Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 vs Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro
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/
Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro
This educational app guides students through letter recognition, reading, spelling, and writing. Teachers can customize the learning path, allowing students to follow a set sequence or focus on specific skills. The paid version unlocks all lessons and historical content.
- Progress reports
- Multiple learning modules (letter, reading, spelling, writing)
- Voice identification of module names
- Direct lesson access
- Customizable learning paths for teachers
- Full content in paid version
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Students and teachers can move to different lessons/modules in the program by utilizing the progress report. The names of the modules, in the program, are located on the left side of the screen (letter, reading, spelling, writing, language and dictionary lessons). When you "click" them, the voice will identify the name of the module. Next to each module are numbered buttons. These numbers correspond to the numbered lessons in the table of contents in the manual. One may click on the numbered button and go right to the lesson of their choice. Teachers can decide if they wish to have a student follow the sequence, as it is presented on the program, or may decide to use the program to reinforce a particular reading skill which was just introduced in class. Paid version of "Learn to Read, Write and Spell" iPhone app contains the Introduction, History of English and all Lessons of each module.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro at 5.0 against Simplex Spelling Phonics 1's 4.1. Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 8 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Simplex Spelling Phonics 1's advantage is ratings volume (22 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 has 22 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 ships an update every 8 months, Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 | Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.1 (22 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 81.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 22 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 209 MB | 584 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pyxwise Software Inc. | Rogers Center for Learning |
Customer experience
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro
In-app purchases
Simplex Spelling Phonics 1
No in-app purchases
Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 free?
Is Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro free?
Which has better reviews, Simplex Spelling Phonics 1 or Learn to ReadWriteSpell Pro?
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