Rain, sun, snow and clouds — even with great weather, it seems all kids want to do is play around on their tablets or smart devices. Every day can be a battle between outdoor activities and indoor screen time, but what if you could encourage less mindless play and more educational activities — no matter the weather or where you are?
If your child loves deep-sea adventures, creepy crawlers or even music and the arts, there’s an app out there designed just for their interests. Install Panda Dome Family and then grab your charger — it’s time to download some of the best learning apps for kids!
Table of Contents:
Learning Apps for Kids Ages 0-5
It’s never too early to start learning about math, science, reading and more! Check out these learning apps that are great for kids ages 0-5.
1. Khan Academy
Khan Academy and Khan Academy Kids is a virtual learning program dedicated to providing world-class education options for anyone. This app features a variety of subjects for kids in preschool, elementary, middle and high school. Plus, the app can be personalized — so you can fill gaps and encourage continued learning.
Best for: All subjects
Ages: 4+
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Math
- Science
- Art and humanities
- Computing
- Reading and language arts
- Economics
- Life skills
Features:
- YouTube Library
- Self-paced design
- More than 36 languages available
- Foundational and supplemental learning
2. Busy Shapes
Best for younger children, Busy Shapes is designed to help kids learn how objects relate to one another. Users are asked to match shapes with their respective holes, fostering their problem-solving and reasoning skills.
Best for: Problem-solving
Ages: 0-5
Price: $2.99
Subjects:
- Problem-solving
- Logic
- Reasoning
Features:
- Hands-on, self-directed learning
- Challenges gradually become harder
- Eight languages available
3. ABCmouse.com
ABCmouse.com (and its app) provides a well-rounded curriculum of school-based subjects, games and puzzles for preschool-age kids. Parents, guardians and teachers can track a child’s progress, and kids receive rewards for correctly completing activities.
Best for: Reading and phonics
Ages: 0-5
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Reading and phonics
- Math
- Science
- Art and colors
- Music
Features:
- Games and puzzles
- Expert-led design
- Available in English and Spanish
4. Prodigy
Set up similarly to a video game, Prodigy is a popular math app for kids. This app is designed to test knowledge rather than teach new concepts, but its fantasy-based play makes it a desirable educational app for a variety of ages.
Best for: Math
Ages: 4+
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Math
Features:
- Foundational and supplemental learning
- Video game format
5. Quizlet
Multiple choice, true-false questions, flashcards and other testing methods are available on Quizlet. This app is great for studying vocabulary terms and turns learning terminology into a self-led process.Â
Best for: Vocabulary
Ages: 4+
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Any subject, with an emphasis on vocabulary
Features:
- Flashcards and games
- Seven study modes
- Great for students and teachers
- Pre-created flashcard sets available
6. MarcoPolo Ocean
Let your kids take a deep dive into the sea with MarcoPolo Ocean. Kids can build their own submarines, reefs and aquariums while learning ocean facts that will blow all their friends away.
Best for: Ocean concepts
Ages: 0-5
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Sea creatures
- Oceanography
Features:
- Free play to create submarines, reefs and other ocean-based objects
- Underwater facts
- Playful narration and colorful settings
- Ocean vocabulary and deep-sea concepts
7. Peekaboo Barn
Cows, chickens and horses — oh, my! Peekaboo Barn is a great educational app for kids interested in learning about farm animals. Adults can even record their own voices to walk kids through the little bouncing barn.
Best for: Animal identification
Ages: 0-5
Price: $1.99
Subjects:
- Animals
Features:
- Animations and sounds
- Language and pronunciation options
- Voice recording available
8. Play and Learn Engineering
Allow your kids to flex their creativity while learning about important STEM concepts like gravity and momentum. Play and Learn Engineering is a gateway to creative problem-solving and science concepts.
Best for: Engineering
Ages: 0-5
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Engineering
- Problem-solving
Features:
- Roller coaster, obstacle course and robot design
- STEM concepts, including gravity and momentum
- Award-winning parent tools
9. Mazaam
Mazaam uses classical music to engage kids with fun, silly and educational games. With the help of cute animals and themed worlds, kids learn to identify musical instruments, pitch, tempo and harmony, among other music-related concepts.Â
Best for: Musical concepts
Ages: 0-5
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Musical concepts
- Instrument identification
Features:
- Educational games with 15 to 30 minutes of playthrough time
- No ads
- Five worlds: squirrels, chameleons, lynxes, eagles and sea lions
10. Hopster: Pre-school Games & TV
Kids can’t escape television — and, let’s be honest, they don’t want to. Hopster combines preschool-friendly educational shows with fun, exciting games. Plus, the app will automatically suggest a new activity if too many episodes of a show are watched in a row!
