Spelling Boost vs Spello

Spelling Boost turns spelling lists into spoken dictation practice for Android. Learners can scan a printed list with the camera or enter words manually, hear them spoken aloud, and answer by typing or writing on screen with a finger or stylus. The app checks answers and tracks progress, including answer comparisons and performance over time. Tricky Words creates review sessions for difficult words, while Text Practice Mode dictates full sentences covering spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and spacing. Parents can enter test dates and receive reminders. The maker says dictation works offline through the device’s speech engine. Spelling Boost offers 81 regional spoken voices across 70 languages and 122 localized interface settings. Google Play says the app contains ads and in-app purchases. Its listing says data is encrypted in transit and users can request deletion, and that the app may collect and share personal information, app activity, and app performance information.

Spello is a browser-based spelling and typing practice product for UK primary pupils in Years 1–6. Its default practice covers the DfE statutory common exception words for those year groups. Spello assesses a child’s level and adapts word choice and difficulty as practice continues. A modified SM-2 spaced-repetition engine schedules difficult words for review and removes them after mastery. Children can listen and type, answer multiple choice, use flash cards, arrange letters or guess letters. Words and sentences are read aloud, and typing words in context builds keyboard confidence alongside spelling. Parents or teachers can optionally assign topic lists, spelling-pattern lists or weekly class words. Families covers up to four children per account, with unlimited practice and a daily cap per child of 10–60 minutes. It costs £10 for the first year only, then £20/year. Schools costs £200 per year and adds a central teacher and class dashboard, teacher-set lists, whole-school analytics and bulk CSV import. Schools can import pupil records and generate personalised parent letters and QR-code login slips. It works in modern browsers on tablets and laptops, including iPads, Chromebooks, Windows and Mac laptops, and Android tablets via Chrome.