The best apps for kindergarteners, with the price and the catch
Prices checked September 21, 2026.
I made one of the apps on this list, so read it knowing that. I’ve still tried to be fair. Most of the good ones are free, and several of the paid ones charge you every month.
What to check before you download anything
Ads, even in paid apps. A 2019 study of 135 apps in the 5 and under category found ads in 129 of them, including 88% of the paid ones. Paying doesn’t mean there aren’t any.
Free until the trial ends. A lot of these are free to download and a subscription after that. In 2020, the company behind ABCmouse paid $10 million to settle FTC charges that it didn’t clearly say memberships renewed and made cancelling hard.
Built for them alone, or for you both. Most kids’ apps are built so a kid can play by themselves. That’s fine for a car ride. If you want time together, look for one that gives you something to do too.
The list
| App | Ages | What you pay | Good at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy Kids | 2 to 8 | Free | Reading, math and stories in one place |
| PBS KIDS Games | 2 to 8 | Free | Short games with PBS show characters |
| Starfall | Preschool to 5th grade | Free, with more for members | Reading, math and music |
| Duolingo ABC | Preschool to 2nd grade | Free | Learning to read, in short lessons |
| Endless Alphabet | Rated 4+ | $8.99 once | New words, acted out by letter monsters |
| Lingokids | 2 to 8 | Free to start, then a subscription | Words, songs and everyday routines |
| Homer | 2 to 8 | Subscription | Early reading |
| ABCmouse | 2 to 8 | Subscription | A full preschool to 2nd grade curriculum |
| Side by PlayI made this one | 3 to 6 | $2.99 once | Counting, letters, states and feelings, played together |
Khan Academy Kids
Where I’d start. It’s from a nonprofit, it’s free, and its Google Play listing says it’s 100% ad-free.
PBS KIDS Games
Free, and built around shows your kid may already know, which makes it an easy first app.
Starfall
The app is free and some of it is for members. It runs all the way to fifth grade, so it lasts a while.
Duolingo ABC
Free, with nothing to buy inside it, and it sticks to one job: learning to read.
Endless Alphabet
You pay once and you’re done. It’s about words more than letters, which is a nice step up.
Lingokids
Free to download, with a subscription for the rest. Its App Store listing says it’s ad-free.
Homer
A subscription. Its App Store listing says it’s ad-free with no cancellation fees.
ABCmouse
The biggest curriculum on this list, and a subscription. Read how it renews before you start the trial.
Side by Play
Mine. It’s built for you to sit next to your kid and play it together, 15 minutes before bed. No ads, no accounts, nothing to buy inside it.
If you only get one
If you want one free app, get Khan Academy Kids. If you want something you and your kid do together at night, that’s the reason I made Side by Play.
Read how Side by Play worksQuestions parents ask
- What’s the best free app for a kindergartener?
If you only get one, Khan Academy Kids. It’s from a nonprofit, it’s free, and its Google Play listing says it’s 100% ad-free. PBS KIDS Games and Duolingo ABC are free too.
- What are good educational apps for preschoolers?
Khan Academy Kids, PBS KIDS Games, Starfall and Duolingo ABC all start at preschool age and are free, at least to begin with. Lingokids, Homer and ABCmouse cover the same ages as subscriptions.
- Are paid kids’ apps ad-free?
Not always. A 2019 study of 135 apps for kids 5 and under found ads in 129 of them, including 88% of the paid ones. Look for a store listing that says it has no ads instead of assuming.
Sources
- Meyer et al., “Advertising in Young Children’s Apps,” Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 2019
- FTC, ABCmouse to pay $10 million to settle charges of illegal marketing and billing, September 2020
- Khan Academy Kids on Google Play
Prices and the ad claims come from each app’s store listing, linked from its name above. Ages are the ones each developer gives.