30+ Free Educational Apps For Kids In 2024

Learning apps for kids make learning new concepts fun, arouse children’s curiosity, and boost their creativity. These apps are also user-friendly and interactive. So, children find the concepts interesting and retain them for long.

If your child has a penchant for gadgets and is frequently glued to their mobile devices, it is a good idea to introduce learning apps to them. This will ensure that the child’s time is not randomly spent on the Internet but utilized usefully. Here is a list of some engaging free learning apps for kids that will help them acquire knowledge and become more productive.

In This Article

30+ Free Learning Apps For Kids

For Toddlers And Preschoolers

1. Sago Mini World

Sago Mini World includes more than 20 games that can also be played offline when you don’t have an internet connection. Children can participate in many exciting activities such as building robots and creating monsters, or become a superhero, promoting active engagement and participation.

Available For: iOS 10 or later and Android 4.4 or later

Age limit: 2 – 5

2. Montessori Preschool

Certified Montessori teachers have created this math games app that introduces your child to numbers, counting, and other interesting activities. The phonics and reading sections help your child read on their own. Reasoning games nurture your child’s brain power, while shapes and colors learning games prepare them for school.

Available For: iOS 10.0 or later and Android 5.0 or later

Age limit: 3- 7

protip_icon Quick fact
The Maria Montessori Theory is founded on the belief that children’s natural curiosity allows them to learn independently and at their own pace (1).

3. Papumba: Preschool ABC Games

The app gives you the convenience of offline play too
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Image: Papumba.com

With 500+ games for kids on call, this app comes with a free seven-day trial. It starts with the alphabet and numbers and then introduces children to new languages and more. The app gives you the convenience of offline play too.

Available For: iOS 11.0 or later and Android 6.0 or later

Age limit: 2- 7

4. Accelerating Young Minds

Designed especially for early learners, this app has interactive educational games that are not just limited to academic themes but also life and social skills. The app focuses on vocabulary and communication.

Available For: iOS10.0 or later

Age limit: 3- 6

5. Hungry Caterpillar Play School

Your children might feel thrilled to find their favorite characters from Eric Carle’s books in this app. The app introduces the child to relaxation techniques. This app is deservedly popular with themes covering math, spelling, problem-solving, nature, and more.

Available For: iOS 11.0 or later and Android 5.0 or later

Age limit: 2- 5

6. BrainPop Jr.

Unlike usual learning games, BrainPop Jr has an interesting movie format. Every week, you have a new movie to watch, do quizzes, and explore other exciting features. The app covers various topics, including social studies, math, writing, science, arts, and even technology.

Available For: iOS 9.0 or later and Android or later

Age limit: 4- 9

7. Little 10 Robot

The Little 10 Robot app comes with several activity ideas that cover counting, logical thinking, reading, and writing, math, and geography. Interactive, colorful visuals of these learning games keep the child engaged and attentive

Available For: iOS 9.0 or later and Android 2.3.3 or later

Age limit: It has versions for all ages

8. Khan Academy

This app has dynamic visuals with a focus on making social-emotional learning fun. Plenty of printable formats allow parents to stock up, and there are YouTube videos too. Khan Academy’s interactive games introduce children to basic concepts that they will also learn at school.

protip_icon Did you know?
The goal of Khan Academy, an American non-profit educational organization created in 2008 by Salman Khan, is to educate students via online tools.

Available For: iOS 9.3 or later and Android 5.0 or later

Age limit: 2 – 8

9. Busy Shapes

The Montessori method-based app offers educational games that teach the basics of manipulating objects, thus promoting reasoning. These puzzles for kids comprise fun activities with shapes and colors that boost critical thinking skills.

Available For: iOS 7.0 or later and Android 4.4 or later

Age limit: 2- 8

10. ABCmouse

It has videos, activities, and other offerings.
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Image: ABCMouse.com

This comprehensive app is free for a month after the first download, and it covers math games, social studies, science, art themes, and more. Videos, activities, and a variety of other offerings help parents ready the child for elementary school.

Available For: iOS 10 or later and Android 5.0 or later

Age limit: 2- 8 (ideal for pre-schoolers)

11. Beanstalk

Interactive classes and camps that entertain the child make up the bulk of this app. Direct interaction with the teachers and other children creates a school-like atmosphere that many children love. The app is available for free for a limited period.

Available For: iOS 9.0 or later and Android 4.4. or later

Age limit: 2- 6

For Children Aged 6 to 8

12. MathTango

Help your child learn the basic concepts of addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication through engaging math games that are designed to keep them attentive. A seven-day free trial lets you try out all the app’s features at your pace before you subscribe.

