The Best Reading Apps for Kids in 2024
Written by: BestApp.com App Testing Team - Updated: Aug 09, 2021
Epic! Books for Kids stands out as the best reading app for children. Their premium service offers a huge selection of books and many other useful features. There is also a free version of the app available. This app may be the best option for most users, but you may find that Epic! Books for Kids doesn’t adequately address your specific needs. In that case, we’ve also reviewed nine other reading apps for kids that are worth checking out below.
Top 10 Reading Apps for Kids to Try
- Epic! Books for Kids — Top Pick
- Homer — Best for Learning Multiple Skills
- Starfall Learn to Read — Best for Ages 2-5
- FarFaria — Best for Story Books
- Hooked on Phonics — Most Popular
- Reading Eggs — Best for Ages 7-13
- Skybrary — Best Narration
- ABCmouse — Best for Spanish Readers
- Bob Books Reading Magic — Most User-Friendly Interface
- Endless Reader — Most Innovative
How We Chose the Best Reading Apps for Kids
There are hundreds of different reading apps for kids available. To narrow it down to the ten best options, we looked for features such as in-app libraries and offline access. We also prioritized providers that offer affordable pricing and multiple support channels.
Choose the reading app for kids that’s right for you
When deciding which app you’ll use, it’s important to take your specific needs into account. The best app for one user may not be the best one for another. For example, your biggest concern might be finding an app that offers a large eBook library, or you may be more focused on apps that provide reading lessons and exercises.
The children’s books you know and love
We recommend that you look beyond the sheer number of books a reading app offers and pay attention to which books are offered by each app. A book will need to be able to hold your kid’s attention if it’s going to help them learn how to read. For this reason, we sought out apps that include tried-and-true classics such as Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, and Curious George.
Our Reading Apps for Kids Reviews
Epic! Books for Kids — Top Pick
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Epic! Books for Kids offers a free version of their service, which allows users to read one book per day from a limited selection. By upgrading to the premium version of Epic! Books for Kids, you’ll get access to their complete collection of 40,000+ titles, which includes popular books and series such as Curious George, Goodnight Moon, Flat Stanley, and National Geographic. Other features include progress tracking, personalized recommendations, interactive learning videos, and offline access.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Epic Unlimited: $9.99/month
- Support available: Help Center, Email, Tickets
| Epic! Books for Kids Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Huge selection of high-quality books | No live support |
| Personalized recommendations | |
| Offline access | |
Homer — Best for Learning Multiple Skills
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Homer is an effective tool for teaching kids how to read. Spending just 15 minutes per day on this app has been shown to increase early reading scores by 74%. But what sets this app apart from many of your other options is that Homer also offers learning activities for several other subjects such as math, general thinking skills, and social/emotional skills. Overall, Homer provides you with over 1,000 lessons and activities, which are personalized by age, interest, and skill level.
Notable features:
- 30-day free trial
- $9.99/month
- Support available: Help Center, FAQs, Email, Tickets
| Homer Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Proven results for improving reading skills | No live support |
| Covers subjects in addition to reading | No free version available |
Starfall Learn to Read — Best for Ages 2-5
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
The Starfall Learn to Read app is best suited for kids who are in the first stages of learning how to read. Since 2002, Starfall’s Zac the Rat has been leading children through engaging activities, movies, and songs that go over the basics of the English language. This app is completely free, and live customer support is available in case you ever run into any technical issues.
Notable features:
- Free mobile app
- Support available: Phone, Help Desk, Email, Tickets
| Starfall Learn to Read Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| All features included for free | Not suitable for older children |
FarFaria — Best for Story Books
Download: iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
FarFaria offers over a thousand titles to choose from, including classic story books such as Rapunzel, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White. Their library also includes many holiday books (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol, etc.), song books (The Wheels on the Bus, The Eensy Weensy Spider, etc.), and books on topics such as going to the dentist and eating healthy. You can access one book per day for free or upgrade to unlimited access for $4.99/month.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Unlimited access: $4.99/month
- Support available: Email, Help/FAQs, Tickets
| FarFaria Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Wide selection of high-quality books | No live support |
Hooked on Phonics — Most Popular
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Hooked on Phonics is likely the most popular option on this list, as over 5 million kids have used this tool to learn how to read. Designed with the help of early childhood education specialists, this app utilizes over 250 songs, videos, and interactive games to support its reading lessons. These lessons can guide your kids from preschool to a second-grade reading level.
