Today I’m so excited to share with you some of the very best kids reading apps for struggling readers. I’m going to show you 10 reading apps for kids that I think are the best out there to be able to help your child if they’re struggling with reading. I’m really excited about these reading programs, so let’s get started.
Readability Tutor – Reading Apps for Struggling Readers
First on our list of kids reading apps for struggling readers is an app called Readability Tutor. What makes this app interesting is that it makes kids read out loud and provides real time feedback through an interactive AI tutor.
In addition to helping kids with their reading, this app also helps with reading comprehension and vocabulary. The app can be used by kids from age 3 all the way up to age ten and older. It really depends on how much they are struggling with reading.
There are 3 levels to the Readability Tutor app based on how well your child is reading. For pre-readers you’ll choose story time mode where the app will read to your child. For beginning readers, the app will have them read word by word. And for more advanced readers, they’ll read full sentences at a time. You can also set a daily reading goal and custom reading schedule.
When your child opens the app, they can read the suggested story or choose something from the library. Then they’ll read the story out loud and get help from the AI tutor as they go. They also provide some helpful analytics for parents so you can see your child’s progress.
You can get a 30 day free trial of Readability Tutor if you go to their website. After your free trial is up, you’ll pay $19.99 a month for up to 3 students.
If you’re interested in seeing the Readability Tutor app more in depth, I have a full review video on my YouTube channel that you can check out.
Reading Apps for Struggling Readers #2 – Reading Horizons
Next on our list is an online reading program called Reading Horizons. This reading program has 2 levels based on age and reading level, Reading Horizons Discovery and Reading Horizons Elevate. You can try out either program for 30 days for $10.
Reading Horizons Discovery is an Orton-Gillingham-based, program that teaches phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling and reading fluency. Kids will learn the rules for spelling and pronouncing words correctly. And it’s definitely a fun program that I think kids, especially younger kids will enjoy.
And for older kids with learning gaps, you’ll definitely want to try out the Elevate program. This program will be especially helpful for kids with dyslexia, special education needs, and students for whom English is not their first language. This is recommended for anyone age ten and over who needs help with reading, including adults.
In addition to the online programs, you can also purchase printed materials, or you can get a bundle which will include both the printed materials and the online program. If you purchase just the online program, you’ll pay $199 for up to 2 students. This will include online access for one year.
It can be a little difficult to find the at-home version of the program online, so I have that link for you here if you need it.
Readarific Reading Comprehension Program
The next reading program on our list isn’t really an app, but I had to include it because it’s really like the holy grail find for struggling readers, especially for kids who have a hard time with reading comprehension. It’s called Readarific, and it’s a 12 week program that you can do at home that will take about 15 minutes a day. And I’m sure if you give this program a try you’ll be absolutely amazed by the results.
My 10 year old daughter did this reading program over the summer, and I was truly amazed when I found out she had gained 3 years of reading comprehension in 3 months. I did not think that was even possible.
And you won’t find an easier to follow program. Just sit down and press play and the video will walk you through exactly what you have to do. It teaches a skill that can help correct the negative effects of having too much screen time by training kids to use the seeing part of the brain. It’s really so amazing, if your child struggles with reading or even if they just aren’t really enjoying reading, this is a must have program.
Unfortunately, a program that promises such amazing results does not come cheap. The full 12 week program will cost $594, although you will get a 14 day money back guarantee on your purchase. And if you want to save 10% off that price, use this link and code GIFT10 for a 10% discount. And that price does include as many students as you want, so definitely take advantage if you have more than one child. Even kids who don’t really struggle with reading can definitely benefit from learning this skill.
I also have a before and after video of the Readarific program on my YouTube channel that you should definitely take the time to watch if you’re considering this reading program for your child.
Night Zookeeper
Another great kids reading app that’s really good for struggling readers is Night Zookeeper. This is a really fun program that teaches all the basics like grammar, spelling and vocabulary, but it’s also a creative writing program and it’s a lot of fun for kids. It’s definitely not your standard reading app, and I really like that about it.
The Night Zookeeper reading program is recommended for kids ages 6 to 12, so it will be best for kids who already have the basic skills down. But like most of these kids reading apps, you can adjust the age level to best suit your student.
Kids will create their own zoo animals and level them up by completing tasks in the zoo. There are fun learning games and writing prompts, and it really feels more like a game than a learning program, which will definitely appeal to a lot of kids. When my daughter was doing this program last year she kept asking me why I was having her do this for school. It’s definitely sneaky how it incorporates reading and writing in a way that feels like play.
I have reviewed Night Zookeeper on my YouTube channel in-depth, so be sure to watch that video if you want to see more about this program. And if you want to get a 7 day free trial and a 50% off coupon, use this link.
Hooked on Phonics
Next is probably my favorite reading app for younger kids, Hooked on Phonics. I’ve recently started my 4 year old twins on this program and they’re really liking it so far. It’s a great program to teach the basics of phonics to kids who are just learning the letters and their sounds, but it’s also a great program for kids who are a little bit older and having trouble with reading.
Hooked on Phonics has two main levels to the program, pre reader mode and learn to read mode. The pre reader level introduces kids to the letters and their sounds, and once they’ve mastered that, they’ll move on to the learn to read level where they’ll start with learning to blend sounds and move into reading words, sentences and full stories. And you don’t have to start at the beginning. You can pick where you want to start in the program based on your child’s age and ability level.
