Did you know there are more than 1.96 million apps available on the Apple App Store?

With the overwhelming options for different educational apps for kids out there, it can be difficult to know which learning apps are best. So we’ve done the work for you, with a curated list of 10 educational apps that educate and entertain kids from preschool to high school. 
We dove deep into the features and benefits of every educational app for kids on this list to bring you the best ones for learning. Students, teachers and parents alike can be confident that they’re getting a high-quality and fun educational experience. 

Plus, we’ve done our best to find educational apps that offer free versions or a substantial trial period so you can make an informed decision before you buy — because at Prodigy, we believe learning should be accessible for all. 

Keep reading to find out which one is right for you!

1. Prodigy Math Game

Subject: Math

Age: 1st - 8th grade

Available on: Apple Store, Google Play Store, Amazon Appstore and at prodigygame.com

Pricing: Parents, teachers and students can register for a free account and access all of Prodigy’s educational features. Premium Memberships unlock additional in-game features and parent tools, starting at $4.99 USD/month.

Created for students in elementary school and up, Prodigy Math Game harnesses all the power of a fun fantasy role-playing game to encourage kids to answer math questions. 

To win battles, complete epic quests and earn rewards, students must answer curriculum-aligned questions. 

Prodigy Math is one of the best math apps because the adaptive algorithm works to keep students learning at a level that’s just right for them. They’ll stay engaged and not get frustrated by tough questions. In fact, it ranked highest for supporting students’ learning!

Teachers can create a free account and send students questions aligned to their lesson plans. Parents can also create their own free account to track and support their child’s progress.

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Find out how you can get started with Prodigy today:

• 3 Easy Steps to Differentiate Using Prodigy
• The Teacher's Guide to Prodigy: Everything You Need to Know
• Prodigy Parent’s Guide: Premium Memberships, Goals, Rewards and Reports

2. Khan Academy Kids

Subject: ELA, Math

Ages: 2 to 8

Available on: Apple Store, Google Play Store, Amazon

Pricing: Free

If you have older kids or students, there’s a good chance they (or you) have turned to Khan Academy’s simple-yet-effective math tutorials for help with tricky concepts. 

Khan Academy Kids takes that same engaging approach for teaching students in pre-school and up with learning games and lessons reviewed by early-childhood education experts. Aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, it can help kids develop foundational literacy and math skills, while also promoting social emotional learning in a fun, safe environment. 

Teachers can register for a free account to find lessons aligned to classroom work and track student progress as they learn. Parents can sign up to support their child at home, or use a teacher account to help with distance learning.

3. PBS Kids Games

Subject: ELA, STEM, problem-solving

Ages: Pre-K to 6

Available on: pbskids.org

Pricing: Free

If you have kids or students that love PBS Kids shows, this is a great option for them. 

PBS Kids Games is a hub through which students can navigate to individual show’s sites and play games that cover a variety of topics, including:

• ELA
• Math
• History
• Science
• Engineering
• Problem-solving
• Environmentalism

PBS Kids for Parents offers caregivers resources for learning and playing at home, plus the ability to search for games by age and topic. 

4. DragonBox

Subject: Math, Chess

Ages: 4 +

Available on: Apple Store, Google Play Store

Pricing: DragonBox apps can be purchased individually on the Apple and Google Play app stores starting at $4.99 USD, or in bundles at dragonbox.com. 

Instead of just one app, DragonBox offers six educational apps for kids that cover different math concepts in a fun, engaging way. 

Elementary students can explore addition, subtraction and the basics of chess, while middle school and high school kids can try their hand at algebra and geometry. 

5. Duolingo

Subject: Languages

Ages: 13+

Available on: Apple Store, Google Play Store, Amazon

Pricing: Duolingo is free to use, but upgrading to a Plus account removes ads and provides additional features.

Duolingo helps kids — and adults — go beyond the basics to master any of the 19 languages it currently offers. 

Parents can use Duolingo as a way to supplement at-school learning, or even start speaking a new language themselves! Duolingo also offers a Schools version to help teachers track student progress and align lessons with classroom lesson plans.

6. YouTube Kids

Subject: General Education

Ages: 2 to 12

Available on: Apple Store, Google Play Store, Amazon 

Pricing: YouTube Kids is a free app, but shows paid ads and videos with commercial content from YouTube creators. 

YouTube Kids takes the fun, educational videos kids love and lets them watch in a safe and secure environment. 

Parents and teachers can sort by age-appropriate content, block content their child isn’t ready for and set a time limit to control the amount of screen time children have. Whether it’s cartoons, science experiments or silly stories, there’s something for every family or classroom.

