Wordshark
Wordshark: A deep phonics and spelling program for schools, tutors, and specialist support. Ranked #25 of 25 in Spelling Apps by our editors (6.2/10); pricing: 14-day trial; best for specialist phonics programs for institutions.
At a glance
- Editor score6.2 / 10
- Pricing14-day trial
- Best forSpecialist phonics programs for institutions
- Free planNo
- Paid from£190/yr
- Offline accessYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Over 10,000 words and sentences with structured phonics courses
- Placement testing, automatic progression, and progress reports
- More than 30 spelling, reading, blending, and segmenting games
Where it doesn't
- No free plan, with annual pricing starting at £190
- Platform coverage is limited to web, Windows, and macOS
- No verified dictation feature is included
Our verdict on Wordshark
Wordshark is spelling and reading software for schools, tutors, parents, and learners aged 5 and up, including learners with dyslexia, other special educational needs, or English as an additional language. Its focus is structured phonics and corrective practice: courses cover letter sounds, spelling patterns, sentences, high-frequency words, curriculum vocabulary, and subject-specific terms. Teacher tools include placement testing, automatic progression, assigned work, Free Play, progress reports, time-spent monitoring, and account management for teachers, groups, and students.
Pricing is annual and shown in GBP, excluding VAT. The Individual Teacher plans cost £190 for up to 5 students, £250 for up to 10, or £310 for up to 15; each includes one teacher, placement testing, automatic progression, Set Work and Free Play, custom spellings, and progress reports. School plans cost £380 for up to 20 students, £420 for up to 30, £450 for up to 40, £535 for up to 75, or £560 for up to 100, with unlimited teacher users. A 14-day trial is available. The online edition runs in a browser, while version 5 offers downloadable or USB-based desktop licenses.
The strongest case for Wordshark is depth within specialist spelling instruction. It combines synthetic phonics activities for blending and segmenting with more than 30 games, custom word lists containing words, recordings, pictures, and definitions, and monitoring tools that support targeted practice. Offline access and word-list importing broaden its use across supported desktop environments, but its platform coverage remains narrower than a cross-device service. Institutions that need a substantial phonics program with teacher oversight should consider it; buyers seeking a free plan, wider platform coverage, or verified dictation should choose an alternative.
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Wordshark pricing
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Wordshark fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | £190/yr |
| Phonics instruction | Yes |
| Dictation practice | Not verified |
| Corrective practice | Yes |
| Teacher dashboard | Yes |
| Offline access | Yes |
| Word-list import | Yes |
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Money-back guarantee | 14 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | Email, Phone, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | 14-day trial (source) |
| Website | wordshark.co.uk |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Wordshark
- Spelling.LiveA free, flexible spelling tool with adaptive practice, dictation and classroom reporting.9.4
- SpellMeA broad spelling platform combining phonics, adaptive practice, AI tools, and teacher dashboards.9.2
- Spelling ShedA curriculum-led spelling platform with strong diagnostics, reporting, and offline learning.9.1
See all Wordshark alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Wordshark is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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