Comparison

Scan To Pictures vs Simplex Spelling Phonics 2

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Scan To Pictures

This app is a communication training program designed to help individuals learn to use pictures and text for communication. It utilizes animations and real-world consequence pictures, allowing users to add their own motivating images. It can be controlled via touchscreen or switches, serving as a bridge to more advanced communication tools.

Highlights
  • Communication training program
  • Picture and text communication
  • Switch control support
  • Customizable with personal pictures
  • Animations and real-world consequence visuals
  • Bridge to advanced communication apps
Features
Read full description

Scan To Pictures (STP, for switch(es)) and Point To Pictures (PTP) are communication (AAC) *training* programs, to help those that might eventually use the iPad to communicate via pictures and/or text. Using a library animations and pictures of real-world consequences, the learner learns to pair their switch action with receiving the actual item (food, toy, activity, person, song, etc.). STP *wants* you to add your *own* pictures that are personally motivating to *your* learner, because many times, only a few specific things really 'get through' to a learner. STP can be operated via your touchscreen, but it is really meant to be controlled by the learner's switch(es). RJ Cooper's Bluetooth (BT) Switch Interface, or BT Super-Switch can be used. Step-Scan, Auditory Scan, and our very unique Fullscreen Scan are supported. Before you go to a 'real' communication program, which usually has no 'fun' content, and no 'hand-holding', you will find STP to be a necessary step from cause/effect to more advanced communication apps. Several other tasks are necessary for basic understanding and learning and are offered as separate apps: Find It First Categories Sequencing Gold (includes *all* of the above)

About

Simplex Spelling Phonics 2

This app scientifically improves spelling and reading skills using phonics, word patterns, and syllabication. It offers over 650 words across 54 lessons, breaking down words into syllables and sounds to build phonemic awareness.

Highlights
  • Scientifically validated approach
  • Phonics, word patterns, syllabication
  • Over 650 high-frequency words
  • 54 instructional lessons
  • Reverse phonics hint feature
  • Syllable breakdown (visual & auditory)
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Scientifically validated as a highly effective approach to improving spelling skills. 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. Simplex Spelling is one of the best ways to improve English spelling and reading skills. Using a powerful combination of phonics lessons, spelling/word patterns, syllabication, our unique “reverse phonics” (phonics encoding) approach and contextually relevant spelling rules. - "Simplex Spelling has a feedback method that rivals anything a teacher can do in the classroom. " - Carolina Nugent, Director of Education KinderTown. - "No other literacy apps are this comprehensive." - Teachers With Apps - "WOW!!!! I found my miracle app" - Speech Language Neighborhood - Academics' Choice Award 

Teaching over a year of spelling curriculum with more than 650 high frequency words divided into 54 lists that are organized by spelling patterns and difficulty levels. Each of the 54 lists comes with a lesson that teaches one of the basic building blocks of spelling in the English language. These basic building blocks include syllables, sounds, spelling rules and some of the more advanced English phonograms. 

 Students learn a new concept for each lesson building on the skills learned from previous lessons and those covered in Simplex Spelling Phonics 1. Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 guides the student and acts as a personal spelling coach with every word, while teaching students "how to spell" English words. Our “reverse phonics” hint feature breaks each word down into individual phonemes to improve phonemic awareness, a critical skill in achieving literacy. One of the main areas of focus in Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 is on syllables and how they affect the way we speak, read and spell. Every word is broken down into its syllables both visually and auditorily to help students build phonological awareness skills. Many lessons teach the concepts of open and closed syllables, compound words, the rules governing vowels in syllables and syllable stresses. The stress on each syllable is subtly conveyed with every word to help students understand how the stress on a syllable affects the way words are pronounced and spelled. The schwa sound and its occurrence in English words is also taught.

 Recommended age 6+
 
Note: You can not create your own spelling lists.

 Features: 
 - Over 650 high frequency spelling words to help build literacy. - Words are spoken and used in a sentence to establish context and improve vocabulary. 
 - Introductory spelling list seamlessly leads a student through all of the application’s features.
 - A starting assessment/placement test. - Review lists to track learning progress. - 54 instructional lessons teach syllables, phonics, phonograms, and spelling rules. 
- A full “reverse phonics” approach that builds phonemic awareness. - Contextually relevant spelling rule hints that help explain “how to spell” English words.
 - Letter by letter feedback system provides feedback while the student is in the process of spelling each word. 
 - Support for 40 user accounts. - Export and email student progress reports. 
 
- Supports US, UK and Canadian English spelling of words.

 Privacy Disclosure: 
- Does not contain 3rd party ads 
 - Does not share any data 
 - Does not contain In-App purchases - Contains child protected links to "email the developer questions" and developer's website for additional information, support and teaching tips. COPPA Compliant https://pyxwise.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Simplex Spelling Phonics 24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Scan To Pictures at 5.0 against Simplex Spelling Phonics 2's 3.6. Scan To Pictures also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 65%) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 15 months). Simplex Spelling Phonics 2's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Scan To Pictures costs $1.99 and Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Scan To Pictures holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Scan To Pictures's written reviews are positive against 65% of Simplex Spelling Phonics 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scan To Pictures ships an update every 4 months, Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Scan To Pictures versus Simplex Spelling Phonics 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScan To PicturesSimplex Spelling Phonics 2
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better3.6 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better65.0% of reviews
Number of ratings18 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 15 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB203 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRJ Cooper & Associates, Inc.Pyxwise Software Inc.

Customer experience

Scan To Pictures

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Simplex Spelling Phonics 2

All ratings8 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral15.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

None

Scan To Pictures

No in-app purchases

None

Simplex Spelling Phonics 2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Scan To Pictures free?
Scan To Pictures costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 free?
Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Scan To Pictures or Simplex Spelling Phonics 2?
Scan To Pictures is rated higher. Scan To Pictures averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 averages 3.6 from 8 ratings.
Do Scan To Pictures or Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 have ads?
Neither Scan To Pictures nor Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scan To Pictures or Simplex Spelling Phonics 2?
Scan To Pictures ships an update every 4 months, and Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 every 15 months. Most recently, Scan To Pictures was updated on June 5, 2026 and Simplex Spelling Phonics 2 on September 21, 2026.

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