Available For: iOS 13 or later and Android or later

Age limit: 5- 10

13. TABI Learning

The typical school curriculum, encompassing social studies, math, science, and reading skills, is efficiently covered by this app. Experienced educators have designed the app and it comes with a seven-day free trial and a discounted annual package.

Available For: iOS 10.0 or later and Android 5.0 or later

Age limit: 7- 11

14. TinyTap

Content curated by teaching professionals and designed in a gaming format with over 200,000 learning games gives your child plenty of playtime. You can find counting, alphabet, colors, and more, and aa seven-day free trial is offered with the app.

Available For: iOS 14.0 or later and Android 4.4 or later

Age limit: 2- 8

15. K-5 Science for Kids

This app explains complex science topics in kid-friendly ways. The lessons are interactive, so the child is actively involved in them throughout. The weekly live experiments and trivia are fun additions to the app.

Available For: iOS 13.2 or later

Age limit: 4- 10

16. Epic

Introduce your child to the wonderful world of books with this app. Over 35,000 digital books from the library are available on this award-winning app. The app may also be useful for advanced spellers. The basic version is free to use, and you can upgrade to a feature-rich version on subscription-based payment.

Available For: iOS 10.3 or later and Android 4.2 or later

Age limit: 2- 12

17. Prodigy

A basic version is available for free, and you can pay to upgrade to a more comprehensive one. Through creative video games, the app hones and strengthens math skills of children up to the eighth grade. The fantasy world-based theme makes it easy for parents to ensure the children choose this as an alternative to other gaming options.

protip_icon Quick fact
Prodigy Education, as of 2022, is one of the fastest-growing educational startups in North America and has also recently expanded into the UK, Australia, and India, promoting a love of learning in students worldwide.

Available For: iOS 12 or later and Android 5.0 or later

Age limit: 6- 14

18. Science360

This is a free app from the National Science Foundation, and it offers exciting and fun content for kids who love science. The app uses plenty of visuals plus videos and text covering various topics. The 360-degree view is one of the most loved features of this app.

Available For: iOS 11 or later/ Android 4.2 or later

Age limit: 8- 18

19. Samsung Kids+

With plenty of apps, games, and TV shows to pick from, this is one comprehensive solution when you are looking to keep your child engaged with productive activities. It comes with a month-long free trial. Favorite animal characters, fun games for kids, music, and more can aid in the development of your child’s critical thinking skills.

Available For: Android Pie 9.0 or later

Age limit: 3- 12

20. Beanstack Tracker

If you want to encourage your child to read more or help them hone their reading skills, Beanstack Tracker is a great option. This app tracks the books read by the children. The reading challenges are designed by librarians and educators to sync right in with the reader’s age-appropriate abilities.

Available For: iOS 14.0 or later/ Android 4.1 or later

Age limit: 3 and above

For Children Aged 9 to 11

21. Quick Math

Here’s a straightforward math games app that helps children master mental arithmetic with ease and covers the basics of addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. The app comes with a timer feature.

Available For: iOS 8.0 or later/ Android 2.3 or later

Age limit: 7- 12

22. Hop Scotch

An app that acquaints children with basic programming concepts, Hopscotch is customizable with fun characters. Using drag and drop commands, children can make their own programs, see how it works, and learn the basic concepts via a fun gaming format.

Available For: iOS 12 or later

Age limit: 10- 16

23. Barefoot World Atlas

Acquaint your child with the world without having to step out of home with this innovative app. With an immersive experience, this app introduces your child to different exciting places on Earth. The 3D globe lets the child get a ‘hands-on’ experience. Interactive quizzes test and cement what the child has learned.

Available For: iOS 12.0 or later

Age limit: All ages

24. Seek by iNaturalist

If your child is a budding botanist, this free app is for you. The Seek camera can be used outdoors to scan and identify various organisms and flora around you, and this means your child is encouraged to go outdoors and explore.

Available For: iOS10.0 or later/ Android 6.0 or later

Age limit: 9 – 11

25. Droplets

Get your kids to learn 35 new languages right at home with this app. The highlight of this app is the visual medium used to teach the child. Words are categorized by theme and voiced by native speakers, so the child gets the exact pronunciation right.

Available For: iOS10.0 or above/ Android 5.1 or later

Age limit: 7- 16

26. Babbel

Another popular language learning app, Babbel, has been designed by linguists to equip children to use language in real-life situations. With interactive dialogues, the child gets to test their skills thoroughly before using the language outside. There are reviews to help the child quickly recap what they have learned. Try out the free version for a month.

