Comparison

Spelling Shed vs Atom Learning

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

Head to head
About

Spelling Shed

This educational game makes spelling fun and accessible for children worldwide. Designed by teachers, it helps improve spelling, reading, vocabulary, and typing speed through engaging gameplay and customizable support. It offers a unique phonics system and curriculum coverage for comprehensive learning.

Highlights
  • Phonics spelling system
  • Customizable difficulty levels
  • Speed bonuses and hot streaks
  • OpenDyslexic font support
  • League-based scoring and rewards
  • Curriculum-aligned word lists
  • Avatar customization
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Spelling Shed is the #1 spelling game enjoyed by over 2.5 million children every month! Spelling Shed’s multi-award-winning app is the leading spelling app and has been #1 in several countries. Designed by a team of teachers, our platform enables everyone to succeed with spelling and enjoy the process! Used in thousands of schools across the globe, our games make spelling enjoyable, accessible, and achievable. As well as improving spelling, our app significantly impacts reading ability, vocabulary acquisition, and writing. Created by EdShed, the multi-award-winning EdTech company trusted by over 170,000 educators and enjoyed by millions of children worldwide. Improve Results ‣ Spelling Shed is proven to improve results by up to 80%. ‣ Proven to improve student engagement. ‣ Makes spelling fun, effective, and meaningful. ‣ Reduces teacher workload. Play a variety of games ‣ Feed Hungry Horses, shoot your shot in Penalty Spell-out, take on a Shed Load, or play the original Spelling Bee game. The choice of how you practice spelling is yours. ‣ Avoid the lava and beat Chipper. Squirrel Scurry allows you to play solo or against the computer and choose to reach the top or enjoy endless gameplay. ‣ Includes bonus Bee Keeper and Buzz Words games. ‣ Boost vocabulary acquisition by playing Missing Words or Definitions games. ‣ Choose from 4 different levels: easy, medium, hard, and extreme! Play Hive Games ‣ Hive games are multi-player games that allow you to play with your friends or classmates in real-time. ‣ Create your own hives or join others. ‣ See real-time league statistics between each word spelled. ‣ Includes a range of levels and play options. Empowering Every Learner ‣ Inclusive and accessible for all students. ‣ Includes multi-modal learning options such as audio assistance and being able to read the word before spelling it. ‣ Choose from 4 different levels: easy, medium, hard, and extreme! ‣ Choose the amount of support needed to succeed. ‣ Ensures every learner experiences success to further motivate them. ‣ Gives instant feedback and rewards. ‣ Clear interface reduces cognitive load and makes navigation simple. ‣ Proven to be effective for students with ADHD, dyslexia, and autism. Play anytime, anywhere ‣ Online and offline play enables you to play anytime, anywhere. ‣ Play with classmates from home. ‣ Perfect for in-class practice or home learning. ‣ No in-app downloads required. ‣ Engaging games that fit around busy schedules. 100% Curriculum Coverage ‣ Choose from over 1,000,000 word lists. ‣ Provides full curriculum coverage for spelling. ‣ Subscribers (via website) can use alongside Spelling Shed’s evidence-based spelling curriculum. ‣ Create your own custom word lists. Unique Phonics Spelling System ‣ Choose to spell using graphemes or letters. ‣ Select ‘phonics on’ to spell words using graphemes. ‣ Support phonics learning ‣ Support home learning of phonics. The Science of Spelling ‣ Use alongside Spelling Shed’s evidence-based spelling curriculum for maximum impact. Subscribe via Spelling Shed’s website. ‣ Support phonological knowledge. ‣ Develop orthographical knowledge. ‣ Strengthen morphological knowledge. Celebrate Success ‣ Receive instant feedback. ‣ Honeypots are awarded immediately. ‣ Honeypots are EdShed’s currency, which can be spent on customizing your avatar. ‣ Harder levels and bonuses give more points and honeypots. ‣ More points gives a higher league position in class league. ‣ More points also mean a higher class/group position in school and world leagues!

About

Atom Learning

This platform offers personalized learning for children aged 7-16, covering maths, English, and reasoning. It adapts to individual progress, prepares for exams, and provides revision tools. Learning syncs across devices for continuous study.

Highlights
  • Adaptive learning across subjects
  • 11+ and entrance exam preparation
  • GCSE revision with mock tests
  • Personalized learning journeys
  • Progress tracking and rewards
  • Cross-device progress syncing
Features
Read full description

Atom Learning is an award-winning online learning platform used by 350,000 families and 2,000+ schools across the UK. This app brings your Atom Learning account to iPhone and iPad, so learning travels with you - at home, on the move, or anywhere in between. Designed for children aged 7 to 16, Atom Learning grows with your child. From building early confidence in Key Stage 2, through 11+ and entrance exam preparation, all the way to GCSE revision. It's one platform that adapts to where your child is now and where they're heading next. This app is for families with an Atom Learning account. Sign in with your existing login and everything is there, ready to go: your child's progress, their personalised learning journey, and their exact place picked up where they left off. What your child can do in the app Learn across maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning Prepare for 11+ and independent school entrance exams with realistic mock tests Revise for GCSEs with targeted practice, predicted papers with instant marking. Progress through thousands of questions that adapt to their level, keeping them challenged but never overwhelmed Earn rewards and track milestones that keep motivation high Built around how children actually learn Atom Learning's adaptive technology meets your child at the right level and adjusts as they improve, so every session on Atom helps them progress. Instant feedback and clear explanations turn mistakes into growth, and bite-sized sessions fit around busy family life. Everything stays in sync Start on the tablet, continue on the phone, finish on the computer - progress syncs seamlessly across every device. Your child can keep learning on the go, whether or not there's a steady connection. Trusted by families and schools Atom Learning is used in homes and classrooms across the UK, supporting children from Year 3 right through their secondary school years. It's designed to take the guesswork out of learning at home, giving your child a clear path forward and giving you confidence in their progress. New to Atom Learning? Visit our Help Centre to discover how Atom works, what's included, and how it can support your child's learning journey.

Screenshots

Spelling Shed4 screens
Atom Learning4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Atom Learning at Free against Spelling Shed's $2.99. Atom Learning also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 53%). Spelling Shed's advantage is chart position (#38 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Atom Learning is free to download; Spelling Shed costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spelling Shed ships an update every 5 weeks, Atom Learning monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Spelling Shed versus Atom Learning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpelling ShedAtom Learning
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (520 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews52.9% of reviews62.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings520 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#38 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size157 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEducation Shed LtdAtom Learning Ltd

Customer experience

Spelling Shed

All ratings520 ratings
Positive81.9%
Neutral5.4%
Negative12.7%
Written reviews221 reviews
Positive52.9%
Neutral11.8%
Negative35.3%

Atom Learning

Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

Spelling Shed

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues and lost progress
  • Compatibility problems with updates
  • Inconsistent performance on different devices
  • Difficulty adding and managing spelling lists

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow customization of spelling lists
  • Improve audio quality and clarity
  • Add more game modes and features
  • Provide better progress tracking

Atom Learning

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Spelling Shed

No in-app purchases

None

Atom Learning

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spelling Shed free?
Spelling Shed costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Atom Learning free?
Atom Learning is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Spelling Shed or Atom Learning have ads?
Neither Spelling Shed nor Atom Learning shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spelling Shed or Atom Learning?
Spelling Shed ships an update every 5 weeks, and Atom Learning monthly. Most recently, Spelling Shed was updated on September 27, 2026 and Atom Learning on September 14, 2026.

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