The number of homeschooled students in the United States has more than doubled. It went from 1.1 million in 2003 to 2.3 million in 2020* (more homeschooling stats here).
It’s no wonder why many parents are looking for the best apps for homeschooling.
These apps are like magic tools that can make learning from home fun and easy. They can teach you math, reading, languages, and more.
Imagine playing a game on your tablet, but instead of having fun, you’re also learning new things.
Top Homeschool Apps: Comparison 2024
After trying out the most popular homeschool apps, we think that these are the best 20 apps:
- Duolingo
- Khan Academy Kids
- Teach Your Monster to Read
- Epic Reading App
- ABC Kids
- Endless Alphabet
- Endless Reader
- Reading Eggs
- Hooked on Phonics
- Reading IQ
- Speech Blubs
- Starfall
- Prodigy Math
- YouTube Kids
- Scratch Jr
- SketchBook
- Homeschooler Helper
- Markboard
- Planboard
- Brili Routines
1. Duolingo (Best For Language Learning)
Why We Like It
Duolingo is a top choice for homeschool families who want to learn new languages.
Its lessons are interactive. Learning on this app is fun and engaging. This makes it easier to stick with daily practice. Kids and adults can choose from 35 languages, which turns the challenge of learning into an exciting game.
What makes Duolingo special is that it changes to fit how fast you learn. Each lesson helps you learn more without making you feel like it’s too much.
Who It’s For
This app is great for kids. Especially, if they are just starting to learn language. It also helps grown-ups get better at speaking different languages.
If you’re learning at home or on your own, Duolingo can help you learn in a structured but flexible way.
- Pros: cheap, fast, available on a variety of platforms, free version available
- Cons: speech recognition software needs improvement
2. Khan Academy Kids (Best For Early Education)
Why We Like It
Khan Academy Kids is an amazing app made just for kids in kindergarten to second grade. It has lots of stuff to learn, and there are no ads to bother you.
It’s not just about the usual lessons. Plus, it’s fun to use, with free stuff you can print out and Circle Time videos. It makes homeschooling more exciting. It has lessons and games for reading, math, and other cool stuff.
Who It’s For
Khan Academy Kids is perfect for little learners who are just starting school. It helps kids build important skills they need for learning.
The app is easy to use and has fun stuff for kids from toddlers to first graders. It helps them enjoy learning and sets them up to keep loving it as they grow up.
- Pros: free, accessible, available anywhere with internet, a wide variety of subjects, videos available for different grade levels
- Cons: less interactive than traditional classroom or tutoring, limited to one teaching style
3. Teach Your Monster to Read (Best For Reading Skills)
Why We Like It
Teach Your Monster to Read stands out. It uses phonics to teach reading through play.
The app turns reading lessons into an adventure. In it, kids help their monster friend learn to read. The app works well because it mixes learning sounds with enjoyable stories. This makes it really fun for kids to learn how to read right from the beginning.
Who It’s For
This app helps kids who are just starting to learn how to read. It’s great for little kids. They are just getting to know their ABCs. It’s also for those who are starting to make words and sentences.
- Pros: good selection of published kid’s books, available on a variety of platforms, helps instill positive feelings about reading
- Cons: the game part can sometimes overshadow the reading, students may not end up reading on their own
4. Epic Reading App (Best For Reading Variety)
Why We Like It
The Epic Reading App is a must-have for homeschoolers. It has a huge collection of books, audiobooks, and quizzes for all levels of readers.
It is unique because it suggests books for each kid so they stay interested and keep learning.
With many different kinds of books, this app is excellent for helping kids discover how fun reading can be.
Who It’s For
The Epic Reading App is great for kids who love to read and for those who are just beginning. It’s made for kids from preschool through elementary school.
It has many different books and activities. It’s great for kids with many interests and reading levels. It’s a super choice for homeschool families who want to make reading even more exciting.
- Pros: large collection of books, personalized reading recommendations, progress tracking
- Cons: not free, may require a subscription for full access
5. ABC Kids (Best For Letter Recognition and Writing)
Why We Like It
ABC Kids is a standout app for younger children focusing on letter recognition and writing skills.
ABC Kids has a fun and easy way for kids to learn letters. They can trace letters and play games to find them.
What’s great about ABC Kids is that it mixes learning with fun games. Kids can get better at letters without feeling like the games are too hard. The app is easy to use, so kids keep having fun while they learn.
