10 Best Free Educational Apps for Students & Kids

It was not long ago when smartphones were considered a source of distraction for students.

Teachers and parents tried everything not to let smartphones affect the education of students. All their attempts ended in vain.

But as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. This time, mobile app development was that silver lining.

Mobile apps turned smartphones into virtual classrooms where students do curricular activities with ease and focus.

Further, the apps also encourage young children to love learning by making their stepping stone to education interactive and fun-filled.

Mobile apps, along with new and advanced learning management software is changing the educational landscape.

Be it learning subjects, organizing classroom activities, or developing skills in new fields, educational apps made everything simpler and enjoyable.

This article will show you some of those best free educational apps for students and kids to help them see smartphones as a tool for learning.

So fasten your seatbelts. We are diving right into this.

Best 10 Free Educational Apps for Students

1. Google Classroom

In an educational institution, students are often required to complete and submit homework and assignments.

And teachers have to review and grade them at the earliest. But is this process as simple as it sounds?. 

All these processes are incredibly frustrating for everyone to say the least. Wouldn’t it be amazing if there is a way to streamline these processes?

Google Classroom is the ultimate solution to this question. Google classroom is essentially a virtual classroom of sorts.

That means we can use it for seamlessly sending announcements, creating classes, starting discussions, submitting and grading assignments, asking for remarks and answers, sharing resources, and so on.

It’s also easy to set up a google classroom. Teachers share code with the class.

And the students can join by just entering the codes. That’s all it takes to create a virtual classroom.

Features of Google Classroom

• Enhanced communication
• Improved organization
• Faster grading process

Download on the Google Play Store

2. edX

It’s a dream of many students to study the courses of top universities like Harvard, MIT, Columbia, etc. But, they also know that it’s not easy to get into these universities at all.

Well, if you got edX on your phone, nothing will stop you from achieving those dreams. edX brings these universities to your fingertips.

So no matter what you need to learn, edX will be there for you every step of the way.

You can learn everything under the sun and above from edX. There are more than 2000 courses of top universities in edX such as computer science, business studies, linguistics, engineering, and many more.

The professional certificates and university credit you get from these courses will always be valuable for you in building a professional career.

Features of edX

• Video tutorials
• Study material Handouts
• Interactive quizzes

Download on the Google Play Store

3. Khan Academy

Khan Academy invariably secures a top spot on the list of the best free educational apps for students.

The app’s mission is to provide a free and world-class education for all curious minds across the globe.

And we have to admit that they are delivering it pretty impressively.

Khan Academy has a unique way to drive knowledge into your brains.

All lessons are in forms of video tutorials. Videos display a recording of drawings on a virtual blackboard (like a teacher giving a lecture).

And the narrator describes each lesson through these drawings. Pretty simple, right?

Khan Academy also provides online courses for preparing for standardized tests like SAT, MCAT, LSAT, and so on.

Features of Khan Academy

• Learning in multiple languages
• Progress tracking
• Practise exercises

Download on the Google Play Store

4. Duolingo

It takes immense patience and practice to learn new languages.

It’s not everybody’s cup of tea. If the learning techniques aren’t adaptive, we’ll quickly lose focus and interest.

But Duolingo has made language learning a cakewalk.

It helps us learn many languages like English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Latin, etc. in a fun and interactive way.

It starts with basic picture labeling games.

As you complete more levels, There will be many different kinds of engaging games that will improve your vocabulary and grammar skills.

You can also set your daily goals.

The app also tracks your performance to provide insights.

If you do well, you’ll receive XPs. The more XPs you get, the more sets of interactive stories will be unlocked to improve your reading and listening comprehension.

Features of Duolingo

• 30+ languages
• Interactive stories 
• Forum discussion
• Leaderboards competitions
• Language learning events

Download on the Google Play Store

5. Remind

Group learning is an efficient practice to fill in learning gaps in students.

But, it’s not always practical to get multiple students to assemble under a single roof and study together.

Remind app is the ultimate answer to this problem.

Remind facilitates us to stay connected with our school community.

Besides students, this community includes teachers and parents as well.

Once you join this school community using a unique school or class code, you will receive regular updates on your classroom activities.

