The best spelling app for homeschool families (2026)
Full disclosure: I make Spelling Test Buddy, and plenty of homeschool families use it. But homeschool spelling is really two different decisions: what to teach, and how to practice and test it. Spelling Test Buddy now has a K-8 spelling curriculum, but it isn’t a scripted, teacher-led program like All About Spelling, and I’ll be upfront about where that matters.
| Option | Best for | Price | Curriculum included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| All About Spelling | a scripted, Orton-Gillingham-based program you teach | Level 1 materials $64.95, plus about $26 for letter tiles | Yes |
| Spelling Test Buddy (mine) | several kids at different levels, any list | $49.99/year | Yes, K to 8 |
| Power Spelling | the lowest price for up to 5 kids | From $19/year | Publisher lists |
| Spelling Shed | a game-based program for ages 5 to 11 | $29.99/year for up to 5 children | Yes |
| SpellingJoy | free practice for K to 6 | Free; optional $2.99/month extras | Ready-made lists |
Two decisions, not one
What to teach. The order of spelling patterns, the rules, and the explanation. That’s a curriculum, whether it’s scripted (All About Spelling), part of a language arts program, or lists you build yourself.
How to practice and test. Saying the words aloud, checking the answers, keeping track of which words keep coming back wrong, and making practice interesting enough that your child will actually do it. That’s where an app helps, especially with more than one child.
1. All About Spelling
If you’re starting from scratch and want to be told exactly what to say, All About Spelling is the one I hear recommended most. It’s scripted, multisensory, and moves at your child’s pace through seven levels. It isn’t an app, and each level is a separate purchase, but as a curriculum it’s excellent, and it’s better at teaching spelling than mine is.
2. Spelling Test Buddymine
Mine. Follow its K-8 spelling curriculum, or use it alongside whatever curriculum you already have: type or photograph the week’s words, and your child hears each word and a sentence, plays games, and takes a test that grades itself. If you have three kids at three levels, each gets their own list and code, and you see everyone’s progress in one place.
Adaptive Learning Programs are especially useful at home: they schedule daily practice from the words your child keeps missing, so you don’t have to track it yourself. Parents also use it for spelling bee prep. It’s an approved ESA vendor in Arizona, Louisiana, and Utah.
What it won’t do: give you a scripted, multisensory lesson to teach from. If that’s what you want, pair it with All About Spelling or use that instead.
3. Power Spelling
The cheapest paid homeschool plan here, with games and automated tests. Some features, like custom vocabulary lists and the gradebook view, are on the higher-priced Plus plan. Spelling Test Buddy vs Power Spelling.
4. Spelling Shed
For ages 5 to 11, Spelling Shed gives you a sequenced program and games kids ask to play, with native apps for tablets. It’s the best all-in-one option for younger children. It’s UK-built, so check that the US lists and accent suit you. Spelling Test Buddy vs Spelling Shed.
5. SpellingJoy
Free, with ready-made grade-level lists and custom lists. A good way to add practice without adding a bill.
My pick
Starting from scratch: All About Spelling to teach, plus a practice tool if your child needs more repetition.
More than one child, with our curriculum or yours: Spelling Test Buddy for the lists, practice, testing, and tracking.
Younger kids, one all-in-one program: Spelling Shed.
Tight budget: SpellingJoy for free, or Power Spelling from $19.
What I’d do this week
- Give each child a quick test on 20 words from their grade level. Write down the patterns they miss.
- Decide whether you need a curriculum or just better practice. If you can't say what pattern to teach next, you need a curriculum.
- Check whether your state's ESA covers what you're considering.
- Run one tool for two weeks with real words before buying anything for the whole year.
Questions
- Do I need a spelling curriculum for homeschool?
- If you don’t have one, yes, especially in the early grades. A curriculum tells you which patterns to teach in which order. Spelling Test Buddy includes a K-8 spelling curriculum. If you want a scripted lesson for you to teach from, All About Spelling is built for that.
- Can I use Spelling Test Buddy with All About Spelling?
- Yes. Many families teach the lesson from their curriculum, then type or photograph that lesson’s words into Spelling Test Buddy for practice, games, and the test.
- Can I use my Education Savings Account (ESA) to pay?
- Spelling Test Buddy is an approved ESA vendor in Arizona, Louisiana, and Utah. See the ESA page for how to buy in each state.
- Does it work for several children at different levels?
- Yes. Add each child as a student, give each one their own list, and they enter their own code. Reports show each child’s progress separately.
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.