Available For: iOS 12.0 or later/ Android 7.0 or later

Age limit: 10 and above

27. Flow Free

This is a puzzle-based fun game for kids. Two thousand puzzles are up for grabs for free, and you can pay to access more. This game for kids comes with color-based puzzles that start easy, and the child can progress to truly challenging ones.

Available For: iOS 10.0 or later/ Android 4.4 or later

Age limit: 7 and above

28. Spotify Kids

Child-appropriate content custom-picked for them by experts makes this app a safe and fun tool to expose children to. There are audiobooks to choose from, and music from different genres and children can add a soundtrack to their day to make things more exciting. The singalong option makes this app fun for budding singers and performers. This comes free along with your Spotify premium family subscription.

Available For: iOS 12.0 or later/ Android 4.3 or later

Age limit: 6- 12

29. Lightbot Code Hour

This app introduces your child to the basics of coding but without having to write the code. It uses functions that frequently appear in code and encourages the child to ‘plug and play’ in a way to discover what different pieces of codes do. The app has a friendly robot guiding the child through the various steps of different levels of difficulty. A version with fewer levels is available for free.

Available For: iOS 5.1.1 or later /Android 2.3 or later

Age limit: 8 and above

30. Duolingo

Learning different languages helps children communicate with ease and confidence., And the best way for anyone to learn more of them is to start young. Duolingo has a host of languages on offer that the child can learn at their own pace. This language learning app grades the child instantly on the challenges given and has a reward system to motivate them.

Available For: iOS 12 or later/ Android (varies with the device used)

Age limit: 9- 14 (basic English learning for age three onwards)

31. ScratchJr

ScratchJr is a coding app designed for children aged 5 to 7. It is considered an introductory programming language and teaches children the basics of programming in a fun and interactive way. Developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, ScratchJr allows children to create their own interactive stories, games, and animations by snapping together graphical programming blocks. The app features a visually pleasing and user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, which is appealing to young learners. This app also enhances children’s coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity through interactive activities. It introduces children to the exciting world of coding in a child-friendly environment.

Available For: iOS 12 or later/ Android

Age limit: 5-7

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do educational apps improve the learning process in kids?

Educational apps help improve the learning process in kids since:

  • Children can learn at their own pace
  • The visual representations keep them interested
  • The incentives or rewards upon completion of a quiz or a topic can motivate children to learn and excel

2. How can kids benefit from using educational apps in the classroom?

Using educational apps to teach in classrooms may help children promote an interactive class by:

  • Keeping them engaged through the visual triggers
  • Keeping a record of the past lessons as they allow easy access to the last topic
  • Easy assigning and answering of questions

3. What are the potential drawbacks or limitations of learning apps for children?

Potential drawbacks or limitations of learning apps for children include excessive screen time, potential for passive learning, limited social interaction, lack of personalized instruction, and potential distractions. It’s important to balance digital and offline activities, ensure active engagement with the app, supplement real-world experiences, and monitor usage to maximize the benefits while addressing any limitations.

4. How can learning apps supplement and reinforce the school curriculum?

Learning apps can supplement and reinforce the school curriculum by providing additional practice, interactive exercises, and access to educational content outside the classroom. They can offer a variety of subjects and topics, personalized learning experiences, and opportunities for self-paced learning.

5. How do learning apps support parental monitoring and progress tracking?

Learning apps offer parental monitoring and progress-tracking features. Parents can create profiles, set goals, and track their child’s progress within the app. This helps parents stay informed and involved in their child’s learning journey.

Learning apps for kids can make learning a positive experience. Young children like to use electronic gadgets, and turning their interest and curiosity in the right direction can do wonders. Sago mini world, Montessori preschool, accelerating young minds, hungry caterpillar play school, little 10 robot, khan academy, busy shapes, and ABCmouse are some popular learning apps for kids. You may choose the apps based on your child’s age and interests. Always remember to limit screen time and utilize parental controls and encourage your child to play outdoors and learn from other sources.

Infographic: Helpful Learning Apps To Download For Children

It’s almost impossible to keep children away from phones and tablets. So why not utilize them for learning? Explore our infographic for the best educational apps available to boost your child’s attention span and curiosity through fun interactive lessons and games on various subjects.

useful educational apps for children (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Key Pointers

  • Apps such as “MathTango,” “TABI Learning,” and “Prodigy” aim to make math easy.
  • The “Papumba: Preschool ABC Games” app teaches children new languages.
  • For a fun-learning experience, use the “Khan Academy” app or their YouTube channel.
learning apps for kids_illustration

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team


Online learning is not just a trend but a new norm. Check out these free educational apps that may enhance your child’s learning experience without weighing heavy on your pocket.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. What is Maria Montessori Theory?
    https://rms.wa.edu.au/what-is-maria-montessori-theory/
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