We can also use Remind to message a whole class, share photos and handouts, submit assignments, and clear doubts with your friends, both individually and collaboratively.

Features of Remind

• Share photos, handouts, and flyers
• Chat translations in 70+ languages
• Instant messaging

Download on the Google Play Store

6. Photomath

Mathematics has always been a puzzling subject for many students.

No matter what age you are, maths can be a challenging hurdle to tackle for many learners. 

Well, those days are over now.

Now anyone can learn to solve any complex math problems very easily using an app called Photomath.

Many statistics have listed Photomath as one of the best learning apps for students. 

The Learning process in Photomath is pretty simple. You take a picture of handwritten or printed questions.

Then the app itself teaches you how to solve those questions through step by step explanations and instructions. 

Features of Photomath

• Scan printed/handwritten problems
• Multiple solving methods
• Animated instructions
• Interactive graphs
• Scientific calculator
• No need for internet

Download on the Google Play Store

7. SoloLearn

The scope of coding and programming is wider than ever.

If it weren’t for coding, we wouldn’t have many tech geniuses like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, etc. in our world.
 
SoloLearn is essentially a paradise for coding enthusiasts.

Whether you are a beginner or a pro, soloLearn can get your coding juices flowing with its immense collection of free coding tutorials across languages like java, python, c++, swift, PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and so on.

App development is one such area where there is a constant demand for coders.

These languages are the foundation of several mobile app development frameworks.

So if you manage to learn them, job opportunities will be pouring in from all directions.

Features of SoloLearn

• An interactive community of coders
• Tutorials on the latest coding trends
• Free mobile code editor

Download on the Google Play Store

8. Quizlet

Quizlet has several effective ways to make learning easier and quicker.

Right out of the gate, you will see various study modes buttons such as learn, flashcards, write, test and match, etc.

Each of these modes is different ways to learn your desired topics.

The use of flashcards is another defining quality of Quizlet.

Flashcards promote active recall, the process of actively stimulating memory during the learning process. It’s one of the most powerful learning techniques out there.

Quizlet has millions of readymade flashcards in the app.

You can even create flashcards and share them with other students as well.

Quizlet also contains many gaming activities to brush up what you’ve learned.

The app gives constant study reminders progress checkpoints along the way.

Features of Quizlet

• Practice tests
• Study sets for standardized exams
• Custom images and audio to enhance learning

Download on the Google Play Store

9. Kahoot

Interactive quizzes can accelerate the learning process tremendously.

Students feel an unexplainable delight when they get the answers right.

In that regard, Kahoot is one of the best learning apps for those who prefer learning through quizzes.

Kahoot has readymade quizzes on any topic.

So you just choose one topic and join live quizzes with other players.

The app also lets you quickly create your quizzes and challenge your friends to compete with you. 

You can even use Kahoot for offline quiz competitions.

The set up is pretty simple.

The quizmaster or teacher creates a quiz competition on Kahoot and shows it to an interactive whiteboard or projector.

And the players join the quiz using a PIN and answer questions on the app itself. In the future, every quiz competition will be like this. Wouldn’t that be exciting? 

Features of Kahoot

• Easy game creation
• Host live quiz on big screens
• Play with 2000+ live contestants

Download on the Google Play Store

10. Udemy

Udemy is arguably one of the best learning apps for students out there.

It has more than 130,000 video tutorials for courses ranging from technology and business to personal development lessons like drawing, writing, yoga, etc.

Another exciting thing is that we also get to learn these topics at our own pace.

If you feel stuck at some lessons, you can ask questions and clear your doubts with students and instructors.

For instance, if you got some mobile app ideas, Udemy’s expert teachers take you by hand to your dream of developing an app for that.

Features of Udemy

• Expert instructors
• Discussions
• Survey creator
• Interactive learning

These are some of the best free educational apps that deliver engaging and personalized learning experiences for all students.

I mean, who would’ve thought learning would be this easier. 

The impact of educational apps has also encouraged many people to hire mobile app developers to integrate their platforms with effective education apps.

Download on the Google Play Store

Top 10 Free Learning Apps For Kids

1. YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids is YouTube content curated for kids.

It is arguably one of the best learning apps for kids aged 2-12.

It has all kinds of videos for all kinds of kids.

