Comparison

Phonics Phase vs Spell Dash

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

Head to head
About

Phonics Phase

Features
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1. Phonics Fun: Learn the first letters children encounter, following the UK curriculum's Phase Two phonics order. Interactive Learning: Trace and match playful letter drawings to build recognition skills. Engaging Animations: Watch the screen come alive with exciting animations when the correct letter is chosen! 2. I Spy with My Little Eye: Tricky Word Reinforcement: Focus on mastering the letter "I" by identifying farm animals that begin with the sound. Sharpen Observation Skills: Develop focus and visual memory through the classic "I Spy" game format. 3. Tricky Words Made Easy: Unscramble the fun! Rearrange scrambled words to form a complete sentence. Interactive Sentence Building: See the sentence come together as your child solves the puzzle. Animated Stories: Enjoy a delightful animation that complements the completed sentence. Download Now and Let the Learning Adventure Begin!

About

Spell Dash

Features
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Spell Dash is a fun, fast-paced spelling game designed for children aged 4 to 11. Built around the UK National Curriculum, it helps kids practise over 1,500 words across Reception to Year 6. HOW IT WORKS Kids hear a word spoken aloud, then tap colourful letter tiles to spell it before time runs out. Every correct word earns up to 3 stars based on speed. Switch to Word Search mode to find the hidden spelling words in the letter grid, or try the new Missing Letters mode — listen to the word and fill in the gaps! More game modes are on the way — check the Game Modes screen for a sneak peek. FEATURES • FREE: 653 words across Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (no purchase required) • SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED: 853 additional words across Year 3–6 and VS Mode (Ā£1.99/month or Ā£9.99/year — 7-day free trial included) • Three game modes — Spelling, Word Search and Missing Letters • 36 badges to earn as you progress • Daily Challenge — new words every day, locks once completed • Multiple player profiles — perfect for families • Daily and challenge streak tracking • VS Mode — two players, same device • Personal bests and leaderboard • Parent dashboard with detailed progress stats • Real human voice, not text-to-speech • No ads, no tracking, fully COPPA compliant • Parent settings (PIN protected) FREE TO TRY Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are completely free (653 words). Unlock an additional 853 words across Year 3–6 plus VS Mode with a subscription (Ā£1.99/month or Ā£9.99/year). A 7-day free trial is included with every new subscription. SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS • Monthly: Ā£1.99/month • Annual: Ā£9.99/year • 7-day free trial for new subscribers • Payment charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple ID Account Settings Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Phonics Phase4 screens
Spell Dash4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Phonics Phase at none against Spell Dash's 2. Spell Dash's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Spell Dash sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Phonics Phase asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Phonics Phase ships an update every 3 weeks, Spell Dash weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
Phonics Phase versus Spell Dash: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhonics PhaseSpell Dash
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEdology LimitedAMP London Group Ltd

In-app purchases

None

Phonics Phase

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Spell Dash

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Spell Dash Premium7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Phonics Phase free?
Phonics Phase is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Spell Dash free?
Spell Dash is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Phonics Phase or Spell Dash have ads?
Neither Phonics Phase nor Spell Dash shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Phonics Phase or Spell Dash?
Phonics Phase ships an update every 3 weeks, and Spell Dash weekly. Most recently, Phonics Phase was updated on October 8, 2026 and Spell Dash on September 29, 2026.

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