Educational apps, such as phonics games, personalized lessons, and self-paced reading curriculums, are designed to help children learn. Additionally, these apps are fun and engaging for younger readers, often featuring stories and animations. However, only a few stand out as the best reading apps. These platforms cater to various learning styles and subjects, helping children develop preschool skills, prevent the summer slide, and build confidence. To find the best reading apps for kids, consider factors such as budgets, learning styles, and other factors.
Benefits Of Using Reading Apps From An Early Age
Reading apps are becoming increasingly popular, making it easier for kids to access their favorite books. These apps are suitable for both early and emergent readers, offering a variety of audiobooks and introducing them to the world of letters and words. Therefore, exposure to reading apps from a young age can set them up for a lifetime of reading success.
Some of the advantages your child will get from using a reading app are listed below:
- Reading becomes more enjoyable thanks to apps, fostering a lifetime love of reading from a young age.
- Children have access to large collections of various literature that might not otherwise be readily available.
- Reading proficiency can be attained quickly and easily using game-based learning, which is present in many reading apps.
- Children are introduced to interactive experiences and audiobooks through reading applications.
- To get them ready for kindergarten and beyond, younger kids can practice early reading skills in an interactive and fun way.
17 Best Android Reading Apps for Kids
#1. Prodigy English
Prodigy English is a game-based educational app for children aged 1 to 6, offering free educational content and an optional paid membership. Additionally, the app allows children to build their village, gather resources, and create their world. Note that teachers and parents can also sign up for a free account to track and motivate student learning.
#2. Tales2go
The app, available in the Apple App Store or web browser, focuses on spoken words and their role in growing vocabulary and interest in stories. With over 10,000 audiobooks, it helps readers of all levels enjoy storytelling, improve reading comprehension, and build an early love of reading.
#3. FarFaria
The app is available for Pre-K to 4th grades and is free to download. It offers over 1,000 age-appropriate titles and is aligned with Common Core standards. The app’s interactive dashboard keeps children on track, and saved books can be read anywhere, no internet is required. Note that it is available in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
#4. Raz-Kids
Raz-Kids is a free app for K-5 students in participating schools, offering hundreds of titles grouped into 29 levels. It tackles reading from all sides, with new ebooks and quizzes added monthly. Additionally, the app allows children to read, take quizzes, record reading aloud, or listen to highlighted text recordings.
#5. Starfall
Starfall is a free app for Pre-K to 3 students, offering activities based on research and aligning with Common Core standards. Note that it is available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or directly from a web browser. Additionally, the app features play-based, interactive games and animated songs, making learning enjoyable for children.
#6. Headsprout
Headsprout is a free app for students in grades pre-k to 5, available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Amazon App Store. It uses video lessons to keep children engaged and learning. Additionally, the app helps children progress from phonemic awareness to advanced reading comprehension by providing step-by-step practice.
#7. Vooks
Vooks is an ad-free screentime app for pre-k, early, and emerging readers. It offers beautifully animated storybooks, with hundreds of titles and weekly new additions. Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Amazon App Store. Additionally, it provides a fun and engaging way for children to enjoy ad-free screen time.
#8. IXL
IXL is a comprehensive homeschooling curriculum for preschoolers to 12th graders, covering Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Additionally, it offers a single-subject Language Arts subscription for $9.95 per month or all four core subjects for $19.95 per month. Note that it is available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, meets state standards, and can be personalized for individual skill levels.
#9. Skybrary
Skybrary is an interactive children’s story and live-action video app for ages 2–9. It is available for free or by subscription for USD 4.99 per month or USD 39.99 per year. It features interactive stories, live-action videos, and colorful animations, and includes a parent dashboard for tracking progress. Note that it is available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Amazon App Store.
#10. ABCMouse
ABCmouse.com is a popular learn-to-read app for children aged 2 to 8, offering an expert-curated curriculum and hundreds of hours of content. It is used in schools worldwide and has a 30-day free trial. Additionally, the app offers a “Step-by-Step Learning Path” with over 850 lessons across 10 levels, focusing on math, arts, and science at age-appropriate levels.
Furthermore, the app offers a 30-day free trial and a full-year subscription for around $13 per month or $45 per year. Families who purchase a full year’s subscription can save 70% off the price. Overall, ABCmouse.com is a robust and affordable option that makes learning fun for young kids.
