Acquired, renamed, and repriced - the complete timeline of how SpellingCity became Vocabulary A-Z, and what to use now.
STSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: July 2, 2026
SpellingCity didn't disappear - it was acquired and renamed. The platform, by then called VocabularySpellingCity, was bought by Learning A-Z (a Cambium Learning Group company) and rebranded as Vocabulary A-Z across 2023-2024. In the process, pricing moved from roughly $35/year to a $108/year classroom license, which effectively priced out families and teachers paying out of pocket. That, in one paragraph, is what happened.
But the short version doesn't explain why millions of old links broke, why so many people are convinced the site shut down, or what a teacher who loved the old product should actually do next. The longer story is worth two minutes of your time.
The SpellingCity Timeline, Step by Step
The SpellingCity years: The site built a devoted following among elementary teachers with custom word lists, read-aloud pronunciation, and a big arcade of spelling games at a price individual families could afford
The VocabularySpellingCity era: As vocabulary features grew, the product adopted the longer VocabularySpellingCity name while keeping its affordable ~$35/year subscription
The Learning A-Z acquisition: Cambium Learning Group's Learning A-Z division - the company behind Raz-Kids and Reading A-Z - acquired the platform
The Vocabulary A-Z rebrand (2023-2024): The product was folded into the A-Z family under a new name, and spellingcity.com began redirecting, breaking years of bookmarks and shared links
The price shock: Pricing shifted to a classroom license around $108/year (up to 36 students), with $108-125/year commonly cited - a model built for school purchase orders, not personal budgets
From a business standpoint, the rebrand made sense: Learning A-Z sells to schools and districts, and a standalone consumer spelling site didn't fit that catalog. From a parent's or teacher's standpoint, it felt like the product they paid for simply vanished behind a purchase order.
What This Means for You Today
If your school buys Vocabulary A-Z, the familiar features are still there under the new name. If you're a parent, homeschooler, or a teacher whose district didn't pick up the license, you need a replacement - and the good news is that the features people actually loved about SpellingCity (custom lists, text-to-speech, self-grading practice, and progress tracking) are now available for free. The apps below cover every budget, starting at $0.
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:Rebuilding the SpellingCity experience for free with custom lists, text-to-speech, and 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
Vocabulary A-Z
What SpellingCity became
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:Schools that can budget $108/year for the original platform under its 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
3
Spelling Shed
Best budget paid 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:Gamified spelling practice at a fraction of Vocabulary A-Z pricingPrice:$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
4
Spelling Test Buddy
Best for weekly 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:Quick auto-graded spelling tests without adopting a full platformPrice:$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 happened to SpellingCity?
SpellingCity was acquired by Learning A-Z, a Cambium Learning Group company, and rebranded as Vocabulary A-Z between 2023 and 2024. The platform still exists, but pricing moved to a classroom license model around $108/year, which pushed out most families and teachers who used to pay about $35/year out of pocket.
Who owns SpellingCity now?
SpellingCity (which became VocabularySpellingCity) is now owned by Learning A-Z, part of Cambium Learning Group. After the acquisition, the product was folded into the Learning A-Z family and renamed Vocabulary A-Z.
When did SpellingCity become Vocabulary A-Z?
The rebrand from VocabularySpellingCity to Vocabulary A-Z rolled out across 2023 and 2024, following the acquisition by Learning A-Z. That is when old spellingcity.com links started redirecting and many bookmarked activity pages stopped working.
Why did SpellingCity change its name?
After Learning A-Z acquired the platform, it was renamed Vocabulary A-Z to match the rest of the Learning A-Z product line, such as Raz-Kids and Reading A-Z. The name change signaled a shift in strategy: selling classroom and district licenses to schools rather than low-cost subscriptions to individual families.
How much does Vocabulary A-Z cost now?
Vocabulary A-Z is typically sold as a classroom license around $108/year covering up to 36 students, with figures of $108-125/year commonly cited. That is roughly three times what SpellingCity charged families in its ~$35/year era.
Is there a free version of SpellingCity today?
Not from Learning A-Z - Vocabulary A-Z is a paid product aimed at schools. If you want the core SpellingCity experience for free, SpellingJoy offers custom word lists, 170+ ready-made lists, text-to-speech, auto-graded practice, and progress tracking at no cost with no student limits.
Our Verdict
What happened to SpellingCity is a classic edtech story: a beloved consumer product got acquired, renamed, and repositioned for school budgets. It survived - but the $35/year version that families and teachers loved is gone for good.
If your school will pay, Vocabulary A-Z is the same platform continued under Learning A-Z. If you're paying out of your own pocket, SpellingJoy replaces the core experience for free - custom word lists, text-to-speech, auto-graded practice, printable worksheets, and progress tracking with no student limits.
Bottom line: don't mourn SpellingCity - migrate. Start with the free option, and only pay if you find something specific missing.
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.
