The top reading, spelling, and phonics apps to build literacy skills for ages 6-7.
† 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 →
Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.
Starfall teaches reading through systematic phonics with engaging activities for Pre-K through 5th grade.
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.
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.
HOMER creates personalized reading journeys for children ages 2-8 based on their interests and skill level.
Khan Academy Kids offers free, comprehensive early learning content covering reading, math, and more for children ages 2-8.
ABCmouse offers a full early learning curriculum with thousands of activities for children ages 2-8.
Teach Your Monster to Read uses a game-based approach to teach systematic phonics. Free on web, $4.99 mobile app. Covers first 2 years of learning to read.
SpellingJoy ELA is our pick for a do-it-alone 1st grade ELA year. It is a voiced, interactive curriculum - the AI tutor reads aloud, the child builds words, reads back, and writes with feedback - organized week by week toward a full 36-week year per grade and mapped to Common Core standards (early grades have the deepest coverage today; new lessons publish continuously). It is $9.99/month. (Note: it is an AI tutor, not a state-accredited program.)
First graders should build fluency with CVC words, learn common sight words, practice short and long vowel patterns, begin writing simple sentences, and develop reading comprehension. The best ELA apps reinforce these skills through interactive spelling games, guided reading, and phonics activities.
Yes. SpellingJoy and Khan Academy Kids are completely free and cover core 1st grade ELA skills including spelling, sight words, phonics, and reading comprehension. Free apps are especially effective when paired with classroom instruction or read-alouds at home.
Experts recommend 15-20 minutes per session for 1st graders, with no more than one hour of total educational screen time per day. Short, focused sessions are more effective than longer stretches because they maintain engagement and prevent fatigue.
Ideally, use both. Spelling and reading reinforce each other - spelling builds phonics awareness that improves reading, while reading exposes children to new words that strengthen spelling. Combining a free spelling app like SpellingJoy with a reading app like Reading Eggs or Starfall gives the best results.
Reading Eggs is our top pick for 1st grade ELA, with a structured progression from phonics to fluency that builds reading and spelling together. For a guided 1st grade ELA year, SpellingJoy ELA is a voiced, interactive curriculum your child runs alone - the AI tutor reads aloud, the child builds words, reads back, and writes with feedback - a full 36-week year per grade mapped to Common Core, for $9.99/month. See the SpellingJoy ELA year. (It is an AI tutor, not a state-accredited program.) For free spelling practice, the original SpellingJoy app offers 134+ word lists covering Dolch and Fry sight words, CVC patterns, and grade-level vocabulary - all completely free.
If you want a free all-in-one solution, Khan Academy Kids covers reading, math, and social-emotional learning at no cost. For families willing to pay, HOMER delivers a personalized reading path that adapts to each child's level.
The most effective approach is to pair a spelling app like SpellingJoy with a reading-focused app like Starfall or Teach Your Monster to Read for well-rounded 1st grade ELA practice. Full profiles for each sit in the reading and phonics app library.
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.
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