Parents Ask: What Free App Can I Use at Home for My Kids?

The free app I recommend to parents every single time

"What free app can I use at home for my kids?" It is the question I get most from parents, and my answer rarely changes: start with the Khan Academy Kids app. It is genuinely free — no hidden subscription — and it covers more ground than most paid apps. Here is why it earns its place at the top.

Brilliant for K-2

It is built for exactly the age where good habits form. The interface is simple enough that young children can navigate it on their own, which means less "Mum, what do I press?" and more independent learning.

Phonics and English

Strong phonics games help early readers hear and build sounds, and the wider English activities cover a surprising range of topics, so children keep finding something new.

Maths that grows with them

The maths games start at numbers and counting and build up steadily — addition, subtraction, part-part-whole, counting in 2s, 5s, and 10s, and on to multiplication and division. Children can move at their own pace without feeling rushed or bored.

A huge reading library

There is a large library of books to read at home, which makes it easy to keep up reading practice outside school hours.

And a built-in colouring book

For downtime, there is a colouring book built right in — a nice way to keep younger children engaged without reaching for yet another app.

The bottom line

If a parent wants one free, safe, all-round app for a primary-aged child, Khan Academy Kids is where I tell them to start.