From educational videos, entertainment shows, music to tutorials that help kids build models- it has everything for kids to discover new things and pursue their interests.

They put a lot of effort into creating a safe online experience for kids.

By using a combination of filters, human review, and feedback from parents, they work hard to keep the videos on the platform kids friendly.

Parents can guide kids’ journeys and customize their experience by choosing the type of content, screen time limit, etc.

Features of YouTube Kids

• Content level by age
• Videos on arts, crafts, learning, hobbies, and cartoons.
• Provision for parents to customize content.

Download on the Google Play Store

2. Epic

Do you have a kid who loves reading?

Then Epic is the app for you! Epic is a leading digital reading platform that has a collection of over 40000 books.

Delivering carefully chosen, high-quality books from over 250 best publishers worldwide, Epic aims to enhance reading for kids aged 12 and below.

The books are categorized by age, genre, and interest. 

Thousands of teachers worldwide use Epic as their go-to reading app.

Parents can also participate in their kids’ reading journey by following daily updates, tracking activities, and more.

It also has a read-to-me feature for little ones who haven’t started reading.

Features of Epic

• Personalize daily reading 
• Easy integration with school lessons enabling teachers to bring classes to life
• Exclusive content to encourage reading and learning

Download on the Google Play Store

3. Hungry Caterpillar Play School

Ranked the #1 education app in over 25 countries, Hungry Caterpillar Play School is designed to help young children get ahead and get school-ready.

Apt for ages 2-6, this app helps kids develop skills in maths, spelling, reading, writing, science, nature studies, and creative arts. 

This app is designed by keeping in mind that children’s favorite way of learning is through play.

Thus, it is packed with interactive content.

Activities are enhanced through songs and videos to deepen the children’s learning.

It encourages children to learn independently at their own pace.

It is a must-have app for preschoolers. 

Features of Hungry Caterpillar Play School

• Age-appropriate and safe
• Packed with interactive characters
• Constantly updated with new content

Download on the Google Play Store

4. PBS Kids Play and Learn Science

PBS Kids, a network known for its educational content, has created several educational software for kids.

The Play and Learn Science app allows children to play games that build their science inquiry skills and core science concepts.

It includes games such as playing with shadows, controlling the weather, choosing material to build an umbrella, etc. 

The games are designed in such a way to show the presence of science in our everyday lives.

It encourages children to explore the real world by fashioning real-world locations and experiences.

It is suitable for children between the age of 2-8. 

Features of PBS Kids Play and Learn Science

• Parent section for parent-child engagement and hands-on activities
• Supports two languages- English and Spanish
• Developed with the help of childhood experts

Download on the Google Play Store

5. Quick Math Jr

Maths, when taught right, is a very interesting subject.

Quick Math Jr aims to develop mathematical skills of kids by transforming numbers into something creative and interactive.

It is an app for kids aged 5-7 and has a collection of 12 games to encourage number recognition and practice basic math skills.

It allows children to engage in the learning process by providing features such as creating their own characters, writing answers by hand, etc.

The difficulty level can be adjusted for each player according to their age and skill level.

Activities in Quick Math Jr include counting numbers, addition, and subtraction, locating numbers on the number line, etc.

Features of Quick Math Jr

• No third party advertisements
• Interactive interface
• Easy navigation

Download on the App Store

6. Khan Academy Kids

The kids version of popular Khan Academy, Khan Academy Kids is a free educational program designed to inspire young children.

Suitable for age group 2-7, it has thousands of books and activities to make learning engaging and fun.

It contains a wide selection of topics ranging from maths, languages, arts, and social learning. 

Its main attraction is the five animal characters who guide kids through their learning experience.

It provides good parental control where parents can limit access to certain app sections or select preferences.

Another main feature is that it can also be accessed offline once the learning material is downloaded. 

Features of Khan Academy Kids

• Child’s progress indicator for parents to check
• Beginners score a set of e-books
• No in-app purchases or advertisements

Download on the Google Play Store

7. Goodness Shapes

Goodness Shapes is a great introduction to shapes, colors, and patterns for kids.

It has several unique challenges involving matching, identifying, sorting, and naming.

Designed for kids below four years, it provides an endless play experience that is challenging, entertaining, and educational.

