Scribble
An iPad and Apple Pencil handwriting tutor for ages 5–11. Its first course teaches cursive, from strokes, letters and joins to words and sentences, with real-time feedback on stroke order, direction, shape, size, spacing and slant. $1,000 a year or $100 a month per child.
What is Scribble?
Scribble is a handwriting tutor for ages 5 to 11 that runs on an iPad with an Apple Pencil. Its first course teaches cursive. As your child writes, the app checks stroke order, direction, shape, size, spacing and slant, and corrects mistakes before they become habits. Scribble was built and tested in classrooms with Alpha School, and the company says a team of learning scientists reviews its teaching approach.
Disclosure: Scribble is made by the team behind Edulist.
How it works
Your child practices 15 to 30 minutes a day. Each session mixes short lessons, reviews, a warmup and handwriting games. Practice adapts, so children get extra repetitions on the letters they need most. XP, a daily goal and streaks keep them coming back.
A typical day:
- Your child opens the app on the iPad and picks up the Pencil.
- They do a warmup, then a lesson or review.
- They earn XP toward the daily goal, set to weekdays by default.
- You check the dashboard for letter confidence and writing pace.
Scribble estimates the core cursive course takes about 20 hours of practice, based on its pilot at Alpha School. Pace varies, and there's no deadline. The company encourages writing on paper too, since screen gains don't automatically show up on paper.
What it covers
| Stage | Focus |
|---|---|
| Learn the forms | Strokes, then lowercase and uppercase letters, then joins |
| Build fluency | Words and sentences, for speed and legibility |
| Coming next | Print handwriting, included while subscribed |
Scribble doesn't teach the print alphabet, reading, spelling or composition. Children should already print the alphabet legibly before they start.
Who it's best for
Scribble fits kids who print well and are ready for cursive, in families that already own an iPad and Apple Pencil. It suits parents who want feedback on every letter without watching each stroke themselves.
Look elsewhere if your child is still learning to print, or if you want a screen-free, low-cost program. Handwriting Without Tears teaches print first with inexpensive workbooks.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, Scribble costs $1,000 a year or $100 a month per child, plus tax, after a 14-day free trial. Equipment is extra. The Handwriting Mastery Guarantee refunds the year's subscription payments if a child does the core course and six months of fluency practice and still can't write every letter legibly from memory. Terms apply.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Possibly. Curriculum and online learning are commonly allowable expenses in programs like the Arizona ESA and Florida's FES-UA. Each program decides what it covers, and devices follow separate rules. Save Scribble to your Edulist wishlist and apply once to the scholarships you qualify for.
How it compares
- Handwriting Without Tears uses simple vertical cursive and workbooks that cost about $13.50.
- Zaner-Bloser Handwriting teaches the traditional slanted cursive many schools use.
- Memoria Press offers New American Cursive and copybooks for under $30.
- The Good and the Beautiful introduces cursive at Level 3 with low-cost workbooks.
See our best handwriting curriculum picks or browse all handwriting programs.
Who Scribble is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Children ages 5–11 who print well and are ready for cursive
- Families who already own an iPad and Apple Pencil
- Parents who want stroke-level feedback without watching every letter
- Kids motivated by XP, streaks and games
Look elsewhere if
- Families on a typical handwriting budget of a $15 workbook
- Households without an iPad and Apple Pencil
- Children still learning to print the alphabet
- Families who want paper-only, screen-free handwriting
Scribble pros and cons
Pros
- Real-time feedback on stroke order, direction, shape, size, spacing and slant
- Adaptive practice targets each child's weakest letters
- Parent dashboard shows letter confidence and writing pace
- 14-day free trial and a written mastery guarantee
- Future courses, such as print, included while subscribed
Cons
- Requires an iPad, Apple Pencil and screen protector, sold separately
- Premium price compared with handwriting workbooks
- Cursive only for now; the print course is still in progress
- Young product with no independent reviews yet
- Priced per child, and an internet connection is required
What’s included
- Cursive course: strokes, letters and joins, then words and sentences
- Real-time feedback on stroke order, direction, shape, size, spacing and slant
- Adaptive practice gives extra repetitions on the letters a child needs most
- XP, daily goals, streaks and handwriting games
- Parent dashboard with letter confidence, writing pace and optional weekly reports
- Print handwriting course planned, included with an active subscription at launch
How much does Scribble cost?
As of October 2026, each child's subscription is $1,000 billed annually (the full amount up front, $83.33 a month equivalent) or $100 billed monthly, plus applicable tax. A year of access includes the cursive course, fluency practice, feedback, assessments, the parent dashboard, future courses such as print handwriting while subscribed, and a graduation reward package. Each child has a separate subscription; siblings can share one iPad.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual, per child | $1,000/yr | Yearly | $83.33/mo |
| Monthly, per child | $100/mo | Monthly | $100/mo |
Free trial: 14 days free, at most once per student. Payment details are required at signup, and the first charge comes on day 15 unless you cancel.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
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Scribble FAQs
How much does Scribble cost?
As of October 2026, Scribble costs $1,000 a year ($83.33 a month equivalent) or $100 a month per child, plus tax. Each child gets a 14-day free trial once. The iPad, Apple Pencil and screen protector are sold separately.
What equipment does Scribble need?
An iPad on iPadOS 18.3 or later, a compatible Apple Pencil and a paper-texture screen protector. Scribble recommends an iPad 9th generation or newer, and an 11-inch screen is its most-tested size. Pressure sensitivity isn't required.
Is my child ready for Scribble?
Scribble builds on print, so your child should write the print alphabet legibly and hold a pencil for 10 to 15 minutes. Most children are ready around age 5 or 6, but readiness matters more than age.
Does Scribble teach print handwriting?
Not yet. The first course is cursive. A print handwriting course is in progress, and Scribble says future courses are included while a subscription is active.
What is the Handwriting Mastery Guarantee?
If your child completes core instruction within six months and then six months of consistent fluency practice, and still can't write every lowercase and uppercase letter legibly from memory, Scribble refunds that student's subscription payments for the year. You must ask within 60 days after the qualifying year, and terms apply.
How do I cancel Scribble?
Go to Settings, then Billing & access, and choose Manage trial or Manage subscription to confirm in Stripe. Cancel before the trial deadline to pay nothing. Your child's profile and history stay available after access ends.
Can I use ESA funds for Scribble?
Possibly. Online learning programs are a common allowable expense in programs like Arizona ESA and Florida FES-UA, but each program decides. Check your program's rules before you buy.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: