No matter where you sit on the screen time debate, if you’re like most parents, you probably let your kids use technology at least some of the time. And that’s ok, because not all screen time is the same — if used wisely, screen time can help kids develop problem-solving, social, and communication skills.
So, if you’re going to hand over the tablet, wouldn’t you at least like to know that they’re learning something in the process? Well, we’ve kicked the tires, read the reviews, heard from the parents (and the kiddos, too), and we’ve rounded up the top educational app for children in five different categories.
Top Educational App for Kids Under 5: ABC Mouse
This well-known app by Age of Learning stands out as a trusted favorite for both kids and parents of kids under 5. It’s known primarily for giving young ones a head start with phonics and reading, but it t contains a lot more than that. It boasts a full preschool through 2nd-grade curriculum, which covers reading, math, science, art, and colors. It’s interactive and helps children progress through 10 academic levels spread across 850 lessons containing over 10,000 activities. It also contains over 450 ebooks and beginning readers, and its versatility is a plus—kids can learn on a phone, tablet, or computer. It’s no wonder this is a top educational app for kids!
Who’s it for: Kids aged 2–8.
Why kids like it: The app’s prizes and incentives for completing activities are a hands-down favorite among little ones. Children can earn reward tickets for completing a lesson and then choose how to spend them in the virtual store. They also love visiting different animals in the virtual zoo, and the sheer variety of activities, like coloring pages and songs, make the list of “wow” factors for kiddos.
Why parents love it: Among parents’ top perks are the intuitive controls that are easy for their children to use without assistance. Overall, parents report high peace of mind that their children are doing something safe, fun, and educational while online. Other high notes are that the books offered to their kids are at their “just-right” reading level and that their children learn responsibility and decision-making skills by “spending” their tickets.
The drawbacks: Some children may find the repetition of lessons within each level boring or tedious if they have already grasped a concept. And, to use the app, you must be connected to the internet, via wi-fi or data, at all times. Lessons are not downloadable for offline use.
Price: Currently $12.99/mo. after a 30-day free trial period or $45/yr.
Top educational app for elementary students: Khan Academy
This has been a top educational app for a long time and the trend continues! What began as a math tutorial site has become a rich library of self-paced lessons for math, language arts, science, life skills, and more. Elementary-aged students will benefit most from the core math and language arts lessons, but the site has courses ranging from civics and government to computer programming to college test prep. There is also a separate app, Khan Academy Kids, designed especially for ages two to eight.
Who’s it for: Grades K-12
Why kids like it: Learners can earn “energy points” by completing certain tasks on the app. These points are indicative of the level of work needed to complete the task, not necessarily of how the child performed or of what they mastered. Kids can use these points to evolve their avatar or to earn badges, which makes for a fun, gamified experience.
Why parents love it: In addition to a price you can’t beat (free!), parents love using Khan to help fill educational gaps or have their kids practice difficult skill sets. The step-by-step lesson videos can be paused and re-watched as needed, and then kids get practice questions to hone their skills and reinforce concepts.
The drawbacks: A few users report finding some errors in the more advanced math lessons. These are typically noted with an annotation to the video. Also, there is not a lot of interaction with other users or with the app itself other than answering practice questions.
Price: Free!
Top educational app for foreign language: Duolingo
You’ve probably seen this app with the adorable green owl. For learning a foreign language, this owl really can’t be beaten. Duolingo teaches reading, listening, and speaking in short, engaging lessons in the language of your choice, and there are so many choices! From Spanish to Japanese to Klingon (yes, that’s the language of the fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe), Duolingo has you covered.
Who’s it for: Everyone — they have a separate kids version of the app for children as young as 3
Why kids like it: Well, aside from the aforementioned adorable green owl, Duolingo offers a gamified approach to foreign language learning with bite-sized lessons that aren’t overwhelming.
Why parents love it: Parents love that it prompts children to get their daily practice sessions in and helps them gain conversational ability in their language of choice.
The drawbacks: This is a top educational app for beginners and those looking to brush up on their conversational skills. However, those looking to advance their foreign language skills to a high level or gain a deep understanding of a language should look for a more comprehensive curriculum.
Price: You can use the app to your heart’s content for free, but there are upgrades available. A Super Plan ($6.99/mo.) removes ads, provides personalized practice, and removes limitations on some features. They offer a two-week free trial on this option if you want to check it out first. Additionally, there is a Super Family Plan ($9.99/mo.) that gives you premium features on up to six accounts.
Top educational app for STEM: Prodigy
Prodigy takes the cake as our top educational app in the ever-popular STEM category. This app is known primarily for its mathematical wizardry. The gamified platform uses algorithms to assess what skills a child needs to practice and feeds them the appropriate math problems (embedded in game form) to ensure mastery. There is also a Common Core-aligned add-on for English for grades 1-5.
Who’s it for: Grades 1-8
Why kids like it: Much like their favorite video games, kids participate in daily and seasonal quests to earn items and rewards. There are over 100 pets to rescue and add to your team, and kids can even play alongside their friends in a secure online environment.
Why parents love it: It is curriculum-aligned, so kids can practice what they’re learning in school. A parent dashboard fills grownups in on the kiddos’ progress and what skills they need more help with. Plus, parents report that their kids just want to play it! Win-win.
The drawbacks: The free version is very limited which can result in frustration when a child cannot enjoy all the benefits they’d like to. Additionally, while playing on a free account, ads for the paid membership can pose a distraction.
Price: Free for core gameplay and basic pet features. It’s $6.25/mo. or $74.95/yr. for exclusive game areas, pet options, and most parental features that offer individualization and data feedback. Most parents and children would be happy with this first paid tier. There is also a premium level for $8.33/mo. or $99.95/yr. that gives you a few additional features.
Top educational app for culture & history: Google Arts & Culture
Google’s goal with this app is to bring you the “treasures, stories, and knowledge of over 2,000 cultural institutions from 80 countries” around the world. But they do so much more!
The Google Arts & Culture app lets you get up close with masterpieces or take virtual tours of museums around the world. Explore the world’s quirkiest museums, the history of women in gaming, or even the history of music in video games.
This top educational app also has interactive features that let you color in a masterpiece, compare a selfie to see what famous portraits look like you, or explore art by culture, time period, or even by color.
If it’s about art or culture, it’s here and it’s free!
Who’s it for: Everyone!
Why kids like it: Google has taken the time to create interactive elements especially for the little ones. They can explore famous works of art through “I Spy” games or follow digital penguins on the loose as they roam museums. Specially curated children’s collections feature art that contains pets or a challenge to strike a pose like the painting’s subject.
Why parents love it: Parents love the ability to tour the world from the comfort of home, offering a taste of thousands of cultures across the globe and across time. Geo features even allow parents to locate museums or other destinations of interest in their local area.
The drawbacks: Parental supervision, especially for those under age 12, is recommended. As is the case with art, some of the subject matter may be shocking for little ones. .
Price: Free . . . some may say priceless!