The best free spelling app for teachers (2026)
Full disclosure: I make Spelling Test Buddy, and it isn’t free. It’s $49.99 a year after a 14-day trial. So it doesn’t win this guide, and I’m not going to bend the definition of free to make it fit. Here’s what’s actually free, and what you give up with each.
| Tool | What’s free | What costs money | Class reports on free plan? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpellingJoy | Lists, games, tests, class progress | SpellingJoy+ ($2.99/month) for printable packs | Yes |
| Spelling Shed | Games, student logins, 7-day history | Tests, assignments, tracking (Premium) | Limited |
| Quizlet | Flashcards, limited Learn rounds, Live | Plus for teachers $35.99/year: no ads, progress tracking | Limited |
| Spelling Training | Practice on any list | Nothing | No |
| Spelling Test Buddy (mine) | 14-day trial; free printable test papers and word lists | $49.99/year for the app | Yes, during trial |
What “free” usually means
Free forever, with a paid upgrade for extras. SpellingJoy works this way: the core is free, and printables cost a little.
Free tier, real features paid. Spelling Shed and Quizlet give away a lot, but tests, assignments, and tracking are mostly paid.
Free and simple. Spelling Training: no accounts and no reports, just practice.
Free trial. Spelling Test Buddy. That’s not free, and I won’t call it free.
1. SpellingJoy
The best free option I’ve found: custom lists, 134+ ready-made lists, audio, games, auto-graded tests, and class progress tracking, with no credit card. It’s built for K-6, so middle school teachers may find it young. It’s newer and smaller than the others here, so check its privacy policy against your district’s rules.
2. Spelling Shed (free plan)
The free plan includes Spelling Shed’s games, student logins, and short-term history for challenges and leagues. For practice, it’s excellent. Tests, assignments, and longer-term tracking need Premium. Spelling Test Buddy vs Spelling Shed.
3. Quizlet (free plan)
Free flashcards, Match, and Quizlet Live, plus a limited number of Learn rounds where students type what they hear. Ads show for students on the free plan. It isn’t built for spelling tests. Spelling Test Buddy vs Quizlet.
4. Spelling Training
Type in a list and kids listen and type. No accounts and no reports. It’s great to send home for extra practice.
5. Spelling Test Buddymine
Mine, and not free. I’m including it for two reasons. First, the spelling test papers and grade-level word lists on this site are free, with no account. Second, it’s what to look at when a free tool stops being enough: when you need per-student results for each test, different lists for different groups, adaptive practice, worksheets, or a vendor in the Student Data Privacy Consortium. The 14-day trial is long enough to run two real weeks of spelling.
My pick
Best free spelling app: SpellingJoy.
Best free games: Spelling Shed’s free plan.
When free isn’t enough: that’s when I’d suggest trying Spelling Test Buddy, and I’d rather you get there by outgrowing a free tool than by me pretending it’s free.
What I’d do this week
- Write down the one thing you need most: games, tests, reports, or differentiation.
- Try the free tool that does that thing best, with this week's real list.
- Check its privacy policy against your district's approved-apps list before you give students the link.
- If you're still grading by hand after two weeks, try a paid tool.
Questions
- Is Spelling Test Buddy free?
- No. There’s a 14-day free trial, and I’ll extend it if you ask. After that, it’s $49.99 a year for up to 150 students. Our printable spelling test papers and grade-level word lists are free.
- What's the catch with free spelling apps?
- Usually one of three things: ads, features held back for a paid plan, or a company that has to make money somehow. For any free tool you use with students, read its privacy policy and check it against your district’s requirements.
- Is it worth paying for a spelling app?
- If spelling is a weekly routine and you’re grading tests by hand, a paid tool usually pays for itself in time within a month. If spelling is occasional, a free tool is fine.
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.