Raz-Kids costs $132/year and is not available for individual families. These reading apps give your child leveled books and practice at home.
STSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: February 8, 2026
If your child's school uses Raz-Kids, you already know how effective leveled reading can be. Kids log in, pick a book at their level, read or listen, then take a quiz. It's simple, structured, and it works.
The problem? Raz-Kids is only sold to schools and classrooms at $132/year per classroom license. There is no individual family plan. If your child's school doesn't subscribe, or if you want extra reading practice at home beyond what the school assigns, you're out of luck with Raz-Kids itself.
The good news is that several excellent reading apps offer leveled books, comprehension tracking, and engaging features that rival or surpass what Raz-Kids provides - and many of them are available directly to families at a fraction of the cost (or completely free).
Why Parents Search for Raz-Kids Alternatives
No family plan available: Raz-Kids only sells classroom licenses, so parents cannot buy it individually
School-dependent access: If your child changes schools or the school drops Raz-Kids, access disappears
Limited library: Raz-Kids has about 2,000 books, while alternatives like Epic offer 40,000+
Summer reading gaps: Many schools pause Raz-Kids accounts over summer break, leaving families without access
Want more variety: Kids who've outgrown the Raz-Kids format want something fresh and engaging
Key Features to Look for in a Raz-Kids Replacement
When evaluating alternatives, focus on what made Raz-Kids effective for your child: leveled reading progression, comprehension checks, audio support for emerging readers, and progress tracking so you can see how your child is improving. The best replacements offer these features plus a larger book selection and the flexibility of a family-friendly subscription.
Epic! provides access to a library of 40,000+ children's books, audiobooks, and educational videos. $84.99/year or $13.99/month.
Best for:Massive library of 40,000+ books with leveled reading and quizzesPrice:$84.99/yrGrades:Pre-K-6 (Ages 2-12)Platforms:iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV
Pros
40,000+ books from quality publishers
Read-To-Me and audiobooks
Offline reading available
Cons
Free tier very limited (1 book/day)
Price increased recently
Not spelling-focused
2
Reading Eggs
Best comprehensive reading program
Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.
Best for:Structured lessons covering phonics, fluency, and comprehension for ages 2-13Price:$70-100/yrGrades:Ages 2-13Platforms:All platforms
Pros
Wide age range
Comprehensive program
Includes spelling component
Cons
Expensive
Can be overwhelming
3
ReadingIQ
Best affordable book library
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).
Best for:Curated leveled reading library at just $39.99/yearPrice:$39.99/yrGrades:Ages 2-12Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
7,000+ books from quality publishers
Filter by AR/Lexile/Guided Reading level
Read-To-Me for younger kids
Cons
Separate subscription from ABCmouse
No comprehension quizzes
Upper-grade content limited
4
HOMER
Best personalized reading
HOMER creates personalized reading journeys for children ages 2-8 based on their interests and skill level.
Best for:Adaptive learning path tailored to each child ages 2-8Price:$80/yrGrades:Ages 2-8Platforms:iOS, Android
Pros
Personalized learning path
Comprehensive reading program
Good for early readers
Cons
Expensive
Limited age range
5
Vooks
Best for read-alouds and younger kids
Vooks transforms picture books into animated read-alouds. Great for screen time that feels like storytime, but kids watch rather than read themselves.
Best for:Animated storybooks that bring reading to life for early readersPrice:$50/yrGrades:Ages 2-8Platforms:Web, iOS, Android, TV apps
Pros
Beautifully animated storybooks
No ads, unlimited streaming
Available on smart TVs
Cons
Not interactive (video format)
Limited for older readers
No reading practice component
6
Khan Academy Kids
Best completely free option
Khan Academy Kids offers free, comprehensive early learning content covering reading, math, and more for children ages 2-8.
Best for:100% free reading activities with no ads or subscriptionsPrice:FreeGrades:Ages 2-8Platforms:iOS, Android, Amazon
Pros
Completely free
Comprehensive curriculum
No ads
Cons
Only goes to age 8
Not specialized for spelling
No web version
7
CommonLit
Best free reading passages
CommonLit offers free, high-quality reading passages with comprehension questions for grades 3-12. A nonprofit making literacy accessible.
Best for:High-quality free reading comprehension for grades 3-12Price:FreeGrades:Grades 3-12Platforms: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
Frequently asked questions
Can parents buy Raz-Kids individually?
No. Raz-Kids is sold only through school and classroom licenses. There is no individual family subscription. Parents whose schools don’t provide access need to use a different reading app for home practice.
Is Raz-Kids free?
Raz-Kids is not free. It costs $132/year for a single classroom license (up to 36 students). Some schools provide student access at no cost to parents, but if your school doesn’t subscribe, you cannot purchase it on your own.
What reading level system does Raz-Kids use?
Raz-Kids uses the A-Z leveling system (Levels aa through Z2), which corresponds roughly to guided reading levels. Books progress from simple picture books at Level aa to complex chapter-book content at Level Z2, covering Pre-K through 6th grade reading ability.
What’s the best free alternative to Raz-Kids?
Khan Academy Kids is the best completely free alternative for reading practice. It offers phonics lessons, read-along books, and comprehension activities with no cost, no ads, and no subscriptions. For spelling practice to complement reading, SpellingJoy is also 100% free.
Is Epic better than Raz-Kids?
Epic offers a much larger library (40,000+ books vs. about 2,000 for Raz-Kids) and is available directly to families. However, Raz-Kids has stronger leveled reading progression and built-in comprehension quizzes. For home use, Epic is the better choice because families can actually purchase it.
Does my child still need Raz-Kids if we have Epic?
Not necessarily. If your child uses Raz-Kids at school for its leveled reading assignments, Epic at home provides a great supplement with a much wider book selection. Many families use Epic for independent reading at home and rely on whatever leveled program the school assigns during class.
Our Verdict
Raz-Kids is a solid school reading tool, but its classroom-only model leaves families without a way to subscribe on their own. Fortunately, the alternatives are strong.
For the closest experience to Raz-Kids, Epic is our top pick. Its library of 40,000+ books dwarfs Raz-Kids, and it's available directly to families. For structured reading lessons that teach phonics and comprehension step by step, Reading Eggs is the best choice.
If your budget is zero, Khan Academy Kids delivers excellent reading activities completely free - no trials, no upsells. For older students who need reading comprehension practice, CommonLit offers high-quality free passages and questions for grades 3-12.
Our recommendation: Start with Epic for the broadest book library, and add CommonLit once your child reaches 3rd grade for structured comprehension practice.
ST
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.
