Best Free Phonics Apps for Kindergarten
These reading and phonics apps all cover kindergarten ages and have a free option. Ratings come from the Apple App Store, with the month we fetched them. Check each app's current pricing before you rely on it, since free tiers change.
1. Khan Academy Kids
App · Ages 2-8 · Free · 4.8 ★ (132k) App Store · Oct 2026
Completely free: no subscription and no ads. It covers reading alongside math and social-emotional skills.
2. Duolingo ABC
App · Ages 3-8 · Free · 4.2 ★ (4k) App Store · Oct 2026
A free app focused only on literacy: letters, phonics and early reading, in short lessons.
3. Teach Your Monster to Read
App · Ages 3-6 · Free + paid · 4.5 ★ (30k) App Store · Oct 2026
A phonics game that goes from letter sounds to reading sentences. Free on the web; the app is paid on some platforms (marked Free + paid).
4. Starfall
Free Resource · Ages 3-8 · Free + paid · 4.1 ★ (4k) App Store · Oct 2026
A long-running phonics site and app. Much of it is free, and a membership unlocks the rest.
5. PBS Kids
Free Resource · Ages 2-8 · Free · 4.4 ★ (372k) App Store · Oct 2026
Free games and videos from PBS shows, including reading-focused ones. It's broader than phonics.
6. Epic
App · Ages 2-8 · Free + paid · 4.7 ★ (519k) App Store · Oct 2026
Not a phonics program but a digital library with read-to-me books. Pairs well with a phonics app. Free + paid.
A screen-free option: once your child knows letter sounds, short-vowel practice on paper helps them blend CVC words.
Frequently asked questions
- Which phonics apps on this list are completely free?
- Khan Academy Kids and Duolingo ABC are listed as free. PBS Kids is free too, though it's broader than phonics. Starfall, Teach Your Monster to Read and Epic have free options plus paid upgrades.
- What ages are these apps for?
- All of them cover kindergarten (ages 5-6) in our directory. For example, Khan Academy Kids is listed for ages 2-8 and Teach Your Monster to Read for ages 3-6.
- Where do the ratings come from?
- Ratings shown are from the Apple App Store, with the month we fetched them.