How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Khan Academy Kids is the best free learning app overall, with a full early curriculum, no ads, and no in-app purchases.
- PBS Kids Games is the best free app for familiar characters, with Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, and Curious George.
- Duolingo ABC is the best free phonics app, with short interactive reading lessons and no ads.
- ScratchJr is the best free coding app for young children, needing no reading to start.
- Starfall and Prodigy Math cover early reading and math practice on free tiers.
- Free does not automatically mean private or safe, so preview every app with your child and check permissions and purchase controls.
Quick comparison
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The best learning apps for kids free
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Khan Academy Kids is the best free learning app for young children, full stop. It covers math, reading, language, and creativity for ages 2 to 8, with no ads, no in-app purchases, and no credit card required. The nonprofit quality matches or beats paid early learning apps, and the app adapts to each child's level with guided characters and activities.
The limits are age and offline use. Children over 8 outgrow it and should move to the main Khan Academy app, and offline content is selected rather than complete, so test airplane mode on your device before a trip. For a preschool or early elementary child, Khan Academy Kids should be the first app installed, and every other app here is a supplement to it rather than a replacement.
What we like- Completely free
- No ads
- No in-app purchases
- Full early curriculum for ages 2 to 8
- Nonprofit quality
Watch out for- Ages 2 to 8 only, so older kids outgrow it
- Selected offline content only
- No parent dashboard depth of paid apps
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
PBS Kids Games brings familiar characters to free learning, with Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Curious George, and other PBS shows anchoring games across math, reading, science, and problem solving for ages 2 to 8. The app is completely free, nonprofit, and ad-free, which makes it safe to hand to a child without worrying about purchase prompts or advertising.
Educational depth varies by game, since the app is a collection of show-linked games rather than a structured curriculum. Some games need a connection for downloads, though the iOS listing supports downloaded games for offline play. PBS Kids Games works best as the fun supplement to Khan Academy Kids: a child who already loves a PBS character will play these games voluntarily, which is half the battle.
What we like- Completely free
- Nonprofit
- Familiar characters
- Games across math, reading, science, and problem solving
- No ads
Watch out for- Games vary in educational depth
- Some downloads need a connection
- No structured curriculum path
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Duolingo ABC teaches phonics and early reading through short, interactive lessons for ages 3 to 8, with no ads and no in-app purchases. Lessons cover letter sounds, blending, vocabulary, and early stories in a game format that keeps young readers engaged without pressure. The structured visual approach also suits learners who feel overwhelmed by busier apps.
The focus is reading only, so math needs another app, and the age range ends at 8. Offline use is listed for downloaded lessons, though new content needs a connection. For a child learning to read, Duolingo ABC is the best free phonics app available, and it pairs naturally with Khan Academy Kids for a complete early learning stack.
What we like- Free phonics and early reading
- Ad-free
- No in-app purchases
- Short interactive lessons
- Offline use listed
Watch out for- Ages 3 to 8 only
- Reading focus means math is absent
- Some lessons need a connection for new content
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
ScratchJr introduces coding to children ages 5 to 7 through drag-and-drop blocks that make characters move, jump, and talk, with no reading required to start. Children build stories and games by snapping blocks together, which teaches sequencing, problem solving, and creativity before they ever see written code. The app is completely free and ad-free from a nonprofit.
Projects stay simple, which is the point for this age, and there is no account or cloud saving for young users, so work lives on the device. ScratchJr suits a child who likes to make things rather than just answer questions, and it is the best free first step into coding before moving to full Scratch around age 8.
What we like- Completely free
- Ad-free
- No reading required
- Teaches coding through stories and games
- Nonprofit
Watch out for- Ages 5 to 7 focus
- Simple projects only
- No account or cloud saving for young users
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Starfall has taught early reading for years, with phonics games, interactive stories, and letter activities for pre-K through grade 2. Much of the content is free, the free material carries no ads, and teachers have trusted Starfall longer than almost any other app here. The phonics progression is careful and well sequenced, which helps a child move from letters to words to sentences.
Full access costs 35 dollars a year, and some content sits behind that paywall, so the free tier is a generous sample rather than a complete curriculum. The interface feels older than Khan Academy Kids or Duolingo ABC. For early reading practice, Starfall remains a strong free option, especially for a child who responds to its gentle, song-based style.
