Best Educational Apps for Kids (Many are FREE)
Realistically, they will need to be able to use technology efficiently in the world they’re growing up in, but we’ve all been told to limit screen time, right? Well these apps make me feel SO much better about the time that they spend on their tablets, because they’re learning math, reading, and even computer programming!
BEST EDUCATIONAL APPS
1.) The Foos – Free! (Best for Ages 5-10)
Over 100,000 downloads, 4.3 star average rating
Available on Google Play, iTunes App Store, Amazon/Kindle Fire or on your desktop via your Web Browser or Mac App Store
I can’t say enough good things about this app! Designed for kids age 5-10 (K-5th), it teaches computer coding in a fun and exciting way! My 4 year old loves it just as much as my 11 year old.
One amazing aspect of this game, is that users can not only create their own levels, but they can actually SHARE them! Each level has a level code that you can share with your friends. Type the code into the search bar in Foo Studio to find your friend’s levels.
Teachers: They offer a free 10 lesson computer science curriculum, which includes explanations of key CS concepts, offline activities, worksheets, and answer keys.
The Foos was created by codeSpark, and has won multiple awards, including the Parents’ Choice Award- Gold Award Winner for Mobile Apps!
2.) Khan Academy – Free! (Best for Ages 5-Adult)
Over 1 million downloads, 4.5 star average rating
Available on Google Play, iTunes App Store
With nearly 43 million users, Khan Academy is one of the biggest and best, free learning programs. Created by Sal Khan in 2006, Khan Academy is a non-profit that provides free online materials and resources to support personalized education for learners of all ages. Users earn points to unlock items and features. Parents can track progress, and will get a weekly progress update via email.
Khan Academy covers subjects from basic Math to Physics, Biology, Economics, Art History, Computer Science, Health and Medicine and more. We’ve also partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences and MIT to offer specialized content.
3.) Endless Learning Academy – Free! (Best for Ages 2-6)
Multiple apps – Over 500,000 downloads, around 4 star average rating for most apps
Available on Google Play, iTunes App Store
Designed for kids age 2-6, there are currently six apps available in the Endless series from Originator Kids:
- Endless Learning Academy
- Endless Spanish
- Endless Wordplay
- Endless Numbers
- Endless Reader
- Endless Alphabet
With thousands of lessons available, and some of the best graphics I’ve seen, these apps are perfect for teaching little ones in a simple, entertaining, and interactive way.
4.) ABC Mouse (Free one month trial, $7.95/month)
Over 1 million downloads, 4.3 star average rating
ABC Mouse has one of the most complete and extensive curriculum’s available. While it does have a higher price point, this award winning app gives you a lot more for your money. You can use this app on multiple devices, and you can have up to 3 children’s profiles per account.
One of my favorite things about ABC Mouse is that it has absolutely zero advertising, no external links, and no pop-up ads. Users earn tickets to buy things, like new furniture for the different rooms available.
Parents can also build custom lessons for their children using our unique Lesson Builder feature. They have total control over each aspect of their child’s experience on the site and can track their progress easily. Or, children can learn independently by exploring the site on their own and because every activity on ABCmouse.com has one or more specific educational objectives you can be sure your child will be learning no matter where they are on the site.
5.) Kids Learn to Read Lite – Free! (Best for Ages 4-7)
Over 5 million downloads, 4.0 star average rating
Available on Google Play, iTunes App Store, Amazon/Kindle Fire, and Windows Store
Kids Learn to Read is a fantastic app from the amazing team over at Intellijoy. There are multiple apps available from the same team with similar themes in multiple subjects. There is an expanded version available to upgrade to if your child finishes the lite version.
All of their apps are ad-free, even the lite versions!
6.) PBS Kids – Free! (Best for Ages 2-8)
Over 100,000 downloads, 3.9 star average rating
Available on Google Play, iTunes App Store, Amazon, nook, Windows Store and Windows Phone Store
My kids are huge fans of nearly every show on PBS Kids, and they love to play games on pbskids.org/, so I was very excited to see that they have multiple FREE apps available with all their favorite characters!
Written by Danielle for Hip2Save. Danielle is a proud mom to 5 amazing kids in Utah, who lives for coffee and baking. She’s dedicated to balancing her own interests and passions, while encouraging her children to follow their own paths in life.
Thanks Danielle! We have ABC Mouse & PBS Kids & love them both. We’ll check those others out!
Thanks! My 6 yo son could use some of these apps. He already used ABCMouse and the Endless Alphabet. These other apps sound fun and educational.
Awesome! You’re welcome! 🙂
Can anybody on here recommend great apps for special needs children? My son has autism and is non verbal. Thanks:)
check smartappsforkids.com- they have a section for special needs.
Thanks:)
My son is asperger’s I recall years ago finding an autism apps site filled entirely with good apps including some of the visual chart clips. I’d try googling autism apps and see what pops up, there’s a lot. In fact my first iPad was a “medical device” for speech therapy tax purposes.
Look up “mita” app. It’s free, has a lime green elephant. My 3yr son loves it and it increases in difficulty as they solve puzzles.
Tracy I watch two children with autism the younger one is mostly non verbal he loves Endless Learning Academy and you can get a free 7 day trial to see if it is good for your son. Hope this helps. Bonnie
Can’t say enough about the Endless apps. We purchased the school additions. Both the best and most expensive apps I’ve purchased!
Thanks for the feedback Kate!
The Kahn Academy rocks! Thanks.
You’re welcome April!
We homeschool, some other ones my 8r olds love playing: sushi math, dragon box 2, lumios farm factor, kodable, math ninja, ready jet go, we use car factory for their Latin vocabulary words, and splash math I think is the only one we paid for!
Thanks the suggestions!!
Oh cool! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Abcmouse offers free subscriptions to teachers. I am a teacher and have been using it in my classroom for two years.
Sweet!
The free ones we like are Brainpop Jr., Duolingo (is awesome for learning a different language), and Medieval Math Battle. We paid for Stack the States and Stack the Countries. We also like Tower Math.
Thanks for sharing your favorites! Good to know!
We don’t have wifi right now any free ones or how do I get them without wifi?
Frontrow is another good one. It is math and ela and is free that parents could sign up for as a teacher. great resources. Like khan academy was created before khan academy created their elementary level
You forgot SUMDOG free on amazon/kindle fire. For elementary and middle school aged kids. Math and spelling/reading. Lots of fun. My kids prefer that to most other games.
Im confused. I want my son to try the Endless apps. You have them as free, however, it seems to have to make in app purchases to even use these. Am i missing something?
Hi there! Sorry for any confusion. I still find that app available for Free to download. There may be additional in app purchase options offered. Hope that helps!