# Spelling Notebook vs SpellSmart

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SpellSmart at none against Spelling Notebook's 1. SpellSmart also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). Spelling Notebook's advantage is ratings volume (2.7K vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spelling Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SpellSmart asks for nothing beyond the download.

SpellSmart holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spelling Notebook has 2.7K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Spelling Notebook's written reviews are positive against 100% of SpellSmart's.

Spelling Notebook ships an update every 3 months, SpellSmart fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spelling Notebook | SpellSmart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-notebook-learn-test/id461225509/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spellsmart/id6480376688/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.7K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 86.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 24 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ako Software Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/431505822) | [TheAwesomesome](https://appshunter.io/developer/1561106214) |

## What reviewers say

### Spelling Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spelling-notebook-learn-test/id461225509)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Premium | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helps improve spelling
- 💡 Ability to record own voice
- 👍 Customizable word lists
- 👍 Tracks progress and mistakes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Pronunciation issues with some words
- 💰 Limited free version, need to pay for more features
- 🔍 Difficult to manage long word lists in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Word lists disappearing after device change
- Keyboard issues causing app crashes

**Requested features**

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


### SpellSmart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spellsmart/id6480376688)

Practice spelling with interactive modes, including solo and buddy challenges. Upload your own words or use the provided lists to prepare for spelling bees and improve vocabulary. Designed to help students, especially those facing language challenges, build confidence.

**Highlights:** Interactive spelling practice, Solo and Buddy modes, Upload custom word lists, Bookmark words for review, Pronunciation audio, Progress tracking

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spelling Notebook free?

Spelling Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SpellSmart free?

SpellSmart is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Spelling Notebook or SpellSmart?

SpellSmart is rated higher. Spelling Notebook averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.7K ratings, while SpellSmart averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Spelling Notebook or SpellSmart have ads?

Neither Spelling Notebook nor SpellSmart shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spelling Notebook or SpellSmart?

Spelling Notebook ships an update every 3 months, and SpellSmart fortnightly. Most recently, Spelling Notebook was updated on October 14, 2026 and SpellSmart on September 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*