Is Spelly free?+
Yes — Spelly is free to start. The free plan includes all 5 game modes, 70+ word-list topics, daily quests and the full gamification system, plus 100 starting sparks for AI features like voice and definitions. For unlimited AI, Spelly is a one-time payment of $29. No subscription, ever.
What ages is Spelly for?+
Spelly is designed for kids ages 6 to 12 (grades 1–5), and that's who it's built around — four difficulty levels, from Easy (K–1st) through Challenge, let the same word lists grow with your child. But anyone can use Spelly to strengthen spelling and vocabulary, including older kids and adults. And it isn't English-only: with 14 languages, the whole family can practice — whether a parent is brushing up on a new language or learning travel words before a trip abroad.
How is Spelly different from SpellingCity?+
Spelly costs $29 once, or is free to start, while VocabularySpellingCity runs about $108–125 per year. Spelly is the only one of the two that scans your child's worksheet from a photo and generates word lists by topic or spelling pattern with AI. It's purpose-built for ages 6–12 across 5 game modes and 14 languages, while SpellingCity is a broader K–12 classroom tool.
How is Spelly different from Spelling Shed?+
Spelly and Spelling Shed are priced very differently: Spelly is a one-time payment of $29 with a free tier, while Spelling Shed is subscription-only (about $30 per year). Spelly is built for home use with AI-generated lists and worksheet scanning, so nothing depends on a school subscription. Spelling Shed has deeper formal curriculum alignment and competitive leagues; Spelly is more flexible and game-focused.
Is Spelly a good free alternative to SpellingJoy?+
Both have free options. SpellingJoy is completely free with no limits but no AI, scanning, or game modes. Spelly's core game is free too — 5 game modes, 70+ topics, and full gamification — with AI features (list generation, worksheet scanning) running on free starting “sparks.” Choose SpellingJoy for unlimited no-frills practice, or Spelly for a richer, game-like experience with AI and scanning.
Does Spelly work on iPad, iPhone, and Android?+
Yes. Spelly runs in any web browser on iPad, iPhone, Android phones and tablets, plus desktop and laptop computers. There is nothing to download and no app store needed — open the page, sign in, and start spelling. The interface uses big, kid-friendly tap targets sized for small hands.
How does the worksheet scan feature work?+
Snap a photo of your child's spelling worksheet — printed, typed or handwritten. Spelly's AI reads the image, pulls out just the spelling words, and turns each one into a playable list in seconds. You can filter out any noise words before practice, so there's no typing the list in by hand.
What spelling patterns does Spelly cover?+
Spelly covers 12 spelling patterns across 3 categories. Word endings: -ing, -ed, -er, -ly. Phonics patterns: silent letters, double letters, silent E, long vowels. Word beginnings: un-, re-, pre-, dis-. These match the weekly patterns schools teach, so kids practice the exact rule from this week's list.
Is Spelly aligned with Common Core or the UK National Curriculum?+
Yes. Spelly's 12 spelling patterns are aligned with US Common Core and UK National Curriculum spelling expectations — the same -ing, silent-letter and prefix patterns schools assign each week. Parents can match this week's classroom list exactly, whether their child is in 1st grade or 5th grade.
How does Spelly compare to Duolingo for spelling?+
Duolingo teaches foreign-language vocabulary; Spelly is built specifically for spelling practice in your child's own school words. Spelly lets you scan or generate the exact weekly list, hear each word in a natural voice, and spell it across 5 game modes — something general language apps like Duolingo don't do.
What languages does Spelly support?+
Spelly supports 14 languages: English, Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Thai, Korean, Burmese and Japanese, with full right-to-left support for Hebrew and Arabic. Kids can practice spelling in one language while reading word meanings in another — ideal for bilingual and ESL families.
Do I need to create an account or download anything?+
No download and no app store needed — Spelly works right in your web browser on any device. You can sign in securely with Google to save progress across devices, or start playing free first. Nothing to install means kids can begin spelling practice in under a minute.