Best for: Phonics and math
Ages: 0-5
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Math
- Phonics
Features:
- Educational games and preschool-friendly shows
- Available offline
- Activities are automatically suggested after three episodes of a show
11. Writing Wizard
Writing Wizard helps make writing and learning letters fun, and the app keeps parents involved with curated progress reports. Kids trace upper and lowercase letters, numbers or words, and interactive games, animated stickers and sound effects keep them motivated!
Best for: Writing
Ages: 4+
Price: $6.99
Subjects:
- Writing
- Letters
- Numbers
Features:
- Data is not collected
- Different fonts available
- Customizable word lists
12. Teach Your Monster to Read
With the Teach Your Monster to Read app, kids design their own monster and then take it through a three-game reading program. This app is designed to complement phonics programs of all kinds, so it’s perfect for both classroom and at-home learning.
Best for: Reading and phonics
Ages: 0-5
Price: $5.99
Subjects:
- Reading
- Phonics
Features:
- BAFTA-nominated program
- Customizable monster
- Covers the first two years of reading
13. Thinkrolls Play & Code STEM
Not all problem-solving is as difficult as the labyrinth — but kids still need to know how to solve a puzzle through logic. Thinkrolls Play & Code STEM is designed to introduce these topics to young kids so they’re prepared for other, more challenging problems.
Best for: Problem-solving
Ages: 4+
Supported by: IOS
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Spatial reasoning
- Physics
- Problem-solving
Features:
- 11 languages available
- 1,000+ educational games and activities
- STEM concepts
14. Duolingo
Kids can begin learning a new language from an early age with Duolingo’s audio, word identification and speaking exercises. Plus, this app is also great for parents, which means families can dive into language learning together!
Best for: Languages
Ages: 4+
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Languages
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
Features:
- 26 languages available
- Lessons for speaking, reading, writing and listening
- Portable language education
15. Starfall ABCs
Help your child become strong and confident in their ability to recognize letters and words. Starfall ABCs introduces learning letters and vowels, and it even helps kids with math and social skills.
Best for: Alphabet
Ages: 0-5
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Alphabet
- Letters
- Language learning
Features:
- Words are found in sentences and games
- Children both see and hear words
Learning Apps for Kids Ages 6-8
Supplement your child’s education with fun and exciting learning apps! These applications are great for kids between the ages of 6 and 10.
16. NASA Visualization Explorer
Let your child explore areas where no man has gone before with the NASA Visualization Explorer app! This application takes cutting-edge space news and turns it into exciting and engaging content. Plus, it includes facts and stories about impossible-to-reach places in space.
Best for: Space news and exploration
Ages: 4+
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Space
Features:
- Top research stories
- Connected to NASA’s fleet of research spacecraft
17. Write About This
Let your kids’ writing come to life with Write About This! This app is designed to encourage writing of all kinds — including formal and informal writing — with prompt, photo and voice-over options. Plus, Write About This can automatically publish student work and create writer portfolios.
Ages: 4+
Supported by: IOS
Price: $3.99
Subjects:
- Writing
Features:
- Images and prompts are customizable
- Encourages opinion, narrative, expository and literary responses
- Can be used for formal writing assignments or personal journal entries
18. ScratchJr
With an emphasis on coding and creation, ScratchJr may be one of the best learning apps for kids interested in video games or computers. This app allows kids to create their own stories, design and code characters, and solve problems creatively.
Best for: Coding
Ages: 6-8
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Coding
- Computation
Features:
- Personalized interactive stories and games
- Math and language interactions
19. Kahoot! Numbers by DragonBox
Stack, slice, sort and compare numbers with this math-centric app. Kahoot! Numbers by DragonBox turns numbers into Nooms — monster-like caricatures that bring numbers to life — helping children learn how to add and subtract with numbers between 1 and 20.
