Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 vs TT Math 5
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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/
TT Math 5
This app enhances a math course, allowing students to learn independently and on the go, even offline for up to six lessons. It offers audiovisual lectures, practice problems with instant feedback, and detailed explanations for every problem. Parents can track progress with built-in controls.
- Offline learning for up to 6 lessons
- 114 audiovisual lectures
- Thousands of practice problems
- Automated grading and instant feedback
- Step-by-step audiovisual explanations
- Parental progress tracking
- Digitized textbook with search
Read full descriptionHide full description
The Teaching Textbooks Math 5 app makes your TT course even better! Not only will your student enjoy math while learning independently, but, with the app, that learning can also take place on the go. Even when offline! Specifically, the app can be used offline for up to 6 lessons at a time. That makes it perfect for homeschool parents who need their kids to stay productive while the family is out and about during the day. The app’s other features include… • 114 audiovisual lectures that teach every core concept in the standard 5th grade curriculum • thousands of problems that give students all the practice they need to master each concept • automated grading and instant feedback for every single problem • step-by-step audiovisual explanations to every single problem so students can see exactly what they did wrong when mistakes are made (This makes the program feel as if a tutor is at the student’s side!) • parental controls that let you track your student’s progress • the digitized version of the printed Teaching Textbooks Math 5 textbook (with a search feature and a hyper-linked index) • no advertising or in-app purchase offers • Internet connectivity is required, but you can remain offline for up to 6 lessons.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: TT Math 5 at Free against Simplex Spelling Phonics 1's $4.99. TT Math 5 also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (129 vs 22). Simplex Spelling Phonics 1's advantage is rating (4.1 vs 3.2) and review sentiment (81% vs 60%). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
TT Math 5 is free to download; Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TT Math 5 has 129 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Simplex Spelling Phonics 1's written reviews are positive against 60% of TT Math 5's.
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 ships an update every 8 months, TT Math 5 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 | TT Math 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.1 (22 ratings) — better | 3.2 (129 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.4% of reviews — better | 59.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 22 | 129 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 209 MB | 117 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pyxwise Software Inc. | Teaching Textbooks, Inc. |
Customer experience
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
TT Math 5
Bugs and requests
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
TT Math 5
Reported bugs
44 issues- App freezes and glitches when giving hints
- Touch screen not registering numbers
- App freezes up
- App is very laggy
- Sometimes kicks me out of the app
Show 39 moreShow fewer
- Error code A-4 preventing app from opening
- Cannot paste
- Carrying makes you put the second digit in first
- Typing digits the opposite way
- App counts correct answers wrong
- App glitches
- Issues with loading lessons
- App won't load a lesson
- App not working at all
- Syncing info issues
- Password was wrong when it was right
- Lectures are very confusing
- Lost progress
- Custom keyboard is difficult to use
- Buttons don't work
- App boots me out frequently
- App is constantly freezing
- Bluetooth keyboard not working on the app
- Won't let me go into one of the lessons
- Reviewing things done in 2nd grade
- Stickers are freaky
- Hard to access stickers
- Audio is outdated and hard to hear
- Doesn't let me past quiz 2
- When I type a answer it doesn’t let me type it correctly
- App glitches out and kicks me off
- Don't explain it good
- Issues with loading lessons on iPad
- Won't let us use the Bluetooth keyboard
- Won't let me go into one of the lessons
- Syncing info issues
- Missed one day of math
- Stickers are really freaky
- Very hard to access my stickers
- Said my password was wrong when i knew it was right
- Lectures are very confusing
- Keep on loosing my progress
- Lost all progress once
- Custom keyboard is quite difficult to use
Requested features
12 requests- Add a redo button
- Add sound effects to stickers
- More problems on each particular math subject
- Focus practice problems on new lessons first
- Improve review of concepts like Roman Numerals and time
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Option to use standard keyboard
- Fix issues with Bluetooth keyboard
- Allow access to website version if app freezes
- Add cool congratulations at the end of a grade
- Make stickers less freaky
- Improve audio quality and clarity
- Treat older students appropriately
In-app purchases
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
No in-app purchases
TT Math 5
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 free?
Is TT Math 5 free?
Which has better reviews, Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 or TT Math 5?
Do Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 or TT Math 5 have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 or TT Math 5?
Other comparisons















