In today’s digital age, mobile devices are indispensable. Astonishingly, the average person spends over seven hours daily glued to their screens. Given this significant screen time, why not leverage it for educational purposes? Even dedicating a fraction of this time to Good Learning Apps can significantly boost students’ skills and knowledge. Exploring the best learning apps available for students right now is a smart move for anyone looking to enhance their education on the go.
While apps offer a fantastic introduction to various subjects, expert guidance remains invaluable for mastering complex skills. Coding, for example, is an advanced capability that greatly benefits from structured learning environments and expert instruction. Organizations like Create & Learn offer exceptional free online coding courses crafted by professionals from Google, Stanford, and MIT. These courses not only empower students to express their creativity productively but also equip them with valuable skills for future careers. Consider starting with award-winning, beginner-friendly online Scratch coding classes, taught live by experienced instructors.
Top Picks for Good Learning Apps for Students and Educators
From mastering new languages to exploring the world of music and beyond, these highly-rated educational apps cater to diverse learning needs. Importantly, all apps featured are compatible with both iOS and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for all users.
1. Duolingo
Duolingo stands out as the most globally recognized app for language acquisition. Its engaging, game-like approach and intuitive design have contributed to its widespread appeal across all age groups. The app emphasizes consistent, daily progress, motivating users to maintain daily learning streaks. Duolingo’s core features are free, with a premium subscription option at $7 per month to remove advertisements. They also offer a family plan for $12 monthly, accommodating up to five users, making it a cost-effective good learning app for families.
Rating: 4.54
Installs: 100 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
2. Udemy
Udemy is a leading platform providing access to thousands of online courses, functioning as a marketplace for courses created by independent instructors across numerous subjects. Udemy courses are self-paced and typically include video lectures, quizzes, and downloadable resources like notes and practice assignments. A unique feature is the student Q&A section on each course page, where instructors or teaching assistants can address student queries. Users can purchase individual courses or opt for a monthly subscription for access to a broad selection of courses (note: not all courses are included in the subscription). Udemy is a versatile good learning app for self-directed learners.
Rating: 4.40
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
3. Quizlet
Quizlet is recognized as an outstanding free study tool. While primarily known for digital flashcard creation, Quizlet offers a suite of features extending beyond basic flashcards. The app monitors study patterns, incorporates game-based learning with flashcards, and even provides text-to-speech functionality to audibly “read” flashcards. Furthermore, users can share their flashcard sets publicly, enabling collaboration and access to pre-existing study materials. While many Quizlet features are free, a premium subscription unlocks ad-free access and offline studying capabilities, making it an even more powerful good learning app for students.
Rating: 4.45
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
4. Epic: Kids Books & Reading
Epic transforms mobile devices into portable children’s libraries, featuring a collection of over 40,000 popular children’s books. The app integrates a dictionary for word lookups, comprehension quizzes after books, and achievement badges to motivate young readers. Book recommendations are personalized based on age and reading level, ensuring both engagement and appropriate learning challenges. Parental accounts facilitate student account management, including content filtering and progress tracking. A basic account allows one free book per day, while a $9.99 monthly subscription grants unlimited access to the vast library, making Epic a top-tier good learning app for reading.
Rating: 4.38
Installs: 5 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
5. Lingvano Sign Language ASL
Lingvano is an excellent app for beginners interested in learning American Sign Language (ASL). The app’s curriculum comprises five modules, each containing twelve lessons that introduce common ASL signs. To enhance learning accuracy, Lingvano uses the device’s front-facing camera, allowing users to see themselves signing alongside the demonstrated gesture, promoting better practice and self-correction. A sign language dictionary is also included for quick sign lookups. While the first lesson of each module is free, full access requires a $16 monthly subscription, positioning Lingvano as a specialized good learning app for ASL.
Rating: 4.75
Installs: 100 thousand +
Download on iOS here | Android here
6. Khan Academy Kids
Khan Academy Kids is an award-winning, entirely free app designed for preschool to second-grade students. This app is completely free of charge, without ads or subscription requirements. The app’s activities are aligned with Common Core and Head Start Early Learning standards. A research study indicated its potential to significantly improve reading comprehension in 4-5 year olds. Khan Academy Kids uses books, songs, and games to offer a variety of engaging learning experiences. Parents can monitor progress by subject and create weekly or daily learning schedules, solidifying its place as a top good learning app for early childhood education.
Rating: 4.62
Installs: 1 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
7. Babbel
Babbel, accessible via web and mobile app, is another prominent language learning solution. Babbel’s lessons are structured to be approximately 15 minutes long, promoting daily, bite-sized learning sessions. All spoken content is voiced by native speakers, ensuring accurate pronunciation and intonation. Another notable feature is Babbel’s voice recognition technology, which enables users to practice speaking from the beginning of their language journey. Subscription options include 1, 3, 6, and 12-month plans, as well as a lifetime subscription option, making Babbel a flexible and good learning app for language learners.
