In today’s fast-paced world, mobile devices are an integral part of our daily routines. Statistics show that people spend a significant portion of their day glued to screens. Considering this, why not leverage this screen time for educational purposes? Even dedicating a small amount of time each day to the right educational apps can significantly enhance students’ skills and knowledge. This is why exploring the landscape of top-tier education apps available to students right now is a smart move. These Cool Learning Apps are transforming how we approach education, making it more accessible, engaging, and effective.
While apps are excellent for introducing new subjects and building foundational knowledge, it’s also important to recognize the value of expert guidance for developing advanced skills. Coding, for example, is a skill that truly flourishes with structured learning and expert instruction. For those seeking in-depth learning experiences, consider exploring resources like Create & Learn’s free online coding courses, designed by professionals from leading institutions like Google, Stanford, and MIT. These courses not only allow students to express their creativity productively but also equip them with valuable skills for future careers. A great starting point is their award-winning, beginner-friendly online Scratch coding classes, taught live by expert instructors.
Explore the Best Education Apps for Diverse Learning Needs
From mastering new languages to delving into music theory and beyond, the following educational apps are widely recognized for their effectiveness and user-friendly interfaces. Notably, all apps featured in this list are compatible with both iOS and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for all users.
1. Duolingo – Gamified Language Learning at Your Fingertips
Duolingo stands out as the undisputed champion in language learning apps, boasting immense popularity worldwide. Its gamified approach to education, combined with an intuitive interface, resonates with learners of all ages. The app emphasizes consistent, daily progress and motivates users through daily study streaks, fostering a habit of continuous learning. Duolingo offers a free version, supported by ads, as well as a premium subscription at $7 per month for an ad-free experience. For families, a $12 monthly subscription option caters to up to five users, making language learning a family affair.
Rating: 4.54
Installs: 100 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
2. Udemy – Your Global Online Course Marketplace
Udemy is a vast online learning platform, offering a diverse catalog of thousands of courses. It operates as a marketplace where individual instructors create and sell courses on subjects of their expertise. Udemy courses are self-paced and typically include video lectures, quizzes, downloadable resources, and practice assignments. A unique feature is the student Q&A section on each course page, facilitating direct interaction with instructors or teaching assistants. Users can purchase courses individually or opt for a monthly subscription for access to a wide selection of courses (note that not all courses are included in the subscription).
Rating: 4.40
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
3. Quizlet – Master Study with Digital Flashcards and More
Quizlet is an exceptional free study tool, going beyond basic digital flashcards to offer a comprehensive suite of study aids. It tracks study habits, incorporates game-based learning with flashcards, and even features text-to-speech functionality to “read” cards aloud. The collaborative aspect of Quizlet allows users to share flashcard sets, enabling students to leverage existing resources and avoid starting from scratch. While many features are free, a premium subscription unlocks ad-free access and offline study capabilities, among other benefits.
Rating: 4.45
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
4. Epic: Kids Books & Reading – A Digital Library for Young Readers
Epic transforms your phone into a portable children’s library, offering access to over 40,000 popular children’s books. Enhancements include a built-in dictionary, comprehension quizzes after books, and reward badges for reading milestones. Personalized book recommendations are provided based on age and reading level, ensuring engaging and appropriately challenging content. Parental controls enable content filtering and progress monitoring. A basic free account allows one book per day, while a $9.99 monthly subscription unlocks unlimited reading.
Rating: 4.38
Installs: 5 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
5. Lingvano Sign Language ASL – Learn American Sign Language Interactively
Lingvano is an excellent app for beginners interested in learning American Sign Language (ASL). The app features five modules, each containing 12 lessons that introduce common ASL signs. To aid in accurate signing, Lingvano uses the front-facing camera to allow users to see themselves alongside the demonstrated gesture, enhancing practice effectiveness. A sign language dictionary is also included for quick lookups. While the first lesson of each module is free, full access requires a $16 monthly subscription.
Rating: 4.75
Installs: 100 thousand +
Download on iOS here | Android here
6. Khan Academy Kids – Award-Winning Early Childhood Education
Khan Academy Kids is a highly acclaimed, completely free app designed for preschool to second-grade students. With no ads or subscriptions, it offers a safe and enriching learning environment. Activities align with Common Core and Head Start Early Learning standards, and studies suggest it significantly improves reading comprehension in young children. The app employs books, songs, and games to create diverse learning experiences. Parents can monitor progress by subject and create personalized learning plans.
Rating: 4.62
Installs: 1 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
7. Babbel – Conversational Language Skills Through Short, Engaging Lessons
Babbel, accessible via web and mobile app, is another leading language learning platform. Lessons are designed to be completed in about 15 minutes, promoting bite-sized learning. All spoken content is voiced by native speakers, ensuring accurate pronunciation and intonation. Babbel’s voice recognition feature enables early speaking practice. Subscription options range from 1 to 12 months, with a lifetime subscription available as a one-time purchase.
