Comparison

SAT Vocabulary vs Simplex Spelling Phonics 3

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

Head to head
About

SAT Vocabulary

Master 365 essential words for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. This app uses interactive flashcards and a hangman game to make vocabulary learning fun and effective, with features like automatic review of missed words and progress tracking.

Highlights
  • 365 commonly tested words
  • Interactive flashcards
  • Hangman vocabulary game
  • Automatic missed word tracking
  • Definitions, synonyms, and usage examples
  • Email report card
Features
Read full description

High scores on the critical reading sections of standardized tests like the SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE and LSAT, require a strong working vocabulary. The best way to achieve that, is through years of reading a wide variety of challenging materials. But if you haven't got time for that now, try this app. SuperKids' SAT Vocab app provides a fun and easy way to master 365 of the most commonly encountered words on this test. SuperKids' users agree: o "Lots more fun than memorizing a stack of flashcards." o "Beats lugging that giant book around with me and looking like a nerd." o "Effective and efficacious." SuperKids.com's educational software experts have reviewed thousands of programs since 1995. Their teams of parents, teachers, and kids have been exposed to the best, and the well, not-as-good in educational technology. They know what works, and what doesn't, and their word is trusted by a million visitors/month. Here, in SuperKids SAT Vocabulary, they have created an effective quick-study app for the iPhone that can be used for a few minutes at a time while on the go, or in extended sessions. This app provides a coordinated review and game pair that makes expanding your vocabulary easy and fun. Students use interactive flash cards to learn and review, and then practice their knowledge in a game of hangman. These elements activate different learning centers in the brain, and utilize active study and immersive recall techniques to improve memory acquisition and retention. Special features include: - definitions, synonyms, and a usage example for each word - bi-directional learning: words to definitions, definitions to words - learn in monthly sets - automatic missed word tracking and review - high score tracking for each player - email report card and study review - game position and status memory Words included in this app are based on the SAT vocabulary set honed by millions of users of SuperKids.com's online tools over the last ten years. A strong vocabulary is an essential element of understanding and communication. Use this app to give your child the linguistic foundation to achieve their potential, and become a SuperKid at school and beyond. Questions or suggestions? Email us at apps@superkids.com And be sure to check out our growing family of educational products in the iTunes App Store.

About

Simplex Spelling Phonics 3

This app enhances English spelling and reading skills through phonics lessons, word patterns, and a unique reverse phonics approach. It scientifically helps students improve their spelling, covering over 750 high-frequency words and 52 instructional lists.

Highlights
  • Phonics lessons and word patterns
  • Reverse phonics approach
  • 750+ high-frequency words
  • 52 instructional lessons
  • Contextual spelling rule hints
  • Progress tracking for 40 users
  • Exportable progress reports
Features
Read full description

Simplex Spelling is one of the best ways to improve English spelling and reading skills. Using a powerful combination of phonics lessons, spelling/word patterns, syllabication, our unique “reverse phonics” (phonics encoding) approach and contextually relevant spelling rules. Scientifically validated as a highly effective approach to improving spelling skills, a published study revealed that students demonstrated an average spelling improvement of 1.9 grades among children in a classroom setting who regularly used Simplex Spelling over a 18 week period. The largest student improvement observed over the same time period was 4.4 grade levels as assessed by administering the Schonell Spelling Test. 

Teaching over a year of spelling curriculum with more than 750 high frequency words divided into 52 lists that are organized by spelling patterns and difficulty levels. Each of the 52 lists comes with a lesson that teaches one of the basic building blocks of spelling in the English language. Students learn a new concept for each lesson building on the skills learned from previous lessons and those covered in Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 & 2. Simplex Spelling Phonics Advanced Phonograms guides the student and acts as a personal spelling coach with every word, while teaching students "how to spell" English words. Every word is broken down into its syllables both visually and auditorily to help students build phonological awareness skills. Our “reverse phonics” hint feature breaks each word down further into individual phonemes to improve phonemic awareness, a critical skill in achieving literacy. Simplex Spelling Advanced Phonograms focuses on some of the more difficult phonograms in the English language in addition to lessons covering contractions and the capitalization of proper nouns. Recommended age 9+
 
Note: You can not create your own spelling lists.

 Features: 
 - Over 750 high frequency spelling words to help build literacy. - Words are spoken and used in a sentence to establish context and improve vocabulary. 
 - Introductory spelling list seamlessly leads a student through all of the application’s features.
 - 52 instructional lessons teach phonics, phonograms, spelling rules, contractions and the capitalization of proper nouns. 
- A full “reverse phonics” approach that builds phonemic awareness. - Contextually relevant spelling rule hints that help explain “how to spell” English words.
 - Letter by letter feedback system provides feedback while the student is in the process of spelling each word. 
 - Support for 40 user accounts. 
 - Remembers each user’s progress in every list.
 - User stats screen track progress with every word. - Export and email progress reports. - Ability to set the number of times a word must be spelled correctly to become mastered. 
 - Supports upper and lower case letters.
 - Supports alphabetic and QWERTY keyboard layouts. 
- Supports US, UK and Canadian English spelling of words.

 Please check the word lists provided on www.pyxwise.com to ensure that the word lists provided in Simplex Spelling meet your educational needs. - Advanced Phonograms has previously been featured by Apple as New & Noteworthy in 20 countries. - "Best Educational App of 2014" - Balefire Labs. -iTeach: Apps For The Classroom - "I was immediately in awe of the design and educational thought that has gone into this product." -Teachers With Apps - Certified Developer - Academics' Choice Award. Privacy Disclosure: 
- Does not contain 3rd party ads 
 - Does not share any data 
 - Does not contain In-App purchases 
 - Contains child protected links in app to developer's website for additional information, support and teaching tips. - Contains child protected link to developer email support. 

COPPA Compliant 
https://pyxwise.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

SAT Vocabulary4 screens
Simplex Spelling Phonics 34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 at 92% against SAT Vocabulary's 50%. Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 also leads on update cadence (every 13 months vs every 54 months) and rating (4.2 vs 4.0). SAT Vocabulary's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

SAT Vocabulary costs $0.99 and Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of SAT Vocabulary's written reviews are positive against 92% of Simplex Spelling Phonics 3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SAT Vocabulary ships an update every 54 months, Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SAT Vocabulary versus Simplex Spelling Phonics 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSAT VocabularySimplex Spelling Phonics 3
Price$0.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.0 (8 ratings)4.2 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews92.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 54 monthsEvery 13 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB230 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSuperKidsPyxwise Software Inc.

Customer experience

SAT Vocabulary

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

Simplex Spelling Phonics 3

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SAT Vocabulary

No in-app purchases

None

Simplex Spelling Phonics 3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SAT Vocabulary free?
SAT Vocabulary costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 free?
Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SAT Vocabulary or Simplex Spelling Phonics 3?
Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 is rated higher. SAT Vocabulary averages 4.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do SAT Vocabulary or Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 have ads?
Neither SAT Vocabulary nor Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SAT Vocabulary or Simplex Spelling Phonics 3?
SAT Vocabulary ships an update every 54 months, and Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 every 13 months. Most recently, SAT Vocabulary was updated on October 15, 2026 and Simplex Spelling Phonics 3 on October 22, 2026.

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