The best Spelling Shed alternatives (2026)
Spelling Shed is a very good program. People usually look for an alternative because their students have outgrown it, their curriculum already gives them word lists, or the school didn’t renew. Here’s what I’d look at. I make one of these, and I’ll say when it isn’t the right one.
| Tool | Best for | Price | Grades |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spelling Test Buddy (mine) | a K-8 curriculum or your own lists | $49.99/year per teacher, or $499/year for a school | K to 8; strongest in 3 to 8 |
| SpellingJoy | free games and tests | Free; optional $2.99/month extras | K to 6 |
| Spelling Stars | Google Classroom grade sync, parent login | From $6.99/month, by class size | K to 9 |
| Power Spelling | a cheap teacher plan with vocabulary | From $29/year for 35 students | K to 12 |
| Vocabulary A-Z | a publisher-backed K-5 program | $125/year for 36 students | K to 5 |
Why people look for something other than Spelling Shed
Their students outgrew it. Spelling Shed is built for elementary school. Sixth and seventh graders can find it young.
Their curriculum already has spelling lists. If your district gives you Wonders, UFLI, or Words Their Way lists, you don’t need a second scope and sequence. You need an easy way to practice and test the lists you have.
Rostering or pricing changed. Per-pupil pricing means paying for every student, even when only a few teachers use it, and a single teacher buying alone has to go through a quote.
If none of those apply to you and Spelling Shed is working, keep it.
1. Spelling Test Buddymine
I make this one. It has its own K-8 spelling curriculum, so older students don’t age out of it, and you can use your district’s lists instead whenever you want. Snap a photo of a list and every word gets audio and a sentence. Students play games, take a pretest and a final test, and each student gets adaptive practice on the words they miss. Worksheets come from the same list.
You can license one teacher or the whole school, so you don’t pay per pupil. What you give up: Spelling Shed’s leagues, native apps, free games plan, and Clever rostering. Full comparison with Spelling Shed.
2. SpellingJoy
Free spelling games, tests, custom lists, and class progress tracking. It’s the closest free option to Spelling Shed’s game-based feel for younger students. It’s newer and smaller, so check its privacy policy against your district’s rules.
3. Spelling Stars
Lists, pretests, up to 19 games, auto-graded tests, Google Classroom roster and grade sync, and a parent login. It runs a bit older than Spelling Shed (K to 9) and is billed monthly. Spelling Test Buddy vs Spelling Stars.
4. Power Spelling
Games, automated tests, publisher word lists, and a gradebook, at a price most teachers can pay themselves. Google Classroom integration is included. Spelling Test Buddy vs Power Spelling.
5. Vocabulary A-Z
If you’re giving up Spelling Shed’s curriculum and want another structured program, Vocabulary A-Z (formerly VocabularySpellingCity) has lesson plans, a word bank, and spelling games, and fits neatly if your school already uses Learning A-Z. It leans more toward vocabulary than spelling. Spelling Test Buddy vs SpellingCity.
My pick
Grades 3 through 8, with our curriculum or yours: Spelling Test Buddy.
K through 2: honestly, Spelling Shed is hard to beat. If cost is the problem, use its free plan for games, or try SpellingJoy.
Google Classroom school: Spelling Stars.
Questions
- Is there a Spelling Shed alternative for middle school?
- Spelling Test Buddy is used mostly in grades 3 through 8, and middle school teachers use it with the lists from their ELA curriculum. For vocabulary in middle school, also look at Vocabulary.com.
- Is there a free alternative to Spelling Shed?
- SpellingJoy is free for K-6. Spelling Shed’s own free plan also covers its games; you only pay for tests, assignments, and tracking.
- Does Spelling Test Buddy have a curriculum like Spelling Shed?
- Yes. Spelling Test Buddy has a spelling curriculum for grades K through 8, and you can also use your own lists or 850+ pre-made lists by grade and spelling pattern. Spelling Shed’s is K-5 and more game-centered, and it’s the better fit for the youngest students.
Try Spelling Test Buddy
$49.99 a year for up to 150 students, with every game, tool, and report included. Start with a 14-day free trial, and if 14 days isn’t enough, email me and I’ll extend it.
Start your free trialI checked prices and features for every product on this page in October 2026. Prices change, so confirm on each company’s site before you buy.