Top English Language Arts apps for reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar practice.
† 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 →
IXL is a comprehensive adaptive learning platform covering all subjects from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Newsela adapts real news articles to 5 different reading levels, making current events accessible to students grades 3-12.
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.
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.
Quizlet's Q-Chat is an AI study buddy that helps explain concepts and quiz students. Combined with millions of flashcard sets, it's a powerful study tool for vocabulary, history, science, and more.
CommonLit offers free, high-quality reading passages with comprehension questions for grades 3-12. A nonprofit making literacy accessible.
Fifth graders should focus on reading comprehension of complex texts, vocabulary building with Greek and Latin roots, persuasive and narrative writing, grammar conventions, and citing textual evidence to support analysis.
SpellingJoy ELA is a voiced, interactive ELA year for ages 5-10 (K-5), with 5th grade being the top of its range. The AI tutor reads aloud, the child builds and reads back words, and writes with feedback, organized as a full year per grade and mapped to Common Core. It is $9.99/month. Note: it is an AI tutor, not a state-accredited program.
Yes. SpellingJoy offers 100% free spelling and vocabulary practice with 134+ word lists. CommonLit provides free literary passages with comprehension questions. Both are standards-aligned and designed for upper elementary students.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends consistent limits on screen time. For educational apps, 20-30 minutes per session is effective for 5th graders. Short, focused practice sessions are more beneficial than long, unfocused ones.
ELA apps are best used as supplements to classroom instruction, not replacements. They reinforce skills like vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension through repeated practice, but students still need direct instruction, peer discussion, and teacher feedback for full ELA development.
For comprehensive ELA coverage across reading, writing, and grammar, IXL leads with its adaptive learning engine.
If your 5th grader needs reading comprehension practice, Newsela keeps them engaged with real-world articles adapted to their level, while CommonLit offers excellent free literary passages with built-in questions.
SpellingJoy is the best free option for 5th-grade spelling and vocabulary practice, with unlimited games and 134+ word lists at no cost. For a guided ELA year your 5th grader can run alone, SpellingJoy ELA is a voiced, interactive curriculum - Joy reads aloud, the child builds words, reads back, and writes with feedback - a full year mapped to Common Core for $9.99/month (5th grade is the top of its K-5 range). See the SpellingJoy ELA year. (It is an AI tutor, not a state-accredited program.) Browse every option we have tested in our 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.
SpellingJoy+
$2.99/month. All printable packs, teaching resources, premium packs. Cancel any time.
