Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 vs Number Cubes Deluxe
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/
Number Cubes Deluxe
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Using Number Cubes to teach basic arithmetic offers several educational benefits. These manipulatives make learning interactive and fun, which can increase student engagement and motivation. The experience of manipulating Number Cubes helps solidify abstract mathematical concepts, making them more concrete and understandable. Additionally, Number Cubes are versatile tools that can be used in a variety of activities, promoting cooperative learning and critical thinking. They also provide immediate visual feedback, which aids in the quick recognition and correction of mistakes, thereby enhancing students' problem-solving skills and confidence in their mathematical abilities. Whole numbers, fractions or decimals appear at the top of the screen. By touching a number and then sliding down onto the grid students can move and place a set of number cubes. The app has three different modes and the sets of number cubes can represent whole numbers from 1 to 10, fractions from 1/10 to 1 and decimals from 0.1 to 1.0. The app presents challenges for the students to complete. For example a challenge might be to find two sets of cubes that are equal in length to a given set of cubes. A variety of special features make it fun for students to use Number Cubes. Speech is used to describe activities and reward correct answers. Sound effects add to the fun of using the app. A scoreboard keeps track of students performance and can be kept over time or cleared if the app is used by other students in a classroom situation.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 at every 5 months against Number Cubes Deluxe's every 26 months. Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 also leads on chart position (#163 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). Number Cubes Deluxe's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (13.2 vs 15.0). On 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 Number Cubes Deluxe $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 ships an update every 5 months, Number Cubes Deluxe every 26 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 | Number Cubes Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (23 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 81.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 23 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 26 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #163 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 191 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pyxwise Software Inc. | Ventura Educational Systems |
In-app purchases
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
No in-app purchases
Number Cubes Deluxe
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 free?
Is Number Cubes Deluxe free?
Do Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 or Number Cubes Deluxe have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 or Number Cubes Deluxe?
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