Simplex Spelling Light vs Picture Packets
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simplex Spelling Light
This app enhances spelling and reading skills with a unique "reverse phonics" approach and contextually relevant spelling rules. It offers interactive learning for various student types, providing immediate feedback and explanations for word construction.
- Reverse phonics approach
- Contextual spelling rule hints
- Letter-by-letter feedback
- Over 50 high-frequency words
- Spoken words in sentences
- User stats and reporting
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Simplex Spelling Light improves spelling and reading skills in a fun and interactive way using a unique “reverse phonics” approach in combination with contextually relevant spelling rules. It has the same critically acclaimed design and features as the full versions of Simplex Spelling but comes with its own new high frequency word spelling lists. This Light version has been made available so that customers can evaluate the Simplex Spelling software to decide if they want to purchase a full version of Simplex Spelling Sight Words, CVC Words, Phonics1, Phonics2, or Phonics3. Simplex Spelling Light contains the main features of the full versions, while targeting more than 50 all new high frequency words in the English language. This makes the Light version a beautiful compliment to the full versions of Simplex Spelling. The Light version also includes placement tests in the Phonics1, Phonics2, and Phonics 3 classrooms to help customers determine which app is the best fit. In contrast with many of the current approaches that use flash cards, Simplex Spelling enables the student to build each word. Students gain skills above and beyond the sheer memorization of words, as the informative spelling rule hint feature explains why words are spelled in a particular manner. Simplex Spelling's unique, immediate letter by letter feedback system is designed with clues and hints that will enable every student to spell each word successfully. Simplex Spelling enhances understanding in a variety of students as it appeals to audio, visual and tactile learners. It is great tool to have for kids learning to spell, remedial students, or those learning English as a second language. Recommended for ages 5+. Note: You can not create your own spelling lists in Simplex Spelling Light. Features: - Over 50 high frequency spelling words to help build literacy. - Spelling words are spoken and used in a sentence to establish context. - The introduction spelling list seamlessly leads a student through all of the application’s features by providing spoken information while having the student spell new words. - A powerful phonics hint feature sounds out each word and provides a list of possible phonograms for each sound. - Features a full “reverse phonics” approach that includes sounds made by all the different letter combinations. This is in addition to the basic “single letter” phonics that most applications are limited to. - Contextually relevant spelling rule hints that help explain “how to spell” English words. - Unique letter by letter feedback system that provides feedback while the student is in the process of spelling each word. - Guaranteed success on every word. - Support for 40 user accounts. - User stats screen that allows you to see at a glance words that have been mastered and words that require further practice. - Ability to export & email student reports. - Remembers each user’s position in every list, so that you can immediately resume from where you last left off. - Supports both upper and lower case letters. - Supports both alphabetic and QWERTY keyboard layouts. - Supports both US, UK and Canadian English spelling of words. - An approach that appeals to audio, visual and tactile learners. Privacy Disclosure: - No 3rd party ads - Does not share any data - No In-App purchases - Contains child protected links to Apple App Store. - 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/
Picture Packets
This app is part of a comprehensive reading and writing curriculum designed for beginning readers or those who have struggled with literacy. It focuses on matching words to pictures to reinforce reading comprehension and vocabulary. The program aims to help children read and write creatively within a structured learning environment.
- Word-to-picture matching
- Reinforces reading comprehension
- Vocabulary building
- Part of a 14-app curriculum
- No audio hints
- Progressive learning levels
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Center for Innovation in Education Picture Packets - Words Dekodiphukan Description The seventh of the fourteen apps that comprise the Baratta-Lorton Reading Program. The Reading Program is a reading and writing curriculum for beginning readers and any child who has already experienced difficulty in learning to read. 99% unique – 100% effective - 100% free Background for the fourteen apps The Baratta-Lorton Reading Program also known as Dekodiphukan (pronounced decode if you can) was developed by the Center for Innovation in Education whose many other offerings include Mathematics Their Way, the first non-traditional math curriculum adopted in by the State of California. Dekodiphukan has been in use in classrooms across the United States and Canada since 1985. The Program has been used to teach thousands of children to read and to write regardless of background or supposed lack of reading readiness. To date, no child using the program in a classroom setting has ever failed to learn to read or to write. This Dekodiphukan reading and writing curriculum is now a series of fourteen apps plus a parent-guide for the iPad that, within a period of six months to a year (or occasionally a bit longer for some special needs children), will enable every child using it to read and to write. Reading with enjoyment. Writing creatively. Dekodiphukan is a full fledged curriculum. It is a set of specific learning activities, not a set of games. The curriculum’s fourteen apps are all free with no ads - popup or otherwise - included. While the apps may be downloaded all at once and stored in a folder on the iPad, no more than two or three of the apps are used at any one time by the child. Picture Packets - Words The seventh of the Fourteen Apps There are 24 Picture Packets pages at the two-sound level and 20 Picture Packets pages at the three-sound level. Each Picture Packets page corresponds to a prerequisite Booklet. Picture Packets have sets of ten different words and ten different pictures on each page. When the child can read a booklet without using audio hints, the child is ready for the corresponding Picture Packets page. The ten words and ten pictures in each Booklet teach the child which picture represents which word for the Booklet’s corresponding Picture Packets page. Picture Packets contain no audio hints. Children at this level must read each word and match it to its meaning based on their own unaided blending of the sounds into words. The child places his or her finger on a word in the left-hand column and slides it over to the picture in the right-hand column that represents the meaning of that word. If the child selects the correct picture, the word stays where it is placed. If an incorrect picture is selected, the word bounces back to its starting point in the words column. A page is complete when ten words are matched to ten pictures. The child may continue to read and reread the words on one page as long as he or she wishes. Each time all the words on a page are matched to all the pictures, pressing the curved arrow in the upper right-hand corner moves all the words to their starting point in a different order. Every time the curved arrow is pressed, the words are randomly distributed once again. Picture Packets - Words The child’s first try at reading sounds with no audio hints 24 two-sound pages and 20 three-sound pages Each Picture Packet has a prerequisite Booklet at the same level
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Picture Packets at 5.0 against Simplex Spelling Light's 3.8. Picture Packets also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 77%). Simplex Spelling Light's advantage is update cadence (every 10 months vs every 68 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement 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
Picture Packets holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Simplex Spelling Light's written reviews are positive against 100% of Picture Packets's.
Simplex Spelling Light ships an update every 10 months, Picture Packets every 68 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | Simplex Spelling Light | Picture Packets |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | — |
| Rating | 3.8 (11 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months — better | Every 68 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 257 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pyxwise Software Inc. | Bob Baratta-Lorton |
Customer experience
Simplex Spelling Light
Picture Packets
Bugs and requests
Simplex Spelling Light
Reported bugs
3 issues- Consonant digraphs don't match phonemes
- Letters sounded out individually instead of phonemes
- No volume
Requested features
10 requests- Ability to create custom word lists
- Option to lock lists until mastered
- More word lists/grade levels
- Option to make sentences with words
- Illustrations for engagement
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- Practice and learn section
- Option to select English spellings
- English accent option
- Sticker collecting feature
- More expansions/spelling lists
Picture Packets
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Simplex Spelling Light
No in-app purchases
Picture Packets
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simplex Spelling Light free?
Is Picture Packets free?
Which has better reviews, Simplex Spelling Light or Picture Packets?
Do Simplex Spelling Light or Picture Packets have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simplex Spelling Light or Picture Packets?
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