Spelling City Shut Down? Here’s What to Use Instead
SpellingCity isn't gone, but at $125/year it might as well be. We found free and affordable alternatives that offer the same core features.
STSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: February 8, 2026
If you've searched "is SpellingCity shut down," you're not alone. Thousands of teachers and parents have been confused by what happened to the spelling app they once relied on.
Here's the truth: SpellingCity is not shut down. It was rebranded to Vocabulary A-Z (formerly VocabularySpellingCity) after being acquired by Learning A-Z. The platform still exists, but the price has skyrocketed from about $35/year to $108-125/year for a classroom license.
That massive price jump is why so many schools dropped it, leading teachers to think it was discontinued. If your school cut SpellingCity from the budget, or you simply can't justify $125/year for spelling practice, you have excellent options.
Why People Think SpellingCity Shut Down
Rebranding confusion: The name changed from SpellingCity to VocabularySpellingCity to Vocabulary A-Z
Schools dropped it: Budget cuts and price increases led many districts to cancel subscriptions
Old links broken: The original spellingcity.com domain redirects, making it seem like the site is gone
Price shock: Teachers who paid $35/year were told it would now cost $108-125/year
What You Actually Need from a SpellingCity Replacement
SpellingCity was loved for its custom word lists, text-to-speech pronunciation, spelling games, and progress tracking. The good news is that free apps now offer these same core features. You don't need to pay $125/year to get quality spelling practice.
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 unlimited spelling practice with word lists and progress trackingPrice: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 gamified option
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:Competitive leagues and spelling gamesPrice:$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 actual SpellingCity (rebranded)
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:Same platform under a new 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 all-in-one platform
IXL is a comprehensive adaptive learning platform covering all subjects from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Best for:Spelling plus every other subjectPrice:$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 younger learners
Starfall teaches reading through systematic phonics with engaging activities for Pre-K through 5th grade.
Best for:Phonics and early spelling for Pre-K to 2nd gradePrice:$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
Simplex Spelling
Best one-time purchase
Simplex Spelling uses research-backed methods and is particularly effective for students with learning differences.
Best for:No subscription, research-backed methodPrice:$5-15/appGrades:K-5Platforms:iOS
Pros
Research-backed methodology
Great for special needs students
One-time purchase
Cons
iOS only
Multiple apps to purchase
No web version
7
Spelling Test Buddy
Best for spelling tests
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:Auto-generated spelling tests with gradingPrice:$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
Is SpellingCity still available?
Yes, SpellingCity is still available, but it has been rebranded to Vocabulary A-Z (formerly VocabularySpellingCity) and is now part of the Learning A-Z family. The confusion about it shutting down comes from the rebranding and significant price increases that led many schools to drop it.
Why did SpellingCity get so expensive?
SpellingCity was acquired by Learning A-Z (Cambium Learning Group) and rebranded as Vocabulary A-Z. The price jumped from around $35/year to $108-125/year for a classroom license. The new pricing model is designed for school-level purchases rather than individual families, which has priced out many parents and teachers paying out of pocket.
Can I import my SpellingCity word lists into another app?
There is no direct import tool, but most alternatives make it easy to recreate your lists. With SpellingJoy, you can create custom word lists in minutes by typing or pasting your words. SpellingJoy also includes 134+ ready-made word lists aligned to US curriculum standards, so you may not need to recreate them at all.
What is the best free alternative to SpellingCity?
SpellingJoy is the best free alternative. It offers unlimited spelling practice, 134+ curriculum-aligned word lists, custom list creation, text-to-speech pronunciation, and progress tracking - all completely free with no student limits and no hidden costs.
What happened to VocabularySpellingCity?
VocabularySpellingCity was rebranded to Vocabulary A-Z in 2023-2024 after being acquired by Learning A-Z. The core features are still there, but the pricing structure changed to a classroom license model at $108/year for up to 36 students. Many teachers who used the old, cheaper version have switched to free alternatives.
Are free spelling apps as good as SpellingCity was?
Free apps like SpellingJoy now offer the core features that made SpellingCity popular: custom word lists, audio pronunciation, progress tracking, and engaging practice modes. While SpellingCity had 35+ activities, most teachers only used a handful regularly. SpellingJoy focuses on the features teachers actually need, completely free.
Our Verdict
SpellingCity isn't dead - it's just expensive now. If your school dropped it or you can't afford the new pricing, SpellingJoy is the best free replacement. It covers the features teachers actually used in SpellingCity: custom word lists, audio pronunciation, progress tracking, and engaging spelling practice.
If you want the exact same platform, Vocabulary A-Z (the rebranded SpellingCity) is still available at $108/year. For a paid alternative at a lower price, Spelling Shed ($29.99/year) offers solid gamification.
Our recommendation: Start with SpellingJoy (free) and see if it meets your needs before paying for anything. Most teachers find it covers everything they used SpellingCity for.
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.
