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
- Epic is the best digital library for kids, with over 40,000 books, audiobooks and learning videos to explore freely.
- Reading Eggs and ABCmouse are the best structured learning programs, with phonics pathways and research-backed curricula.
- Starfall and Libby are the best free options: Starfall's Learn-to-Read program is free, and Libby borrows real library books for free.
- Vooks turns real picture books into animated read-alouds, making it the best choice for younger kids who love storytime.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Epic | Biggest kids library | See website | No |
 Reading Eggs | Learning to read with phonics | See website | No |
 ABCmouse | Full early learning curriculum | From $14.99 per month | No |
 HOMER | Personalized early learning | From $4.99 per month | No |
 Starfall | Free learn-to-read | See website | Yes |
 Raz-Kids | Leveled reading practice | See website | No |
 Libby | Free library books | Free | Yes |
 Vooks | Animated storybooks | From $9.99 per month | No |
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The best reading apps for kids
#1Epic
Best for: Biggest kids library4.2/5 on
G2 (940 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit getepic.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Epic is the world's leading digital library for kids, offering instant access to over 40,000 high-quality books, audiobooks and learning videos. The idea is simple: give kids a huge library and let them discover reading on their own terms, from picture books to chapter books to nonfiction videos. That breadth makes Epic the best choice for kids who already read and want more, since the catalog covers far more titles than any single curriculum app.
The trade-off is structure: Epic is a library, not a teaching program, so it does not walk a child through phonics step by step the way Reading Eggs does. Pricing was not shown on the homepage, so check the pricing page. For families who want the biggest shelf of kids' books in one app, Epic is the clear pick.
What we like- Over 40,000 high-quality books, audiobooks and learning videos
- World's leading digital library for kids
- Wide age and interest range
Watch out for- Pricing must be checked on the pricing page
- Library model means less structured teaching than Reading Eggs
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Reading Eggs makes learning to read interesting and engaging for kids, with online reading games and activities built around phonics. Children earn golden eggs and other rewards as they progress, and parent testimonials on the homepage describe five-year-olds actually reading after a few weeks, with one parent reporting a daughter reading ahead of kindergarten peers within six months. The program is certified by the kidSAFE Seal Program, and free home learning resources designed by educators are available for ages 2 to 13.
Parents can register for a free 30-day trial, which is generous for a learning program and long enough to see whether a child engages. There is no ongoing free plan, so families should check pricing after the trial. For kids learning to read from scratch, Reading Eggs is the best structured phonics program on this list.
What we like- Step-by-step phonics program with games, songs and rewards
- 30-day free trial for parents
- Free learning resources for ages 2 to 13
- KidSAFE certified
Watch out for- No free plan beyond the trial
- Pricing must be checked on the pricing page
Starting priceFrom $14.99 per month
Free planNo
ABCmouse is a comprehensive early learning program covering reading, math, science, art and colors, and music, with a research-backed curriculum informed by more than 15 years of experience. Custom learning paths in reading and math guide children to the appropriate next step, while worlds like Pet Town, Bot Beats, Animal Safari and Hamster Habitat turn learning into play. The vendor reports that ABCmouse doubles early learning gains in reading and math for PreK kids using it at least two days a week for an hour, and more than 45 million families trust it.
Premium costs $14.99 per month until canceled, with unlimited access to over 13,000 activities, up to three child profiles, and all curriculum subjects. There is no free plan. For families who want reading plus math, science and more in one app, ABCmouse is the best all-subject choice.
What we like- Research-backed curriculum across reading, math, science, art and music
- 13,000+ activities
- Custom learning paths
- Trusted by 45M+ families
- Rewards system
Watch out for- No free plan
- $14.99 per month is the higher end for a kids app
- Broad curriculum may dilute pure reading focus
Starting priceFrom $4.99 per month
Free planNo
HOMER is the essential early learning program for kids aged 2 to 8, personalized to each child's age, interests and skill level. Its reading pathway leads step by step toward literacy, alongside math, social and emotional learning, thinking skills and creativity, with more than 1,000 activities across subjects. The vendor claims early reading scores increase by 74 percent, and the app is ad-free, safe and easy for kids to use, with offline activities and printables included.
Pricing is $59.99 per year, working out to $4.99 per month, or $9.99 per month billed monthly, with up to four child profiles. A trial is offered. For parents who want a personalized program that adapts to a child's interests, from dinosaurs to princesses to space, HOMER is the best personalized pick.
What we like- Personalized to age, interests and level
- Reading, math, social-emotional learning and creativity
- 1,000+ activities
- Ad-free
- Up to 4 child profiles
- Annual plan $59.99
Watch out for- No free plan beyond a trial
- Reading is one subject among several
- Monthly price $9.99 without the annual plan
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Starfall is a nonprofit organization whose members fund its free Learn-to-Read program and support new educational content. It was founded by Dr. Stephen Schutz, who had difficulty learning to read as a child due to dyslexia, and built around untimed, multisensory interactive games that let children see, hear and touch as they learn. That origin gives Starfall a distinctive feel: patient, encouraging and free of pressure.
Members get full grade-level coverage from Pre-K through 5th grade, comprehensive math and extra subjects, and multi-device access, with home users saving over 50 percent compared with an app store subscription price. The free Learn-to-Read program alone makes Starfall the best free reading app for beginners, and the nonprofit model means subscriptions fund free access for others.