#11. Homer
Homer is a customizable learning path for children aged 2 to 8, focusing on reading, math, SEL, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills. It offers a lifetime membership and a game-like interface, allowing students to take the lead in deciding what they want to work on. Note that the program starts with identifying letters and numbers and grows with them, providing the right skill at the right time. Homer’s price point is in line with similar apps, with a free trial offering $5 per month or $60 per year.
#12. Hooked on Phonics
Hooked on Phonics is a popular multimedia learning platform for homeschooling students, offering lessons, games, and fun activities. It offers four core courses, is accessible offline, requires a premium membership for supplemental materials, and is expensive.
Additionally, the Learn to Read app is the baseline, followed by workbooks, books to read, questions, and activities. Children are introduced to new concepts through fun activities, videos, and songs, followed by interactive games and puzzles. The system is pricier than other apps, but it includes workbooks shipped to your door and access to the full catalog of subjects.
#13. Reading Raven
Reading Raven is an interactive app designed to teach the basics and love of reading to kids aged 3–7. It is a phonics-based curriculum that starts with interactive games teaching letter recognition and tracing, as well as multi-sensory skills like hand-eye coordination and reading comprehension.
Note that the app is inexpensive and grows with your child, but it requires payment for new volumes. Additionally, families can customize the learning experience for each grade level, with the original app costing $3 and the second volume costing $2.
#14. Spark Reading
Spark Reading is an app designed to improve reading skills for children aged 6–16. It is available for a free trial with limited stories or subscriptions for $3.99 per month or $23.99 per year. Additionally, the app provides practice for reading comprehension struggles and offers a selection of fiction and nonfiction books.
#15. OverDrive
OverDrive is a free app for all ages, available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Amazon App Store. It partners with local libraries and offers thousands of titles. With a library card, kids can set up their accounts and explore their interests without cluttering the shelves.
#16. Libby
Libby, created by OverDrive, is a free app for all ages, available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It enables users to find their favorite books and audiobooks, read them on the go, and send titles to their Kindle. Additionally, the app adjusts based on preferences, allowing children to search for their favorite titles.
#17. Reading Eggs
Reading Eggs is a fun app for kids aged 2–13, offering different levels and a 30-day free trial. It costs $9.99 per month and is available in the Google Play and Apple App Stores. The app uses guided lessons, engaging songs, animations, and a library of books. Note that parents can track progress and reward children with special certificates.
#18. Sora
Sora is an OverDrive app for K–12 students, available for free in participating schools. It allows students to easily check out titles and sync their books, notes, and preferences across devices. Additionally, it features read-aloud options, a dyslexic font, and an easy-to-use audiobook player for struggling readers.
#19. Reading Racer
Reading Racer is a free app for early readers aged 5 to 8, using speech recognition to help with difficult words. With over 200 stories to unlock, the app is customizable and can be challenged to a reading race or in low-stress practice mode. Therefore, with over 200 stories to unlock, it’s an effective way to improve reading skills while playing.
The Best Free Reading Apps for Kids
#1. Khan Academy Kids
The Khan Academy Kids app offers over 60 books and engaging beginning reader activities for iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire2. It features research-proven learning techniques, simple read-along stories, games for letter tracing, and Foundational Reading Skills.
Furthermore, beginning readers in K–2 can choose from interactive stories with options for narrated read-aloud or independent reading. Note that the app is highly recommended for young children as it provides a diverse range of reading activities.
#2. Unite for Literacy
Unite for Literacy is an award-winning web-based app for early readers, offering over 400 non-fiction books in Spanish. It focuses on the natural world, with themes centered on plants, animals, people, and weather.
#3. ABC Letter Tracing: Alphabet
ABC Letter Tracing is an engaging game for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Grades PreK–K, promoting alphabet recognition and writing. Additionally, it features pictures and a gentle voice, guiding children through the letters.
#4. Sight Words List: Vocabulary
The Sight Words List app, available for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, helps children learn sight words by memorizing and recalling them instantly. With 315 sight words categorized by age, users can select and record words and create personalized word lists as their skills improve. This app is part of the ICDL Free Books for Children app.
#5. ICDL Books for Children: Free Books
The International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL) Free Books app offers thousands of free picture books from over 60 countries, aiming to help young readers become better world citizens by introducing them to diverse stories and cultures.
