We may be paid by companies we feature. This may influence rankings.

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy

Khan Academy Kids

Research-backed curriculum covering reading, math, and social skills — completely free

Khan Academy Kids is the rare app that is simultaneously the most educationally rigorous and completely free. The curriculum covers literacy, math, executive function, and social-emotional learning through interactive activities designed with Stanford child development researchers. For parents who want to maximize the learning value of every screen minute, nothing else on this list competes.

✓ Pros

  • Developed with Stanford researchers to align with Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework
  • Adaptive learning path adjusts difficulty based on each child's demonstrated mastery
  • Zero ads, zero in-app purchases, and no data sold — genuinely free with no strings

✕ Cons

  • Requires parent setup and occasional check-ins to steer kids toward new content areas
  • Less game-like than some competitors, which can reduce self-directed engagement for some toddlers

Scores

Overall
9.6
LearningOutcomes
9.8
Engagement
9.2
AgeAppropriateness
9.5
ScreenTimeQuality
9.7
Value
10