LearnCube is a capable language classroom. Pencil Spaces matches it on language — then keeps going.
Structured literacy on an Orton-Gillingham foundation, deep language resources, and AI that writes leveled exercises in any language. Plus what a language tool was never built to do: every other subject, autograding of handwritten work, attendance and analytics, and the compliance a district signs off on. And if you need a resource we don’t have yet, we go get it.
10M+ sessions taught
Orton-Gillingham structured literacy
Any language AI exercises
Last updated June 2026
Whole-subject platform
A virtual classroom for every subject, with structured literacy and language built in, AI grading, and full compliance.
Language-focused
A purpose-built classroom for language and ESL teaching, with a fixed CEFR content library for three languages.
The short answer
Pencil Spaces and LearnCube are both real, purpose-built teaching classrooms. The difference is range. LearnCube focuses on language and ESL, with a fixed CEFR library for English, French and Spanish. Pencil Spaces teaches languages just as seriously — it is built on an Orton-Gillingham structured-literacy foundation, carries deep language resources, and its AI generates leveled exercises for any language — and it also teaches every other subject, grades handwritten work, and meets FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA and SOC 2. If LearnCube has a resource you need, Pencil Spaces will add it. The reverse is not true.
A real classroom. Purpose-built for teaching, not a meeting tool.
Fully Orton-Gillingham. Structured literacy for reading, phonics, and dyslexia support.
Language, fully covered. Deep resources, plus AI exercises for any language.
Every other subject too. Math, science, test prep — not just language.
AI that grades and coaches. Including handwritten work and post-class coaching.
Built for education. FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA, SOC 2, plus 24/7 live help.
Buyer education
LearnCube is a genuinely good language classroom. It runs in the browser, it has a clean whiteboard, and it ships a ready-made CEFR library for English, French and Spanish.
But a language library is not the same as language teaching — and it is not a platform.
Pencil Spaces teaches language with the same rigor and more: a full Orton-Gillingham structured-literacy foundation for reading and dyslexia intervention, deep language resources, and an AI that writes leveled exercises in any language, not a fixed three. Then it does what a language tool doesn’t — every other subject, autograding of handwritten work, attendance and analytics, and compliance a district will accept. And if there is a resource you need that we don’t have yet, we go get it.
LearnCube gives you a language classroom.
Pencil Spaces gives you the whole school -
language included.
See it
The same Space runs a decoding drill, a fractions board, and an essay review — with language resources and structured literacy built in.
Screenshot: a persistent teaching room
Every subject in one Space. Switch from an Orton-Gillingham decoding drill to a math board to an essay without leaving the room or screen-sharing a thing.
Built for reading, not just chat. A full Orton-Gillingham foundation and multisensory tools for phonics, decoding, and dyslexia support — with individual cursors so every learner participates.
Bring the best of every subject. Quizlet, IXL, Desmos, and any website open right on the board — and if a resource you need is missing, we add it.
Side by side
Both run in the browser and both are built for teaching. The difference is how much teaching each one carries — starting with language, where Pencil Spaces gives nothing away.
Your question
Whole-subject platform
Language-focused
The basics
Is it a real, purpose-built teaching classroom?
Yes. A virtual classroom, not a meeting tool.
Yes. A purpose-built teaching classroom.
Browser-based, no downloads?
Yes. One click, any device.
Yes, runs in the browser.
Interactive whiteboard?
Yes. Unlimited boards, saved to the room.
Yes, a clean teaching whiteboard.
Language & literacy teaching
Leveled language curriculum?
Yes. Any language and level, generated on demand — plus deep language resources you can bring in.
Yes, a fixed library for English, French and Spanish.
Built for structured literacy (Orton-Gillingham)?
Yes. A full Orton-Gillingham foundation for reading, phonics, and dyslexia support.
Not its focus — general ESL content only.
Speaking & conversation practice?
Yes. Full video, breakouts, and one-to-one rooms.
Yes, with a dedicated Conversation Mode.
Vocabulary & practice apps in the room (e.g. Quizlet)?
Yes. Quizlet and any resource open right on the board.
Built-in content only.
AI that writes language exercises?
Yes, for any language and level.
Beta, for English, French and Spanish only.
A resource you need that is not built yet?
We build it. Custom content and development.
You work with what ships.
Beyond language: the whole platform
Every other subject (math, science, test prep)?
Yes. One room for every subject and age.
Language and ESL focused.
Embedded apps (Desmos, IXL, Canvas, any site)?
Yes. 100+ apps via the Web Viewer.
Own content and media embeds.
Autograding, including handwritten work?
Yes, with Sparky.
Not offered.
Persistent rooms & saved student work?
Yes. The whole room persists between lessons.
Class content can be stored and reused.
Breakout rooms?
Yes, with attached whiteboards.
Yes.
Operations, pricing & support
Lesson recording?
