Comparison

Word Wizard vs Scanmarker Reader

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

Head to head
About

Word Wizard

This app helps children aged 4-10 learn to read and spell through interactive word-building and spelling activities. It features a talking movable alphabet, customizable word lists, and progress reports for parents and educators.

Highlights
  • Talking movable alphabet for phonics and word building
  • Customizable word lists with own words and images
  • Multiple spelling activities with increasing difficulty
  • Progress reports for tracking child's development
  • Adaptable settings for letter size, voices, and contrast modes
  • Supports multiple keyboard layouts and letter sizes
Features
Read full description

• "Speak ‘N Spell for the iPad Generation" - The New York Times • Word Wizard is an award-winning app used in schools which offers several unique reading and spelling activities for children ages four to 10. -- Learn to Read by Building Words -- • The Talking Movable Alphabet activity allows kids to experiment with word building and phonics thanks to the advanced text to speech engine (first step in learning to read) • Any text can be written and spoken • 2 child voices + 4 adult voices (US, UK & Australian voices) • Uppercase & lowercase letters, numbers, digraphs, ABC or QWERTY keyboard • Many, many settings to adapt the activities to the child’s needs (letter size, assign images to words, high contrast modes for kids with visual impairment,...) -- Learn to Spell using the Talking Movable Alphabet and your word lists -- • 3 spelling activities that increase in difficulty • 200 built-in word lists (about 2000 words) • Add your own words to create unique spelling quizzes! • Add your own images to illustrate your word lists • Keep tabs on your children’s progress with detailed reports ______ • Used in Schools (140K units sold to schools) • "This is an important breakthrough in reading instruction" - The New York Times • "This is a fantastic app for young children, right through to children in later elementary school " - Wired's GeekDad • Editor's Choice Award for Excellence in Design - Children's Technology Review • Winner of a Parents’ Choice Award • More than 290K units sold! _______ Talking Movable Alphabet Activity _______ • Pronounce and spell-check any word, number or sentence • Natural Sounding Voice - 2 child and 2 adult American voices + 1 British voice + 1 Australian voice • Letter sound (phonic) or name when a letter is touched in the alphabet • 4 keyboards available: letters (ABC or QWERTY, uppercase or lowercase), numbers, consonant digraphs (like “th”) and vowels digraphs (like “oo”) • Keyboard emulation option • 4 letter sizes available (allowing for more or fewer letters on the board) • Customized word pronunciation, if necessary • 4 high contrast modes for kids with vision impairments _______ Fun Spelling Activities _______ 3 spelling activities of increasing difficulty are provided to adapt the activity to the child’s spelling level. You can use the built-in word lists or create your own. 1 - "Word Practice" says and displays the word to spell, and asks the child to spell it 2 - "Scrambled Letters" says the word and displays the letters needed to build the word or sentence, and asks the child to reorder the letters. 3 - “Spelling Quizzes” is a standard spelling test, but the app won’t move onto the next word until the child has correctly spelled the word, helping them to remember its correct spelling. • 200 built-in word lists: Words for beginners (CVC, CCVC, CVCC), Dolch Words, 1,000 most frequently used words, body parts and more • Create custom word lists by entering your own words and sentences • Import and export word lists • Hints are available should kids not know how to spell a word • Once a quiz is completed, interactive animations are available as a reward -- Users & Reports -- • Unlimited number of users • Detailed Spelling Test Reports per user _______ Try it for free, and if you like it, buy the app forever or subscribe monthly for a low fee. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://lescapadou.com/en/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://lescapadou.com/tos/tos-en.html Please send any suggestions to support@lescapadou.com. We listen to our users to improve our products!

About

Scanmarker Reader

This app digitizes printed text scanned by a pen-shaped device, aiding individuals with reading difficulties. It offers customizable reading experiences, including live reading, speed adjustment, and word highlighting, to enhance fluency and comprehension.

Highlights
  • Scan printed text to digital format
  • Live reading while scanning
  • Adjustable reading speed
  • Highlighting words as they are read
  • Read aloud with voice adjustment
  • Integrated dictionary for vocabulary building
Features
Read full description

Use your Scanmarker Reader to scan any printed text, and it will appear automatically in the Scanmarker Reader app on your screen. Scanmarker Reader is a pen-shaped assistive tool for those with reading difficulties or learning disabilities. Scanmarker Reader facilitates the learning process, with emphasis placed on learning features that can be adapted according to individual preference, such as reading live while scanning or only reading selected words and parts of the text, adjusting the speed of reading and highlighting the words as it reads aloud. Get ready to become a fluent reader for life! What skills can I improve with Scanmarker Reader? - Enhance oral language skills with the read live feature. - Build up your word recognition by viewing the highlighted words as it is reading. - Improve decoding and phonological processing by reading selected words. - Develop automaticity and fluency skills with the speed read feature. - Improve reading comprehension with the read aloud and voice adjusting option. - Boost your vocabulary knowledge with the integrated Dictionary.

Screenshots

Word Wizard4 screens
Scanmarker Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Word Wizard at 88% against Scanmarker Reader's 0%. Word Wizard also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (101 vs 3). Scanmarker Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, ads 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

Both are free to download. Word Wizard sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Scanmarker Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Word Wizard holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Word Wizard has 101 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Word Wizard's written reviews are positive against 0% of Scanmarker Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Word Wizard ships an update every 8 months, Scanmarker Reader every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Word Wizard versus Scanmarker Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWord WizardScanmarker Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (101 ratings) — better3.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings101 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB70 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPierre AbelTopscan ltd.

Customer experience

Word Wizard

All ratings101 ratings
Positive82.2%
Neutral1.0%
Negative16.8%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

Scanmarker Reader

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Word Wizard

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Unlock Forever$7.99
None

Scanmarker Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Word Wizard free?
Word Wizard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Scanmarker Reader free?
Scanmarker Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Word Wizard or Scanmarker Reader?
Word Wizard is rated higher. Word Wizard averages 4.2 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while Scanmarker Reader averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Word Wizard or Scanmarker Reader have ads?
Neither Word Wizard nor Scanmarker Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Word Wizard or Scanmarker Reader?
Word Wizard ships an update every 8 months, and Scanmarker Reader every 5 months. Most recently, Word Wizard was updated on October 11, 2026 and Scanmarker Reader on October 2, 2026.

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