What we like- Mostly free
- Strong early reading and phonics
- No ads on free content
- Trusted by teachers for years
Watch out for- Full access costs 35 dollars a year
- Some content behind the paywall
- Interface feels older than rivals
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Prodigy Math turns math practice into an adventure role-playing game that children play voluntarily, which is its main strength. The free tier covers core math practice for grades 1 to 8, with battles won by answering math questions correctly, and teachers can assign content aligned to classwork. For a child who resists worksheets, Prodigy often succeeds where other apps fail.
The free tier includes upsells, and the paid membership near 58.95 dollars a year adds features and cosmetic items that children may ask for. Parents should set purchase controls and talk with children about in-game buying before handing over the app. Used with those controls, Prodigy is the best free gamified math practice available for elementary children.
What we like- Free tier covers core math practice
- Adventure RPG format kids play voluntarily
- Grades 1 to 8
- Teacher tools
Watch out for- Paid membership near 58.95 dollars a year adds features
- In-game purchases and upsells
- Game can distract from math
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
SplashLearn covers curriculum-based math and reading for ages 2 to 11, the widest grade range on this list, with adaptive games that adjust to each child's level. The free tier gives a real taste of the program, and the adaptive design means a child practices at the right difficulty rather than repeating easy work or drowning in hard work.
Full features need a subscription, and the free tier is a sample rather than a complete program. For a family that wants one app to grow with a child from preschool through elementary school, SplashLearn is the best free starting point, and its trial is long enough to judge fit before paying. Confirm current pricing on the vendor site, since subscription rates vary by plan and region.
What we like- Curriculum-based math and reading for ages 2 to 11
- Adaptive games
- Free tier available
- Wide grade range
Watch out for- Full features need a subscription
- Adaptive depth less than paid rivals
- Some content behind paywall
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
ABCya offers free classroom-style games organized by grade, covering math, reading, typing, and logic for elementary children. Teachers have used ABCya for years, and the grade organization helps a parent or teacher pick the right level quickly. The free tier covers a large game library without a subscription.
The free tier includes ads, which is the main drawback for young children, and premium removes ads and adds features. Parents should preview the ad experience and consider the premium tier for a young child, or supervise play on the free tier. For grade-organized classroom games at no cost, ABCya remains a useful free option alongside the ad-free apps above.
What we like- Free classroom-style games
- Covers math, reading, and typing
- Grade-organized content
- Teacher-trusted
Watch out for- Free tier includes ads
- Premium removes ads and adds features
- Interface busier than Khan Academy Kids
How we chose
We ranked free learning apps on three tests: genuinely free core content, no ads or safe ad handling for children, and real educational value rather than disguised entertainment. The best stack for most families is Khan Academy Kids plus PBS Kids Games plus Duolingo ABC plus ScratchJr, all four free, ad-free, and needing no credit card. We added Starfall, Prodigy Math, SplashLearn, and ABCya for reading depth, math practice, grade range, and classroom games, and we flagged where free tiers include ads or upsells.
What to check before you buy
You do not need to buy anything to start, so the real check is safety and fit. Preview every app with your child before independent play, check permissions, external links, and purchase controls, and turn off in-app purchases on the device for apps such as Prodigy Math. Watch screen time too: pediatric guidance suggests about one hour a day of high-quality educational content for children ages 2 to 5, balanced with physical activity, social interaction, and sleep, and older children also need that balance. Finally, pick one app per subject need and watch your child use it for seven minutes without stepping in. If they move forward and stay engaged without prompting, you found the right one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best completely free learning app for kids?
Khan Academy Kids is completely free, with no ads or subscriptions, and covers a full early curriculum for ages 2 to 8. PBS Kids Games, Duolingo ABC, and ScratchJr are also completely free and ad-free.
Are free kids apps safe?
Not automatically. Check data collection, permissions, external links, and purchase controls, and preview the app with your child. The ad-free nonprofit apps here are the safest starting point.
How much screen time is appropriate for young children?
Pediatric guidance suggests about one hour a day of high-quality educational content for children ages 2 to 5, balanced with physical activity, social interaction, and sleep. Older children also need balance across activities.
Which free app teaches reading best?
Duolingo ABC is the best free phonics app, and Starfall is the best free early reading app for pre-K through grade 2. Khan Academy Kids covers reading alongside math and creativity.
Can these apps work without Wi-Fi?
Some can, with preparation. Khan Academy Kids has selected offline content, Duolingo ABC lists offline use, and PBS Kids Games supports downloaded games on iOS. Test on your device in airplane mode first.
Sources we checked (0)
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Khan Academy Kids
PBS Kids Games
Duolingo ABC
ScratchJr
Starfall
Prodigy Math
SplashLearn
ABCya