Notable features:
- 7-Day Free Trial
- $6.99/month
- Support available: Live Chat, Email, Phone, FAQs
| Hooked on Phonics Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Helpful songs, videos, and interactive games | No free version available |
| Proven results for improving reading skills | |
Reading Eggs — Best for Ages 7-13
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
While most reading apps for kids are only suitable for students in preschool or early elementary school, Reading Eggs offers modules that are advanced enough for middle schoolers. The lessons included with Reading Eggs cover the five essential components of reading: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. This app is used by over 16,000 schools, and 91% of parents report a noticeable improvement in reading skills within just a few weeks.
Notable features:
- 30-day free trial
- $9.99/month
- Support available: Live Chat, Email, Phone, FAQs
| Reading Eggs Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Suitable for a wide age range | No free version available |
Skybrary — Best Narration
Download: iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Skybrary provides a full suite of features for helping your kids learn how to read. Specifically, it offers nearly 1,000 high-quality books, educational video field trips, and engaging book animations that bring the stories to life. Each book has a “Read by Myself” option, and the app is easy enough for even very young children to navigate. And best of all, Skybrary features award-winning narrators such as LeVar Burton. It’s also worth noting that Skybrary offers one-year free subscriptions to Title I (low-income) classrooms.
Notable features:
- 30-Day Free Trial
- $4.99/month
- Support available: Email, FAQs
| Skybrary Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Wide selection of high-quality books | No free version available |
| Narration by LeVar Burton | No live support |
ABCmouse — Best for Spanish Readers
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
In addition to reading, ABCmouse covers math, science, social studies, art, and music. The app includes over 850 lessons and 10,000 individual learning activities. This software is also used in more than 70,000 classrooms and over half of the public libraries in the U.S. But what really sets this app apart is that over 900 books and activities are available in Spanish.
Notable features:
- 30-Day Free Trial
- $9.95/month
- Support available: Live Chat, Tickets, FAQs
| ABCmouse Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Books and activities available in Spanish | No free version available |
Bob Books Reading Magic — Most User-Friendly Interface
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Bob Books Reading Magic is particularly easy to use. With the phonics-based games that come with this app, preschoolers and kindergartners can learn how to combine the letters and sounds of the alphabet, read simple words and sentences, and spell the words they’ve read. A total of 12 scenes and 32 words to read and spell are included.
Notable features:
- $1.99 (Android), $2.99 (iOS)
- Support available: Email, Phone
| Bob Books Reading Magic Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| User-friendly interface | No free version available |
Endless Reader — Most Innovative
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Endless Reader utilizes a rather unique method for teaching kids how to read. This app is based on “sight words”, which are the most commonly used words in school and children’s books. Being able to recognize the meaning of these words by sight helps children become fluent readers faster. Endless Reader uses interactive puzzles to help kids learn these words. Six sight word modules are included for free, and you can access more through in-app purchases.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- In-app purchases: $5.99 – $29.99 per item
- Support available: Email
| Endless Reader Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Helps kids learn to read faster | No live support |
Reading Apps for Kids: Feature Summary Table
| Reading Apps for Kids Comparison Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| App | Subscription Fees or In-App Purchases |
Features |
| Epic! Books for Kids — Top Pick | Epic Unlimited: $9.99/month | ✓ Learn to Read X Phonics Based ✓ In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| Homer — Best for Learning Multiple Skills | $9.99/month | ✓ Learn to Read ✓ Phonics Based ✓ In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| Starfall Learn to Read — Best for Ages 2-5 | Free | ✓ Learn to Read ✓ Phonics Based X In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| FarFaria — Best for Story Books | Unlimited access: $4.99/month | ✓ Learn to Read X Phonics Based ✓ In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| Hooked on Phonics — Most Popular | $6.99/month | ✓ Learn to Read ✓ Phonics Based ✓ In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| Reading Eggs — Best for Ages 7-13 | $9.99/month | ✓ Learn to Read ✓ Phonics Based ✓ In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| Skybrary — Best Narration | $4.99/month | ✓ Learn to Read X Phonics Based ✓ In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| ABCmouse — Best for Spanish Readers | $9.95/month | ✓ Learn to Read ✓ Phonics Based ✓ In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| Bob Books Reading Magic — Most User-Friendly Interface | $1.99 (Android), $2.99 (iOS) | ✓ Learn to Read ✓ Phonics Based X In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |
| Endless Reader — Most Innovative | $5.99 – $29.99 per item | ✓ Learn to Read X Phonics Based X In-App Library ✓ Offline Use |