Comparison

iSpellBetter vs Spelling Notebook

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

Head to head
About

iSpellBetter

This educational game makes spelling practice fun and challenging with increasingly difficult word puzzles. It helps users improve their general spelling skills by tapping into their natural ability to form and retrieve visual images of words. The app features adjustable difficulty and power-ups for strategic players.

Highlights
  • Challenging word puzzles
  • Adjustable difficulty modes
  • Power-up system
  • Visual word image retrieval
  • Customizable word lists
  • Upside-down and backwards words
Features
Read full description

Completely updated with a fresh, new look, our iOS 11 version of iSpellBetter reinvents the educational game genre. You’ll believe it when you play it. Like all compelling video games, it is great fun, with increasingly challenging levels, adjustable difficulty modes and delightful surprises for the determined, strategic player. Amazingly, at the same time, you will become a better speller, as you vanquish words that are not just right-side-up, but once you get to Level 4, upside-down, backwards, plus both upside-down and backwards! You had better earn and save your power-ups, since you’re sure to need them. It’s not just practice or a test of what you already know… no letter scramble disguised as a game. Rather, our straightforward and engaging approach taps your natural capacity to form, hold and retrieve visual images. You’ll not only easily and enjoyably learn the words you encounter in the game – including your own word lists, if you choose – you’ll actually become a much better speller in general.

About

Spelling Notebook

Create personalized spelling lists, practice words with audio pronunciation, and test your knowledge. Earn stars for correct answers and focus on words you need to master. Ideal for students and anyone looking to improve their spelling skills.

Highlights
  • Create personalized word lists
  • Audio pronunciation for words
  • Test spelling knowledge
  • Earn stars for correct words
  • Practice words needing mastery
  • Record your own voice
  • Extensive searchable dictionary
Features
Read full description

Create a personalized list of words to practice. Test your spelling - hear each word spoken. Get a star for each correct word. Practice just the words you have yet to master. Retest your words at anytime. Students can practice their words independently. Originally designed to be a replacement for a student's spelling notebook which lists words to be learnt for school each week. Unlike a paper notebook, SpellingNotebook can speak each of the words to enable testing and practice without seeing the written word. SpellingNotebook contains a full searchable spelling dictionary so that words can be added directly to the student's word list, minimizing entry errors. User Reviews * This app is awesome I have a spelling test coming up and I can spell every word correctly thanks to this app!!! (US) * Makes spelling practice fun (UK) * So fun!!!! This is a great app for kids and adults! (US) * Great App!!! Whole class uses it!! (Australia) Spelling Notebook features: * Students can practice independently * More than 100,000 words - add new words to the built in spelling dictionary when needed * Spelling Notebook has a built in voice that can say all words in its extensive dictionary and any new english words added * Optionally Record your own voice for the word you want to practice. You can record just the word, or even a whole phrase to help you recognize which word to spell. * Multiple English regions: UK, US, Canada, Australia and NZ * Earn a star for correct words * Keep multiple word lists * Edit word lists: add or delete words, add or delete an entire word list, rename your list * Import words from one wordlist into another * Words are selected from an extensive dictionary - minimizing entry errors * Help available in app to guide and support * Word list Copy and Paste * History of Word list tests and practice * Email test results * 8 words per list: Upgrade to Premium for unlimited words per list and a selection of UK, US and Australian voices. The built-in spelling dictionary is automatically selected by region. For countries outside US, Canada, Australia and NZ, the UK spelling dictionary is selected. Follow us on Instagram: @spellingnotebook Recommended Ages: All, Kids Categories: Education, Productivity, Apps for Kids

Screenshots

iSpellBetter4 screens
Spelling Notebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Spelling Notebook at 4.6 against iSpellBetter's 3.3. Spelling Notebook also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 21 months) and review sentiment (86% vs 60%). iSpellBetter's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, 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. Spelling Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iSpellBetter asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spelling Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spelling Notebook has 2.7K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of iSpellBetter's written reviews are positive against 86% of Spelling Notebook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iSpellBetter ships an update every 21 months, Spelling Notebook every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
iSpellBetter versus Spelling Notebook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSpellBetterSpelling Notebook
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (7 ratings)4.6 (2.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews86.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings72.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNext Learning LLCAko Software Ltd.

Customer experience

iSpellBetter

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative33.3%

Spelling Notebook

All ratings2,660 ratings
Positive89.8%
Neutral3.8%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews270 reviews
Positive86.3%
Neutral5.9%
Negative7.8%

Bugs and requests

iSpellBetter

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Spelling Notebook

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Word lists disappearing after device change
  • Keyboard issues causing app crashes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add dictionary definitions
  • Improve pronunciation quality
  • Allow more words in free version
  • Implement a dark mode
  • Add ability to share/sync word lists

In-app purchases

None

iSpellBetter

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Spelling Notebook

One-time1
  • Upgrade to Premium$1.99

Questions

Is iSpellBetter free?
iSpellBetter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Spelling Notebook free?
Spelling Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iSpellBetter or Spelling Notebook?
Spelling Notebook is rated higher. iSpellBetter averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Spelling Notebook averages 4.6 from 2.7K ratings.
Do iSpellBetter or Spelling Notebook have ads?
Neither iSpellBetter nor Spelling Notebook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iSpellBetter or Spelling Notebook?
iSpellBetter ships an update every 21 months, and Spelling Notebook every 3 months. Most recently, iSpellBetter was updated on October 6, 2026 and Spelling Notebook on October 14, 2026.

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