7. Epic

Subject: ELA

Ages: 2 to 12

Available on: Apple Store, Google Play Store 

Pricing: Epic Free gives students access for two hours a week after school hours, while Epic Unlimited offers anytime access and unlimited book selection. Teachers can sign up for Epic School for free and access the library during school hours (7am - 4pm, Monday to Friday).

Epic is the perfect reading app for budding bookworms and word whizzes! With access to over 35,000 books for kids up to 6th grade, there’s sure to be something for even the most reluctant of readers.

Parents and teachers can use the free app to sort resources by grade level and subject. Epic also features audiobooks and read-alouds for those who prefer to listen or are too young to read on their own.

8. Seek by iNaturalist

Subject: Environmentalism

Ages: 8 +

Available on: Apple Store, Google Play Store

Pricing: Free

Created by iNaturalist, a joint project between the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society, Seek helps young explorers interact with the natural world around them. 

With just the snap of a picture, kids can identify plants, wildlife and fungi, plus earn badges as they explore and learn all about nature. 

9. NASA

Subject: Astronomy

Ages: 7 +

Available on: Apple Store, Google Play Store, Amazon 

Pricing: Free 

Encourage kids to shoot for the moon as they learn with NASA’s official app! Daily updates and out-of-this-world photography are just some of the ways this app encourages kids to get excited about space exploration. 

Resources include:

• Astronomy facts
• Pictures and videos
• Interactive explainers
• NASA’s public television channel
• Current space exploration updates

Lots of in-depth information makes this educational app better for older kids. 

Teachers can consider linking current space topics to daily lessons or use a sci-fi movie night to spark conversations about the final frontier!

10. Hopscotch — Programming for Kids

Subject: Programming

Ages: 9 +

Available on: Apple Store

Pricing: Free to use, but optional subscriptions to unlock more customization starts at $7.99 USD/month.

Hopscotch — Programming for Kids uses a drag-and-drop editor to help kids create programs with colorful characters.

Through a relatively simple platform, kids can program fun characters to move, change appearance and respond to commands. When they’re done, they can even share their creations with classmates and friends for extra learning opportunities. 

For more classroom-aligned learning, teachers can create a free Hopscotch account to access lesson plans and help students start learning quickly.

Benefits of Educational Apps for Kid's Learning

Want to use learning apps for kids in your classroom or at home, but aren’t sure if they’ll work for you? Every child is different, but there are some common benefits to using educational games and apps. 

Game-based learning works

Several studies have shown that digital game-based learning (DGBL) can help students stay engaged with learning and reduce anxiety. 

DGBL gives students an opportunity to practice concepts in a fun, low-pressure environment and improves their overall understanding of fundamental concepts. 

One study found that DGBL kept students on task for 93% of class time, compared to just 72% without it. And when kids in the classroom spend more time engaged with the material, it’s a win for learning! 

Shifting screen time toward education

According to a 2020 poll from Pew Research, 71% of parents are concerned their child is spending too much time in front of screens. And with the recent shift towards online learning, that’s even more understandable. 

But the best educational apps for kids turn screen time into education time. They’re a way for parents and educators to ensure that while students are playing, they’re also developing skills and building a lifelong love of learning. 

Parental controls and learning at home

Many educational apps for kids offer parental controls to limit content that a child is exposed to. Or in the case of some of the entries on the list above, offer child-friendly versions of apps parents already know. 

The best learning apps for kids give parents a concrete, yet safe, way to support their child’s learning at home. They can be a clear bridge between classroom learning and learning at home. 

Enhancing classroom learning

Learning apps are quickly becoming an everyday part of classrooms. One study found that 65% of teachers use digital communications to engage with parents, and over half use practice work apps, websites and digital games with their students.

When students are in the classroom, paid and free educational apps for kids provide students and teachers with more ways to practice concepts, express themselves creatively and plan engaging lessons. 

More diverse subject areas

Got a budding horticulturist or a music prodigy in your classroom or at home? Parents and teachers don’t always have the time or resources to tailor activities to the unique interests of every student. 

According to one study, 75% of parents with a child ages 11 or younger who watches YouTube videos believe the platform does a good job of exposing their child to different cultures. 

Learning apps for kids encourage curiosity and self-directed learning in a fun, safe way! New languages, skills and creative projects are never far off once you find the right app.

The Best Learning Apps Can Make a Difference in Children’s Education

With the right learning app, high-quality education is always at your fingertips. 

The best learning apps for kids can help students, parents and teachers:

• Track student learning progress 
• Support classroom education at home
• Explore new topics they’re interested in