We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more . Many parents want their children to keep learning even outside of school. Educational apps for preschoolers are a great resource for keeping your child entertained and learning at the same time. With so many options out there, though, it's hard to determine which ones are best for your child. We've rounded up the best educational apps for preschoolers to make it easier for you. Whether you want to improve your child's math skills, get them ready to read, or help them create better routines, there's an app for that. Check out our top picks for the best educational apps for preschoolers. The AAP recommends no screens for children younger than 18 months with one exception: video chatting. Toddlers 18 months to 24 months can start to enjoy some screen time with a parent or caregiver, and at ages 2 and 5, kids should use screens for no more than one hour a day. Ideally, you should engage with media alongside your child to help them understand what they are seeing and apply what they learn to the real world. Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers Final Verdict Compare Apps FAQs Methodology Key Specs Why We Chose It This junior version of the educational app Khan Academy educational app targets young learners from 2 to 8 years old and covers a broad range of topics and concepts. Pros & Cons Pros Wide variety of activities Aligned with Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and Common Core State Standards Completely free Cons Best displayed on an iPad, which not all children have access to Overview This app goes way beyond the average preschool app in terms of content and variety. It teaches math, English language arts, logic, and social-emotional skills through stories, games, songs, and videos. Plus, the fact that it’s free means that even competitors like ABCmouse (which also presents a comprehensive curriculum) can’t really measure up in terms of providing access to families of different income ranges. The Khan Academy Kids app has won awards from Common Sense Media and Children’s Technology Review. The 7 Best Apps for Toddlers of 2024 Key Specs Why We Chose It Busy Shapes is an app aligned with the Montessori method of self-directed, hands-on learning. As such, it’s perfect for the youngest kids just starting to interact with technology. Pros & Cons Pros Supports motor skill development Helps kids learn how objects relate to each other Builds logic and reasoning skills Cons Limited focus Overview Busy Shapes is simple to play. Kids simply drag an object into a hole. They are challenged to match the shape of the object with the corresponding hole, and eventually, another object and hole will appear in a new setting. The challenge increases over time, with multiple objects and holes of different shapes. Most importantly, there are no instructions—it’s all child-directed. Key Specs Why We Chose It Made by Duck Duck Moose, which became part of educational technology juggernaut Khan Academy in 2016, this app is designed to introduce basic math concepts to young kids. Pros & Cons Pros Teaches counting, shapes, addition, and subtraction Games align with Common Core State Standards for kindergarten math Parents can follow kids' progress Cons Limited game options Overview In Moose Math, kids help a moose and his friends do various tasks, such as counting, making "moose juice" smoothies, and finding hidden animals.There are five games at different levels, and kids have to progress through the levels to advance. Best of all, Moose Math is free with no in-app purchases. Key Specs Why We Chose It Toca Nature is one of the best apps on the market for older preschoolers to engage in open-ended creative exploration. It’s like Minecraft for young kids. Pros & Cons Pros Kids get to build natural elements like trees, lakes, and mountains Great for creative kids Cons Younger kids might struggle with the hand-eye coordination Overview Kids construct their scenery by tapping and dragging, which means that the app is best for older preschoolers who have better hand-eye coordination.Toca Nature has a calm aura about it, with soothing background music to accompany the scenery. After they build their own natural environment, kids can observe what happens when animals populate those areas—a precursor to science learning. Toca Nature costs $4.99. Why We Chose It Homer Learn & Grow is a research-based, comprehensive literacy curriculum that creates a personalized program for every child based on what they’re interested in. Pros & Cons Pros Personalized programs for every child Strong phonics component Kids can practice tracing letters Cons Annual service fee Overview Homer Learn & Grow was designed with the Common Core in mind, and thus it provides context. There’s content about animals, space, sports, folk tales, and many other subjects of interest to kids. For example, one reviewer explains, “Kids are not only learning what the letter ‘A’ sounds like and that 'alligator' starts with 'A,' but also taking virtual 'field trips' to the zoo, where they learn about alligators.” Homer Learn & Grow isn’t cheap: It’s $60 per year, but you get a 30-day