Colors and shapes are among the easiest things that children can learn.

So this fun game is a favorite among preschoolers and toddlers.

Parents and preschool teachers have tested this app, and they unanimously agree that it is one of the best apps for kids learning.

Features of Goodness Shapes

• Intuitive challenges
• Interactive feedback
• Ad-free

Download on the App Store

8. ABCMouse

The most downloaded kids learning program in 2020, ABCMouse, is an early learning academy for children aged 2-8.

With over 10,000 activities covering reading, maths, science, arts, and colors, it has a complete curriculum.

It has won several parents and teachers’ choice awards. 

The learning path is spread across ten levels according to age and has more than 850 lessons.

Its reward system and progress meters help to keep children motivated to continue learning.

It includes highly entertaining animated activities that keep children engaged while learning.

Children can also choose customizable avatars to represent them.

Features of ABCMouse

• Progress tracking for parents
• Printable activities to enhance learning
• Interactive games with educational concepts

Download on the Google Play Store

9. Read Along

Read Along by Google is an app that encourages kids to read by themselves.

It lets children choose stories from a growing library with a wide variety of languages, including Hindi, English, Tamil, Urdu, Marathi, and Bengali. It is suitable for ages five and above. 

Read Along enhances kids’ reading by underlining every word that is skipped or stumbled and awarding stars for the ones spoken correctly.

So it works like a personal reading tutor that assists kids at every step.

It also has an educator’s handbook to help kids use Read Along inside and outside classrooms to practice reading.

Features of Read Along

• A reading buddy feature to help kids figure out words they don’t know
• Supports non-English languages such as Spanish, French, and Chinese. 

Download on the Google Play Store

10. ClassDojo

ClassDojo is a virtual classroom-style app that connects teachers with students and parents to build classroom communities.

Parents can easily join the class to stay up-to-date with childrens’ education.

Students can create portfolios to showcase their learning by adding photos and videos.

Teachers can encourage students on their skills or behavior. 

It enriches the classroom experience by providing positive reinforcement and interaction between parents, teachers, and students.

It creates a constructive culture where students can share the story of their classrooms with their parents.

Features of ClassDojo

• Free resources and FAQs for presentations
• Excellent privacy features
• Free for teachers

These are some of the best educational apps for children to help them make learning a fun experience.

Children are the best learners.

When they have access to creative and educational content like these, it will help them learn in-depth about topics by involving them curiously in the learning process. 

Download on the Google Play Store

What Do Educational Apps Bring To The Table?

Educational apps have been dominating the mobile app development trends for quite some time now.

According to Statista, educational apps are the most popular mobile app category in google play store and 3rd most popular in Apple stores.

Popular App Categories on Google Play Store

Popular App Categories on the Apple Store

Image Source

But have you ever wondered how educational apps became such a ubiquitous force in such a short period?

The answer is pretty simple.

Education apps bring something that hasn’t been mentioned in many pedagogical textbooks.

That is personalization!.

There are seven different learning styles.

Every student learns things differently.

They need to be able to learn and understand things at their own pace and ways.

Seven Learning Styles

The best educational apps consolidate all the best qualities of these learning styles into a single platform.

This way, the educational apps enhance the learning experience in four different ways.

And the students learn things in ways that work best for them.

Four Components of Education Apps

One might think that educational apps are only beneficial for students.

But many educational apps also enhance communication between the students, teachers, and parents.

Because they are the ones, who matter the most to the students.

The Advantages Of Educational Apps

• Enhanced Classroom Performances
• Interactive And Engaging Learning
• Unlimited Access To Educational Content
• Collaboration Between Students, Teachers, And Parents
• New Learning Techniques
• Individual And Social Learning

The education industry has understood the true potential of education apps.

Many educational institutions and tutors have already started integrating their platforms with mobile apps. 

But creating a mobile app for education is not an easy task.

An educational app only works best when the students get to learn things or organize their classroom activities seamlessly.

The best educational apps are the perfect combination of knowledge and user experience.

If you need to develop such student-friendly and personalized educational apps, Mindster is a perfect choice for you. We’ve got the experience, expertise, resources, and everything else required to become a top-notch mobile app development company. Our 400+ Android and iOS apps will speak for themselves in that regard.