Overview

Spelling Shed is a teacher-designed spelling platform for pupils, families and schools, with curriculum practice, class games and teacher tools. It is best suited to schools coordinating spelling across classes and homework; families looking only for occasional individual drills may not need its classroom management features.

Its combination of structured curriculum coverage, custom lists and offline play makes it adaptable to different teaching routines. The central compromise is the free plan’s seven-day activity history, while Premium requires a quote.

Key features

The whole-school curriculum covers ELA spelling standards, including statutory words and spelling rules. That gives schools a structured basis for spelling practice, while unlimited custom lists and list search let teachers tailor work to class needs instead of relying only on preset material.

The teacher hub manages student records, teachers and classes, and supports homework assignments. Hive Games let pupils play together as an alternative to a weekly spelling test, adding a collaborative practice format alongside assigned work. Phonics instruction and corrective practice are also supported.

Open Dyslexic font support and three difficulty levels provide options for pupils with different abilities. Full offline play helps where connectivity is unreliable, and QR-code scanning can import lists or sign in. The trade-off is that the described strengths are oriented toward teaching workflows, which may be unnecessary for a household seeking only a simple spelling app.

Rostering integrations include ClassLink and Wonde; Clever is limited to Classroom. EdShed states that it complies with GDPR, COPPA and FERPA, uses annual independent security testing, and stores data at a London data centre. Versions are adapted for UK, US, Australian and Cambridge International curricula. Support is available at support@edshed.com and 888-254-3098 in the USA.

Pricing

The Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free. Tests, Hive games, Challenges and Custom Leagues each retain seven days of history, and Clever rostering is Classroom only. This is a useful entry point for trying the classroom workflow, but the short history window limits longer-term review of activity.

The Spelling Shed iOS app costs 2.99 USD per once and is designed for iPhone and iPad. It is the lower-cost choice for an individual iOS user, but it does not include the teacher-management and Premium features described for the broader platform.

Premium has custom pricing and requires a quote. It adds printable parent reports for tests; Clever rostering remains Classroom only. Schools that need those capabilities should request a quote rather than assume the free plan covers their reporting needs. The general pricing note says paid plans start at £4.23/yr.

Platforms

Spelling Shed is available on Android, iOS and the web. The iOS app is also offered as a separate one-time purchase, and offline play is supported in the app.

Who it's for

Spelling Shed is a strong fit for schools that want curriculum-based spelling practice, teacher and class management, homework and whole-class games in one service. Its regional curriculum versions make it relevant across several education systems, and offline play helps accommodate less reliable connections. Parents or pupils focused on individual practice may prefer a lighter app without classroom coordination.

Pros and cons

Pros: Whole-school ELA coverage, unlimited custom lists and list search support both structured and tailored practice.
Pros: Teacher management, homework and Hive Games bring class workflows together rather than limiting the product to solo drills.
Pros: Offline play, QR-code list import, Open Dyslexic font and three difficulty levels address practical access and adaptation needs.
Cons: Free activity history lasts only seven days, limiting how far back teachers can review work on that plan.
Cons: Premium requires a quote, so schools cannot compare its cost directly from a listed price.
Cons: The separately priced iOS app is designed for iPhone and iPad, not a substitute for the broader teacher platform.

Alternatives

Browse Spelling Apps for a wider shortlist. PenPoints is worth considering for teachers wanting a free Android or iOS app with homework, credits and live class assessments, though its free use has stated activity limits. Choose Spelling Boost for Android audio dictation, custom lists, handwriting input and progress tracking.

Spelling.Live may suit users who prefer a credit-based model, with free sign-up credits and a paid credit pack. SpellMe is an option for those needing broader platform support, including desktop systems, and a free Basic plan with capped lists and curated phonics lists. Spell Up is another freemium option available on Android, iOS and web.

Better Speller may fit users seeking an all-features free trial with a stated word cap and a one-time iCloud sync and sharing purchase. DoodleSpell is a paid alternative with a school subscription billed per pupil per year and a trial. MySpellings is another Android freemium option with a one-off Premium unlock.

Verdict

Choose Spelling Shed if your school needs curriculum-led spelling practice joined to teacher management, homework and class games, especially when offline access matters. Its principal advantage is the breadth of classroom workflow in one platform; look elsewhere if you need transparent Premium pricing or a simple individual app without the school-oriented tools.

	Spelling Shed	Spello
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	Yes
Paid from	Free	£0.83/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, iOS, Web	Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	Yes	No
Phonics instruction	Yes	—
Corrective practice	Yes	Yes
Teacher dashboard	Yes	Yes
Offline access	Yes	—
Word-list import	Yes	Yes
Dictation practice	—	Yes

Spelling Shed vs Spello

Spelling Shed

Spello