Spelling.Live

Overview

Spelling.Live is a spelling-practice service for KS1 and KS2 children, with tools for both home learning and classroom use. It is best suited to families following school spelling lists and teachers who want to set and review group work. Its flexible practice formats are a strength; regular use draws down credits unless the family takes the £5.99-a-month Family plan, so families should weigh packs against the plan.

Key features

Practice shaped around school lists

Families can turn a spelling sheet into a practice list by photographing it, pasting its text or entering words directly. Children can then work by handwriting, typing, speaking, choosing answers, tracing or practising on paper. That variety gives families different ways to approach the same list; frequent sessions, however, either draw down credits or call for the monthly Family plan.

A plan that adapts

The weekly Learning plan can be edited or set to weekly, fluid or classic rhythms, which helps fit practice to a child's routine. Spaced repetition brings weaker words back automatically, and difficulty adjusts to the child's stage. Phonics instruction, dictation and corrective practice broaden the offer beyond simple word quizzes. AI tools add personalised spelling tips, picture hints, generated sentences and handwriting marking.

Classroom and accessibility tools

Teachers and tutors can create classes, assign lists, review group reports and scan batches of paper tests for marking. Google Classroom roster imports can reduce the work of setting up pupil groups. Per-child options include OpenDyslexic or Lexend fonts, colour overlays, adjustable spacing and slower speech, giving families and educators practical ways to tailor presentation and pace.

Privacy

The maker says the service is built for UK GDPR and the Children's Code. Handwriting photos and voice recordings are processed and then discarded; inputs sent to AI providers are not used to train their models, and the company says it maintains data processing agreements with those providers. Account and children's practice data are stored in Ireland, with hosting in Frankfurt. Privacy and data requests can be sent to [email protected].

Pricing

Spelling.Live offers a free allocation of credits, two one-time credit packs and a monthly Family plan that needs no credits. Schools can pilot it free with one class for six weeks, with no card or contract.

• Free sign-up credits: free for 200 credits. They expire after 90 days without a practice session, so this is best for trying the service or occasional use rather than a long break between sessions.
• 400-credit pack: £4, paid once, valid for 12 months, with no subscription or renewal. The smaller purchase suits families who want to top up without committing to a larger balance.
• 5,000-credit pack: £20, paid once, valid for 12 months, also with no subscription or renewal. Its larger balance is aimed at families expecting sustained practice; unused credits still have a 12-month validity limit.
• Family plan: £5.99 a month for up to 4 children, with practice that uses no credits and 20 new pictures a month; it renews monthly and can be cancelled any time.

The free allocation is capped and the packs are not unlimited access, while the Family plan suits children who practise most days. Families should choose based on likely practice frequency and remember that inactivity can expire the free credits.

Platforms

Spelling.Live is available on Android, iOS and the web, covering phones, tablets and browser use.

Who it's for

Spelling.Live is a strong fit for KS1 and KS2 families who want to turn school lists into varied, scheduled practice, especially when accessibility settings or adaptive review matter. Its class, reporting and paper-test tools also make it relevant to teachers and tutors. It is less suitable for families seeking unlimited free practice who want neither a credit balance nor a monthly plan.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Lists can be created from photos, pasted text or manual entry, so families can work directly from school materials.
• Pros: Multiple practice modes, adjustable learning rhythms and spaced repetition support varied and targeted review.
• Pros: Class management, group reports, batch paper marking and Google Classroom roster imports extend its usefulness to educators.
• Pros: Child-specific display and speech options offer concrete accessibility adjustments.
• Cons: Practice uses credits unless you take the £5.99-a-month Family plan, so frequent sessions need a pack or the plan.
• Cons: Free credits expire after 90 days without a practice session, and paid packs are valid for 12 months.

Alternatives

Spelling Apps is the broader category directory for comparing spelling tools.

• SpellMe is worth considering if a free basic tier with 5 word lists of 10 words each, 300+ curated phonics lists and Regular Mode is a better fit; it also offers a free trial and broader platform support, including desktop systems.
• Spelling Shed is another freemium option for Android, iOS and web, with a free tier that includes tests, games, challenges and leagues with seven-day histories, plus classroom rostering.
• Spelling Boost suits Android users looking for free core audio dictation tests, custom lists, handwriting input and progress tracking.
• PenPoints is a free Android and iOS option with teacher and classroom features, including limits on homework exercises, credits and live assessments for teachers without a school plan.
• Spello may suit families who prefer an annual plan and unlimited practice: its Families plan is £10 a year for the first year, then 20.00 GBP/year, for up to four children, with a daily per-child cap of 10–60 minutes.
• DoodleSpell is part of a paid DoodleEnglish school subscription, with school pricing billed per pupil per year.
• Spell Up is another freemium option for Android, iOS and web.
• Spelling Test Buddy is a paid option for web, iOS and Android.

Verdict

Choose Spelling.Live if you want school-list practice with several ways to learn, adaptive review and useful tools for educators. Its strongest case is the combination of flexible home practice, accessibility settings and classroom workflows. Look elsewhere if you want unlimited practice for free, or a free tier that does not expire after a long pause.