Best Learning Apps for Kids Free in 2026: 9 Apps Compared

Khan Academy Kids is our top free pick for younger children. It covers early reading, math, logic, colors, shapes, and social emotional learning, with interactive activities, videos, and books, all without ads or a subscription. The app is designed for ages 2 to 8, which makes it a good fit for preschool and early elementary children.

Older children will outgrow it, and it does not replace school work for later grades. Parents should still set up the profile and check settings, even though the app is ad free. For a free, safe, broad start, no other app on this list matches Khan Academy Kids for younger learners.

Duolingo ABC focuses on one job and does it well, teaching early readers phonics through short, game like lessons. Children learn letter sounds, blending, and simple words step by step, with rewards that keep sessions fun without turning reading into a race. The app is free, which makes it easy to try alongside a broader app like Khan Academy Kids.

It is not a full curriculum. Math, science, and wider subjects need another app, and the lessons suit early readers rather than fluent readers. For a child learning to read, Duolingo ABC is the best free, focused start, especially when a parent sits nearby for the first sessions.

PBS Kids Games turns familiar shows into free learning games covering science, math, reading, and problem solving. Children can play with characters they already know, which lowers the barrier for reluctant learners. There is no subscription, and the PBS Kids brand carries a long history of educational programming.

The trade off is structure. Games vary in depth, and there is less clear progression than in a curriculum app like ABCmouse or Reading Eggs. Use PBS Kids Games as enrichment and fun practice, alongside a more structured app if your child needs a clear learning path. For free, safe play, it is a strong family choice.

Starfall has taught early reading for many years, with phonics, songs, stories, and games that suit pre-K through early elementary children. The free tier covers basic phonics and reading activities, which is enough to test whether the style fits your child. Its multisensory approach, combining sound, sight, and play, helps early readers connect letters and sounds.

Full access needs a subscription, so check the current price on the site, and the design feels older than Khan Academy Kids or Duolingo ABC. Math activities are also narrower than the reading library. For structured, gentle phonics practice, Starfall remains a reliable, budget friendly choice.

Prodigy Math turns math practice into an adventure game, where solving problems earns rewards, pets, and progress in a fantasy world. The game adapts to a child's level, which helps school age children practice without feeling tested. That motivation is why many teachers and parents use it for homework style practice.

Parents should set up controls and talk about purchases, because a paid membership adds features and can create pressure to upgrade. Game elements can also distract from the math itself if sessions run long. Used in short, focused sessions, Prodigy is the best free math motivator on this list for elementary and middle school children.

ABCmouse offers the fullest early learning curriculum on this list, with a structured path across reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music for ages 2 to 8. Children follow a learning path, earn tickets and rewards, and move through activities in order, which suits families who want school like structure at home.

It is not a free app long term. Pricing is listed at $14.99 per month, with trial and annual options that vary, so check the current offer before subscribing. Some children also find the structured path less playful than Khan Academy Kids. If you want a complete curriculum and are willing to pay, ABCmouse is the most thorough early learning option here.

Reading Eggs gives families a more structured reading program than a game app alone. Lessons follow a systematic phonics sequence, with clear progression, tracking, and reading comprehension work that extends beyond the first sounds. That structure suits children who need explicit teaching, or who have finished Duolingo ABC and want the next step.

Reading is the only subject, so math and science need another app, and full access needs a paid plan after the trial. Lessons are also longer than Duolingo ABC's quick sessions, which suits some children and tires others. Check the current trial and price on the site. For rigorous reading instruction, Reading Eggs is a strong choice.

ScratchJr introduces coding to children aged 5 to 7 through colorful blocks they snap together to make characters move, talk, and interact. No reading is needed to start, which makes it accessible to pre readers, and children can create stories and games rather than just answering questions. It is free, with no ads or purchases in the core app.

The age range is narrow, and older children should move to Scratch, the full version for ages 8 and up. There is also no structured curriculum, so parents and teachers guide the learning. For a first, creative coding experience, ScratchJr is the best free start for young children.

Funbrain offers free games, books, comics, and videos for reading and math, aimed at school age children. Many games need no account, which makes it easy to try quickly, and the mix of reading and math suits homework style practice. For families who want a free, browser based option without installing an app, Funbrain is convenient.

The free site carries ads, so parents should supervise use and consider an ad blocker or a supervised session, depending on the device. Structure is also looser than ABCmouse or Reading Eggs, with less progression tracking. As a free supplement for reading and math games, Funbrain is a useful, low friction choice.