Best Study Apps for Kids in 2026: 7 Apps Compared

Khan Academy Kids is our pick for free early study. Books, phonics games, math activities, science explorations and stories cover the core early learning subjects, all free and ad-free, with offline activities for trips. Animated characters guide children through activities, which helps younger learners stay engaged without parent help for every step.

Content tops out around age 8, and the path is less structured than ABCmouse ten levels, so older children need a school-age app next. For preschool through early elementary study, Khan Academy Kids offers the best free package available.

ABCmouse offers the most structured early study path on this list, with ten levels moving from letters and numbers to more complex reading and math. Subjects include reading, math, science, art and music, so a child studies broadly rather than in one area. Parents can track progress and see completed activities.

The subscription is the main drawback, and the gamified rewards can overwhelm some children. A free trial helps judge fit before paying. For families who want a guided curriculum with clear progression, ABCmouse is a strong option.

Prodigy Math turns math practice into a game world where answering questions correctly powers battles and progression. The core game is free, with questions aligned to school math curricula, and parent and teacher tools track progress and assign practice. For children who resist worksheets, the game format can turn practice into something they choose.

Paid memberships add cosmetic items and extra features that children may ask for, which parents should discuss in advance. The focus is math only, so reading and other subjects need another app. For math practice that children actually want to do, Prodigy is the most effective game-based option.

Epic suits reading study through volume. A large library of picture books, chapter books and audiobooks lets children read widely, with read-to-me options supporting early readers and chapter books for older children. Up to four child profiles and a parent dashboard make it practical for families with several children.

It is a library, not a phonics teacher or a skill drill app, so children who cannot yet read need Duolingo ABC or Khan Academy Kids alongside it. For children who can read basics and need volume to build fluency and vocabulary, Epic is the best library choice.

IXL suits school-age study through adaptive skill practice. Questions adapt to a child's level across math, language arts, science and social studies, from pre-K through high school, with detailed progress tracking for parents and teachers. That breadth and depth make it the most school-aligned practice app on this list.

The format is less game-like than Prodigy, so children who need game motivation may resist it, and subscription cost rises when covering multiple subjects. For families who want school-aligned practice with clear progress data, IXL is the strongest choice.

Duolingo ABC suits early reading study specifically. Short, game-like lessons teach letter sounds, blending, sight words and handwriting in a steady sequence, with microphone activities that let children say sounds back. There are no ads, purchases or social features, which makes it one of the safest kids apps available.

Scope is limited to early reading, so older children and other subjects need another app. For preschool through first grade reading study, Duolingo ABC is the best free starting point, and it pairs well with Khan Academy Kids for broader early learning.

BrainPOP Jr. suits children who learn best by watching explanations first. Short animated videos explain science, math, reading, health and social studies topics in clear language, with quizzes and activities after each video to check understanding. Schools use BrainPOP widely, which gives parents confidence in content quality.

A subscription is needed for full access, and the video format suits explanation more than repeated drill practice, so skill practice needs IXL or Prodigy alongside it. For children who ask why and how, BrainPOP Jr. offers the clearest explanations on this list.