Hands vs Spelling Teacher
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hands
This app offers a challenging introduction to algebra for students who have completed introductory levels. It introduces negative numbers and new game pieces to solve more complex equations, enhancing self-esteem and understanding.
- Solves equations with negative numbers
- Introduces new game pieces for algebraic concepts
- Video introductions for each lesson
- Includes examples and exercises
- Enhances self-esteem through success
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"Great intro to Algebra!" This Hands-On Equations Level 3 app is intended for students who have already completed Level 1 and 2 of Hands-On Equations and who would like the challenge of more sophisticated equations involving negative numbers. In Level 3, the student solves equations such as 4x – (-4) = -8 and 3(-x) + 2 = -10 + x, which contain negative constants. The green numbered cube, which represents the opposite of the red numbered cube, is introduced at this level. Since the red and green number cubes are opposite of each other, when they are together on the same side of the balance, their value is zero and may therefore be removed without affecting the balance. A video introduction is provided for each lesson. (See the sample YouTube video at http://youtu.be/VFYQ47EAqZw.) Each video introduction is followed by two examples and ten exercises. It is essential for the student to view the lesson video prior to attempting the examples and exercises for that lesson. Hands-On Equations is the ideal introduction to algebra for elementary and middle school students. Not only will students have fun and be fascinated with the program, their sense of self-esteem will be dramatically enhanced as they experience success with sophisticated algebraic equations. High school students struggling with algebra will likely experience success and understanding for the first time as they work with this app. More information on Hands-On Equations can be found at www.borenson.com and on YouTube.
Spelling Teacher
This app helps children improve their spelling skills through interactive games and personalized practice. It allows customization of word lists and offers smart practice based on missed words. Parents and teachers can track progress and administer tests.
- Customizable word lists and sentences
- Smart practice based on missed words
- Interactive learning activities
- Voice recording for words and sentences
- Progress tracking and testing
- Multi-user support
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Thank You for the all the amazing feedback!!! --What a fun way for my daughter to practice her weekly spelling words. She can even record her voice saying the words.-- --Well done app. Makes it so simple for my students to study their weekly spelling words at home or in the car. -- Team up with the entire Pop the Penguin gang to advance your students’ spelling skills. The Spelling Teacher app includes Julia, your child's private spelling teacher who interacts with your student while playing fun learning activities. Teacher Julia also reads words and sentences during spelling practice and while taking weekly spelling tests. Of course, if desired a student can make their own recordings of assigned words and sentences, expanding their learning and having even more fun. Spelling Teacher includes 5 fun spelling activities (one for each day of the school week) which helps students master their weekly words list. Spelling Teacher also provides suggestions for homework assignments, a word list practice function, smart practice function which provides students only the words that they missed from the last practice session they completed, and a testing function that parents/teachers can use for administering a weekly spelling test. Spelling Teacher corrects tests and practice tests for parents and teachers and provides the ability to print or e-mail the child's results. With multiuser support, Spelling Teacher is the most capable and advanced spelling app on the App store. Whether you are a parent looking to advance your child’s spelling ability or a teacher looking for a fun and efficient way to help students meet language arts common core standards, this app is for you. Spelling Teacher product fun features: • Completely customize lists with your own words and sentences • Smart Practice based off missed words from a previous practice session or test • Teacher Julia can automatically read each of your words and sentences to you or you can record your own voice for words and sentences • 5 fun spelling activities to help students master their weekly words list Multi-user functionality for households and schools without 1 to 1 iPads • Print or e-mail practice session, homework and test results • Fun space atmosphere to learn with the entire Pop the Penguin gang
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hands at 4.0 against Spelling Teacher's 2.3. Hands also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 10 months) and ratings volume (27 vs 4). Spelling Teacher's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $7.99) and review sentiment (91% vs 75%). On 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
Hands costs $7.99 and Spelling Teacher $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Hands holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hands has 27 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Hands's written reviews are positive against 91% of Spelling Teacher's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Hands ships an update every 3 months, Spelling Teacher every 10 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.
| Parameter | Hands | Spelling Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (27 ratings) — better | 2.3 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 91.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 27 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 188 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hands On Equations | FormSoft Group, Ltd. |
Customer experience
Hands
Spelling Teacher
In-app purchases
Hands
No in-app purchases
Spelling Teacher
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hands free?
Is Spelling Teacher free?
Which has better reviews, Hands or Spelling Teacher?
Do Hands or Spelling Teacher have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hands or Spelling Teacher?
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