LearnSpace vs Piecing together separate apps
The cost of multiple subscriptions, logins, and data silos
Last reviewed 2026-06-22. Visit Piecing together separate apps
This is an honest comparison based on publicly available information. We acknowledge what Piecing together separate apps does well before explaining where LearnSpace NZ may be a better fit for your kura, classroom, or whānau.
What Piecing together separate apps does well
- Best-of-breed — pick the top tool in each category
- Flexibility to swap individual apps as needs change
- May already own licenses for some tools
Where LearnSpace leads
- Five apps, one ecosystem — PlanSpaceNZ, MyFeedback Pro, Word Wand, Monster Maths Lab, Time Tiles
- Single school deployment with admin dashboard
- Roll-based pricing with unlimited kaiako
- One privacy policy and ad-free child experience
Side-by-side comparison
Compare
Piecing together separate apps
LearnSpace NZ
Built for Aotearoa
Mix of NZ and offshore tools — alignment varies by vendor
Built in Aotearoa by NZ teachers and engineers — not an offshore product adapted for NZ
NZ Curriculum / Te Mātaiaho
Varies — each app may align differently to Te Mātaiaho
Aligned to Te Mātaiaho and the refreshed NZ Curriculum from day one, with te reo and tikanga foundational
Year levels
Depends on each subscription
Years 1–8 primary and intermediate focus
Platform model
Multiple separate subscriptions, logins, and data stores
One ecosystem — schools, kaiako, and whānau share a single trusted platform with one login
Student-facing apps
Separate literacy, maths, and writing tools from different vendors
Five live apps: PlanSpaceNZ, MyFeedback Pro (handwriting scan), Word Wand (camera literacy), Monster Maths Lab, Time Tiles (time telling)
Teacher tools
Planning tool separate from practice apps
Class management, app deployment, classroom utilities, curriculum-aligned planning, and progress dashboards
Whānau / family access
Different parent apps per product — if any
Dedicated whānau portal with child progress, weekly recaps, and ad-free child UX
AI approach
Inconsistent — generic AI in some tools, none in others
Purpose-built AI — vision word scanning, handwriting recognition, and curriculum-aligned feedback modes
Privacy & child safety
Multiple privacy policies — harder to audit for NAG 5 compliance
Privacy by default — ad-free for tamariki, data minimised, encrypted, never sold; NZ-friendly hosting
Pricing transparency
Combined cost of 3–5+ subscriptions — often quote-based and opaque
Public pricing: $2/ākonga/year (schools), $15/mo (teachers), $10/mo (families); 7-day trial from $2
Best for
Schools with strong IT teams and existing multi-vendor contracts who can manage integration and data governance across tools.
Pricing note
Typical stacks (planning + reading + maths + writing) can cost significantly more than LearnSpace's $2/ākonga/year school rate or $15/mo teacher plan. Compare your current total spend.
When LearnSpace is the better fit
- You want one login for kaiako, tamariki, and whānau
- School leadership prefers one vendor relationship and roll-based pricing
- Planning should connect to the apps tamariki actually use
- Privacy and child data should follow one consistent policy
When Piecing together separate apps may suit you better
- You have deeply embedded tools you cannot replace soon
- Different departments insist on different vendors
- Your IT team manages SSO and data integration across vendors already
Good to know: LearnSpace does not replace your SMS, payroll, or specialist SEN tools — it consolidates learning apps that schools often buy separately.
See the difference for yourself
Start a 7-day trial — PlanSpaceNZ, Word Wand, MyFeedback Pro, and Monster Maths Lab included.