Wordshark review
A deep phonics and spelling program for schools, tutors, and specialist support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Wordshark pros and cons
- 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
Wordshark fact sheet, pricing and score →
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