Free learning apps with no ads and no surprise in-app purchases, plus an honest look at the two with a paid tier.
Free education apps without in-app purchases are hard to find, because most kids' apps give away a few levels and then ask a parent to pay to keep going. Five of the seven picks below are completely free with no in-app purchases at all, and the other two give away real content for free while charging for a paid tier. The table shows exactly which is which.
Updated August 8, 2026: prices are shown as listed by each vendor and the ranking order was reviewed. The lineup itself is unchanged.
| App | Price | Grades / ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Khan Academy Kids | Free | Ages 2-8 | Comprehensive early learning ages 2-8 |
| 2. Starfall | $35/yr | Pre-K-5 | Free basic phonics and reading content |
| 3. Duolingo ABC | Free | Ages 3-8 | Free phonics and early reading ages 3-8 |
| 4. SpellingJoy | 100% Free | K-6 | Unlimited free spelling practice K-6 |
| 5. Teach Your Monster to Read | Free (web) / $8.99 (app, moving to subscription) | Pre-K-1 (Ages 3-6) | Award-winning phonics games (free on web) |
| 6. Scratch | Free | 2-8 | Free creative coding for ages 8-16 |
| 7. CommonLit | Free | Grades 3-12 | Free reading comprehension grades 3-12 |
† 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 →
Khan Academy Kids offers free, comprehensive early learning content covering reading, math, and more for children ages 2-8.
Starfall teaches reading through systematic phonics with engaging activities for Pre-K through 5th grade.
Duolingo ABC teaches phonics and early reading skills through interactive lessons for children ages 3-8.
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.
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.
Scratch is MIT's free visual programming language where kids drag and drop code blocks to create animations, games, and stories. The most popular coding platform for kids worldwide.
CommonLit offers free, high-quality reading passages with comprehension questions for grades 3-12. A nonprofit making literacy accessible.
Khan Academy Kids, Duolingo ABC, SpellingJoy, Scratch, and CommonLit are completely free with zero in-app purchases. They are funded through nonprofits, foundations, or mission-driven models rather than upsells.
Khan Academy Kids and Duolingo ABC are both listed as ad-free. SpellingJoy is 100% free with no subscription and no hidden costs, and Scratch from MIT is free forever, so none of them interrupt a lesson to sell something.
None of the seven uses in-app purchases, but two offer optional paid plans bought separately: Starfall has a $35/yr membership on top of its free phonics content, and Teach Your Monster to Read is free on the web while its mobile app is $8.99. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor site.
Choose apps that are truly free (like those on this list), enable purchase restrictions in your device settings (Screen Time on iOS, Family Link on Android), and always test an app yourself before handing it to your child.
Not at all. Khan Academy Kids is backed by a world-class nonprofit, Scratch comes from MIT, and SpellingJoy covers 134+ word lists for free. Many free apps match or exceed paid alternatives in content quality.
Khan Academy Kids is the top pick for ages 2-5. It covers reading, math, and social-emotional learning with no ads, no subscriptions, and no in-app purchases. Duolingo ABC is another strong choice for phonics basics.
Yes. All apps on this list are designed for children and avoid manipulative monetization. Khan Academy Kids and Duolingo ABC are both COPPA-compliant and ad-free, making them safe for independent use.
Khan Academy Kids is the best free all-around learning platform for ages 2-8, with no ads and no in-app purchases. Starfall covers basic phonics and reading content for free, and Duolingo ABC is an ad-free pick for phonics and early reading, ages 3-8.
SpellingJoy is the best truly free spelling app with unlimited games, tests, and 134+ word lists at no cost. For coding, Scratch from MIT is unbeatable. Every app on this list lets your child learn without a single in-app purchase or surprise charge.
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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