What we like- Free Learn-to-Read program
- Nonprofit organization
- Pre-K through 5th grade coverage for members
- Multisensory games designed for children with dyslexia in mind
Watch out for- Membership needed for full grade-level coverage
- Website-first experience
- Pricing must be checked on the membership page
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Raz-Kids is a leveled reading program from Learning A-Z, built around eBooks matched to each child's reading level, a student portal with a reading room, and incentives and awards that keep kids motivated. Teachers and parents can assign books, track progress and use the mobile apps for reading anywhere, with professional development webinars available for educators. A free trial is offered through the Learning A-Z accounts page.
The homepage itself is thin on detail, so families should explore the ordering and trial pages before subscribing. The strength is leveling: kids read books at exactly the right difficulty, building confidence without frustration. For parents and teachers who want measurable reading practice at the right level, Raz-Kids is the best leveled reading app.
What we like- Leveled eBooks matched to reading ability
- Student portal with reading room
- Incentives and awards
- Mobile apps
- Free trial
- Assignments for teachers and parents
Watch out for- Homepage shows little detail
- Pricing must be checked on the ordering page
- School-oriented, so home setup takes more effort
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Libby is the library app by OverDrive, and its pitch is simple: thousands of public libraries offer ebooks and audiobooks for free in Libby. A child with a library card can borrow real published books, from picture books to middle-grade novels, plus audiobooks for car rides and bedtime, with no subscription, no ads and no cost. The app guides new users to their library, making setup straightforward for parents.
The limits are library limits: popular titles may have wait lists, and the collection depends on the local library's holdings. But for families with a library card, Libby is the best free reading app, period, and it pairs perfectly with a learning app like Reading Eggs: one teaches reading, the other supplies endless real books to practice with.
What we like- Completely free with a library card
- Thousands of public libraries offer ebooks and audiobooks
- Real books, not just app content
- No subscription or ads
Watch out for- Availability depends on the local library's collection
- Wait times for popular titles
- Requires a library card
Starting priceFrom $9.99 per month
Free planNo
Vooks turns physical kids' picture books into animated, read-aloud storybooks with read-along highlighted text, music and sound, reimagining storytime for today's families. Kids can watch, listen, read, record themselves narrating select stories, and create their own books with Vooks Creator, with printable activities, coloring pages and quizzes extending each story. The platform reports more than 100 million books read, over 1 billion minutes watched, and 2.8 million downloads, with multiple 2025 awards including EdTech Breakthrough and Mom's Choice.
Membership costs $9.99 per month or $69.99 per year, starting with a free 7-day trial, and educator pricing is $4.99 per month or $24.99 per year. The experience is safe by design, with no ads or distractions, and gentle animation that keeps kids focused on the story. For younger kids who love storytime, Vooks is the best animated storybook app.
What we like- Real picture books animated with narration, music and read-along text
- 100M+ books read
- Ad-free
- Offline viewing
- Vooks Creator lets kids make their own books
- Educator pricing $4.99 per month
Watch out for- No free plan beyond a 7-day trial
- Better for younger kids than independent readers
- $69.99 per year for full access
How we chose
We picked reading apps covering the main jobs: big libraries, phonics teaching, full curricula, personalized learning, free access, leveled practice and storytime. Each homepage was opened to confirm the app exists and matches its description, and pricing was taken from the vendor's own pages where shown. Where a homepage did not display pricing, we wrote "See website" rather than guessing. Two candidates were left out: one well-known kids reading app whose homepage returned only a client challenge page, and one storybook app whose site returned a server error, so neither could be confirmed. Both exclusions are noted here rather than hidden.
Choosing the right reading app by age
For ages 2 to 5, start with HOMER or ABCmouse for structured early learning, plus Vooks for storytime. For ages 5 to 8 learning to read, Reading Eggs and Starfall teach phonics step by step, with Raz-Kids adding leveled practice. For ages 8 and up who read independently, Epic's 40,000-book library and Libby's free library books give endless choice. Mix one teaching app with one library app: teaching builds the skill, and a library keeps the habit alive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best reading app for kids overall?
Epic is the best library, with over 40,000 books and videos, while Reading Eggs is the best teaching program for kids learning to read. Most families benefit from one of each: a teaching app plus a library app.
Are there any truly free reading apps for kids?
Yes. Starfall's Learn-to-Read program is free, and Libby borrows real ebooks and audiobooks free with a library card. Both are genuinely free with no subscription required.
What age is Reading Eggs for?
Reading Eggs covers ages 2 to 13, with free learning resources for that range and a phonics program that starts with pre-readers and builds toward independent reading. Its 30-day free trial lets parents test fit before paying.
Is ABCmouse worth $14.99 per month?
For families who want reading, math, science, art and music in one app with 13,000+ activities and custom learning paths, yes. For pure reading practice, Reading Eggs or Starfall cost less or nothing.
Can kids use these apps without a parent?
HOMER and Vooks are designed to be ad-free and safe for independent use, and Starfall's games are untimed and self-paced. Younger children still benefit from a parent nearby, especially when starting a new program or choosing books.
Do these apps work offline?
Vooks supports offline viewing, and HOMER includes offline activities and printables. Library apps like Libby let kids download borrowed books for offline reading, which helps on trips and in cars.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.getepic.com
- https://readingeggs.com
- https://www.abcmouse.com
- https://learnwithhomer.com
- https://www.starfall.com
- https://www.raz-kids.com
- https://libbyapp.com
- https://www.vooks.com
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.