Expert-ranked reading apps to help your 2nd grader build fluency, comprehension, and a love of reading.
† 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 →
Epic! provides access to a library of 40,000+ children's books, audiobooks, and educational videos. $84.99/year or $13.99/month.
Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.
SpellingJoy Reading is a learn-to-read app for ages 4 to 8. The child picks a buddy, and that buddy says the sound, shows the letter, and waits for them. It teaches synthetic phonics one sound at a time in the same sequence as UFLI Foundations: 360 lessons across Sound Start, First Words and Sound Teams, plus the heart words learned along the way. A child who does not know a single letter starts at the first sound; a child who knows some passes those lessons quickly. Finished lessons earn stars, and stars buy furniture for the buddy's room. Parents get a weekly summary. It is new, so it has a much shorter track record than the programs above it.
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.
Raz-Kids (by Learning A-Z) provides a leveled reading library with 800+ eBooks across 29 levels, audio support, and comprehension quizzes. $132/year for up to 36 students.
IXL is a comprehensive adaptive learning platform covering all subjects from Pre-K through 12th grade.
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.
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.
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.
Epic! is the best overall reading app for 2nd graders, offering 40,000+ books with read-aloud support, audiobooks, and offline reading. For a structured curriculum, Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive program with lessons, games, and progress tracking.
Raz-Kids is the best app for building reading comprehension in 2nd grade. Every book includes comprehension quizzes, and the 29-level system ensures your child reads at the right difficulty. IXL also offers strong comprehension practice with adaptive questioning.
Khan Academy Kids is the best completely free reading app for early learners. It covers reading, phonics, and more with no ads or subscriptions. SpellingJoy is also 100% free and helps build reading skills through spelling practice with 134+ word lists.
Combine daily reading practice with an app like Epic! or Reading Eggs for structured lessons. Use Raz-Kids for leveled readers that match your child's ability, and supplement with SpellingJoy for free spelling practice that reinforces phonics and word recognition.
SpellingJoy ELA is $9.99/month for a phonics-first, voiced ELA program covering a full year per grade (K-5), including 2nd grade. It uses an AI tutor with read-with-me karaoke and read-aloud speech recognition rather than a live or state-accredited teacher, so it works best as a guided homeschool or supplemental program rather than an accredited school replacement.
Epic! is our top pick for 2nd grade reading with its massive library of 40,000+ books, read-aloud support, and offline access. For a more structured curriculum, Reading Eggs delivers comprehensive lessons that build skills systematically.
For a guided, phonics-first ELA year a 2nd grader can run mostly on their own, SpellingJoy ELA ($9.99/month) adds voiced read-with-me karaoke and read-aloud practice across a full grade-level year. It's an AI tutor (not a state-accredited program), so it fits best as a homeschool or supplemental option. Explore SpellingJoy ELA.
If your child struggles with reading, Lexia Core5 uses Science of Reading research to provide targeted intervention. For comprehension specifically, Raz-Kids pairs every book with quizzes. More titles sit in our reading app library.
On a budget? Khan Academy Kids is completely free, and SpellingJoy offers unlimited free spelling practice that reinforces the phonics and word recognition skills essential for reading fluency. Try SpellingJoy free today.
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.
