If your child got hooked on Duolingo and you want that same five-minutes-a-day habit pointed at reading, spelling or maths, this is the list. If you want another language app, we will say so in the first line rather than waste your afternoon.
First, the honest bit. If you are looking for another language-learning app - Babbel, Busuu, Memrise - this is not that page. SpellingJoy reviews K-6 reading, spelling and classroom tools, and we are not going to pretend to rank apps we do not test.
This page is for the other half of that search: the parent who met Duolingo through Duolingo ABC, the free phonics app for ages 3-8, or who watched their child build a 200-day streak and thought I wish they did that with their spelling words.
Not the languages. The habit. Duolingo works on three things, and all three transfer to any subject:
That third one is worth holding onto when you compare. Plenty of "fun" learning apps are multiple choice all the way down, which is easier to build and much easier to pass without learning anything. For spelling especially, a child who can recognise the right spelling often cannot yet produce it.
† 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 →
SplashLearn offers game-based math and ELA practice for Pre-K through 5th grade. Known for engaging gameplay that keeps kids motivated.
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.
Blooket is a free, browser-based gamified quiz platform where students answer question sets through collectible game modes. The core product is free; Blooket Plus is $4.99/month billed annually ($59.88/yr) or $9.99/month month-to-month, unlocking up to 300 players, detailed reports, and extra creation tools.
ABCya offers educational games for Pre-K through 6th grade across all subjects. Free with ads, or pay for ad-free premium access.
Khanmigo is Khan Academy's AI tutor powered by GPT-4. Unlike ChatGPT, it's designed to guide students through problems using Socratic questioning rather than giving direct answers. Safe, educational, and parent-friendly.
Duolingo Max adds AI features to the popular language app: Roleplay (practice conversations with AI) and Explain My Answer (get grammar explanations). Premium price for premium AI features.
No, and we would rather say so than waste your time. SpellingJoy reviews K-6 literacy, maths and classroom tools. If you want Babbel, Busuu or Memrise compared against Duolingo, a language-learning site will serve you better than this one.
Duolingo ABC is Duolingo’s free app for ages 3-8, teaching phonics and early reading rather than a second language. It is completely free and ad-free. Many parents meet it after their own Duolingo streak and assume it is the same product, which is where a lot of searches for a Duolingo alternative for a child actually start.
A short daily session, a visible streak and a reward for coming back. Blooket and Prodigy copy the game loop most directly. SpellingJoy copies the daily-practice habit for spelling and adds the part Duolingo does with language: the child produces the answer by typing it, rather than picking from four options.
Yes. SpellingJoy is 100% free for K-6 spelling with no paid tier, Blooket is free to create and play, and ABCya has a free tier supported by ads. Duolingo ABC itself is also free, so if phonics for ages 3-8 is what you need, you may already have it.
Only for language learning, and only if the AI roleplay and grammar explanations are things you will use every week. It is $30/month or $168/year, is limited to iOS and Android, and the standard paid Duolingo tier costs far less. For a child learning to read or spell in English, it is the wrong product entirely.
That is exactly the case this page is for. The streak is a habit, not a feature of language learning, and it transfers. A short daily spelling session with visible progress does the same job, and SpellingJoy tracks it free, including a placement test so the words start at the right level.
For spelling, SpellingJoy is the closest match to what you liked about Duolingo and it is free: a short daily session, progress you can see, and the child typing the word rather than choosing it.
For maths, Prodigy is the nearest equivalent of the Duolingo loop, and SplashLearn is the one to pick if you want maths and reading in the same daily habit rather than two more apps on the tablet.
And if you did mean language learning: stay with Duolingo. Its free tier is better than anything we could point you at, Duolingo ABC is free for ages 3-8, and Duolingo Max at $30/month is only worth it if you will genuinely use the AI conversation practice.
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.