† Pricing note: Prices are checked against each vendor's official website or help center at the time of writing, but vendors change plans and prices at any time. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's own site before purchasing. How we review and verify →
1
Time4Learning
Best full curriculum
Time4Learning is a comprehensive online homeschool curriculum covering all core subjects for PreK-12. Self-paced multimedia lessons with automated grading. $30/mo for PreK-8, $40/mo for high school.
Best for:Complete homeschool ELA curriculum PreK-12Price:$30-40/mo†Grades:PreK-12Platforms:Web
Pros
Full PreK-12 curriculum all subjects
Self-paced and automated grading
Accepted as accredited curriculum in most states
Cons
Expensive at $30-40/month
Web-only, no mobile app
Not supplemental - designed as full curriculum
2
IXL
Best skill tracking
IXL is a comprehensive adaptive learning platform covering all subjects from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Best for:Comprehensive ELA skill practice with diagnosticsPrice:$79-159/yr†Grades:Pre-K-12Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Comprehensive K-12 coverage
Adaptive learning
Detailed analytics
Cons
Expensive
Spelling is small part of ELA
3
Reading Eggs
Best early reading
Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.
Best for:Phonics and early reading for ages 2-13Price:$99.99/yr†✓ verified 2026-08-06Grades:Ages 2-13Platforms:All platforms
Pros
Wide age range
Comprehensive program
Includes spelling component
Cons
Expensive
Can be overwhelming
Our pick
4
SpellingJoy ELA
Best guided ELA year
SpellingJoy ELA is a voiced, interactive English Language Arts curriculum for ages 5-10. The child plays a ~20-minute daily lesson alone - the AI tutor reads aloud, the child builds words with tappable tiles, reads back (speech recognition), and writes with AI feedback. Phonics-first, standards-aware, a full 36-week year per grade. Parents review the week's work. It is an AI tutor, not a state-accredited program, and is not COPPA/FERPA certified - parental consent and supervision are the parent's responsibility.
Best for:A voiced, do-it-alone homeschool ELA year for ages 5-10 (K-5)Price:Free tier, or $9.99/month†Grades:K-5Platforms:Web
Pros
Free tier with no card - a lesson a day, kept forever
A full 36-week guided ELA year per grade (K-5)
Phonics-first and mapped to Common Core standards
Cons
Unlimited lessons and all courses need premium ($9.99/mo, $19.99 family, $79.99/yr)
Web-only (no native mobile app yet)
AI tutor, not a state-accredited program
Our pick
5
SpellingJoy
Best free spelling
SpellingJoy is a 100% free spelling practice platform for K-6 students. Unlimited spelling games, unlimited tests, 134+ word lists, custom list creation, and progress tracking - all completely free with no subscriptions and no hidden costs.
Best for:Free unlimited spelling practice for K-6 homeschoolPrice:100% Free†Grades:K-6Platforms:Web
Pros
100% free - unlimited games, tests, and lists
No subscription or hidden costs ever
K-6 curriculum with 134+ word lists
Cons
Web-only (no native mobile apps yet)
Classroom features coming soon
6
HOMER
Best personalized
HOMER creates personalized reading journeys for children ages 2-8 based on their interests and skill level.
Best for:Adaptive early reading for ages 2-8Price:$80/yr†Grades:Ages 2-8Platforms:iOS, Android
Pros
Personalized learning path
Comprehensive reading program
Good for early readers
Cons
Expensive
Limited age range
7
CommonLit
Best free reading
CommonLit offers free, high-quality reading passages with comprehension questions for grades 3-12. A nonprofit making literacy accessible.
Best for:Free reading passages and comprehension for grades 3-12Price:Free†Grades:Grades 3-12Platforms:Web
Pros
Completely free
High-quality literary passages
Aligned to standards
Cons
Not for early readers (starts grade 3)
Web only
Less engaging for reluctant readers
8
Lexia Core5 Reading
Best for struggling readers
Lexia Core5 is a research-backed adaptive reading program used in 1 in 4 US schools. Strong focus on Science of Reading principles and early literacy intervention.
Best for:Science of reading intervention for Pre-K-5Price:School pricing†Grades:Pre-K-5Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Research-backed (Science of Reading)
Adaptive learning paths
Strong for struggling readers
Cons
Primarily sold to schools
Not available for individual purchase
Interface can feel clinical
Frequently asked questions
What is the best all-in-one homeschool ELA app for ages 5-10?
For K-5 specifically, look at SpellingJoy ELA. A voiced AI tutor named Joy leads every lesson on her own: she speaks the instructions, your child assembles words, reads passages back, and gets feedback on writing. Weekly units grow toward 36 weeks per grade level and follow Common Core, with the deepest coverage in the early grades and new lessons publishing continuously. Price is $9.99/month. Keep in mind this is an AI tutor rather than a state-accredited program.
What is the best free homeschool ELA app?
SpellingJoy (the free product) is the best free option for spelling practice with unlimited games, tests, and 134+ word lists. CommonLit is excellent for free reading comprehension passages for grades 3-12. Together they cover core ELA skills at no cost.
Can apps replace a full homeschool ELA curriculum?
Time4Learning is the only app on this list designed as a complete stand-alone curriculum. Most other apps work best as supplements. Many homeschool families combine a core curriculum with targeted apps for spelling, reading, and writing practice.
Which homeschool ELA app is best for multiple grade levels?
IXL covers K-12 with adaptive skill practice across all ELA strands. Time4Learning also spans PreK-12. For younger students across multiple grades, SpellingJoy (K-6) and Reading Eggs (ages 2-13) both allow multiple child profiles.
What ELA apps work best for early readers in homeschool?
HOMER and Reading Eggs are the top choices for early readers. HOMER offers personalized reading plans for ages 2-8, while Reading Eggs uses structured phonics lessons. SpellingJoy complements both with free spelling practice starting in kindergarten.
Do homeschool ELA apps align with state standards?
IXL and Time4Learning explicitly align with Common Core and state standards. CommonLit passages are standards-aligned. SpellingJoy covers Dolch and Fry sight words which align with most state spelling benchmarks for K-6.
Our Verdict
Time4Learning leads this list as the only app here designed as a complete stand-alone curriculum, covering all ELA strands from PreK through 12th grade and aligning explicitly with Common Core and state standards. For skill-by-skill practice alongside it, IXL covers K-12 with adaptive ELA skill practice and diagnostics.
For ages 5-10, SpellingJoy ELA hands the homeschool ELA year to a tutor a child can use alone. Joy, the voiced AI tutor, carries each lesson herself: she speaks every instruction aloud while your child assembles words, reads passages back to her, and gets writing feedback. The weekly units grow toward 36 weeks per grade across K-5, follow Common Core, and cost $9.99/month. See the SpellingJoy ELA year. (Remember that Joy is an AI tutor, and the program is not state accredited.)
Prefer something free? The original SpellingJoy spelling app costs nothing, with unlimited use of its games, tests, and 134+ word lists for K-6.
Pair any of these with CommonLit (free reading passages) for added comprehension practice in grades 3-12. You can browse more homeschool options in our educational app library.
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About the Author
SpellingJoy Team
The SpellingJoy team is dedicated to creating free, high-quality spelling resources for K-6 students and their families. We test every app we review and provide honest assessments to help parents make informed decisions.