Rating: 4.58
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
8. Fender Play
Developed by the renowned guitar manufacturer Fender, Fender Play is designed to teach electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, and ukulele. Fender Play is suitable for both adults and young learners, featuring high-quality video instruction and practice exercises. Courses are categorized by genre and style, allowing users to learn their preferred musical styles from the outset. Beyond technique instruction, the courses also cover tablature and music theory (chords), fostering comprehensive musical development. Users can start with a 7-day free trial, followed by a $10 monthly subscription, positioning Fender Play as a leading good learning app for musical instruments.
Rating: 4.51
Installs: 1 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
9. Simply Piano
Simply Piano is an exceptional choice for individuals seeking an introduction to playing the piano. This app provides a comprehensive music learning experience, including courses for solo and accompaniment piano, daily practice routines, and a vast library of sheet music. Users also gain foundational music theory knowledge, learning about harmony and chord progressions. While optimized for use with a USB MIDI keyboard connection, Simply Piano can also utilize the device microphone to assess note accuracy when learning on an acoustic piano. A 7-day trial is available, followed by subscription options including annual, biannual, or quarterly plans, making Simply Piano a highly effective good learning app for piano.
Rating: 4.45
Installs: 50 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
10. Noggin Preschool
Noggin Preschool, developed by the Nick Jr. network, features recognizable characters and clips from their popular TV shows. Some episodes are adapted to be interactive, while others are accompanied by educational games and activities. This app is particularly appealing to young children who are fans of Nick Jr. characters. However, unlike some other educational apps, Noggin Preschool offers limited parental/educator control over content or student progress tracking, making it more suitable for recreational educational play than structured curriculum-based learning. The subscription cost is $7.99 per month, positioning it as an entertainment-focused good learning app for preschoolers.
Rating: 3.67
Installs: 5 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
11. Lightbot: Code Hour
Lightbot: Code Hour presents coding concepts through puzzle-based gameplay. Players guide a robot through levels to reach illuminated tiles, progressively learning foundational programming concepts such as conditional logic, procedures, and loops. This app is tailored for elementary-aged students who may not be ready for text-based coding but are capable of grasping basic programming principles. Lightbot: Code Hour is a free, hour-long experience; an extended version with 50 levels is available for $2.99, making it an accessible good learning app for introductory coding.
Rating: 4.28
Installs: 1 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
12. Khan Academy
Khan Academy began as a collection of math tutorials by Sal Khan and has evolved into a vast non-profit organization dedicated to providing free educational resources online. Khan Academy is an invaluable resource for high school students, offering extensive SAT and AP exam preparation materials. They also provide numerous resources for computer science and mathematics courses. Free account creation enables students to track their progress through videos, exercises, and more. Resources for middle and elementary school students are also available for math and reading skills, establishing Khan Academy as a comprehensive and good learning app for a wide range of subjects.
Rating: 4.33
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
13. ABCMouse
ABCMouse is an award-winning educational app specifically designed for children aged 2 to 8. The service features 10 levels with over 850 lessons, structured for progressive learning complexity. Curricula encompass math, reading, science, social studies, and colors. For parents, the app includes an “Assessment Center” for kids to take tests and gauge their content mastery. ABCMouse is ad-free and contains no external links, enhancing child safety. ABCMouse offers a free trial month, followed by a $12.99 monthly subscription, making it a comprehensive good learning app for early learners.
Rating: 3.96
Installs: 10 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
14. PBS Kids Games
PBS, renowned for its educational programming, extends its mission through the PBS Kids Games app. The games feature beloved PBS Kids characters, fostering engagement and relatability. Unlike many apps with static content, PBS Kids Games adds new games weekly, ensuring fresh and engaging experiences. The app targets children aged 3-8 and is completely free to use, making it an excellent and accessible good learning app for young children.
Rating: 4.22
Installs: 5 million +
Download on iOS here | Android here
15. Hooked on Phonics Learn & Read
Hooked on Phonics Learn & Read is a superb choice for children beginning to read (ages 3-7). The app includes 36 progressive lessons incorporating games, videos, and activities to teach early reading skills. Over 100 ebooks are also included, enabling children to apply their newly acquired phonics skills to real stories. A 7-day free trial is offered, followed by a $7 monthly subscription, positioning Hooked on Phonics as a highly effective good learning app for early literacy.
Rating: 4.19
Installs: 500 thousand +
Download on iOS here | Android here
Maximize Learning with the Best Educational Apps
Whether your student aims to learn a new language, prepare for crucial exams, or explore other subjects, these top educational apps offer valuable resources. While these apps are excellent tools for self-motivated learners, some students thrive with structured curricula and personalized guidance from instructors. If that resonates with you, explore Create & Learn’s award-winning free coding introduction classes. Furthermore, your child might enjoy applying their coding abilities in an engaging free Minecraft coding event, where they can escape Dr. Breakowski’s mysterious mansion by dawn.
Written by Create & Learn instructor Dominic Occhietti. Dominic holds a degree from Michigan State University in music performance and computer science. He is passionate about teaching, whether it’s coding, French horn, or even skiing!
