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Best Reading Apps for 5th Grade in 2025

Build advanced comprehension, critical thinking, and prepare for middle school with apps designed for 10-11 year olds.

SpellingJoy TeamSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: January 15, 2025
Fifth grader reading independently

Fifth grade is a bridge year—the last of elementary school and preparation for the increased demands of middle school. Students need to build reading stamina, develop analytical skills, and expand their vocabulary to succeed.

We've tested the best reading apps for 5th graders (ages 10-11), focusing on apps that challenge advanced readers, build critical thinking skills, and prepare students for the rigors of middle school reading.

Our Top Picks:

1

Epic!

Epic! provides access to a library of 40,000+ children's books, audiobooks, and educational videos. $84.99/year or $13.99/month.

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Best for - 40,000+ books including middle-grade novels
Price - $84.99/yr
Grades - 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

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 - Literary analysis and critical thinking
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

Newsela

Newsela adapts real news articles to 5 different reading levels, making current events accessible to students grades 2-12.

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Best for - Current events at adjustable reading levels
Price - School pricing
Grades - Grades 2-12
Platforms - Web, iOS, Android

Pros

  • ✓ Real news at 5 reading levels
  • ✓ Current events keep kids engaged
  • ✓ Built-in comprehension quizzes

Cons

  • ✗ Primarily for schools
  • ✗ Not for early readers
  • ✗ Subscription required
4

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 and audiobooks through 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
5

Amazon Kids+

Amazon Kids+ bundles books, educational apps, games, and videos for kids ages 3-12. Best experienced on Amazon Fire tablets with built-in parental controls.

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Best for - Books, audiobooks, and educational content
Price - $48-96/yr
Grades - Ages 3-12
Platforms - Fire tablets, iOS, Android, Kindle

Pros

  • ✓ Books, games, videos, apps combined
  • ✓ Parental controls included
  • ✓ Works best on Fire tablets

Cons

  • ✗ Not focused solely on reading
  • ✗ Best value requires Fire tablet
  • ✗ Screen time concerns
6

Raz-Kids

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.

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Best for - Leveled reading for below-grade readers
Price - $132/yr (classroom)
Grades - K-5
Platforms - Web, iOS, Android

Pros

  • ✓ 800+ leveled eBooks (29 levels)
  • ✓ Listen-Read-Record feature
  • ✓ Comprehension quizzes for every book

Cons

  • ✗ Primarily for schools/classrooms
  • ✗ Price increased from $115 to $132
  • ✗ Requires Learning A-Z subscription

Frequently Asked Questions

By end of 5th grade, students typically read at levels T-V (Fountas & Pinnell) or DRA 50. They can analyze complex characters, identify themes, understand figurative language, and make connections across texts.

Our Verdict

CommonLit is the best free tool for building the analytical reading skills 5th graders need for middle school.

Epic! keeps reluctant readers engaged with popular series and graphic novels.

Newsela builds nonfiction skills that are increasingly important in upper grades.

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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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