PenPoints

PenPoints is a spelling and handwriting practice app for primary and elementary school children. A child writes dictated words on paper, photographs the work, and receives OCR-based scoring and feedback. The maker describes the app as suited to ages 6–12, with parents and teachers assigning exercises and reviewing results. Wordlists can be matched to school year and curriculum, and parents and teachers can make custom lists; only teachers can use rule-specific lists. Results may include word definitions, synonyms, and antonyms. Teachers can run SpellStation challenges. Without a school plan, teacher accounts can send one homework exercise each week, use 90 SpellStation credits, conduct up to five live class assessments, and assign up to 30 individual exercises. The free app is available for iOS and Android phones and tablets, and requires an internet connection. The maker says it complies with GDPR and COPPA, does not sell or share user data, and does not show in-app ads. One account currently does not support multiple children.

PenPoints offers paper-based spelling practice with photo feedback and tools for parents and teachers. The single-child account limit and required internet connection are important constraints for families.

PenPoints may suit children aged 6–12 who practice spelling and handwriting, along with parents and teachers who assign exercises and review results.

PenPoints is a spelling and handwriting app for children aged 6–12, built around pencil-and-paper dictation and photo feedback. It is a strong fit for an adult guiding one child’s practice on a phone or tablet. Its free access and paper-based exercises are appealing; the one-child account limit and internet requirement are meaningful constraints.

Overview

Children write dictated words on paper and submit a photo for OCR scoring and instant feedback. That makes PenPoints a practical choice when spelling practice should also involve handwriting, rather than answers entered only on a screen. Parents and teachers can assign exercises and review results, with wordlists adapted to school year and curriculum.

Adults can create custom lists, and teachers can use rule-specific lists. Results may include definitions, synonyms and antonyms, adding vocabulary practice alongside spelling correction. PenPoints also supports phonics instruction and corrective practice. The maker says the app has no in-app ads and complies with GDPR and COPPA. Users can delete accounts in settings, which permanently removes associated data from the app’s database. The privacy policy limits collected child information to first name, while opted-in analytics tools may collect device, usage, crash, IP, location and advertising-interaction data.

Key features

Paper dictation and photo scoring

OCR feedback connects spelling practice to handwriting: a child writes each word rather than selecting an answer or typing it. This suits families who want paper-based practice with digital review, but the photo step and required internet connection make it less convenient for offline work.

Lists and vocabulary

Curriculum- and year-adapted wordlists give adults a starting point, while custom lists let them target particular words. Teachers alone can access rule-specific lists. Definitions, synonyms and antonyms in results can broaden a session beyond spelling, though these features do not replace adult guidance.

Teacher tools

Teachers can use SpellStation challenges and a teacher dashboard. Automated homework and live class assessment are described as coming soon, so they are not current tools to rely on. Without a school plan, the free teacher allowance is one homework exercise per week, 90 SpellStation credits, up to five live assessments and up to 30 individual exercises. Those caps may suit limited use, but they constrain regular classroom-wide practice.

Pricing

PenPoints is free: its Free plan costs nothing. Teacher use without a school plan carries the weekly homework, credit, assessment and individual-exercise limits described above. There is no paid family plan or renewal term to weigh here. The free access is a clear advantage for a household trying paper-based practice, but one account cannot currently support multiple children, making it a poor fit for siblings who need separate practice under one account.

Platforms

PenPoints runs on iOS and Android phones and tablets. An internet connection is required, and offline access is not supported, so it is unsuitable for practice where connectivity is unreliable or unavailable. The maker lists [email protected] for support and says the team strives to respond within 24 hours.

Who it's for

PenPoints is best for a parent or teacher supporting one child aged 6–12 who benefits from writing words by hand and receiving digital feedback. Curriculum-based lists, custom practice and vocabulary results add useful flexibility. Families with multiple children sharing an account, or teachers who need higher free quotas, should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Paper dictation and OCR feedback combine spelling with handwriting practice.
• Pros: Curriculum-adapted and custom wordlists let adults shape practice; teacher-only rule lists add a more focused option.
• Pros: Free access includes teacher tools, with explicit limits rather than a paid entry requirement.
• Pros: The maker says it shows no in-app ads, and account deletion permanently removes associated database data.
• Cons: One account does not currently support multiple children, limiting its fit for families with siblings.
• Cons: Internet is required and there is no offline access.
• Cons: Free teacher quotas cap homework, SpellStation credits, live assessments and individual exercises.

Alternatives

Spelling Apps is the broader category to browse if PenPoints’ paper-first approach or family limits do not fit.

• Spelling Boost is an Android option with audio dictation tests, custom spelling lists, handwriting input and progress tracking; choose it if those listed tools better match your practice needs.
• SpellMe offers a free Basic plan with five lists, 10 words per list, 300+ curated phonics lists and Regular Mode, plus a £12 per y Advanced plan. Consider it if curated phonics lists or its wider platform availability matter more than paper-photo practice.
• Spelling Notebook is for iOS and macOS, with a $1.99, paid once Premium upgrade; choose it if you want an Apple-only alternative and its reported 10-word free-list limit is workable.
• Spelling Shed runs on Android, iOS and web, with free tests, games, challenges, leagues and rostering carrying seven-day histories. It may suit readers who want those game and classroom features.
• Spelling.Live offers 200 free sign-up credits that expire after 90 days without a practice session, plus a 400-credit pack for £4, paid once. Pick it if a credit-based option fits better.
• SpellingJoy is another free-plan option for readers comparing spelling apps.
• Spelvo has a free plan with three lifetime snaps and one child profile, and a Single plan at 9.90 MYR a month billed annually with 40 snaps per month. Its limited free allowance may be relevant if a small number of photo practices is enough.
• SpellSmart is a free iOS alternative for readers looking for an option on Apple devices.

Verdict

Choose PenPoints if one child needs spelling practice that starts with handwriting on paper and benefits from photo-based feedback, wordlists and vocabulary support. Its free access makes that combination approachable. Look elsewhere if you need one account for several children, offline use or more generous teacher allowances.