Best Educational Apps for Kids in 2026

Khan Academy Kids is our first pick for most families because it is free, ad-free, and covers a broad early curriculum. Animated characters guide children through reading, math, logic, and social-emotional activities, and parents can follow progress without paying for a subscription. That combination is rare among kids apps.

The limit is age range. Children above age 8 will outgrow the content and need a step up to Prodigy, Epic, or a school subject app. For ages 2 to 8, though, it is hard to beat on value, safety, and breadth, and it works well alongside a paid app for a specific subject.

ABCmouse suits families who want a clear learning path rather than a set of separate games. Children follow levels across reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music, with rewards for completing activities. Parents can track progress and set up up to 3 child profiles plus a parent profile.

A basic free plan offers a limited set of activities, while the full subscription is listed at $14.99 per month, with annual options that vary by offer. Check the current ABCmouse pricing page before subscribing, since web and app store prices differ. The structured path is the main reason to pay when a free app feels too open-ended.

PBS Kids Games is a strong free option for preschool and early primary children who already know PBS characters. Games cover math, reading, science, art, and social-emotional learning, and the familiar shows help younger children start without a long tutorial. Parents can trust the brand and the child-focused design.

The trade-off is structure. PBS Kids Games is a collection of games, not a single step-by-step curriculum like ABCmouse, so parents who want a clear path may need to guide choices. Used alongside Khan Academy Kids, it gives children variety without adding cost or ads from a paid subscription.

Duolingo ABC focuses on the early reading skills that matter most for ages 3 to 7, including letter sounds, phonics, and simple words. Lessons are short and game-like, which suits short sessions and younger attention spans. As a free app from a well-known language company, it is easy to try without a subscription decision.

The narrow focus is both a strength and a limit. Duolingo ABC does not cover math or science in depth, so pair it with Khan Academy Kids or ABCmouse for a fuller curriculum. Children above age 7 will move on to other reading or language apps.

Starfall has long been used for early reading, with phonics activities, songs, and simple books that build letter and word skills step by step. Its accessible design also helps learners who benefit from clear, uncluttered screens and audio support. Early math activities add a second subject for younger children.

Some content is free, while a paid membership opens the full library and more activities. Check the current Starfall pricing page, since membership prices vary by plan. Starfall is a good complement to Duolingo ABC when a child needs more reading practice in a calm, focused format.

ScratchJr introduces coding to children aged 5 to 7 through colourful blocks that snap together to move characters, add sounds, and tell stories. Because it uses pictures rather than text code, children can start before they read fluently. That creative, open-ended design also builds sequencing and problem-solving skills.

The app is free and does not require an account, which helps privacy, but it also means progress is stored on the device rather than tracked for parents. Older children should move on to Scratch, the fuller version for ages 8 and up, when they are ready for more complex projects.

Prodigy turns math practice into a role-playing game where children solve problems to cast spells, win battles, and complete quests. Questions adapt to the child's level, and parents and teachers can assign specific skills to match schoolwork. That game loop keeps many children practising longer than a worksheet would.

The free core game covers math practice, while paid memberships, listed from $58.95 per year in guides, add game extras such as pets and items. Parents should set expectations about those extras early, since children may ask for them. Check the current Prodigy pricing page, since membership options change.

Epic is a digital library for children aged 4 to 12, with books, audiobooks, and videos across fiction and non-fiction. Read-to-me mode helps younger readers follow along, while older children can read independently and take quizzes on some titles. For families that want reading volume and choice, it beats buying books one by one.

Pricing is listed at $13.99 per month or $84.99 per year in guides, with no free family plan, though schools may offer free access through teachers. Check the current Epic pricing page before subscribing. If reading is the main goal, Epic pairs well with a free math app such as Khan Academy Kids or Prodigy.