Free Educational Apps for Kids That Are Actually Fun (2026)

"Free" and "educational" are two of the most overused words in the App Store. Plenty of apps that call themselves both are really ad machines with a few counting games attached. But some genuinely free apps are excellent, made by nonprofits, public media and universities whose goal is learning, not your credit card. Here is our list for 2026, plus a quick way to spot the difference.

A quick note on where this list came from

Years ago, parents could find free and discounted apps through weekly promotions like App Friday from Moms With Apps, a group of family-focused developers. That project moved to occasional monthly round-ups and its last App Friday post was in mid-2024. Deals still come and go, but in 2026 the most reliable free apps are the ones that are free all the time, because the organization behind them is funded some other way.

For preschool and early elementary (about ages 2 to 8)

• Khan Academy Kids. Free with no ads and no subscriptions, from the nonprofit Khan Academy. It covers early reading, writing, math and social-emotional skills, with a library of books and activities that adapt to your child's level.
• PBS KIDS Games. A big collection of games featuring PBS characters, covering science, math, reading and social skills. Free, from public television.
• PBS KIDS Video. Free episodes and clips of PBS KIDS shows, a safer alternative to letting young kids browse open video apps.
• Sesame Street. Sesame Workshop's official app brings together videos and games built around early learning.
• ScratchJr. A free coding app from the Scratch Foundation where kids snap together blocks to make characters move, jump and talk. It's a gentle introduction to how programs work.

For older kids (about ages 8 and up)

• Khan Academy. The main Khan Academy app covers math, science, grammar, history and more, with practice exercises and videos. It is free and nonprofit.
• Duolingo. Language lessons in short, game-like bites. The core lessons are free; the app shows ads and offers a paid subscription.
• NASA. The official NASA app has images, videos, mission news and live coverage. Spot the Station, also from NASA, tells you when the International Space Station will pass overhead.
• Merlin Bird ID. From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Kids can identify birds by photo or by recording birdsong in the backyard.
• Seek by iNaturalist. Point the camera at a plant, insect or animal and Seek tries to identify it. It is designed to be family-friendly and doesn't require an account.
• Google Earth. Explore the planet in 3D, visit landmarks and take guided tours. Great for geography homework.

Reading, for every age

• Libby. Borrow e-books and audiobooks from your public library for free with a library card.
• Sora. OverDrive's app for school libraries; many schools give students access through it.

For more on early reading, see KidsMomo and getting kids reading.

How to tell if a "free" app is really free

Before you download anything labeled free and educational, spend two minutes on the App Store or Google Play listing.

1. Check who made it. Nonprofits, public broadcasters, museums, universities and libraries are a good sign. A developer with dozens of near-identical apps is not.
2. Look for "In-App Purchases". On the App Store, this appears near the Get button. If there are many purchase options, or ones with high prices, expect frequent upsells.
3. Read the age rating and the reasons for it. A 4+ rating is ideal for young kids.
4. Scan the privacy section. Apple's App Privacy labels show what data the app collects and whether it is used to track your child across other apps and websites.
5. Read a few reviews from parents. Look for complaints about ads, pop-ups or kids being asked to pay to continue.

Set up the device before you hand it over

Even the best app becomes a problem if your child can wander from it into the App Store or an open browser. Before handing over a tablet:

• Turn on purchase approval (Ask to Buy on Apple devices, purchase approvals in Google Family Link). Our guide on restricting in-app purchases shows the steps.
• Set app downloads to your child's age range with age-rating restrictions.
• For younger kids, use Guided Access on iPhone and iPad to lock them into a single app.
• Turn on Wi-Fi only, or disable cellular data for apps that don't need it.

Make the most of educational apps

Apps work best as part of a bigger picture. Sit with your child for the first session so you know what the app teaches. Ask them to show you something they learned. Use nature apps outside, not just on the couch. And keep total screen time in proportion with play, sleep and time with people. A family media agreement can help everyone agree on what that looks like.

Free apps that need a second look

Some apps are free to download but built around constant upsells: lessons locked behind a subscription after a few days, "energy" meters that run out, or rewards that can be sped up with coins. They aren't necessarily bad, but they teach kids to ask for purchases. If an app starts nagging for money, it's fine to delete it and move on to one of the options above.

The bottom line

The best free educational apps are made by organizations that don't need to sell to your kids. Use this checklist:

• Start with nonprofits, public media, libraries and universities.
• Check for in-app purchases, ads and tracking before downloading.
• Turn on purchase approval and age-rating limits on the device.
• Try each app with your child first.
• Rotate apps occasionally so learning stays fresh.