free trial and the lifetime-access plan is $100 if you can commit to that. Key Specs Why We Chose It This is an interactive version of the classic Sesame Street book from the 1970s in which Grover begs children not to turn the pages (with increasing urgency). Pros & Cons Pros Kids experience a favorite story in an interactive way Interactive elements keep kids engaged Great to get kids laughing Cons Not free Overview Of course, the monster at the end of the book is Grover himself! Besides being a hoot for little kids, The Monster at the End of this Book can present an opportunity for parents to talk to kids about when they feel afraid of something. Kids can also practice pre-reading skills by turning the pages themselves. The ebook costs $4.99. Key Specs Why We Chose It One of many great apps offered by PBS Kids, Daniel Tiger’s Day and Night teaches kids about morning and evening routines and lets them interact with a favorite character. Pros & Cons Pros Includes 8 games Sing-along songs and musical timers make tasks more fun All games revolve around routines Cons Not free Overview Daniel Tiger Day and Night is especially good for young kids who are particularly disorganized or seem to need more structure in their days. However, it’s great for all kids in terms of learning the importance of hygiene and self-care. Kids are asked to do tasks like getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing their teeth, and in the evening, taking a bath, all with Daniel Tiger and friends by their sides. The app costs $2.99. Key Specs Why We Chose It My PlayHome is a completely open-ended virtual dollhouse that encourages young kids to use their imagination to build a family. Pros & Cons Pros Highly interactive Realistic sound effects Diverse family options Cons Small fee to download Overview To populate their My PlayHome dollhouse and community, kids can choose up to 15 characters with different outfits and hairstyles. One of the best things about My PlayHome is that characters can have diverse skin tones, and kids can decide whether their family is multi-racial, has two moms or dads, has just one child or several, and so on. While the app is designed to appeal to young kids, even elementary school children seem to love playing it. My PlayHome is $3.99 on iTunes, $2.99 on Amazon, and $3.49 on Google Play. While there are tons and tons of educational apps for preschoolers on the market today, Khan Academy is our pick because it's free and accessible for all kids. And because it provides such a wide range of programs, it's the best go-to option for learning for your preschooler. When you are choosing the best educational apps for your preschooler, read more than just the developer’s description of the app: Search for unbiased reviews, download the app, and try it out yourself before letting your preschooler use it. There is limited research in this area, but some evidence suggests that educational apps can help support learning in children. A review published in Pediatrics found that apps could be particularly useful for teaching early math (number recognition, number naming, addition) and language (alphabet, letter sounds, vocabulary) skills in children under 6 years of age. Although apps can be a fun way to keep your preschooler learning outside of the classroom, even the best of them cannot compete with face-to-face learning and social interaction. Some educational apps for preschoolers are free to download, but those versions sometimes offer limited features. If you want to use the premium version and get full access, you can make in-app purchases. Other apps don’t have a free version and can be downloaded for a one-time cost, usually in the range of $1 to $4. Some apps are available for a subscription fee, often in the range of $5 to $10 per month. Educational apps for preschoolers should require them to do more than just swipe, watch a video, or push a button. Apps should actively engage your child and connect the content to their existing knowledge. Additionally, an open-ended, responsive, choose-your-own-adventure-style app is more likely to be educational than one that is linear. Before choosing an educational app for your child, consult resources such as Common Sense Media for guidelines and reviews of age-appropriate apps. That depends on what type of knowledge you want your child to gain. If you're looking for an app to hit many different types of education at the same time, Khan Academy Kids is a good choice, as it has a comprehensive range of topics. If you're specifically looking to increase your child's math skills, you might prefer an app that specializes in early math learning, like Moose Math. Young kids, and especially those under the age of five, learn best by doing and through play. Play-based learning, or guided play, uses fun activities to keep a child's attention while teaching them skills or concepts. Research has identified guided play as an optimal way for preschool-aged children to stay engaged with lessons and comprehend new facts and concepts. To create a comprehensive list of the best educational apps for preschoolers, we looked at cost, program options, age-appropriateness, and whether or not the app provided educational content. Overall, the eight apps we reviewed gave preschoolers the best options for learning robust types of content and having fun while they learn. Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Council on Communications and Media. Media and young minds. Pediatrics. 2016;138(5). doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2591 Griffith SF, Hagan MB, Heymann P, Heflin BH, Bagner DM. Apps as learning tools: A systematic review. Pediatrics. 2020;145(1). doi:10.1542/peds.2019-1579 Skene K, O’Farrelly CM, Byrne EM, Kirby N, Stevens EC, Ramchandani PG. Can guidance during play enhance children’s learning and development in educational contexts? A systematic review and meta‐analysis.Child Development. 2022;93(4):1162-1180.doi:10.1111/cdev.13730 See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback?Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024
Best Overall : Khan Academy Kids
Best for Fine Motor Skills : Busy Shapes
Best for Math : Moose Math
Best for Creative Exploration : Toca Nature
Best for Reading : Homer Learn & Grow App
Key Specs
Most Fun App : The Monster At the End of This Book
Best for Teaching Preschoolers About Routines : Daniel Tiger’s Day and Night
Best for Imaginary Play : My PlayHome
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers
Company Ages Price App/ Ebook Khan Academy Kids Best Overall 2 to 8 Free Mobile app Busy Shapes Best for Fine Motor Skills 2 to 5 $2.99 Mobile app Moose Math Best for Math 3 to 7 Free Mobile app Toca Nature Best for Creative Exploration 6 to 8 $3.99 Mobile app Homer Learn & Grow Best for Reading 2 to 8 $60/year ($100/lifetime access) Mobile app The Monster At the End of this Book Most Fun App All preschoolers $4.99 Ebook Daniel Tiger’s Day and Night Best for Teaching Preschoolers About Routines Younger preschoolers $2.99 Mobile app My PlayHome Best for Imaginary Play All preschoolers $3.99 iTunes; $2.99 Amazon; $3.49 Google Play Mobile app Frequently Asked Questions
Are Educational Apps Good for Preschoolers?
How Much Should Educational Apps Cost?
How Can I Tell If an App Is Educational?
Which App Is Best for Gaining Knowledge?
What Is the Best Way for Preschoolers to Learn?
Methodology
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1202318395-c6f8a3ce724a4d42b66e4b9ca033ed6d.jpg "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (9)")
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/88009908_571662726895563_2019474836392247296_n-9d0bfaa86dac415f8a6d83b3f1fd6b4f.jpg "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (1)")
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/busyshapes-b9710d7d64b344a6b66626abbbe28b4f.png "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (2)")
See Also
Weighing All Options in the Important Choice of Choosing a PreschoolPreschool Classroom Setup and ExpectationsHow to Know If Your Child Is Ready to Start PreschoolWhat Do Kids Learn in Preschool: 7 Important Concepts & Skills:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/61RtFaD5-xL._SX466_-dea36adeeb4e4b4abcf095365bd26b4d.jpg "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (3)")
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/toca-nature-icon-512x512-8a2ab3a66e0c4df4a2b744b42c612d8c.png "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (4)"){kind=icon}
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/246x0w-e3f78f3923fe4ee1baa02a86d47e3b98.png "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (5)")
See Also
Preschool Ratings and Statistics:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/643x0w-5c1cf74843b14627a9571fbcea3cd1fb.jpg "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (6)")
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/DTDayNight_screen_5-9bf000fe96ac4ad984e6211695a85d3e.jpg "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (7)")
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/maxresdefault-1-cf19fb8ec7dd4f0ba35644c0713ddf8d.jpg "Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers of 2024 (8)")
FAQs
What is the number one learning app for kids? ›
Compare the Best Educational Apps for Kids
| Company | Price | Apple/Android |
|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy Best Overall | Free | Both |
| Busy Shapes Best for Toddlers | $2.99 | Both |
| ABCmouse.com Best for Preschoolers | $13 per month | Both |
| Prodigy Best for Elementary School Kids | Free for basic; premium memberships start at $10 a month or $75 annually | Both |
Mar 9, 2023
Compare the Best Educational Apps for Preschoolers
| Company | Ages | App/ Ebook |
|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy Kids Best Overall | 2 to 8 | Mobile app |
| Busy Shapes Best for Fine Motor Skills | 2 to 5 | Mobile app |
| Moose Math Best for Math | 3 to 7 | Mobile app |
| Toca Nature Best for Creative Exploration | 6 to 8 | Mobile app |
Jul 16, 2023
Take a closer look:
Water suddenly bursts from a pipe, a builder falls into a hole or the wind blows the bricks away because the cement wasn't dry yet. Little Builders is the first 3D app for children aged 2-6 years that want to explore the world of being a real little builder.
