24 of the Best Reading Apps for Kids in 2023
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Teaching a kid to read is one of the best ways to create a lifelong learner. Whether your child is already a voracious reader or just beginning to learn their letter sounds, there are some amazing reading apps for kids to help them learn and grow.
Plenty of educational apps are designed to help your child learn. For reading apps, this may include phonics games, personalized lessons or a self-paced reading curriculum. These apps are fun and engaging for younger readers, often including stories and animations to bring alive the magic of a good book.
Some reading apps give access to hundreds or even thousands of titles. And many are free — all you need is a library card!
No matter where your child is in their reading journey, our list of the best reading apps for kids can help improve their reading experience.
Benefits of using reading apps from an early age
Even if you love the feel and smell of a real book, you likely do much of your daily reading online. Reading apps are everywhere, and sometimes it’s just easier to access your newest book on your screens.
Reading apps are perfect for children who can already read, but even early and emergent readers can enjoy the huge variety of audiobooks available, or get used to seeing letters and words on the screen.
Exposure to reading apps from a young age introduces your child to reading techniques that can set them up for a lifetime of reading success.
Here are just a few of the benefits your child will experience when using a reading app:
- Apps make reading feel more fun, instilling a lifelong love of reading from an early age.
- Kids can access big libraries of diverse books that might not be easily available otherwise.
- Game-based learning (found in many reading apps) is highly effective for achieving reading mastery.
- Reading apps introduce children to other reading mediums, like audiobooks and interactive experiences.
- Younger children can practice early reading skills in an interactive and engaging way, preparing them for kindergarten and beyond.
24 Reading apps that can improve kids’ reading skills
1. Prodigy English
Grade range: 1 to 6.
Cost: Free educational content, with optional paid Membership.
Prodigy English is ready to boost your child’s language learning with a brand new game. As your child learns, they’ll gain energy to use in a world of their own creation. They can gather resources, craft items and build their own village — all while learning!
This game-based educational app can help keep your child motivated and excited to read.
Plus, teachers and parents can sign up for a free account to help track and motivate student learning.
2. Tales2go
Grade range: K to 12.
Cost: Free for 30 days, then individual subscriptions start at $29.99 USD for three months.
Availability: The app is available in the Apple App Store, or launch the player on any device with a web browser.
This app recognizes the importance of spoken words, both in growing your child’s vocabulary and their interest in stories. And with Tales2go’s library of over 10,000 audiobooks, your child is sure to find many stories to love.
Through audiobooks, readers of all levels can enjoy storytelling. This app is an excellent way to help improve reading comprehension and build an early love of reading.
3. FarFaria
Grade range: Pre-k to 4.
Cost: App is free to download, with unlimited reading subscriptions starting at $4.99 USD per month.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
This app’s interactive map-style dashboard keeps your child moving along their reading path, while giving them access to over 1,000 age-appropriate titles. And new titles are added every week!
Bonus — this app’s reading system is aligned with Common Core standards, so your child will always find the right book for their reading level. And once a book is saved to their favorites, they can read it anywhere — no internet required.
4. Raz-Kids
Grade range: K to 5.
Cost: App is free to use for students at participating schools.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore.
Raz-Kids is a great app in the Learning A-Z family. It offers hundreds of titles, grouped into 29 different levels — with new ebooks and quizzes added every month.
Raz-Kids tackles reading from all sides. Your child can read and take quizzes to show comprehension, record themselves reading aloud or listen to a recording with highlighted text.
5. Starfall
Grade range: Pre-k to 3.
Cost: App is free and includes some free activities, or unlock all content for $35 USD per year.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store or access directly from your web browser.
Starfall has been helping kids learn to read since 2002. The app’s activities are based on years of research and align with Common Core standards.
But the best part — Starfall keeps learning fun with play-based, interactive games and animated songs. Your child will be excited to learn and read!
6. Headsprout
Grade range: Pre-k to 5.
Cost: App is free to use for students at participating schools.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore.
Headsprout uses video lessons to keep your child learning and engaged. Another member of the Learning A-Z family, Headsprout’s educational episodes keep your child moving along their path to reading mastery.
Younger children start with phonemic awareness. After learning the basics and expanding their vocabulary, they can move on to more advanced reading comprehension. It’s step-by-step practice that will keep your child progressing.
7. Vooks
Grade range: Pre-k, early and emerging readers.
Cost: Free for 7 days, then $4.99 USD per month or $49.99 USD per year.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore.
If your child is just not into reading, focus on the joy of stories! With Vooks, your child can watch beautifully animated storybooks that will help bring books to life.
