10 Best Reading Apps for Kids in 2025

From digital libraries to learn-to-read programs, find the perfect reading app for your child with our expert reviews and comparisons.

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

Finding the right reading app can spark a lifelong love of books in your child. With so many options—from vast digital libraries to structured learn-to-read programs—we've tested the top reading apps to help you choose the perfect fit.

Whether you want free options like Khan Academy Kids, comprehensive programs like Reading Eggs, or massive book libraries like Epic!, our reviews cover everything you need to know: pricing, age ranges, features, and real effectiveness.

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 & audiobooks for ages 2-12
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

Reading Eggs

Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.

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Best for - Structured lessons for ages 2-13
Price - $70-100/yr
Grades - Ages 2-13
Platforms - All platforms

Pros

  • Wide age range
  • Comprehensive program
  • Includes spelling component

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Can be overwhelming
3

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 - High-quality 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
4

HOMER

HOMER creates personalized reading journeys for children ages 2-8 based on their interests and skill level.

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Best for - Adaptive reading journeys ages 2-8
Price - $80/yr
Grades - Ages 2-8
Platforms - iOS, Android

Pros

  • Personalized learning path
  • Comprehensive reading program
  • Good for early readers

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Limited age range
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 - Fun systematic phonics for ages 3-6
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

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 - Schools with 400+ leveled eBooks
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
7

Starfall

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

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Best for - Affordable phonics for Pre-K-5
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
8

Vooks

Vooks transforms picture books into animated read-alouds. Great for screen time that feels like storytime, but kids watch rather than read themselves.

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Best for - Read-along videos for ages 2-8
Price - $50/yr
Grades - Ages 2-8
Platforms - 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
9

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 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
10

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 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

Frequently Asked Questions

Epic! is the most popular with 40,000+ books for ages 2-12, but costs $72-85/year. Khan Academy Kids is completely free and excellent for ages 2-8. For a structured learn-to-read program, Reading Eggs and HOMER are top choices.

Our Verdict

For the largest book library: Epic! wins with 40,000+ titles, though at $72-85/year it's best for avid readers.

For learning to read: Reading Eggs and HOMER offer the most structured, research-backed programs for early readers.

For free options: Khan Academy Kids (ages 2-8) is unbeatable—completely free with no ads. For older kids, CommonLit provides free reading passages.

For schools: Raz-Kids offers the best leveled reading library with comprehensive teacher tools.

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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.