Spelly vs SpellingCity: A Modern, Lower-Cost Spelling App for Kids (2026)

Last updated: June 2026 · Written by the Spelly team

Quick answer: Spelly and SpellingCity (now Vocabulary A-Z) both help kids practice spelling, but they're built for different jobs. Spelly is a modern, game-style app for kids ages 6–10, free to start ($99.95 lifetime), with AI-generated word lists, worksheet scanning, and practice by spelling pattern. SpellingCity is an established K–12 classroom platform with 35+ activities, but it costs $108–125/year and has no AI or scanning. For home practice with a young child, most families will prefer Spelly; for whole-class management, SpellingCity still has the edge.

A note on fairness: Spelly is our app, so of course we think it's a great choice — but this comparison is honest about where SpellingCity is the better fit. Details verified from official sources, June 2026.

At a glance

Where Spelly is the better choice

Price. This is the clearest difference. SpellingCity raised its price from about $35/year to $108–125/year after its rebrand under Learning A-Z. Spelly is free to start, and the most you'll ever pay is a one-time $99.95 — less than a single year of SpellingCity, with no recurring fee.

It's built for young kids, not K–12 generally. Spelly is designed specifically for ages 6–10, with four difficulty levels and modes that scale from tapping letter tiles to typing. SpellingCity spans the whole of K–12, so its experience is less tailored to a 7-year-old's weekly spelling list.

AI and worksheet scanning. Spelly can scan your child's actual school worksheet into practice, generate a word list on any topic with AI, and create a picture for each word. SpellingCity has none of this — you build lists manually.

Practice by spelling pattern. Spelly lets you practice the 12 patterns schools teach week to week (-ing words, silent letters, prefixes like un-/re-/pre-), mirroring how spelling is actually taught. SpellingCity's pattern support is limited.

Designed to feel like a game. Spelly runs every word through 5 game modes with XP, coins, streaks, and a customizable avatar — built to make a young child want to practice. SpellingCity is more activity/worksheet-oriented.

Works in 14 languages, including practicing in one language while reading meanings in another — useful for bilingual and ESL families. SpellingCity is English-only.

Where SpellingCity still wins (honestly)

Whole-class teacher tools. SpellingCity has deep classroom management — assigning lists to 30 students, tracking each one, and reporting. Spelly is built for home use and has no class-management dashboard. A teacher running a full class is better served by SpellingCity.

Activity variety. SpellingCity offers 35+ distinct activities. Spelly focuses on 5 well-designed game modes. If sheer variety matters to you, SpellingCity has more.

Older students. SpellingCity covers up through 12th grade. Spelly is built for ages 6–10; for middle- and high-schoolers, SpellingCity (or a vocabulary app) fits better.

Track record. SpellingCity has been around since 2008 and is widely used in schools. Spelly is newer, with a shorter history.

Native experience. Spelly is web-based (works on any device, no download), with no native App Store app yet. Some parents prefer an installed app.

Which should you choose?

• Home practice with a 6–10 year old: Spelly — purpose-built, modern, and free to start.
• You left SpellingCity over the $125/year price: Spelly costs $99.95 once, or nothing to start.
• You want AI lists or to scan the school worksheet: Spelly (SpellingCity has neither).
• You're a teacher managing a whole class: SpellingCity — its classroom tools are deeper.
• Your child is in middle or high school: SpellingCity covers older grades; Spelly tops out around age 10.

For most parents practicing weekly spelling at home with an elementary-age child, Spelly does the core job for a fraction of the price, with AI and scanning SpellingCity doesn't offer. If you need whole-class management or older-grade coverage, SpellingCity remains the stronger pick.

Frequently asked questions

Is Spelly cheaper than SpellingCity? Yes, substantially. Spelly is free to start, with a one-time lifetime option of $99.95 — less than a single year of SpellingCity, which costs $108–125/year after its rebrand to Vocabulary A-Z. Spelly also offers $5/month or $30/year if you prefer not to pay upfront.

What can Spelly do that SpellingCity can't? Spelly generates word lists with AI, scans a photo of your child's spelling worksheet into practice, creates a picture for each word, and lets you practice by spelling pattern (-ing words, silent letters, prefixes). It also works in 14 languages. SpellingCity does none of these.

What does SpellingCity do better than Spelly? SpellingCity has deeper whole-class teacher tools, more total activities (35+), and covers all of K–12, while Spelly is built for home use with kids ages 6–10 and has no classroom-management dashboard. SpellingCity also has a longer track record.

Is Spelly a good SpellingCity alternative for home use? For practicing weekly spelling at home with a child ages 6–10, Spelly is purpose-built for exactly that — at a fraction of SpellingCity's cost, with AI lists, worksheet scanning, and game-based practice. It's free to start, so you can try it before deciding.

How we compared them

We evaluated both apps on price, age fit, AI features, worksheet scanning, pattern practice, game design, languages, and classroom tools, using official sources verified in June 2026. Spelly is our product; we've noted where SpellingCity is genuinely the better choice as openly as where Spelly is.

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Try Spelly free · Best SpellingCity alternatives · Best spelling app by age

Last updated: June 2026.