertaining, making learning feel like play. Tailored Just for You! Customise your experience by adjusting the TTS voice, choosing between American or British English, and modifying the activity length. You can even control which semantic elements appear, allowing you to tweak the difficulty level to fit your needs. Start building better sentences today with Colourful Semantics Classic—where learning meets fun!

Screenshots

Shape Coding4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Colourful Semantics Classic at $8.99 against Shape Coding's $19.99. Shape Coding's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, 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

Shape Coding costs $19.99 and Colourful Semantics Classic $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and May 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Shape Coding versus Colourful Semantics Classic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShape CodingColourful Semantics Classic
Price$19.99$8.99 — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size357 MB260 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMoor House School & CollegeTherapy Box Limited

In-app purchases

None

Shape Coding

No in-app purchases

None

Colourful Semantics Classic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shape Coding free?
Shape Coding costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Colourful Semantics Classic free?
Colourful Semantics Classic costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Shape Coding or Colourful Semantics Classic have ads?
Neither Shape Coding nor Colourful Semantics Classic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shape Coding or Colourful Semantics Classic?
Shape Coding ships an update every 2 months, and Colourful Semantics Classic every 2 months. Most recently, Shape Coding was updated on September 21, 2026 and Colourful Semantics Classic on May 17, 2026.

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