Best Free Learning Apps for Kids
Only the apps that fit "best free learning apps for kids", used by real children for two weeks and scored on the public rubric.
Khan Academy Kids - Free, ad-free and complete: reading, maths, logic and social-emotional lessons for ages 2–8 from a nonprofit Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Completely free with no ads and no in-app purchases
- Adaptive learning path plus a library of books and videos
- Our 6-year-old chose it unprompted on 11 of 14 days
Khan Academy - Free video lessons and mastery practice from kindergarten to calculus, with Khanmigo AI tutoring as an optional extra Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Free, nonprofit, no ads
- Teaches with video then checks with mastery practice — the gap IXL leaves
- Goes all the way to AP and SAT
Prodigy Math - A fantasy RPG where every spell is a maths question — the app our reluctant 10-year-old asked for every day Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- All curriculum content is free
- Questions adapt to grade and to the child's answers
- Highest engagement in our test — 14 of 14 days by choice
Education.com - 37,000 printable worksheets, lesson plans and games for Pre-K to 8th grade — the homeschooler's and teacher's library Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Largest printable library we found, searchable by standard
- Guided lessons and games alongside worksheets
- Free tier gives a few downloads a month
ABCya - 400+ browser games sorted by grade, free with ads or ad-free for a small subscription — the classroom-favourite time-filler Tested Aug 2026 by Team RankingRight
- Hundreds of games organised by grade and subject
- Free on the web
- Typing and logic games our 10-year-old kept returning to
What separates the best free learning apps for kids?
Score and price tell you most of it. Khan Academy Kids sits at 9.1 and costs nothing, with no ads and no in-app purchases. Khan Academy follows at 8.7, also free. Prodigy Math scores 7.8 and is free, with Premium at $9.95/mo. Education.com scores 7.6 at $15.99. ABCya scores 6.8, free with ads or Premium at $6.99/mo.
The split is what each one does with a child's attention. Khan Academy Kids was chosen unprompted by our 6-year-old on 11 of 14 days. Prodigy Math hit 14 of 14 days by choice, but maths per minute is lower than IXL and the child view pushes Premium upgrades. ABCya is free on the web with 400+ games, yet shows ads to children and keeps no profiles or progress.
What should you check before you download?
The rubric weights Learning 30, Engagement 20, Parent tools 15, Safety & ads 15 and Value 20. Run your shortlist against those five.
- Age ceiling: Khan Academy Kids stops at second grade. Khan Academy runs to AP and SAT.
- Ads and upsells: Khan Academy Kids and Khan Academy carry none. ABCya's free tier shows ads to children; Prodigy prompts upgrades inside the child view.
- Parent reporting: Khan Academy Kids reports are simpler than IXL's. ABCya has no parent reports at all.
- Subject balance: Khan Academy's reading and writing coverage is thinner than its math.
- Who actually uses it: Education.com is a resource library more than an app a child uses alone, and its Premium price is high for a family that only prints.
Khan Academy Kids
For ages 2–8 whose parents want a free, ad-free path with an adaptive learning path plus books and videos. Best for the youngest learners.
Khan Academy
For older students through AP and SAT who can work with video lessons and mastery practice. Younger kids need a parent alongside.
Prodigy Math
For the reluctant maths student who asks to play. All curriculum content is free and questions adapt to grade and answers.
Education.com
For homeschoolers and teachers who want 37,000 printable worksheets, lesson plans and games for Pre-K to 8th grade, searchable by standard.
ABCya
For quick browser sessions on typing and logic games, sorted by grade and subject. Free with ads, or $6.99/mo ad-free.
Khan Academy Kids suits ages 2–8 who need a free, ad-free start, while Khan Academy carries older students to AP and SAT. Prodigy Math fits the reluctant maths student, and Education.com is the pick for homeschoolers and teachers who print. ABCya works for short browser sessions on typing and logic games.
Questions about best free learning apps for kids
*Scores: Learning 30 · Engagement 20 · Parent tools 15 · Safety & ads 15 · Value 20; score = Σ ÷ 10. Prices shown were checked on the date beside each and may change. Affiliate links are added only after a score is locked and can never change it. How we rank.



