15 of the Best Educational Apps for Kids and Students

Technology has always played an integral role in the growth and development of our youth, but I don’t think any of us could’ve predicted just how integral that role would become – especially in the classroom. 

And then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. 

Schools closed, kids were sent home, and just like that – mobile learning wasn’t just a trend anymore. 

It was the only option – for nearly two years. 

Kids eventually returned to the classroom, but not before ushering in a new era of learning – a hybrid approach, if you will. By combining the benefits of in-person and mobile learning, parents were able to customize their child’s education in ways we never thought would be possible – all thanks to technology.

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Educational Apps Are Making Learning Fun Again

Educational apps are nothing new to mobile devices, but they’ve evolved greatly over the past few years and are now more robust than ever before – and we have the COVID-19 pandemic to thank for that. 

In 2024, there are more than 450,000 educational apps available for download in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store – and that number continues to increase by the thousands every single year. 

You know what they say – there’s an app for that!

Some are designed like a game, while others take a more traditional approach – such as flashcards. Some are centered around only one subject, while others provide a whole suite of topics and themes. 

It’s true when they say no two educational apps are the same, and it’s also true that there’s an app out there for everyone – every child, and every student. If you’re interested in introducing your child to the world of mobile learning, then you’ve come to the right place – here are some of our favorite apps!

15. Khan Academy Kids: Learning!

Khan Academy Kids: Learning! is designed for children ages two to eight years, and engages kids in a variety of core subjects – including early literacy, reading, writing, language, mathematics, and creativity.

The app features five main characters that help guide your child through a series of interactive activities, books, animated videos, games, and creative lessons – including Kodi Bear, the narrator of the program.

The app has more than five million downloads on the Google Play Store and, perhaps more importantly, is completely free – with no ads! The app also provides fun, educational off-screen family activities. 

14. PBS KIDS Games

PBS KIDS Games is designed for children ages two to eight and includes a collection of educational games based on some of your child’s favorite PBS characters – such as Daniel Tiger and Alma’s Way. 

There are more than 250 games to choose from and they’re free for children ready to learn. The games cover everything from science to math and even creativity – ensuring your child’s brain gets a workout!

Not only does it boast a safe and friendly environment for your child to learn in, but there are a wide range of other PBS KIDS apps that can help your child get the most out of their mobile learning experience. 

13. Prodigy Math

Is your child struggling with math? Don’t worry – Prodigy Math can help them better grasp the concepts while taking them on a fun, quest-filled adventure. It’s designed like a game, but centered around math. 

What we love most about this app is that it’s tailored to meet your child’s individual needs. It highlights their strengths and improves upon their weaknesses while aligning itself with the state-level curriculum. 

And Prodigy doesn’t leave the parents hanging. It’s equipped with tools to help you see what your child is working on, how they’re progressing through the program, and even set goals for your child to reach.

12. Numberblocks, Alphablocks, & Colourblocks

Numberblocks, Alphablocks, and Colourblocks are three collections of educational apps created by Joe Elliott and animated by BAFTA-winning studio Blue Zoo. They’re based on the British animated television series. 

As the names suggest – Numberblocks has to do with numbers and math, Alphablocks has to do with letters and the alphabet, and Colourblocks has to do with understanding and identifying different colors.

Each series features a variety of apps that go with it. For example, the Numberblocks series has a Treasure Hunt-inspired app, a Bedtime Stories-inspired app, and a Hide and Seek-inspired app.  

11. Duolingo ABC

Duolingo is one of the most popular educational apps on the market today, but they shook the industry when they came out with Duolingo ABC – designed for children who want to have fun learning to read. 

The app is best reserved for children between preschool and first grade, and features more than 700 hands-on reading lessons that teach the nuances of the alphabet, phonics, sight words, and vocabulary.

To sweeten the deal, Duolingo ABC is 100% free to use and won’t contain ads – which means no distractions! And when they’re ready to advance to a different language, they can upgrade to Duolingo.

10. Epic: Kids’ Books & Reading

If your child’s a reader who enjoys the thrill of whatever the next page brings, then they’ve found their match. Epic is the world’s largest digital library for kids, and it contains more than 40,000 digital books.

It gives your child unlimited access – anytime, anywhere – to their favorite books, and gives them a variety of ways to enjoy them. For example, they have audiobooks, e-books, and multilingual books. 

The only downside is that it’s not free, but it’s worth the investment – and only costs about $12 per month. Oh, and they give you a free 7-day trial, allowing you to test it out before you make any commitments. 

9. Starfall

Starfall is a collection of games and learning activities designed for children in preschool through the fifth grade. It covers everything from math to language arts, music, reading, colors, geometry, and more. 

There are a variety of apps available under the Starfall name, and they each target a different subject. Some of them follow fun and exciting seasonal themes, such as a snowman, turkey, and pumpkin. 

