# Smarty Spell vs Functional Listening

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Functional Listening at 50% against Smarty Spell's 0%. Smarty Spell's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 9 months vs every 46 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Smarty Spell costs $14.99 and Functional Listening $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Smarty Spell holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of Smarty Spell's written reviews are positive against 50% of Functional Listening's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Smarty Spell ships an update every 9 months, Functional Listening every 46 months. Both last shipped on October 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smarty Spell | Functional Listening |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| Rating | **[4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarty-spell/id965018053/reviews)** | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/functional-listening/id1100839826/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 months** | Every 46 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 97 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Smarty Ears](https://appshunter.io/developer/348779167) | [Virtual Speech Center Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/455333785) |

## What reviewers say

### Smarty Spell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarty-spell/id965018053)

This comprehensive literacy platform offers three engaging game modes to improve spelling and reading skills. It features extensive customization options for word lists and audio, along with detailed progress tracking for educators and parents.

**Highlights:** Three distinct game modes, Over 300 built-in words, Grade-level and thematic word lists, Custom word lists with photos, Real human and TTS audio, Professional-grade data tracking, Adjustable font sizes and hints

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Functional Listening

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/functional-listening/id1100839826)

This app offers structured activities to improve auditory comprehension and real-life listening skills for children and adults. It features varied scenarios, visual aids, and progress tracking, making it suitable for therapy, education, or home practice.

**Highlights:** Functional listening tasks, Real-life scenarios, Visual supports, Adjustable difficulty, Progress tracking, Therapy, classroom, and home use

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smarty Spell free?

Smarty Spell costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Functional Listening free?

Functional Listening costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Smarty Spell or Functional Listening?

Smarty Spell is rated higher. Smarty Spell averages 4.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Functional Listening averages 3.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Smarty Spell or Functional Listening have ads?

Neither Smarty Spell nor Functional Listening shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smarty Spell or Functional Listening?

Smarty Spell ships an update every 9 months, and Functional Listening every 46 months. Most recently, Smarty Spell was updated on October 8, 2026 and Functional Listening on October 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*