From digital libraries to learn-to-read programs, find the perfect reading app for your child with our expert reviews and comparisons.
The best reading apps for kids range from vast digital libraries to structured learn-to-read programs, so we ranked 10 of them by price, age range and what the free version actually gives you. Updated August 8, 2026: the rankings were reviewed and this guide was refreshed. Prices are shown as listed in our app directory.
Whether you want free options like Khan Academy Kids, comprehensive programs like Reading Eggs, or massive book libraries like Epic!, our reviews cover pricing, age ranges and features, plus the cons of each app. Most of these picks have an iPad app, and several are free. You can browse even more options in our reading app library.
| App | Price | Ages / grades | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Epic! | $84.99/yr† | Pre-K-6 (Ages 2-12) | Best overall digital library |
| 2. Reading Eggs | $99.99/yr† | Ages 2-13 | Best comprehensive reading program |
| 3. SpellingJoy Reading | 7 days free, then $19.90/mo or $199/yr† | PreK-2 | Best for a true beginner |
| 4. Khan Academy Kids | Free† | Ages 2-8 | Best completely free option |
| 5. HOMER | $80/yr† | Ages 2-8 | Best personalized learning |
| 6. Teach Your Monster to Read | Free (web) / $8.99 (app, moving to subscription)† | Pre-K-1 (Ages 3-6) | Best phonics game |
| 7. Raz-Kids | $132/yr (classroom)† | K-5 | Best leveled reading library |
| 8. Starfall | $35/yr† | Pre-K-5 | Best for early readers |
| 9. Vooks | $50/yr† | Ages 2-8 | Best animated storybooks |
| 10. Sora (OverDrive) | Free (library)† | All ages | Best free library access |
| 11. CommonLit | Free† | Grades 3-12 | Best for older students |
† Prices as listed by each vendor. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's own site.
† Pricing note: Prices are checked against each vendor's official website or help center at the time of writing, but vendors change plans and prices at any time. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's own site before purchasing. How we review and verify →
Epic! provides access to a library of 40,000+ children's books, audiobooks, and educational videos. $84.99/year or $13.99/month.
Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.
SpellingJoy Reading is a learn-to-read app for ages 4 to 8. The child picks a buddy, and that buddy says the sound, shows the letter, and waits for them. It teaches synthetic phonics one sound at a time in the same sequence as UFLI Foundations: 360 lessons across Sound Start, First Words and Sound Teams, plus the heart words learned along the way. A child who does not know a single letter starts at the first sound; a child who knows some passes those lessons quickly. Finished lessons earn stars, and stars buy furniture for the buddy's room. Parents get a weekly summary. It is new, so it has a much shorter track record than the programs above it.
Khan Academy Kids offers free, comprehensive early learning content covering reading, math, and more for children ages 2-8.
HOMER creates personalized reading journeys for children ages 2-8 based on their interests and skill level.
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.
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.
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.
Sora (by OverDrive) gives students free access to eBooks and audiobooks through their school or public library. The modern library card for digital readers.
CommonLit offers free, high-quality reading passages with comprehension questions for grades 3-12. A nonprofit making literacy accessible.
Epic! is the most popular with 40,000+ books for ages 2-12, but costs $84.99/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.
Yes, when used alongside other reading instruction. Research shows apps like HOMER and Reading Eggs can improve literacy scores. However, they work best as supplements to books, read-alouds, and direct instruction, not replacements.
Children can start with early literacy apps around age 2-3 (like Khan Academy Kids or ABCmouse). Dedicated learn-to-read apps work well from ages 4-6 when phonics instruction typically begins. For a 5 year old, Teach Your Monster to Read (ages 3-6, free on the web) and Khan Academy Kids (ages 2-8, free) both fit, and HOMER (ages 2-8, $80/yr) adds a personalized reading path.
Epic! offers the largest library (40,000+ titles) with audiobooks and read-to-me features. At $84.99/year, it's worthwhile for avid readers. For lighter readers, free alternatives like Sora (library eBooks) or Storyline Online may suffice.
Khan Academy Kids is the best completely free option with no ads for ages 2-8. For older kids, CommonLit (grades 3-12) offers free reading passages. Sora provides free eBooks if your school or library participates.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests limiting recreational screen time to 1-2 hours daily. For educational apps, 15-30 minutes of focused reading practice is effective without causing screen fatigue.
Most of this list has an iOS app, so it runs on iPad: Epic!, Khan Academy Kids, HOMER, Starfall, Vooks, Raz-Kids and Sora. Reading Eggs is available on all platforms. Teach Your Monster to Read is free on the web, while its iOS app is $8.99. CommonLit is web only, so on iPad you open it in the browser.
Look for structured phonics and leveled text rather than a big book library. Raz-Kids gives you 800+ leveled eBooks across 29 levels with a Listen-Read-Record feature and a comprehension quiz for every book, though it is priced for classrooms at $132/yr. Teach Your Monster to Read teaches systematic synthetic phonics and is free on the web for ages 3-6, and Starfall covers systematic phonics for Pre-K-5 at $35/yr. Reading Eggs ($99.99/yr) is the most structured full program for ages 2-13.
For the largest book library: Epic! wins with 40,000+ titles, though at $84.99/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.
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.