SpellingCity vs. Spelling Test Buddy: Which is the Better Spelling Tool for Teachers?
When it comes to online spelling tools, Spelling City (now sold as a part of Vocabulary A-Z) and Spelling Test Buddy both offer resources to help students improve their spelling skills. But which one is the best choice for teachers and students? In this comparison, we’ll break down the features, ease of use, and pricing to help you decide which to buy. Spoiler alert: Spelling Test Buddy offers a simpler, more effective, and cost-friendly solution for teachers.
Feature Comparison: Spelling City vs. Spelling Test Buddy
| Feature | Vocabulary A-Z (Spelling City) | Spelling Test Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $125/year | Teacher plan: $29.99/year. A limited free plan is available. |
| Ease of Use | Can be complex for beginners | Simple and intuitive |
| Automated Grading | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Word Lists | Yes | Yes |
| Practice Activities | Yes, but locked behind paywall | Free for all users |
| Works on All Devices | Yes, but performance issues on some tablets and Chromebooks | Yes, optimized for all devices |
| Teacher-Friendly Reports | Limited access for free users | Comprehensive and free |
| Student Engagement | Gamified activities | Focused on learning & testing |
| Integration with Curriculum | Yes | Yes |
| Look and Feel | Dated - built over 20 years ago. Slow website that doesn't work well across devices | Modern, fast, and fully responsive on all devices |
Why Spelling Test Buddy is the Better Choice for Teachers
1. Affordable and Accessible
Many spelling tools require expensive subscriptions to unlock key features. Spelling Test Buddy offers a free plan to try it out, and the Teacher plan costs only $29.99/year, making it a budget-friendly choice compared to Vocabulary A-Z’s $125/year subscription for VocabularySpellingCity.
2. Simplicity Over Complexity
SpellingCity (Vocabulary A-Z) offers a variety of features, but it is overwhelming and time-consuming to set up and use. Spelling Test Buddy is designed for ease of use, making it simple for teachers to create tests, assign them, and review results in minutes. Onboarding word lists and classrooms of students is straightforward and efficient.
3. No Gimmicks – Just Effective Spelling Practice
While Vocabulary A-Z includes games, many of these are time-fillers that are not backed by Science of Reading, Orton-Gillingham, or Words Their Way research. Spelling Test Buddy prioritizes spelling practice and testing, allowing teachers to quickly generate worksheets to reinforce learning in the classroom.
4. Automated Grading and Reports
Grading spelling tests manually can be tedious. Spelling Test Buddy automatically grades tests and provides detailed reports, saving teachers valuable time.
5. Modern Design
Unlike Vocabulary A-Z’s outdated interface, Spelling Test Buddy is built for speed and usability. The site is fully responsive, ensuring a seamless experience across computers, tablets, and phones—including older tablets and Chromebooks.
What Went Wrong with Vocabulary A-Z/Spelling City?
Independent reviews from CommonSense.org highlight several issues that arose after Spelling City was sold to Vocabulary A-Z in 2020:
- The removal of key practice test features led to declining student test scores:
- Printable test reports became less informative, more antiquated. They now omit critical data like missed words and test averages (link)
- Students cannot repeat activities once they have been completed once, which goes against reinforcement of generalization among the terms for reinforcement (link)
- Games frequently freeze or fail to work on multiple devices and operating systems (link)
- The platform became harder to navigate for both teachers and students.
- The price tripled, increasing to $125/year.
- Customer support quality declined, with many teachers reporting no response to their concerns.
Conclusion: Spelling Test Buddy is the Better Choice for Teachers
For teachers looking for a simple, effective, and affordable spelling tool that is an alternative to Spelling City, Spelling Test Buddy is the clear winner. It delivers the core features teachers need—without unnecessary costs or outdated technology.
Stop overpaying for outdated tools. Try Spelling Test Buddy today and experience a better way to teach spelling!