Rating: 4.58
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
8. Fender Play – Learn Guitar, Bass & Ukulele from the Pros
Developed by the renowned guitar company Fender, Fender Play is designed to teach electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, and ukulele to learners of all ages. High-quality video lessons and practice exercises cater to both adults and young students. Courses are genre-based, allowing users to learn their preferred musical style from the start. Beyond technique, Fender Play teaches tablature and music theory, fostering comprehensive musical development. A 7-day free trial is available, followed by a $10 monthly subscription.
Rating: 4.51
Installs: 1 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
9. Simply Piano – Your Personal Piano Teacher in an App
Simply Piano is an excellent app for piano beginners. It offers a complete music learning experience with courses for solo and accompaniment piano, daily exercises, and a vast sheet music library. The app also incorporates music theory, covering harmony and chord progressions. While designed for use with a USB MIDI keyboard, it can also utilize a microphone to assess note accuracy on acoustic pianos. A 7-day trial precedes subscription options of annual, biannual, or quarterly plans.
Rating: 4.45
Installs: 50 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
10. Noggin Preschool – Learning with Beloved Nick Jr. Characters
Noggin Preschool, from the Nick Jr. network, features popular characters and clips from their TV shows. Interactive episodes and accompanying educational games and activities make learning fun and engaging for young children. The app is particularly appealing to kids who are fans of Nick Jr. shows. However, parental control and progress tracking are limited, making it more suitable for recreational learning than structured curriculum use. The subscription is priced at $7.99 per month.
Rating: 3.67
Installs: 5 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
11. Lightbot: Code Hour – Introduction to Coding Logic Through Puzzles
Lightbot: Code Hour introduces coding concepts through engaging puzzles. Players guide a robot through levels to reach illuminated tiles, learning foundational programming logic like conditional statements, procedures, and loops. Targeted at elementary-aged students, it provides a visual and intuitive entry point to coding. The free version is designed for an hour of play, while a paid extended version with 50 levels is available for $2.99.
Rating: 4.28
Installs: 1 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
12. Khan Academy – Your Free Online Education Resource for All Ages
Khan Academy, starting as a series of math tutorials by Sal Khan, has evolved into a major non-profit organization offering free educational resources online. It’s a valuable tool for high school students, particularly for SAT and AP exam preparation. Khan Academy also provides extensive resources for computer science and mathematics courses, as well as math and reading for younger students. Free accounts allow students to track their progress through videos and exercises.
Rating: 4.33
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
13. ABCMouse – Comprehensive Early Learning for Ages 2-8
ABCMouse is an award-winning educational app for children aged 2 to 8. It features over 850 lessons across 10 levels, with a structured curriculum that progressively increases in complexity. Subjects include math, reading, science, social studies, and art and colors. The “Assessment Center” allows parents to track progress through tests. ABCMouse is ad-free and safe for children, offering a free trial month followed by a $12.99 monthly subscription.
Rating: 3.96
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
14. PBS Kids Games – Fun Educational Games with Beloved Characters
PBS Kids Games extends PBS’s legacy of educational programming into the app world. Games feature characters from popular PBS Kids TV shows, making learning relatable and engaging for children aged 3-8. New games are added weekly, keeping the content fresh and exciting. Impressively, PBS Kids Games is completely free to use.
Rating: 4.22
Installs: 5 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
15. Hooked on Phonics Learn & Read – Building Foundational Reading Skills
Hooked on Phonics is an excellent choice for children starting to learn to read (ages 3-7). The app includes 36 progressive lessons with games, videos, and activities that teach early reading skills. Over 100 ebooks provide opportunities to apply learned phonics skills to actual stories. A 7-day free trial is available, followed by a $7 monthly subscription.
Rating: 4.19
Installs: 500 thousand +
Download on iOS here | Android here
Maximize Learning with the Best Education Apps
Whether your student aims to learn a new language, prepare for crucial exams, or explore other academic areas, these top cool learning apps offer a wide range of solutions. While these apps are incredibly beneficial for self-motivated learners, some students thrive in a structured learning environment with personalized guidance from an instructor. If that resonates with you, consider exploring Create & Learn’s award-winning free coding introduction classes. For an engaging and fun learning experience, your child might also enjoy applying their coding skills to escape Dr. Breakowski’s mysterious mansion in this free Minecraft coding event.
Written by Create & Learn instructor Dominic Occhietti. Dominic is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he studied music performance and computer science. He is passionate about teaching coding, music, and skiing!