Vooks offers hundreds of titles, and adds new books every week. This is ad-free screen time you can feel good about!
8. IXL
Grade range: Pre-k to 12,
Cost: Choose a single subject Language Arts subscription for $9.95 USD per month, or all four core subjects for $19.95 USD per month.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
If you’re homeschooling or your child needs extra practice at home, IXL is an excellent choice. Your preschooler can learn letter recognition and sounds, while your high schooler works on reading comprehension and using evidence to support logical arguments.
IXL covers all grades and the four core subject areas: Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science. The curriculum is comprehensive, meets state standards, and can be personalized for your child’s skill and level.
9. Skybrary
Grade range: Early and pre-readers to intermediate readers, ages 2 to 9.
Cost: Try free for a month, then subscribe for $4.99 USD per month or $39.99 USD per year.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Amazon App Store.
Skybrary is a collection of interactive children’s stories and exciting live-action videos. Your child can choose from hundreds of books, or watch everyone’s favorite reading guide, LeVar Burton, in a video adventure.
The dashboard is easy for young children to navigate. And they’ll love the colorful animations and read-to-me feature. It also includes a parent dashboard where you can keep up with your child’s progress.
10. Read with Phonics
Grade range: Pre-k and early readers.
Cost: Free to download, but requires in-app purchases to unlock all content.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore.
Phonics learning is more fun when it’s a game!
Read with Phonics took the phonics basics and developed an engaging and rewarding game experience for young learners. Your child can play and earn points while learning the basics of reading. This is a great game to keep your little one motivated while learning their letters and sounds.
11. Reading Raven
Grade range: Best for ages 3 to 7
Cost: $1.99 USD in the Google Play Store, $2.99 USD in the Apple App Store.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Reading Raven is a fun, phonics-based reading app to get your little one excited about reading.
Starting with letter recognition and sounds, your child can work their way through this self-paced curriculum. If they’re further ahead, they can jump right into it, then continue learning at their own pace until they master early reading skills.
12. Dr. Seuss Treasury
Grade range: Pre-k to elementary
Cost: App is free to download and includes a 7-day free trial. Individual books can be purchased, starting at $0.99 USD with bundle discounts available.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore.
Did you know the beloved Dr. Seuss classics are available in a collection of apps?
These book-based apps available from Oceanhouse Media bring even more fun into these silly stories. With animation and hidden surprises, your child will be able to enjoy some of their favorites in a brand new way.
13. Epic
Grade range: Pre-k to 6
Cost: The Basic subscription is free, with a limited library and access to one book a day, every day. The Unlimited subscription is $9.99 USD per month or $79.99 USD per year.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
If you’re looking to keep your kid’s library full, then Epic’s 40,000+ collection of books, audiobooks and videos have you covered. This is a huge collection of both old classics, new favorites, and even original stories (their Cat Ninja series has been a huge hit).
Epic offers many bonuses, like read-aloud books, badges for extra motivation and progress tracking for parents. This app is a great addition to your kid’s daily reading routine.
14. hoopla
Grade range: All ages.
Cost: Free through a participating library — all you need is a library card.
Availability: Available in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Amazon Appstore and on Roku!
Did you know your public library can get you access to a free digital library?
hoopla is an amazing resource for books, audiobooks, comics, TV shows, and even movies. Check out a title to read right away, or download it to your device to enjoy even when you’re unplugged.
Plus, it offers a special Kid’s Mode to ensure your child’s choices are age-appropriate. If your kiddo is really into comics or graphic novels, they’ll love the selection on this app. If you can’t get to the library, hoopla is definitely worth checking out.
15. Amazon Kids+
Grade range: Pre-k to 6
Cost: Starting at $2.99/month for one child for Amazon Prime members. There are also family plans available.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Previously called Amazon Free Time Unlimited, Amazon Kids+ is a great app for your child — giving them access to thousands of books, learning games and educational videos for a small monthly fee.
Free trials are often included with a Kid’s Edition Kindle Fire purchase, and it’s guaranteed to keep your kids busy and learning. The parent dashboard keeps you updated so you always know what your kids are playing or reading. And you can easily set time limits or restrict content by age level. It’s an excellent screen-time solution for families.
16. Spark Reading
Grade range: Designed to improve reading skills for kids ages 6 to 16.
Cost: Free to try with limited stories, or subscribe for full access at $3.99 USD per month or $23.99 USD per year.
Availability: Available in the Apple App Store and in the Google Play Store as Reading Comprehension Prep.
If your child is already reading, but having trouble on their tests, Spark Reading provides great practice. Bonus — once downloaded, no Wi-Fi is needed!