Best for: Math and numbers
Ages: 4-8
Price: Free with a subscription to Kahoot!+ Family
Subjects:
- Math
- Numbers
Features:
- 12 languages available
- Nooms make numbers fun to play with
- Four sections of play: sandbox, puzzle, ladder and run
20. Epic – Kids’ Books and Reading
Do you have a bookworm on your hands or hope to encourage your child to read? Epic is a great learning tool for book lovers and learners alike! The app boasts an extensive library of children’s books, videos and audiobooks, which are perfect for readers of all types. Plus, this learning app has books in multiple languages, read-to-me books and reading rewards.
Best for: Reading
Ages: 6-8
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Reading
Features:
- More than 40,000 books, videos and audiobooks
- User-friendly
- Instant, anytime access to the app’s library
21. PBS KIDS Games
Want to help your kids learn healthy habits, be kind individuals and follow daily routines? With PBS KIDS Games, your child can play along with their favorite TV show characters as they develop social-emotional skills and general education concepts.
Best for: Social-emotional learning
Ages: 2-8
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Social-emotional skills
Features:
- More than 250 educational games
- Available in English and Spanish
22. Quick Math Jr.
Make math fun and exciting for kids with the Quick Math Jr. app! This application is designed to help kids learn and enjoy math with features like monster creation, spooky islands and more.
Best for: Foundational mathematics
Ages: 3-7
Supported by: IOS
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Numbers
- Counting
- Addition and subtraction
- Place values
Features:
- Number sequences up to 100
- Unlimited player profiles
- Aligned with international math curriculums
23. HOMER: Fun Learning For Kids
HOMER is an early childhood learning program that is personalizable for each child’s strengths and needs. Fun, vibrant educational games can help prepare school, and parents can follow along or encourage independent play.
Best for: Personalized learning
Ages: 2-8
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Reading
- Math
- Music
Features:
- Up to four customizable child profiles
- Parent resources including printables, learning activities and tips from experts
- Independent play
Learning Apps for Kids Ages 9+
Encourage continued and additional learning of the arts, music and science concepts with these learning apps, designed specifically for middle and high school students.
24. Google Arts and CultureÂ
Originally designed as a website, Google Arts and Culture’s database is bursting with information about art, history and geography. This app is great for middle school and young high school students — especially those researching culture-based projects.
Best for: Arts and culture-based learning
Ages: 12+
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Art
- Culture
- History
- Geography
Features:
- 28 languages available
- Designed for project research and fun experiences
- Virtual museum tours
25. Stack the States
United States geography is a breeze with the Stack the States app! Kids learn to identify state shapes, abbreviations and state-specific facts with this interactive geographic app.
Best for: State identification
Ages: 9-11
Price: $2.99
Subjects:
- States
- State capitals
- Geography
Features:
- Multiple-choice trivia questions
- Jenga-like collection of state pieces
- Animated, googly-eyed states
26. Barefoot World Atlas
Do you have a world traveler on your hands? If so, the Barefoot World Atlas app may be just the thing for them! They can travel across the world without ever leaving home — all while learning historical facts along the way.
Best for: World Geography
Ages: 9-11
Supported by: IOS
Price: $4.99
Subjects:
- World geography
Features:
- Exploration of countries, landmarks and historical facts
- Games and quizzes
- Surprise destination options
27. Seek by iNaturalist
Seek by iNaturalist is an educational app designed to help children identify the organisms in their own backyard. Adults and kids alike will love learning more about their own homes with this app!
Best for: Nature identification
Ages: 9-11
Price: Free
Subjects:
- Plants
- Animals
- Nature
Features:
- The camera can be used to identify real organisms
- Includes plants, animals and fungi
- Awards badges for different species and challenges
Keep Kids Safe on Smart Devices With Panda Security
Technology is an important educational tool for people of all ages, but keeping kids safe online can be tricky. More than 30 million people trust Panda Security to keep their families safe, even as malware threats and technology applications evolve.
If you plan to use any of the best learning apps for kids, always keep your child’s safety in mind. Setting parental controls and investing in powerful protection tools like VPNs can help decrease the cybersecurity risks associated with technology use.
Panda Security specializes in the development of endpoint security products and is part of the WatchGuard portfolio of IT security solutions. Initially focused on the development of antivirus software, the company has since expanded its line of business to advanced cyber-security services with technology for preventing cyber-crime.
