Free and paid early reading and phonics alternatives to Starfall.
† 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 →
Khan Academy Kids offers free, comprehensive early learning content covering reading, math, and more for children ages 2-8.
ABCmouse offers a full early learning curriculum with thousands of activities for children ages 2-8.
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.
HOMER creates personalized reading journeys for children ages 2-8 based on their interests and skill level.
Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.
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.
Duolingo ABC teaches phonics and early reading skills through interactive lessons for children ages 3-8.
Khan Academy Kids is the best free Starfall alternative. It offers comprehensive early learning content including reading, math, and social-emotional skills with no ads and no subscription required.
Starfall offers limited free content, but the full program (Starfall.com membership) costs $35/year. Many of the interactive activities and printable worksheets require a paid membership.
Starfall is designed for children ages 4-8 (Pre-K through 3rd grade), with a focus on early reading and phonics. Most alternatives on this list cover a similar or wider age range.
Starfall premium at $35/year is affordable but limited in scope compared to alternatives. Khan Academy Kids offers more content for free, while ABCmouse and HOMER provide deeper curricula for a higher price.
Khan Academy Kids is the best free Starfall alternative, offering a broader curriculum with no cost. For a more personalized reading journey, HOMER adapts to your child's interests and level. You can browse more early reading options in our reading and phonics app library.
Want to strengthen spelling alongside reading? SpellingJoy pairs perfectly with any of these apps to build confident spellers.
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.
SpellingJoy+
$2.99/month. All printable packs, teaching resources, premium packs. Cancel any time.