Who It’s For
This app is great for preschool and kindergarten kids. They are just starting to learn about letters.
It’s easy to use. This makes it a great option for parents and homeschoolers.
- Pros: educational content, interactive games, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: not specifically designed for reading, may not be as comprehensive as other reading apps
6. Endless Alphabet (Best For Expanding Vocabulary)
Why We Like It
Endless Alphabet makes learning new words super exciting. It’s not about knowing letters; it’s about understanding what words mean too.
Kids get to solve fun puzzles that help them learn the meanings of words in a way they won’t forget.
The app has bright characters and great animations. When kids use it, they go on a fun journey. It helps them remember many new words.
Who It’s For
Endless Alphabet is perfect for little ones who are just beginning to read. It’s especially helpful for preschoolers and kids in early elementary school.
It’s a great tool for homeschooling parents. It makes learning vocabulary fun and interactive for their children.
- Pros: teaches letters and phonics, fun and engaging for kids, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: not specifically designed for reading, may not be as comprehensive as other reading apps
7. Endless Reader (Best For Early Reading Skills)
Why We Like It
Endless Reader is like a friend to Endless Alphabet. It helps kids learn to read by showing them common words in fun ways.
With sentences and cool animations, kids get to see how words are used and what they mean.
Just like Endless Alphabet, Endless Reader makes learning fun by telling stories in a special way.
Who It’s For
This app is for early readers. It helps them learn sight words and simple sentences.
It works best for preschool to first-grade students. It gives a strong base for developing reading fluency.
- Pros: teaches phonics and sight words, fun and engaging for kids, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: not specifically designed for reading, may not be as comprehensive as other reading apps
8. Reading Eggs (Best For Comprehensive Reading Skills)
Why We Like It
Reading Eggs is a great way to get better at reading. It has lots of activities like games, videos, and audiobooks.
Kids can use it to learn letters and read all kinds of things (easy to hard).
What’s really cool about Reading Eggs is that it changes to fit how fast you’re learning. This means you get to learn at your own speed and keep getting better.
Who It’s For
Suitable for children ages 2-13, Reading Eggs is a versatile app that grows with your child. It’s ideal for homeschool families who want a resource to support early reading skills in young children. It provides challenging content as the user advances.
- Pros: comprehensive reading program, personalized learning, progress tracking
- Cons: not free, may require a subscription for full access
9. Hooked on Phonics (Best For Phonics and Reading Foundations)
Why We Like It
Hooked on Phonics is renowned for its effective phonics-based approach to teaching reading.
The app has 36 levels of lessons that mix fun and learning to keep kids interested and excited to learn. It uses videos, games, and stories along with practice stuff to help kids learn how to read well.
What makes Hooked on Phonics special is that it has a way of teaching that has worked for lots of kids. It helps them feel good about reading.
Who It’s For
This app is ideal for children ages 3-7 who are just beginning their reading journey.
It is a favorite among homeschooling families. It provides a step-by-step approach which guides kids to reading success. Whether starting from scratch or needing extra support, Hooked on Phonics offers that approach.
- Pros: teaches phonics and reading skills, interactive games, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: not specifically designed for reading, may not be as comprehensive as other reading apps
10. Reading IQ (Best For Access to Digital Library)
Why We Like It
Reading IQ is a digital subscription library offering thousands of books for children ages 2-12. It has picture books, chapter books, audiobooks, and readers for independent readers. They are all sorted by reading level to match each child’s needs.
The app promotes reading. It provides access to many genres and subjects. It also encourages exploration and discovery. People particularly like Reading IQ for its ability to track progress and offer suggestions. It’s a valuable tool for fostering a love of reading.
Who It’s For
Reading IQ caters to a broad age range and is perfect for avid readers and those exploring their interests.
It’s a great resource for homeschoolers. It helps them expand their home library digitally. It ensures their children can access engaging reading material that’s right for their age.
- Pros: large collection of books, personalized reading recommendations, progress tracking
- Cons: not free, may require a subscription for full access
11. Speech Blubs (Best For Speech Development)
Why We Like It
Speech Blubs is an innovative app for speech therapy. It is a standout choice for improving language and pronunciation.
The app uses videos of children speaking, allowing users to see and mimic mouth movements. Its fun games and photo filters add engagement. They reward kids for practicing new words. Speech Blubs work well. They turn learning into an interactive and fun experience. This encourages regular practice and rapid improvement.
