NewHomeschool ELA courses for K-5 — a voiced daily English lesson
SpellingJoy
For Teachers

Best Spelling Apps for ESL/ELL Students in 2026

Spelling apps with audio pronunciation, visual aids, and self-paced learning for English learners.

STSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: January 15, 2026
Diverse students learning English

Our top picks

1

Khan Academy Kids

Free, clear audio

Khan Academy Kids offers free, comprehensive early learning content covering reading, math, and more for children ages 2-8.

Best for:Free with clear pronunciationPrice:FreeGrades:Ages 2-8Platforms:iOS, Android, Amazon

Pros

  • Completely free
  • Comprehensive curriculum
  • No ads

Cons

  • Only goes to age 8
  • Not specialized for spelling
  • No web version
Our pick
2

SpellingJoy

Free with audio

SpellingJoy is a 100% free spelling practice platform for K-6 students. Unlimited spelling games, unlimited tests, 134+ word lists, custom list creation, and progress tracking - all completely free with no subscriptions and no hidden costs.

Best for:Free pronunciation for all wordsPrice:100% FreeGrades:K-6Platforms:Web

Pros

  • 100% free - unlimited games, tests, and lists
  • No subscription or hidden costs ever
  • K-6 curriculum with 134+ word lists

Cons

  • Web-only (no native mobile apps yet)
  • Classroom features coming soon
3

Reading Eggs

Phonics + spelling

Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.

Best for:Comprehensive literacyPrice:$70-100/yrGrades:Ages 2-13Platforms:All platforms

Pros

  • Wide age range
  • Comprehensive program
  • Includes spelling component

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Can be overwhelming
4

Teach Your Monster to Read

Visual phonics

Teach Your Monster to Read uses a game-based approach to teach systematic phonics. Free on web, $4.99 mobile app. Covers first 2 years of learning to read.

Best for:Visual learning supportPrice:Free (web) / $4.99 (app)Grades:Pre-K-1 (Ages 3-6)Platforms:Web (free), iOS ($4.99), Android ($4.99), Amazon

Pros

  • Completely free on desktop
  • BAFTA award-winning
  • Systematic synthetic phonics

Cons

  • Limited age range (3-6)
  • British accent audio
  • Mobile apps not free
5

Vocabulary A-Z

Vocabulary focus

Vocabulary A-Z (formerly VocabularySpellingCity) offers vocabulary and spelling games for K-5 students with classroom management features for teachers. $108/year covers up to 36 students.

Best for:Vocabulary + spelling combinedPrice:$108/yr (classroom)Grades:K-5Platforms:Web, iOS, Android

Pros

  • 35+ learning games
  • Strong classroom integration
  • Teacher dashboard

Cons

  • Rebranded from VocabularySpellingCity
  • Requires annual subscription
  • Classroom-focused pricing

Frequently asked questions

What apps help ESL students with spelling?

Apps with clear audio pronunciation, visual aids, and adjustable pace. Khan Academy Kids (free) and SpellingJoy (free with audio) work well.

Should ESL students start with phonics or spelling?

Start with phonics to build sound-letter relationships, then move to spelling apps once basics are established.

Our Verdict

Khan Academy Kids is the best free option with clear audio.

SpellingJoy is free with pronunciation audio for every word.

ST

About the Author

SpellingJoy Team

The SpellingJoy team is dedicated to creating free, high-quality spelling resources for K-6 students and their families. We test every app we review and provide honest assessments to help parents make informed decisions.

Related articles

Phonics vs Spelling

Understanding the difference

Free Apps

Budget options