Best Storybook Apps for Kids
#1. FanFaria Stories:
FanFaria Stories is a storybook app offering over 1000 popular read-alouds for kids aged 1–9. It features read-to-me functionality, standards-aligned reading levels, common core reading levels, read-along options, and offline access, and is compatible with Android and iOS devices. Note that the app is for ages 4+, costs free, and offers in-app purchases.
#2. Little Stories:
The Little Stories app offers 40 illustrated fairy tales for kids of all ages and genders. Users can customize the stories with pictures and melodies and even create their own audiobooks by recording their voices. Additionally, it is compatible with Android and iOS devices, is free, and offers in-app purchases.
#3. Epic
Epic is a top digital reading platform for kids aged 12 and under, offering over 4,000 books, audiobooks, and interactive learning videos. Additionally, it features personalized recommendations, a tracking system, and rewards and badges to keep kids motivated. Compatible with Android and iOS devices, Epic is free and offers in-app purchases.
#4. Storybook:
The app aims to improve kids’ sleep by offering bedtime stories, lullabies, and massages. Additionally, with over 60 massage series and stories for children aged 1–12, users can play lullabies and listen to bedtime stories together. Available for Android and iOS users, free with in-app purchases
#5. Novel Effect:
Novel Effect is an app that promotes children’s learning and imagination by bringing stories to life. Users can search for books, read aloud, and enjoy interactive music, sound effects, and character voices. Note that premium users have unlimited access to the vast library of soundscapes.
How Do I Help My Child Who Is Struggling With Reading?
#1. Seek reading support sooner rather than later.
Early reading lags are highly predictive of future reading problems. Most children with reading lags require school-based and private support to catch up. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that 95% of children with reading difficulties can reach grade level with specialized help.
One great reading support is Orton-Gillingham (O-G), a multi-sensory approach that incorporates a child’s senses into the learning process. Note that this approach is particularly beneficial for children with ADHD who crave movement.
#2. Choose books at your child’s level.
To become a satisfied reader, a child should read books at their level. If a child makes more than one reading error in ten words, it’s likely too difficult. Parents can help their child discover their reading level by consulting their teacher and asking their local librarian.
Research shows that a child’s interest in a book motivates them to read. Therefore, don’t squabble with your child if they insist on checking out a book beyond their level, as it can give them more power.
#3. Consider audiobooks.
Reading comprehension improves when children read and listen to books simultaneously, especially for those with short attention spans and lower reading skills. Parents should consider audiobooks or local library books for their children. Reading to children is important for building reading fluency, parent-child connection, and stronger vocabulary skills. Additionally, it helps children with ADHD wind down.
#4. Limit screen time.
Excessive screen-related activities, such as video gaming, have been linked to lower academic performance. Therefore, parents should monitor their child’s screen time and encourage alternative activities like library trips or bike rides. While it may be challenging for some children, especially those with ADHD, it’s important to acknowledge the guilt and encourage unplugged activities.
Can I Use Raz-Kids for Free?
Raz-Kids Mobile App allows students to read anytime, anywhere, on iPad, Android, or Kindle Fire tablets. With a subscription, students can access comprehensive reading resources at 29 levels of difficulty for free.
At What Age Should a Child Read Fluently?
Reading fluency develops at 7-8 years old, involving automatic, accurate, and quick word recognition.
Does ABCmouse Help With Reading?
ABCmouse is an engaging online learning platform that helps children learn to read.
How Can Kids Listen to Books for Free?
LibriVox is a free, public-domain audiobook database with over 16,000 titles, accessed by voice actor volunteers worldwide. Searched by title, subject, or author in multiple languages.
What Is the Website That Helps Kids Read?
Starfall is a free reading website for children to enhance their alphabet, phonic, recognition, and spelling skills. Additionally, it features stories, poems, comics, Greek myths, and Chinese fables.
Where Can I Read Full Books Online for Free Without Signing Up?
You can read full books online without signing up at:
- Feedbooks.
- Project Gutenberg.
- Open Library.
- ManyBooks.
- Free-eBooks.
- Bookyards.
- Kobo.
- Bookboon.
Is Speechify Basic Free?
Speechify provides a free three-day trial for desktop and mobile versions, with limited TTS features. After the trial, users can cancel or pay for a subscription.
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