FAQ

Common questions, clear answers.

Everything teachers and families ask most. If your question isn't here, the contact page goes directly to a human.

Getting started Student accounts and privacy Lists and classes Sharing and join codes The iOS app Billing and plans

Getting started

Do I need to install anything as a teacher?

No. The teacher portal is a website — you log in from any desktop or laptop browser. No download, no app, no browser extension required.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. WordSprout is free to start — no card required, no expiry. The free plan includes up to 5 active word lists. The Teacher plan ($5.99/mo) unlocks unlimited lists and classes and comes with a 30-day trial.

How long does setup take?

Most teachers are up and running in under five minutes. Create an account, make a word list, build a class, and share the code — that's the whole process.

Can I import word lists from a spreadsheet?

You can paste a comma-separated or line-separated list of words into the bulk-add field to populate a list quickly. Full spreadsheet import is on the roadmap.

Student accounts and privacy

Do students need to create an account?

No. Students never create an account, provide an email address, or give WordSprout any personal information. The join code is the only credential needed.

Does WordSprout collect data about how students practice?

No. The iOS app works locally on the device. Practice data — test scores, session length, which words were missed — is never sent back to WordSprout's servers. The teacher portal has no dashboard of student performance because that data simply doesn't exist.

Is WordSprout COPPA-compliant?

Because students don't create accounts or submit any personal information, there's nothing to collect consent for. WordSprout intentionally avoids triggering COPPA obligations by design.

What data does WordSprout store about teachers?

Teacher accounts store the information needed to run the portal: email, name, billing details, and the lists and classes you create. See the Privacy page for the full breakdown.

Lists and classes

How many lists and classes can I create?

The free plan includes up to 5 active word lists — no time limit, no card required. The Teacher plan has no cap on lists or classes.

Can I reuse a list in multiple classes?

Yes. A single list can be added to as many classes as you like. Edit the list once and all classes that include it reflect the change.

Can I update a list after students have already downloaded it?

Yes. Edit the list in the portal and save. Students see the updated words the next time the iOS app syncs (when they open the app with an internet connection).

Can I hide some lists within a class temporarily?

Yes. Within a class you can mark individual lists as inactive. Inactive lists stay in the class structure but don't appear in the iOS app until you activate them — useful for publishing new lists week by week.

What's the difference between a list and a class?

A list is a set of words. A class is a container that groups lists and generates a join code for families. Think of lists as the content and classes as the delivery mechanism.

Sharing and join codes

How does the join code work?

Each class has a unique 6-character join code. Families enter this code in the iOS app — the app then downloads your word lists and works offline. The code is not case-sensitive.

Can multiple students use the same code?

Yes. One code works on as many devices as needed. A whole class of 30 students can all use the same join code.

Can I see how many students have used the code?

You can see a redemption count — how many times the join code has been entered. This tells you about reach (how many devices loaded the class), not about individual students.

What if a student loses the code?

Just share it again. The code doesn't expire unless you manually rotate it. It's also visible any time you open the class in the portal.

Can I change the join code?

Yes. You can rotate the join code from the class settings. The old code immediately stops working and a new one is generated. Existing devices that already loaded the class keep working.

The iOS app

Which devices does the app support?

The WordSprout iOS app runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS 17 or later. It's a free download from the App Store.

Does the app work without an internet connection?

Yes. Once a student has entered a join code and the lists have loaded, the app works entirely offline. Students can practice during car rides, on a plane, or anywhere else.

Can a student practice on more than one device?

Yes. Enter the same join code on each device. Lists stay in sync when there's an internet connection.

Is there an Android version?

Not currently. An Android version is something we're considering for the future.

Billing and plans

What happens when the Teacher plan trial ends?

Your account moves to the free plan automatically — nothing is deleted. You keep all your lists and classes; you just lose access to Teacher plan features (unlimited lists, etc.) until you subscribe.

Can I cancel at any time?

Yes. Cancel from your account settings at any time. Your account stays active until the end of the billing period.

Is there a plan for schools or districts?

Yes — school and district plans support multiple teachers under one account with consolidated billing. Contact us to set one up.

Do you offer discounts for Title I schools?

Yes. We work with Title I schools on pricing. Reach out and we'll find something that works.

Didn't find your answer?

Send us a message — we respond to every email, usually the same day.

Contact us Getting started guide