We judged every contender feature by feature - custom lists, text-to-speech, games, and tracking - to find what actually replaces SpellingCity.
STSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: July 2, 2026
The best SpellingCity replacement for most people is SpellingJoy - it wins three of the four features that defined SpellingCity (custom word lists, text-to-speech, and progress tracking) and does it for free, with no student limits. SpellingCity itself wasn't shut down; it became Vocabulary A-Z under Learning A-Z at roughly $108/year per classroom, so "replacement" really means: which app gives you those features without that invoice?
Rather than rank apps on vibes, we scored the contenders against the four things SpellingCity users actually depended on. Here's how the matchups shake out.
The Replacement Scorecard, Feature by Feature
Custom word lists - winner: SpellingJoy. Type or paste any list, no caps, no fee. Spelling Shed and Vocabulary A-Z both do custom lists well, but behind a paywall. SpellingJoy also includes 170+ ready-made curriculum-aligned lists
Text-to-speech - winner: SpellingJoy. Hearing the word before spelling it is the whole mechanic of independent practice. SpellingJoy's TTS is free; Vocabulary A-Z's audio is solid but licensed
Game variety - winner: Vocabulary A-Z, with Spelling Shed close behind. Nothing free matches the old 35+ activity arcade. Spelling Shed's leagues are the best gamification per dollar; ABCya-style free game sites can fill gaps
Progress tracking - winner: SpellingJoy for free auto-grading; IXL if money is no object. SpellingJoy grades practice automatically and shows progress at no cost. IXL's analytics go deeper but are priced accordingly
Free vs Paid: Where the Line Actually Falls
Notice the pattern: the daily-use features are free now; the nice-to-haves cost money. If your week is assign-practice-test-review, a free replacement covers 100% of it. Paying starts to make sense only when you need a giant activity arcade to keep a whole class rotating through stations, or district-grade analytics across subjects. The ranked list below sorts each option by exactly which of those needs it serves - and every recommendation states plainly whether it costs $0, a little, or Vocabulary A-Z money.
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:Winning the features that matter most - custom lists, text-to-speech, and tracking - for freePrice: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
2
Spelling Shed
Best for game variety
Spelling Shed is a UK-based spelling app with gamification features including competitive leagues and rewards. Home subscription $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr for up to 5 students.
Best for:Classrooms that want competitive, gamified spelling at a low pricePrice:$29.99/yr (home)Grades:Ages 5-11Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Strong gamification features
Competitive leagues
Cross-platform
Cons
UK curriculum focus
British accent audio
Original app phased out for subscription model
3
Vocabulary A-Z
The like-for-like option
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:An exact replacement, because it is SpellingCity under the Vocabulary A-Z namePrice:$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
4
IXL
Best analytics
IXL is a comprehensive adaptive learning platform covering all subjects from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Best for:Schools that want spelling inside a full-curriculum platform with deep reportingPrice:$79-159/yrGrades:Pre-K-12Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Comprehensive K-12 coverage
Adaptive learning
Detailed analytics
Cons
Expensive
Spelling is small part of ELA
5
Starfall
Best for K-2
Starfall teaches reading through systematic phonics with engaging activities for Pre-K through 5th grade.
Best for:Phonics-first early learners who are not ready for list-based drillsPrice:$35/yrGrades:Pre-K-5Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Affordable
Good for early readers
Systematic phonics approach
Cons
Limited for older students
Dated interface
6
Spelling Test Buddy
Best single-purpose tool
Spelling Test Buddy automates spelling tests - teachers input words, system generates audio/sentences, auto-grades, and tracks progress. $39.99/year for up to 150 students.
Best for:Families who only need the Friday spelling test, nothing elsePrice:$39.99/yrGrades:K-5Platforms:Web
Pros
Auto-generates audio and sentences for tests
Auto-grades tests instantly
Google Classroom integration
Cons
Web-only (requires internet)
Subscription required after trial
Teacher-focused (less for individual parents)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best replacement for SpellingCity?
For most people, SpellingJoy - it replaces the four features SpellingCity users relied on daily (custom word lists, text-to-speech, self-grading practice, and progress tracking) at zero cost with no student limits. If you specifically want the identical platform, that is Vocabulary A-Z, the rebranded SpellingCity, at around $108/year per classroom.
Which SpellingCity replacement has custom word lists?
SpellingJoy, Spelling Shed, and Vocabulary A-Z all support teacher-created word lists. SpellingJoy is the only one of the three where custom lists are completely free and unlimited; it also ships with 170+ ready-made curriculum-aligned lists you can use as-is or edit.
Does any free app have text-to-speech like SpellingCity?
Yes. SpellingJoy includes text-to-speech that reads each word aloud, which was the feature that made SpellingCity practice work for independent study - kids can hear the word and type it without an adult dictating. That say-the-word, spell-the-word loop is fully covered for free.
Is Spelling Shed a good SpellingCity replacement?
It is a good paid one. Spelling Shed leans into gamification with leagues and competitive play, and it costs far less than the ~$108/year Vocabulary A-Z license. It is the strongest pick if game variety is the main thing your students miss; it is not the pick if you want a $0 option.
How much should I pay for a SpellingCity replacement?
Possibly nothing. The core SpellingCity workflow is available free in SpellingJoy. Paying makes sense in two cases: your school funds Vocabulary A-Z (~$108/year) and you want zero re-learning, or you want a bigger game arcade, where a budget option like Spelling Shed undercuts Vocabulary A-Z significantly.
Can one app replace everything SpellingCity did?
Almost. SpellingCity claimed 35+ activity types, and no single free app matches that raw count. But surveys of actual classroom use tell a consistent story: teachers used a handful of core activities weekly. SpellingJoy covers that core; pair it with a free game site like ABCya if you want extra arcade variety.
Our Verdict
A replacement should be judged on the features you actually used, and by that standard SpellingJoy wins the matrix: custom lists, text-to-speech, auto-graded practice, printables, and tracking, all free, no student caps.
The honest exceptions: if your students lived in the game arcade, Spelling Shed buys the most gamification per dollar; if your school simply wants the old platform back, Vocabulary A-Z is literally SpellingCity renamed at ~$108/year; and if you need cross-subject analytics, IXL is the heavyweight.
Start free, add paid only for a proven gap. Most classrooms never find the gap.
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.
