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Best Free Reading Apps for Kids in 2025

Quality reading apps with no subscriptions or hidden costs. Effective literacy practice without spending a dime.

SpellingJoy TeamSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: January 15, 2025
Child reading on device

You don't need to pay $70-100/year for quality reading apps. Several excellent options are completely free, with no subscriptions, no in-app purchases, and no hidden costs.

We've tested the best free reading apps to help your child develop literacy skills without breaking the bank. From comprehensive learning platforms to digital library access, these apps prove that free can be fantastic.

Our Top Picks:

1

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids offers free, comprehensive early learning content covering reading, math, and more for children ages 2-8.

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Best for - Comprehensive free learning for ages 2-8
Price - Free
Grades - Ages 2-8
Platforms - iOS, Android, Amazon

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free
  • ✓ Comprehensive curriculum
  • ✓ No ads

Cons

  • ✗ Only goes to age 8
  • ✗ Not specialized for spelling
  • ✗ No web version
2

CommonLit

CommonLit offers free, high-quality reading passages with comprehension questions for grades 3-12. A nonprofit making literacy accessible.

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Best for - Free reading passages for grades 3-12
Price - Free
Grades - Grades 3-12
Platforms - Web

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free
  • ✓ High-quality literary passages
  • ✓ Aligned to standards

Cons

  • ✗ Not for early readers (starts grade 3)
  • ✗ Web only
  • ✗ Less engaging for reluctant readers
3

Sora (OverDrive)

Sora (by OverDrive) gives students free access to eBooks and audiobooks through their school or public library. The modern library card for digital readers.

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Best for - Free eBooks through your school/library
Price - Free (library)
Grades - All ages
Platforms - Web, iOS, Android

Pros

  • ✓ Free through school/public library
  • ✓ Thousands of eBooks & audiobooks
  • ✓ Works with library card

Cons

  • ✗ Requires library participation
  • ✗ Popular books have wait times
  • ✗ Setup varies by school/library
4

Storyline Online

Storyline Online features famous actors reading children's books aloud. A free resource from SAG-AFTRA Foundation with activity guides for each book.

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Best for - Celebrity read-alouds, completely free
Price - Free
Grades - K-5
Platforms - Web, iOS, Android

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free
  • ✓ Famous actors reading books
  • ✓ High production quality

Cons

  • ✗ Limited library (~60 books)
  • ✗ Video only, not interactive
  • ✗ No reading progress tracking
5

Teach Your Monster to Read

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.

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Best for - Free phonics on web (apps $8.99)
Price - Free (web) / $4.99 (app)
Grades - Pre-K-1 (Ages 3-6)
Platforms - Web (free), iOS ($4.99), Android ($4.99), Amazon

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free on desktop
  • ✓ BAFTA award-winning
  • ✓ Systematic synthetic phonics

Cons

  • ✗ Limited age range (3-6)
  • ✗ British accent audio
  • ✗ Mobile apps not free
6

Duolingo ABC

Duolingo ABC teaches phonics and early reading skills through interactive lessons for children ages 3-8.

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Best for - Free early literacy for ages 3-8
Price - Free
Grades - Ages 3-8
Platforms - iOS, Android, Amazon

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free
  • ✓ No ads
  • ✓ Well-designed interface

Cons

  • ✗ Limited age range
  • ✗ Not spelling-specific
  • ✗ No web version
7

Turtle Diary

Turtle Diary offers free educational games and worksheets across reading, math, and other subjects. Ad-supported but completely free to use.

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Best for - Free educational games (ad-supported)
Price - Free
Grades - Pre-K-5
Platforms - Web

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free
  • ✓ Large library of games
  • ✓ Printable worksheets included

Cons

  • ✗ Contains ads
  • ✗ Quality varies by game
  • ✗ Dated interface
8

Starfall

Starfall teaches reading through systematic phonics with engaging activities for Pre-K through 5th grade.

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Best for - Low-cost phonics at $35/year
Price - $35/yr
Grades - Pre-K-5
Platforms - Web, iOS, Android

Pros

  • ✓ Affordable
  • ✓ Good for early readers
  • ✓ Systematic phonics approach

Cons

  • ✗ Limited for older students
  • ✗ Dated interface

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Khan Academy Kids is 100% free with no ads. CommonLit offers free reading passages for grades 3-12. Sora provides free library eBooks. Storyline Online has free celebrity read-alouds. Teach Your Monster to Read is free on web.

Our Verdict

Khan Academy Kids is the clear winner for ages 2-8—completely free, no ads, and comprehensive educational content.

For older kids, CommonLit (grades 3-12) offers free high-quality reading passages with comprehension questions.

For free books, use Sora with your library card for thousands of free eBooks and audiobooks.

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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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