Who It’s For
This app is best for children with speech delays. It is also for those looking to improve their speech and vocabulary. It’s also great for toddlers just starting to form words. It’s a versatile option for families seeking speech therapy resources.
- Pros: teaches speech and language skills, interactive games, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: not specifically designed for reading, may not be as comprehensive as other reading apps
12. Starfall (Best For Preschool to 3rd Grade Learning)
Why We Like It
Starfall is a favorite among educators and homeschooling families. It has many educational games and activities.
From preschool through 5th grade, Starfall covers reading and math. It also has educational videos. They are all designed to make learning easy and fun.
The app’s strength lies in its ability to adapt to different learning styles. It offers activities that cater to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.
Starfall’s interactive approach helps build foundational skills in a supportive, engaging environment.
Who It’s For
Starfall is perfect for young learners, from toddlers to children in the early school grades.
Its diverse educational content makes it great for supplementing homeschool curricula. It’s also good as a stand-alone learning tool.
Parents looking for a resource covering many subjects will find Starfall invaluable. It is a key part of their educational toolkit.
- Pros: comprehensive reading program, available on a variety of platforms, free version available
- Cons: may not be as comprehensive as other reading apps, not specifically designed for reading
13. Prodigy Math (Best For Gamified Math Learning)
Why We Like It
Prodigy Math is different because it makes learning math fun by turning it into games for kids.
It changes the learning to fit how well each kid is doing, teaching everything from simple math to harder stuff.
What’s special about Prodigy Math is that it makes kids want to learn with fun challenges and prizes. It makes math feel like an exciting journey instead of something hard.
Who It’s For
This app is great for students of all ages who want to improve their math skills in a fun and interactive way.
Your child may be struggling with math or looking to advance. Prodigy Math offers a personalized learning journey that can adapt to their needs.
- Pros: comprehensive math program, personalized learning, progress tracking
- Cons: not free, may require a subscription for full access
14. YouTube Kids (Best For Curated Video Content)
Why We Like It
YouTube Kids is special because it gives kids a safe place to watch educational videos.
Parents can make profiles for their kids and choose what they watch. They can pick videos about history, science, and art that fit what they want their kids to learn.
The app makes sure the videos are okay for kids to watch and helps parents control what their kids see.
YouTube Kids lets kids learn about new things in a fun and easy way.
Who It’s For
This app is perfect for children of all ages who enjoy learning through video content.
It’s helpful for homeschooling parents who want to add visual and auditory learning materials to their curriculum. These materials make complex subjects easier to understand and engaging.
- Pros: safe and kid-friendly content, available on a variety of platforms, free version available
- Cons: may not be as comprehensive as other educational apps
15. Scratch Jr (Best For Introductory Coding)
Why We Like It
Scratch Jr. introduces younger learners to the basics of coding through interactive play.
By creating their own stories and games, children learn fundamental coding concepts in an intuitive and engaging way.
Scratch Jr. encourages problem-solving and creative thinking. It provides a solid base for future learning in computer science and other STEM fields.
The app’s simple, visual programming language makes it accessible even to kids just starting to read.
Who It’s For
It is ideal for children ages 5-7. Scratch Jr is designed for young learners with no coding experience. It’s a great tool for homeschooling parents. It helps them introduce their children to coding in a fun, educational way.
- Pros: teaches coding skills, interactive games, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: other apps have more features
16. SketchBook (Best For Creative Art Projects)
Why We Like It
SketchBook by Autodesk is a powerful digital drawing tool that brings the art studio into your home. It offers features like color blending and various brushes. It supports creative projects. These range from simple doodles to complex comic books.
SketchBook is valued for its pro tools. They are made accessible to all ages and encourage the exploration and development of art skills in a digital format.
Who It’s For
This app suits budding artists of any age, making it versatile for homeschooling environments.
Your child is finding a passion for art. Or, they are looking to improve their skills. SketchBook provides a platform for both creative expression and growth.
- Pros: creative tool for drawing and painting, available on a variety of platforms, free version available
- Cons: need more features
17. Homeschooler Helper (Best For Organizing Homeschool Curriculum)
Why We Like It
Homeschooler Helper is a remarkable app because it makes homeschooling organization easier.
Families can make detailed portfolios for each child. They can include what the child is learning, their grades, and even pictures of their work.