Spark Reading is a great app for taking the frustration out of reading comprehension struggles. It provides a selection of both fiction and nonfiction books. After reading, your child is prompted to answer questions about the text. And if they missed it, no worries — the app will highlight the passage with the answer.
17. OverDrive
Grade range: All ages.
Cost: Free with a library card from a participating library.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore. Or download the app to your desktop or Mac.
OverDrive is another free app that partners with local libraries. Through it, you can check out books, audiobooks, TV shows and movies. The app is user-friendly and gives you access to thousands of titles.
If your kid has a library card, invite them to set up their own account! OverDrive has a dedicated kid’s section with plenty of age-appropriate titles to choose from. This app is a great way to help them explore their interests without cluttering your shelves.
18. Libby
Grade range: All ages.
Cost: Free with a library card from a participating library.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Libby was created by OverDrive to partner directly with your local library. Find your favorite books and audiobooks on Libby, then read them on the go. You can even send titles to your Kindle!
The available titles on Libby are curated by your local librarian, and the app is built to adjust based on your preferences. Your child can search for their favorite titles, too. Just change the audience filter and discover a wide world of children’s stories.
19. Reading Eggs
Grade range: Offers different levels for kids from ages 2 to 13.
Cost: Free for 30 days, then $9.99 USD per month.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Reading Eggs uses fun games and activities to teach your child phonics and sight words. They can learn the basics, or jump into higher levels to improve their growing reading skills.
These are guided lessons designed to match your child’s ability. Your child will learn by following along with the engaging songs and animations, or they can choose a book from the app’s extensive library. And you can track their progress and reward special certificates to keep them going.
20. Sora
Grade range: K-12 students at all reading levels.
Cost: Free for students in a participating school (your child’s school can sign up here).
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Sora is OverDrive’s app designed specifically for schools and students. Students can easily check out titles. And once checked out, your child’s books, notes and preferences sync across all of their devices.
Sora includes great features for struggling readers, like read-aloud options and a dyslexic font. It’s also an easy-to-use audiobook player.
21. Reading Racer
Grade range: Early readers, ages 5 to 8.
Cost: Free
Availability: Available in the Apple App Store.
If your child lacks confidence while reading aloud, check out this free app! Reading Racer uses speech recognition to listen to your child read. The app will even help out with difficult words. And as your child’s reading improves, they earn points and unlock new content.
There are over 200 stories to unlock in this free app. And it’s customizable! Challenge your child to a reading race, or put it in a low-stress practice mode. Choose the level that’s right for your child and let them improve their reading while they play.
22. Wanderful
Grade range: Pre-k to 2.
Cost: Free sampler app to try, then purchase individual books separately, starting at $4.99 USD per book.
Availability: Available in the Apple App Store.
Wanderful is a collection of interactive stories your preschooler will love to explore. Previously called Living Books, Wanderful reads aloud some of your favorite classics, like the Berenstain Bears or Arthur.
On each page, your child can click to explore engaging animations or click on a word to hear it spoken aloud. These books are a fun way to get your young child excited to read!
23. HOMER
Grade range: Best for ages 2 to 8
Cost: Free for 30 days, then subscribe for $9.99 USD per month or $59.99 USD per year.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore.
If you’re looking to boost your child’s early reading, check out HOMER. These fun and interactive lessons are personalized for your child based on their interests and skill level.
The app has a huge variety of topics your preschooler is sure to love, from dinosaurs and princesses to trains and space. These engaging lessons will boost your child’s early learning and confidence while they play their way into reading mastery.
24. SwapTales: Leon!
Grade range: 1st grade and up, early to intermediate readers.
Cost: $4.99 USD.
Availability: Available in the Google Play Store for some devices and in the Apple App Store.
Did you love the Choose Your Own Adventure Books as a child? SwapTales: Leon! is a new app version your kids will be excited to play. While reading, your child solves puzzles by simply swapping around the story’s words.
Should Leon go high or low to get to the next step in his adventure? Does he need to push the barrel and pull the door, or pull the barrel and push the door? Based on what your child chooses, they’ll end up at one of 30 different endings, meaning this story-based game can give them hours of learning fun.
Reading apps introduce children to modern methods of learning
Education is changing. There’s more emphasis on self-paced, personalized learning than ever before. And reading apps embody these modern teaching methods while keeping learning fun.
Game-based reading programs take out the frustration of learning to read. Kids don’t need tedious worksheets or flashcards to learn — they can practice their reading in fun and engaging ways. And when they learn to love stories, they become a reader for life.
Bring game-based learning home with Prodigy English. Create your free account today, then watch as kids learn!