Spell vs SymbolSupport Lite
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Spell
This early academic program uses an errorless learning method to help users identify, spell, and recognize words. It supports external keyboards and offers special feedback for blind learners. The lite version focuses on core word learning functionalities.
- Errorless learning method
- Word identification and spelling
- Word recognition for reading
- External keyboard support
- Scaffolding for cognitive challenges
- Special feedback for blind learners
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A "lite" version of Spell-A-Word, our large-print, early academic program for beginning to advanced letter users. It uses an errorless learning method. Spell-A-Word works on identification, spelling, & word recognition (for reading). WORKS WITH EXTERNAL KEYBOARD, such as our Colored-Rows BigKeys, or any Bluetooth keyboard (or *any* USB keyboard)! Or choose from the regular iOS keyboard, or Spell-A-Word's own 1-row-at-a-time one). Scaffolding (as much help as needed but as little as possible) is embedded so as to help those with significant cognitive challenges. The full version allows you to easily enter lists of spelling words/phrases for the learner to practice and be tested on. WordLists consisting of hundreds of words/sounds/pictures are available from the developer's website at no charge. Spell-A-Word even has special feedback for blind learners.
SymbolSupport Lite
This app allows users to read, listen to, and print documents created with a companion app. It automatically adds symbols to text as it's typed or pasted, aiding comprehension. Users can customize symbols and share documents in various formats.
- Read and print symbolized documents
- Automatic symbol addition to text
- Text-to-speech with word highlighting
- Symbol customization and image import
- Document sharing via AirDrop, email, cloud
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Note: SymbolSupport Lite is a free app. It can receive, read aloud, and print documents that have been created with the SymbolSupport app. SymbolSupport Lite cannot create or edit documents. It can be upgraded to the full version through the in-app Store. SymbolSupport is an iPad utility app that effortlessly adds symbols to text. As textis typed, symbols are automatically added above it. Text can also be copied from pre-existing written materials and pasted into SymbolSupport where symbols are instantly added. Documents are read with a high-quality text-to-speech voice and include word-by-word highlighting. This support helps students better understand class assignments.Symbols from Slater Literacy Support Pictures™ and Attainment’s Image Library are included. Plus, there is easy access to your camera roll and a built-in internet image search.Easy-to-use editing tools include changing auto-assigned symbols to other symbols or imported images and removing symbols from text to reduce the number of symbols on a page. SymbolSupport is designed to create symbolized text quickly and easily. Sharing these documents is equally important. Share documents via AirDrop, email, or send to any cloud storage setup on the iPad. Documents can be sent as a PDF for studentportfolios or shared with parents. Documents can also be sent as a SymbolSupport file which can be opened by SymbolSupport or SymbolSupport Lite apps.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SymbolSupport Lite at 3.3 against Spell's 2.0. SymbolSupport Lite also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (4 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
Both are free to download. Spell sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SymbolSupport Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
SymbolSupport Lite holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.
Spell ships an update every 6 months, SymbolSupport Lite every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Spell | SymbolSupport Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (1 ratings) | 3.3 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 71 MB | 304 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RJ Cooper & Associates, Inc. | Attainment Company |
Customer experience
Spell
SymbolSupport Lite
In-app purchases
Spell
- Upgrade to Full Version of Spell-A-Word$4.99
SymbolSupport Lite
- Upgrade to Full Version$59.99
Questions
Is Spell free?
Is SymbolSupport Lite free?
Which has better reviews, Spell or SymbolSupport Lite?
Do Spell or SymbolSupport Lite have ads?
Which is updated more often, Spell or SymbolSupport Lite?
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