LetterSchool vs Skritter

LetterSchool teaches handwriting, phonics, numbers and spelling through activities for young children. It is described as designed for ages three to eight, with a listed target age range of two to six. Letter practice moves through guided tapping, tracing and independent writing. The app gives visual and auditory feedback and corrects each line as a child draws it. Languages listed include English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Japanese, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish and Arabic. English users can choose Handwriting Without Tears, Zaner-Bloser or D’Nealian handwriting styles. The free app costs nothing and includes five uppercase and lowercase letters, five shapes and three CVC flashcards covering nine words. Paid access is listed from $1.92/mo (annual), with a 7-day trial. LetterSchool is available on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. The school offering is currently iOS-only as LetterSchool – Block Letters. The maker says the app has no ads or social media and does not seek to collect personally identifiable information directly from children under 13.

Skritter teaches learners to write Chinese and Japanese characters on Android, iOS, and the web. In the browser, learners can write characters and receive real-time grading. Flashcards give feedback on individual strokes and bring difficult characters back more often, while spaced repetition schedules reviews. Study options include hundreds of textbooks and user-created lists; Skritter says it supports 300+ lists for popular Chinese and Japanese textbooks. Learners can import vocabulary from ChinesePod, sync saved Du Chinese words into a custom deck, and add words from the MDBG dictionary. Offline lessons and personalized review are available, but speech practice is not. Skritter has a free plan and a 7-day free trial. Listed subscriptions include Monthly at $14.99 a month, 6 months at $59.99 a month, 1 year at $99.99 a year, and 1 month at $14.99 a month. The company is identified as Inkren Inc. doing business as Skritter; its help center includes guides for mobile, website, and classroom users.