Epic offers 40,000+ children's books free for teachers, but how does it handle your child's data? We reviewed Epic's privacy practices, COPPA compliance, and data collection to help parents and schools make an informed decision.
Epic (getepic.com) is one of the most popular children's reading apps in the United States, offering access to over 40,000 books, audiobooks, and educational videos for kids ages 2–12. Its free-for-teachers program has made it a staple in elementary classrooms, with millions of students using the platform during school hours.
However, privacy-conscious parents and school administrators have valid questions about what data Epic collects, how it is used, and whether the app meets the standards set by COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act). The updated COPPA Rule, finalized in January 2025 with full compliance required by April 2026, raises the bar for all apps directed at children under 13.
Common Sense Privacy, which independently evaluates children's apps, gave Epic a Warning rating for its privacy practices. Specific concerns include data collection that may be used for profiling, third-party data sharing, and advertising-related data use. While Epic does not display ads within the reading experience, the underlying data practices warrant closer scrutiny.
On the positive side, Epic provides a parent dashboard for monitoring reading activity, supports up to four child profiles per family account, and offers offline reading. For schools, Epic's free educator access during school hours (7 AM–4 PM) removes cost barriers, and teachers can manage classroom libraries without collecting student payment information.
We evaluated Epic alongside seven alternative reading apps based on privacy certifications, data minimization, advertising practices, and overall safety for children. Here is what parents and educators need to know.
Epic! provides access to a library of 40,000+ children's books, audiobooks, and educational videos. $84.99/year or $13.99/month.
Khan Academy Kids offers free, comprehensive early learning content covering reading, math, and more for children ages 2-8.
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.
ReadingIQ offers 7,000+ digital books for kids ages 2-12 with reading level filtering (AR, Lexile, Guided Reading). $39.99/year or $7.99/month. Made by Age of Learning (ABCmouse).
Starfall teaches reading through systematic phonics with engaging activities for Pre-K through 5th grade.
Vooks transforms picture books into animated read-alouds. Great for screen time that feels like storytime, but kids watch rather than read themselves.
Duolingo ABC teaches phonics and early reading skills through interactive lessons for children ages 3-8.
Storyline Online features famous actors reading children's books aloud. A free resource from SAG-AFTRA Foundation with activity guides for each book.
Epic provides a curated library of 40,000+ books for children ages 2–12 and does not display ads within the reading experience. However, Common Sense Privacy gave Epic a Warning rating due to concerns about data profiling and third-party data sharing practices. The content itself is age-appropriate, but parents should review the privacy policy before creating accounts for children.
According to Epic’s privacy policy, the app collects identifiers (name, email), device information (device type, operating system, IP address), usage data (books read, time spent, features used), and payment information from the subscribing parent. Epic states it collects data from children under 13 only with parental or school consent, but the scope of data collected has raised concerns among privacy reviewers.
Epic states it complies with COPPA and collects personal information from children under 13 only with verifiable parental or school consent. However, Epic does not hold a formal COPPA Safe Harbor certification from organizations like iKeepSafe or kidSAFE. Common Sense Privacy flagged concerns about data use for profiling and third-party sharing, giving Epic a Warning rating rather than a Pass.
Yes. Epic offers free access to its full library for verified educators during school hours (7 AM to 4 PM local time). Teachers can create classroom accounts for up to 40 students without a paid subscription. Outside school hours, students on free teacher accounts are limited to one free book per day unless the family has a separate home subscription.
Epic does not display traditional banner or video ads within the reading experience. However, Common Sense Privacy noted that Epic and its third-party partners may collect data for advertising-related purposes, including targeted advertising outside the app. This distinction is important: the in-app experience is ad-free, but data may still be used for ad targeting elsewhere.
For maximum privacy, Khan Academy Kids and Starfall are both free, ad-free, and collect minimal to zero data from children. ReadingIQ offers a similar book library at a lower price from Age of Learning (ABCmouse makers). Raz-Kids is a strong school option with leveled reading and comprehension quizzes. Storyline Online is completely free with no signup required.
Yes. Epic provides a parent dashboard where families can manage up to four child profiles, review reading activity, and adjust age-appropriate content settings. However, some parents have noted that children can switch between profiles and potentially access books intended for older readers. Parents should review profile settings and monitor reading activity regularly.
Epic (the reading app by Byju’s/getepic.com) has not been subject to FTC enforcement actions for COPPA violations. However, its parent company Byju’s faced significant financial difficulties in 2024–2025, raising questions about long-term data stewardship. Parents should monitor any ownership changes, as new owners may update privacy practices.
Epic provides an impressive reading library and genuine value for classrooms through its free teacher program. However, its Common Sense Privacy Warning rating means parents and schools should review the privacy policy carefully before creating accounts for children. Epic lacks formal COPPA Safe Harbor certification from iKeepSafe or kidSAFE.
For families who prioritize privacy above all else, Khan Academy Kids and Starfall are the strongest choices — both are free, ad-free, and collect minimal to zero data from children. Neither has received a privacy warning from independent reviewers.
If you want a book library similar to Epic with stronger privacy practices, ReadingIQ offers 7,000+ books at a lower price point from Age of Learning, the same company behind ABCmouse. For schools, Raz-Kids provides leveled reading with comprehension quizzes and is widely used in districts with strict data privacy agreements.
For the youngest readers (ages 2–8), Vooks offers beautifully animated storybooks with no ads and no data collection concerns, while Storyline Online requires no account at all — just free celebrity read-alouds from SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
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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.