Comparison

Co vs ALA

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

Head to head
About

Co

This app provides advanced word prediction and spelling support for students. It offers grammar-smart suggestions and access to millions of topic-specific dictionaries to aid in writing. Built-in text-to-speech functionality helps users review their work.

Highlights
  • Grammar-smart word prediction
  • Millions of topic-specific dictionaries
  • Flexspell™ technology for spelling errors
  • Built-in text-to-speech
  • Personalized vocabulary and settings
Features
Read full description

Co:Writer® Universal app and third-party keyboard gives students easy access to word prediction on iPad, iPad Pro, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Students simply sign in to their Co:Writer Universal accounts to write with their personal settings and vocabulary. ABOUT CO:WRITER UNIVERSAL This version is for schools with a Co:Writer Universal license only. Users without a Co:Writer Universal license must purchase the Co:Writer app. HOW DOES CO:WRITER WORK? As letters are typed, Co:Writer predicts the intended word with a selection of word suggestions using powerful grammar-smart word prediction. These suggestions can be read aloud with a swipe. Selecting the intended word places it into the writing document. For feedback while writing (and after writing) built-in text to speech can be used to read letters, words, sentences, and the entire document. 4+ MILLION TOPIC-SPECIFIC DICTIONARIES Co:Writer has access to a main prediction dictionary (that includes core words) and Topic Dictionaries (that includes topic specific words). Co:Writer can access over 4 million topic-specific dictionaries which are activated based on the writing task. A small sampling of the variety of topic dictionaries: - America's Cup - Apple II - Compare and Contrast - Dinosaurs - Grumpy Cat - History of the Peloponnesian War - Mahatma Gandhi - My Dog - Pig Latin - Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost - SpongeBob SquarePants - Tommy (album) - Wonders of the World SPELLING SUPPORT Co:Writer handles the widest range of spelling mistakes through its Flexspell™technology including phonetic spelling and inventive spelling errors (letter omissions, word ending omissions, letter reversals, etc). Examples of how Co:Writer aides with phonetic and/or inventive spelling: Before Co:Writer The blk jargon flu over the bra lfnt. R u hpy to ce me? I no hw to nor the fone. After Co:Writer The black dragon flew over the gray elephant. Are you happy to see me? I know how to answer the phone. GRAMMAR SUPPORT Co:Writer bases its prediction off of proper grammar, and uses its understanding of grammar to accurately predict words within the framework of valid sentence structures. Examples of how Co:Writer aides with grammar: Dogs are furry. (noun, verb, adj.) - When you typed d-o, you get plural noun choices Three very mangy dogs ran down the street. (adj., adv., adj., noun, verb… etc.) - After typing three, very, mangy, you get plural noun choices, then you get plural verb tenses. OTHER FEATURES - Built-in Text to Speech - Export

About

ALA

Read full description

Technology-based approach for writing instruction *Note: This free version only includes the We Beat the Street story, the rest are available as an in-app purchase. This technology-aided instruction for writing complements Teaching to Standards: English Language Arts and is companion product for reading (Access Language Arts). Students write grade-aligned opinion paragraphs about eight adapted pieces of literature, including fiction and nonfiction. Students are supported step by step in constructing personalized paragraphs. Includes activities to improve reading comprehension and vocabulary development. Researched and proven effective in secondary classrooms. Integrate during instruction using Teaching to Standards: ELA, or use this app alone to achieve standards-aligned skills in both reading and writing. Stories include: Holes, The Outsiders, Number the Stars, Dragonwings, We Beat the Street, Neighbors, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Sadako.

Screenshots

Co4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Co at none against ALA's 1. Co also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, update cadence and ads 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

Both are free to download. ALA sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Co asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Co ships an update every 4 months, ALA every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Co versus ALA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCoALA
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (17 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews8.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings17 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB352 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDon Johnston IncorporatedAttainment Company

In-app purchases

None

Co

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ALA

One-time1
  • Full Version$39.99

Questions

Is Co free?
Co is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ALA free?
ALA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Co or ALA have ads?
Neither Co nor ALA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Co or ALA?
Co ships an update every 4 months, and ALA every 3 months. Most recently, Co was updated on October 20, 2026 and ALA on October 26, 2026.

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