The global Education Apps market size was valued at USD 31251.26 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 26.6% during the forecast period, reaching USD 128684.67 million by 2028. Smart devices allow a user to install apps and learn subjects.
What is the most downloaded education app? ›Most downloaded education apps U.S. 2022
In 2022, Duolingo was the most popular education app in the United States, with 16.5 million downloads.
Best educational apps for students
- Khan Academy – best for math and science learning.
- edX – university-certified learning.
- WolframAlpha – best for searching for information.
- Duolingo – best for learning languages.
- Udemy – industry-specific courses.
- Evernote – note-taking across devices.
- Popplet – best for visualizing ideas.
Apr 5, 2024
During this stage, children should be able to ride a tricycle, use safety scissors, notice a difference between girls and boys, help to dress and undress themselves, play with other children, recall part of a story, and sing a song.
How much is the Montessori preschool app? ›Pricing structure: Free to try (Limited content available with free download. To unlock everything, subscribe at $6.99/month or $59.99/year. Free 7-day trial available.)
Which learning app is best for a 2 year old? ›Best Apps for Toddlers
- Peekaboo Barn. age 2+ ...
- Peekaboo Wild. age 2+ ...
- Pok Pok Playroom. age 2+ ...
- Potty Time with Elmo. age 2+ ...
- Sago Mini Friends. age 2+ ...
- Sound Touch. age 2+ ...
- Tozzle - Toddler's favorite puzzle. age 2+ ...
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends - First Words. age 2+
Description. LEGO® DUPLO® WORLD is packed with open-ended play experiences featuring animals, buildings, exciting vehicles, and trains to inspire your child's imagination and creativity through learning.
What age is Lego Life app for? ›
Keeping safe whilst using LEGO Life
In order to sign up users need a LEGO ID and for users under the age of 13 a parent's email address is required for approval.
Our baby maker app generates accurate results. It's a fun way to imagine what your family might look like! In addition to our baby predictor, our app offers a variety of features, including a face aging tool, a gender swap filter, a baby name finder, a face symmetry analyzer, and more.
Do educational apps improve learning? ›Educational apps have the potential to teach toddlers a great deal. Apps can be valuable in advancing STEM education. Apps have been particularly effective in teaching young children concepts and skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Kids can sometimes learn more through interactive apps.
What happened to Apple's education app? ›Apple will discontinue its iTunes U app for remote education at the end of 2021, replacing it with the newer Schoolwork and Classroom apps, the tech giant said Wednesday on its support page. The move doesn't come as a surprise: iTunes U hasn't received a feature update since 2017.
What is the trend in the education apps industry? ›The global education apps market is forecasted to grow by USD 4.18 billion during 2023-2028, accelerating at a CAGR of 11.78% during the forecast period. The market is driven by growing government initiatives for digital learning, growing demand for stem-based education apps, and growing popularity of education apps.
What is the number one best learning app? ›Best Overall Khan Academy
From preschoolers to high schoolers, there are few educational apps that can measure up to Khan Academy when it comes to the wide range of courses it offers to students of all ages. And, best of all: It's free.
The 8 Best Learning Apps in India for Free are:
- Unacademy. Unacademy stands out as the top online learning application in India, establishing the benchmark for online learning environments. ...
- Byju's – The Learning App. ...
- Udemy. ...
- Khan Academy. ...
- Coursera. ...
- Duolingo. ...
- Skillshare. ...
- Google Classroom.
Sep 19, 2023
Reading Eggs, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Teach Your Monster to Read, and Hooked on Phonics are among the 5 best programs to teach your child to read.