This app is great for helping parents. It helps them track their child’s progress and important moments in their education. This makes planning and reporting simpler. Its interface is easy to use. It has options to personalize. This makes homeschooling more organized and less overwhelming.
Who It’s For
This app is great for homeschooling parent who want an effective way to organize and monitor their kids’ education.
Whether you’re managing one child or several, Homeschooler Helper is for those needing a centralized system.
It helps you keep track of learning activities, progress, and achievements.
- Pros: comprehensive resource for homeschooling, available on a variety of platforms, free version available
- Cons: may not be as comprehensive as other educational apps, not specifically designed for reading or math
18. Markboard (Best For Portfolio Tracking)
Why We Like It
Markboard provides a special way to keep track of your kids’ school progress by making a portfolio for free.
This portfolio includes grades, finished assignments, and even video and audio notes. This app is unique. It focuses on both the quality and quantity of learning. So, parents and students can see how they improve over time.
Markboard has features that help families keep thorough records of their homeschooling activities. This makes it simpler to stay organized and track progress.
Who It’s For
It is ideal for homeschooling parents. And for students who want a more organized and interactive way to track academic achievements.
Markboard is especially helpful for those who like visual and audio feedback in learning. It gives a richer view of student progress.
- Pros: helps organize and track student progress, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: may not be as comprehensive as other educational apps
19. Planboard (Best For Lesson Planning)
Why We Like It
Planboard is a helpful app for teachers to plan lessons, and it’s also great for homeschool parents. It’s simple to use and lets you make, change, and organize lesson plans easily.
You can also use features like connecting to educational standards and sharing schedules.
This makes it a flexible tool. It ensures that homeschool lessons cover all they need to and are well-organized.
Who It’s For
Planboard is suited for homeschooling parents looking for an efficient way to design and manage their teaching plans. Are you new to homeschooling? Or, are you a seasoned educator looking to improve your planning? Planboard provides the structure and flexibility to tailor education to your child’s needs.
- Pros: helps organize and plan lessons, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: need more features
20. Brili Routines (Best For Establishing Daily Routines)
Why We Like It
Brili Routines makes everyday tasks like getting ready in the morning or going to bed at night more fun for kids. It helps them learn to manage their time and be responsible.
With a timer and rewards, it turns routines into a game, so kids want to finish their tasks on their own.
Parents can customize the routines to fit each child, which helps build good habits and makes life easier for everyone.
Who It’s For
Brili Routines is for families who want to make their routines smoother. It also helps them teach their kids about managing time and being responsible.
It’s especially great for parents whose kids do well with pictures and rewards. This app makes everyday tasks easier and more fun for everyone.
- Pros: helps organize and plan daily routines, available on a variety of platforms
- Cons: more features needed
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Best Homeschool Apps in 2024
Here are some interesting homeschooling facts you didn’t know:
- Serena Williams started homeschooling when she was a pre-teen (source).
- Taylor Swift was homeschooled during her last two years of high school (source).
Homeschooling can be a great option for many families.
When looking for the best homeschool apps, it’s essential to consider what makes an app great for education.
The best apps for homeschooling help kids learn in a fun way while providing educational value. Here are some tips to help you pick the right apps to educate and engage your children.
First, think about the age of your children.
The best homeschool apps offer content tailored for kids ages 2-13 and beyond.
For younger children, apps like ABCMouse and Khan Kids are designed to make learning basic skills like reading and math engaging.
Older kids might benefit more from apps like Prodigy Math for enhancing math ability or Duolingo to learn a new language.
It’s a good idea to teach kids using apps that cover a broad range of subjects.
Look for apps that include reading, math, science, and social studies to provide a well-rounded education. Adventure Academy is a great platform. It covers these subjects with interactive learning.
Free Trials
Before committing to an app, check if there’s a free trial available.
Many educational apps offer a 30-day free trial, allowing kids and parents to test out the app’s features. This period is crucial for determining if the app’s teaching style matches your child’s learning path.
Read reviews on the app store, whether it’s on iOS or other platforms.
Consider the app’s ability to organize your homeschool routine.
Apps like Homeschooler Helper and Planboard are great for organizing lesson plans and tracking your child’s progress. They are some of the best homeschool tools for planning and record-keeping.
Check if the app makes it easy for kids to learn on the go.
These apps store everything your child needs to learn. They work anywhere. Examples include Quizizz and Brili Routines. They help busy families or those who like to learn outside the home.
* Source: