Check out our picks for the best free learning apps for kids ages 12 and under!
After a year of remote learning and maybe lots of (not-so-great screen time), high-quality, educational apps are a great way to satisfy your kid’s appetite for digital fun while closing learning gaps due to the pandemic. The costs can add up, though, so we rounded up some of our favorite free educational apps to serve up plenty of “sneaky learning” without breaking the bank. Some are even 100% free, offering full access for no cost at all.
We based choices on parent reviews and expert ratings (all 4+ stars) on Common Sense Media, research and current trends. A d you can find most of these in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Check out the best free learning apps for kids of every age and grade level below!
Best Free Learning Apps for Kids
Bedtime Math
Ages: 3+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
The Bedtime Math app delivers a new story-based math problem involving basics like addition and subtraction each night, making math a fun, nightly habit for you and your kid.
What we love:
Together you and your kid can bond over a simple, 2-minute ritual before bed. With math problems ranging from pre-K all the way to high school, the app grows with your child’s skills. And hey, you may get to brush up on your own math along the way!
Possible downsides:
Some may feel the word problems lack variety, and a few videos the app suggests referencing for expanded context into the stories can only be found on the web.
Itsy Bitsy Spider by Duck Duck Moose
Ages: 3+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
This colorful, simple app introduces toddlers to phonics and rhythm through the classic nursery rhyme, “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” The music is paired with zany graphics kids can click on as the song repeats. Each time it plays, the rhyme is a little different, providing plenty of variety for your little one.
What we love:
The app is infused with silly humor designed to get little ones giggling.
Possible downsides:
Kids might get tired of it after playing it through a few times.
Khan Academy Kids
Ages: 3+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
Khan Academy Kids feels like having your own digital preschool teacher! It has tons of different activities that are catered to your little one’s skill level so they can learn at their own pace. The app features a huge database of activities and educational games tailored to early learners. It focuses on diverse topics from math, phonics and executive function to creative expression and socio-emotional development.
With content focused on developing language and math skills, cognitive thinking, and social-emotional learning, Khan Academy has tons of value for your little one. The mini interactive games and activities are all introduced playfully with no disruptive ads.
What we love:
Parents can let their kids’ free play and give them opportunities to explore, experiment and even express themselves with drawing and narration games.
Possible downsides:
Some parents have reported that they have to reset their password every time they log in.
PBS Kids Games
Ages: 3+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
Shows like PBS have already been shown to improve cognitive, linguistic, and social outcomes for children three to five years of age, but research shows kids who consume PBS content in more interactive ways, such as in games, benefit even more. One of the best apps for preschoolers, it features the beloved PBS family of characters and offers more than two-dozen mini games based on PBS TV shows.
What we love:
This is another app that offers enough varied content to grow with your child. As an added bonus, kids will recognize their favorite PBS characters, from Daniel Tiger to Wild Kratts, only adding to the fun. It’s available on Kindle Fire on Amazon.
Possible downsides:
Some users feel the activities are too straightforwardly educational, with the fun factor taking a back seat. But for the most part kids seem to find it entertaining.
Breathe, Think and Do with Sesame
Ages: 4+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
This modified meditation app from the iconic children’s program Sesame Street can teach your child to calm down, and cope with and work through feelings and everyday frustrations in a way that’s fun and engaging.
What we love:
While kids learn the skills and tools for dealing with emotions in any environment or situation, you can also track their progress and identify which challenges they need the most help with (anxiety, bedtime or taking turns, for example).
Possible downsides:
While great for toddlers and preschoolers, it may not appeal to children 5 years and older.
Hopster Coding Safari for Kids
Ages: 4+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Hopster Coding Safari offers young children an awesome introduction to “pre-coding,” without needing any previous coding knowledge to get started. For instance, kids start out by using logic to place a bear in a cave through horizontal and vertical paths. The beauty of this app is that it can help your child learn basic coding logic with little to no reading skills.
What we love:
The app teaches coding basics using a fun, step-by-step approach, starting with the logic needed for learning problem-solving skills needed for when they’re ready to start diving into programming languages.
Possible downsides:
The interface can create the mistaken impression that users have lost all their progress when tapping on the link to reach the second level, which can be frustrating. It’s also only available on iOS.
Toca Life World: Build Stories
Ages: 4+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
This beginner’s world-building app lets young kids build their very own stories. They begin by tapping on a location, like a post office or theater. Then they can add and create characters, customize their clothing, build their own buildings and move from location to location. Some locations even let kids record their voices and movements.
What we love:
The free version comes with eight locations, 39 characters and plenty of content to give your kid a good amount of interactive play.
Possible downsides:
While many fans of the app love that they can integrate other Toca Life apps and purchase more locations and characters to make the experience more exciting, some parents may not want the extra effort and expense.
PBS KIDS ScratchJr
Ages: 6+
PBS Kids has teamed up with the MIT developers behind the Scratch programming language to introduce kindergarteners and 1st-graders to coding fundamentals. This fun story-making tool features popular PBS characters whose actions kids can direct using simple code blocks. The game also provides backdrops and story starters to get them creating their own custom scenes.
What we love:
The app focuses less on coding instruction and more on creativity and having fun.
Possible downsides:
Some feel the interface is on the busy side, and the myriad of choices may be overwhelming to some kids.
BrainPOP Featured Movie
Ages: 8+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Microsoft
What if watching a movie every day were good for you? With this app, it definitely can be. Every day there’s a new, kid-focused educational video available on topics ranging from history to holidays and current events. And after each video, kids can apply their new knowledge with a quick, interactive quiz.
What we love:
There’s something new every day, which keeps kids coming back for more.
Possible downsides:
While the content isn’t offensive or scary, some of the movies and quizzes may be too advanced for some kids at this age.
Duolingo
Ages: 11+
Available on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Chromebook
Bonjour! If your kids (and you) are interested in learning new languages, look no further. Duolingo is a leading language-learning program that helps older kids build skills and vocab in 35+ languages—including Spanish, French, Chinese, German and Italian. This fun, free app has helped millions of learners worldwide pick up new languages through learning games and flash cards. Whether your child wants to dabble in several or master just one, Duolingo is the perfect introduction.
What we love:
The app makes learning simple with an easy-to-grasp visual map. Many themes, immediate and gentle feedback, mini-lesson popups and hints keep kids motivated to maintain their progress.
Possible downsides:
Though the app is highly recommended by parents, the best way to master a language is through actual practice and conversation. Some vocab words also allude to themes parents could consider inappropriate (i.e. “wine”).
That’s our list! We hope you check out some of these free learning apps for kids. For some of our other recommendations, check out our post: “Best Educational Apps for Kids” or for little ones, “Best Apps for Preschoolers.”