Yes. Cloud and local.
Yes, cloud recording.
Calendar, invites & attendance?
Yes, built in.
Yes, in the Online School.
Participation & attention analytics?
Yes.
Basic reporting.
Built for education compliance?
Built to support FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR, ISO and CCPA.
UK-centric privacy policy citing the Data Protection Act 1998; no published US compliance.
White-label (logo, colours, domain)?
Yes.
Yes.
Embed it in your own product?
Yes. Carbon, a real-time collaboration API and SDK.
Yes, Classroom and Whiteboard APIs.
24/7 live support?
Yes, 1–2 minute response, and we can join your Space.
Varies by plan.
Proven at scale?
10M+ sessions taught.
5M+ classes delivered.
Pencil Spaces does everything LearnCube does for language — structured literacy, deep resources, any-language AI — and then teaches every other subject too. If you need a resource we don’t have yet, we build it.
Comparison reflects publicly available information about LearnCube as of June 2026 and is intended as buyer education. LearnCube is a purpose-built language classroom; Pencil Spaces is an all-subject teaching platform.
The honest range
Both teach languages well. Only one teaches everything else, too.
Language and ESL, with deep resources
Orton-Gillingham structured literacy and dyslexia support
Math, science, test prep, coding, music — every subject
AI that writes leveled exercises in any language
Autograding, including handwritten work
Embedded apps: Quizlet, IXL, Desmos, any site
Attendance, analytics, recordings, and 24/7 support
FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA and SOC 2 compliance
Any resource you need that is not built yet — we add it
Anything beyond language and ESL teaching
Subjects like math, science, and test prep
Orton-Gillingham structured literacy and dyslexia support
Autograding, including handwritten work
Published FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA and SOC 2 compliance
AI beyond a three-language beta
Adding a resource you need that is not already built
Built for your team
Language & ESL schools
Even if you only teach languages, Pencil Spaces matches LearnCube’s depth — an Orton-Gillingham literacy foundation, deep resources, and any-language AI — then adds grading, analytics, and compliance LearnCube doesn’t. And we’ll build any resource you’re missing.
Multi-subject tutoring companies
LearnCube covers language. Pencil Spaces covers your whole catalogue — math, science, reading, test prep — in one room, with consistency, recordings, scheduling, and scalable workflows.
Schools and districts
Districts ask for FERPA, COPPA and SOC 2 first. Pencil Spaces is built to support them, with persistent instructional spaces and safer learning workflows. LearnCube publishes none of these.
Literacy & intervention programs
Structured literacy is the core, not an add-on. Pencil Spaces is fully Orton-Gillingham, with multisensory tools for phonics, decoding, and dyslexia support, plus the analytics to track progress.
Proof by segment
Literacy programs
"Pencil Spaces has been instrumental in our transformation, enabling us to serve more students and bring literacy to the children of Charlotte-Mecklenburg."
Steve Hall · Executive Director, Augustine Literacy Project
Tutors using AI
"Sparky has become an indispensable part of my workflow. It provides instant evaluations, helps identify misconceptions and generates relevant follow-up material."
Verified review · Trustpilot
Language & ESL schools
Add a quote from a language or ESL operator on teaching languages on Pencil Spaces with structured literacy and any-language AI.
Schools and districts
Add a quote from a district administrator on student privacy, compliance, and safe instructional spaces.
Proven at scale
sessions taught on Pencil Spaces
minutes of live learning
uptime, so class is not interrupted
live support inside the Space
See how one room handles language, literacy, and every other subject — with the grading, analytics, and compliance a language tool leaves out.
Fully Orton-Gillingham, built for every subject, and trusted by tutoring teams, schools, and districts.
Tarification
Both Pencil Spaces and LearnCube are usage-friendly rather than rigid per-seat tools, so the choice is about range, not a pricing gimmick. LearnCube starts around $9/month for individuals, with class-volume pricing for business and API use.
Pencil Spaces offers a free plan, a tutor plan from about $7/month, a Pro plan, and usage-based institutional pricing — with no per-host seat creep as you add tutors, and structured literacy, language resources, AI, and every subject included rather than sold as separate content packs.
With a language-only tool, the day you add a math program, a reading-intervention cohort, or a district that needs SOC 2, you are shopping again. Pencil Spaces is one platform for all of it, so the tool grows with the program instead of capping it.
Switching
Keep teaching the way you do today, with more in the room and a team that does the heavy lifting.
A dedicated migration team to plan and run your move
A full library of setup guides and video walkthroughs
Nothing to reinstall, your students join in one click
Guided migration
You won't do it alone.
Our team helps move your content and set up your rooms, so your first lesson on Pencil Spaces feels familiar — only with more in the room.
FAQ
Pencil Spaces gives nothing away on language — and adds every other subject, the AI, and the compliance a language tool can’t. See it in your own program.