Beyond that, it also teaches your child the importance of being kind and caring by promoting a friendly and playful learning environment. Activities, games, songs, interactive lessons – Starfall has it all!

8. Duck Duck Moose

Duck Duck Moose is a series of award-winning educational apps for kids. There are nearly two dozen unique apps to choose from, ensuring your child always has fresh content and new lessons to complete.

Some of the most popular Duck Duck Moose apps include Moose Math, Duck Duck Moose Reading, Build a Truck, More Trucks, ChatterPix, Draw and Tell, Musical Me!, Word Wagon, and much more.

They’ve also teamed up with Khan Academy, so you know they’re committed to quality and effective learning experiences. Their apps are fun, and they inspire your child to be creative and imaginative. 

7. AlphaTots Alphabet

According to USA Today, AlphaTots Alphabet is the ‘gold standard of ABC flash card apps.’ It’s a fun and engaging app that uses 26 action verbs to help your child better understand the 26 letters in the alphabet. 

For example, ‘a’ is for ‘action,’ ‘b’ is for ‘building,’ and ‘c’ is for ‘cutting.’ Every letter has a corresponding puzzle or mini-game to ensure your child not only understands what they’re learning, but remembers it!

Of course, we can’t forget about the adorable alphabet sing-along-song! The AlphaTots Alphabet app is a Little 10 Robot family of apps – which includes TallyTots Counting, YodelOh Math Mountain, and more.

6. Noggin Preschool Learning App

The Noggin Preschool Learning App was created by Nickelodeon, and features a variety of learning activities, games, videos, and books – all of which are centered around your child’s favorite characters!

Not only that, but it gives you access to 1,000+ ad-free full episodes of some of Nickelodeon’s hit shows – ensuring parents get what they pay for. They’ll give you a free 30-day trial, and it’s only $7.99 per month. 

Some of the shows featured in the app include PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, and Blue’s Clues & You! – making Noggin the only learning app led by these characters. If your child is a Nickelodeon fan, it’s a no-brainer!

5. ABCmouse

ABCmouse is an educational app with a heavy focus on math and reading but also touches base on music, art, social studies, science, and other subjects for children ages two through eight years old. 

If you need validation, the app was awarded Mom’s Choice GOLD, Teachers’ Choice, and Parents’ Choice GOLD Awards, and has more than 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store alone. 

With 10 levels, over 850 lessons, and 10,000+ individual activities, your child won’t get bored and will always have something new to try – or improve upon. They can also customize their own avatar. 

4. Math Kids

Math Kids primarily teaches kids the nuances of numbers and mathematics and is designed for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and first-graders. It has more than 10 million downloads on Google Play.

Your child will learn how to count, how to compare big to small, and the basics of addition and subtraction. The app features a series of puzzles, fun games, and quizzes to ensure your child is actually learning. 

Parents can monitor their child’s progress and can even customize different game modes to better suit their child’s unique needs. It’s never too early to start learning math, and Math Kids is here to help!

3. BrainPOP

BrainPOP is easily one of our favorite educational apps available today. It’s the perfect way to replace your child’s passive screen time with active, enriched, interesting, and engaging learning modules. 

There are two different versions – BrainPOP and BrainPOP Jr..The former is designed for children between third and eighth grade, while the latter was created for kindergarteners through third graders. 

The topics are thought-provoking and touch base on many of the world’s most important subjects. Energy, conservation, habitats, bacteria, mindfulness – your child will be learning a little bit of everything!

2. SplashLearn

SplashLearn is suitable for children in preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-5, and primarily focuses on math and reading skills. It combines the fun of a game with the thoughtfulness of an educational activity.

The learning games feature rewards and achievements, which motivate your child to stay engaged and committed to the program. It also features personalized daily growth plans to customize the learning.

You’ll receive a seven-day free trial, but it costs money after that. The good news is it only costs $12 per month for the full version, or $8 per month if you’re only interested in one subject (reading or math). 

1. LingoKids

With more than 1,600 activities, LingoKids has an extensive library that’s both free and always growing. The characters are fun, and they play a big role in helping your child stay motivated and inspired to learn.

It covers everything from math to reading and literacy, science, engineering, technology, art, music, and more. While it requires a monthly subscription, it’s one that you and your child will get a lot of use out of.

Some of the fun characters include Billy, the creative thinker, Cowy, the artist, Lisa, the natural leader, Elliott, the collaborator, and Babybot, a young robot ready to learn. Your child is going to love them!

New Learning Apps Are Being Created Every Year!

Technology isn’t going anywhere – and neither are educational apps. If anything, they’re going to continue to improve and continue to influence a talented, smarter, and motivated generation of bright students. 

With that said, just having technology isn’t enough – we must also understand how and when to use it. That, of course, takes time – and an individualized approach, especially since every child is different. 

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For now, teachers and parents have a growing collection of fun and effective educational apps to choose from – starting with the list we curated for you above. The question is – which one suits your child best?