Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 vs Spike Math
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
This app uses a scientifically validated phonics approach to improve spelling skills. It teaches fundamental spelling patterns, sounds, and rules through structured lessons and high-frequency words, aiming to build long-term literacy and confidence.
- 450+ high-frequency words
- 42 instructional phonics lessons
- Spelling pattern and difficulty organization
- Reverse phonics approach
- Contextual spelling rule hints
- Letter-by-letter feedback
- Starting assessment test
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Scientifically validated as a highly effective approach to improving spelling skills through our phonics approach. 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. Linda Chmiliar, "Improving the Spelling Skills of Students with Learning Disabilities using Apps on the iPad", International Journal of Technology and Inclusive Education, pp. 962-971. Special Issue Volume 3, 2016. Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 teaches a full year of spelling curriculum with over 450 high frequency words divided into 42 lists that are organized by spelling patterns and difficulty levels. Each of the 42 lists comes with a lesson that teaches one of the basic building blocks of spelling in the English language. These basic building blocks include the different phonograms, sounds, and spelling rules. Our spelling lists focus on some of the highest frequency words in the English language to help students establish a base foundation of literacy and confidence with spelling and reading. Students learn a new concept for each lesson building on the skills learned from previous lessons. Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 guides the student and acts as a personal spelling coach with every word, while teaching "how to spell" English words. Memorization may be sufficient to pass a spelling test, but it often does not transfer into good long term reading and spelling skills. Our goal with Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 is to not only teach a list of words, but to teach students “how to spell” these words, thus building long term skills that can be used for over 84% of the words in the English language that follow phonetic patterns. Many studies show that students who learn to read through phonics have a higher level of literacy than students who learn to read by using flash cards and the whole word approach. Also, that not all readers are good spellers, but almost all good spellers are also good readers. This is why Simplex Spelling's comprehensive unique phonics approach to spelling really works to create both better spellers and better readers. Note: Now supports both North American and British accents. Note: You can not create your own spelling lists. Features: - Over 450 high frequency words to help build literacy. - A starting assessment/placement test. - Review lists. - 42 instructional lessons teach phonics, phonograms, and spelling rules. - A full “reverse phonics” approach that includes sounds made by all the different letter combinations. - Contextually relevant spelling rule hints that help explain “how to spell” English words. - Letter by letter feedback system provides immediate feedback. - Guaranteed success on every word. - Support for 40 user accounts. - Export and email student progress reports. - Remembers each user’s progress in every list. - User stats screen to see mastered words and words that require further practice. - Supports both upper and lower case letters. - Supports both alphabetic and QWERTY keyboard layouts. - Supports US, UK and Canadian English spelling of words. - Featured previously by Apple in New & Noteworthy, What's Hot, Words for the Wise and Spelling & Grammar. - Honorable mention in the 2012 Best App Ever Awards - Best Special Needs App. - AppsforHomeschooling (5/5, Golden App Award, 2011 Readers Choice Award) - Academics' Choice Award - Parents' Choice Award Privacy Disclosure: - No 3rd party ads - Does not share any data - No 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/
Spike Math
Engage in a fun arcade experience while practicing mental math. Fly your character, avoid spikes, and select the correct answers to calculations. Collect ducks for bonuses and compare scores with friends.
- Arcade gameplay with math challenges
- Mental math drills
- Times tables practice
- Unlockable bonuses
- Game Center score comparison
- Addition, multiplication, subtraction options
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The new game from the creator of AB Math. Spike Math is an arcade and Math Game. • fly your character on both sides of the screen, but be careful with the spikes! • choose the correct result for the calculation Spike Math allows to do mental math drills in a fun arcade game. Many options are available: • Collect ducks that allow you to unlock bonuses • Compare your score with your friends on the Game Center • Choose the math facts: addition, multiplication, subtraction (with in app purchase) This game is suitable for everyone, children and adults.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Spike Math at $0.99 against Simplex Spelling Phonics 1's $4.99. Spike Math also leads on ratings volume (139 vs 23). Simplex Spelling Phonics 1's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 65%). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 costs $4.99 and Spike Math $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Spike Math holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spike Math has 139 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of Simplex Spelling Phonics 1's written reviews are positive against 65% of Spike Math's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 ships an update every 5 months, Spike Math every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 | Spike Math |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (23 ratings) | 4.2 (139 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.4% of reviews — better | 65.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 23 | 139 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 191 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pyxwise Software Inc. | Nicolas Lehovetzki |
Customer experience
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
Spike Math
In-app purchases
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
No in-app purchases
Spike Math
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 free?
Is Spike Math free?
Which has better reviews, Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 or Spike Math?
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Which is updated more often, Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 or Spike Math?
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