Native iOS apps and web options that work beautifully on Apple tablets.
The iPad is one of the best devices for kids' reading apps—the large screen, intuitive touch interface, and excellent app ecosystem make it perfect for digital reading and learning.
We've tested the best reading apps that work on iPad, focusing on apps with polished iOS experiences, offline capabilities, and great touch optimization.
📱 iPad Tips
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.
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.
Sora (by OverDrive) gives students free access to eBooks and audiobooks through their school or public library. The modern library card for digital readers.
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.
Epic! has the best iPad experience for book lovers with 40,000+ titles and a beautiful interface. For learning to read, Reading Eggs and Khan Academy Kids both have excellent iPad apps. All three are optimized for touch screens.
Native iPad apps typically offer smoother performance, offline access, and better touch optimization. However, many web apps (like SpellingJoy) work great in Safari. The best choice depends on the specific app.
Khan Academy Kids is 100% free with an excellent iPad app. Sora gives you free library books on iPad. Teach Your Monster to Read is free on web (works in Safari) but costs $4.99 for the iPad app.
Most paid iPad apps support Apple Family Sharing, so one purchase works for the whole family. Subscription apps like Epic!, Reading Eggs, and HOMER typically allow multiple child profiles on one account.
Best overall: Epic! has the most polished iPad experience with 40,000+ books.
Best free: Khan Academy Kids is 100% free with an excellent iPad app for ages 2-8.
Best for library users: Sora gives you free access to your library's digital collection.
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.