Comparison

Shape Coding vs Monster Spelling Piano

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

Monster Spelling Piano

This app makes learning letters and sounds engaging for children through fun characters and visual aids. It helps develop phonemic awareness and master grapheme-to-phoneme correspondences, supporting neurodiverse learners.

Highlights
  • IPA Phonemies and Speech Sound Monsters
  • Code Mapping® for grapheme clarification
  • Visual aids like highlights and split digraphs
  • Over 100 high-frequency irregular words
  • Supports children with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia
  • Multi-sensory Speech Sound Mapping approach
Features
Read full description

The Monster Spelling Piano app is designed to make learning 'letters and sounds' fun and easy for children. With the IPA Phonemies, fun Speech Sound Monster characters, and Code Mapping® to clarify graphemes, the app offers visual enhancements such as black/white highlights and split digraphs in blue for improved understanding. It also includes over 100 high-frequency 'irregular' words to help children confidently navigate English orthography. Ideal for neurodiverse classrooms, The Monster Spelling Piano app is widely used by speech therapists and educators who follow the Speech Sound Pics Approach and use Speech Sound Play to develop Phonemic Awareness Mastery. It supports children with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia through its engaging, multi-sensory Speech Sound Mapping approach to securing core grapheme-to-phoneme correspondences (GPCs). For more details, see our Privacy Policy and EULA. https://mappedwords.com/privacy

Screenshots

Shape Coding4 screens
Monster Spelling Piano4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Monster Spelling Piano at 100% against Shape Coding's 44%. Monster Spelling Piano also leads on price ($14.99 vs $19.99). Shape Coding's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On ads, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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 Monster Spelling Piano $14.99 up front. Monster Spelling Piano sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Shape Coding asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shape Coding ships an update every 2 months, Monster Spelling Piano every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 8, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shape Coding versus Monster Spelling Piano: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShape CodingMonster Spelling Piano
Price$19.99$14.99 — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.4
Further details — not scored
Size357 MB105 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMoor House School & CollegeEdCode Ltd

Customer experience

Shape Coding

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

Monster Spelling Piano

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Shape Coding

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Monster Spelling Piano

Subscriptions1
  • Monster Spelling Piano App$4.991 Year

Questions

Is Shape Coding free?
Shape Coding costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Monster Spelling Piano free?
Monster Spelling Piano costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Do Shape Coding or Monster Spelling Piano have ads?
Neither Shape Coding nor Monster Spelling Piano shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shape Coding or Monster Spelling Piano?
Shape Coding ships an update every 2 months, and Monster Spelling Piano every 4 months. Most recently, Shape Coding was updated on October 8, 2026 and Monster Spelling Piano on October 8, 2026.

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