You can get your first month of Hooked on Phonics for just $1, and they’ll even send you a practice pack in the mail which I think is really cool. And you’ll even get Hooked on Math and Hooked on Spelling included at no additional charge.
Nessy Reading and Spelling – Reading Apps for Struggling Readers
Next is a kids reading app that’s very popular with struggling readers called Nessy Reading and Spelling. This program has been around since 1999 and can be used to help improve reading skills for kids ages 6 to 11, although it can definitely be used by older kids who would benefit from the program.
The Nessy reading program teaches phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension and spelling with video lessons, games, and printable worksheets. And I really like that they start with an assessment so they can provide your student with a personalized learning path.
You can get a 7 day free trial of this reading program without having to give them your credit card info, and I really appreciate companies that do that. It makes me feel like they must really believe in their program when they aren’t relying on you forgetting to cancel. After your free trial, if you want to keep this program it will cost $13.50 a month, which is very reasonable.
And if you have a child with dyslexia you might really want to try out this program. While any child can use the Nessy Reading and Spelling program and benefit from it, it was especially designed for children with dyslexia. So it’s definitely a must try for those students especially.
Teach Your Monster
The next kids reading app on our list is called Teach Your Monster to Read. This is an app that can be done on different devices, but if you do it on your computer it’s free, so that might be some incentive not to get the app, although the app is only $8.99 on the Google Play store, so that’s not bad.
The Teach Your Monster reading app is designed to cover the first 2 years of learning to read skills, so its definitely meant for younger kids. But of course like most of these programs, if you have a child who could benefit from practicing these phonics skills, you might still want to give it a try.
I think you might be surprised at the quality of this reading app. A lot of free kids learning apps out there really aren’t that good, but this is one that I think is really great. It reminds me a lot of Hooked on Phonics in the way the letters and letters sounds are taught and practiced. And you’ll even get parent analytics included so you can see how your child is progressing through the program.
IXL Program for Struggling Readers
Another learning program that I talk a lot about on my YouTube channel is IXL. But I had to include it on the list of the best reading apps for struggling readers because it really is one of the best programs out there for identifying and helping to close gaps in learning. And you can get the program just for language arts for just $9.95 a month, which is a great price for all that’s included.
IXL covers reading and language arts skills from PreK all the way through high school, but you can also just go by topic, and choose from phonics, phonological awareness, reading comprehension, spelling and vocabulary. Once you pick a topic, you can go in order by grade level, or just pick specific skills that you want your child to practice.
My favorite part of the IXL Learning Program is the diagnostic arena. Just have your child step into the arena and start answering questions, and IXL will be able to determine where your child may need extra help, and will even suggest specific skills to practice based on how your child is answering the questions.
If you just go to the IXL website, they don’t mention a free trial. But I do have a link for you here where you can go to get a 7 day free trial of IXL. I also have a 20% off coupon for you.
Lexia Core5
Next we have a reading program for kids in PreK through 5th grade from Lexia Learning called Lexia Core 5. This is a program that is used in schools and is designed to accelerate the development of literacy skills for students of all abilities. And this program has been proven to close gaps in learning, especially for kids who are behind grade level in their reading skills.
If you want to try this reading program at home, you won’t find it on the Lexia website. But I have the link for you here where you can go to purchase a license for home use. The cost for one student is $175 for a 12 month subscription, and you will get a 72 hour money back guarantee if you don’t end up liking the program.
In addition to the core 5 program, there is also a program for older students called Lexia Power Up. This is for struggling readers who need a more grown up looking platform rather than the little kid lessons used in the Core 5 program.
And for kids who already know how to read but could use some more extensive practice in learning to read faster, recognize new words, and comprehend what they read, you can get Reading Plus from this website, although it’s from Dreambox Learning, not Lexia. So you can get any of those programs for $175 for 12 months.
Grafari
Finally, last on our list is a reading app for kids who struggle with spelling called Grafari. This is from the same company that created the math program Calcularis that I recently reviewed on my YouTube channel. And although I wasn’t all that impressed with that program, I think you might want to check out Grafari, especially if you have kids with dyslexia.
This program is a little bit different than the other kids reading apps on the list, because it focuses specifically on the skills of writing and spelling. And it promises that with just 3 20 minute sessions per week, your child will see up to a 30% increase in writing and spelling accuracy in about 3 months.
For a program that’s basically just for spelling, this is a little on the expensive side. While you can get a 3 day free trial, after that you’ll be paying $99 for a 3 month subscription, or $240 per year.
This program is definitely simple for kids to follow, and since it focuses on just this one skill, you should be able to see if it’s working in a relatively short amount of time. The use of colors, shapes and sounds to help kids brains be able to map the spoken versions of words onto their written forms is very interesting. It’s all very scientific, but I think it might be a great option if you have a child who struggles in this area.
So that’s my list of the 10 best kids reading apps for struggling readers. Hopefully I’ve given you some good options to check out. I know there are some other programs out there that I didn’t have time to include on my list, so if there’s anything you think I missed, let me know in the comments and maybe I’ll make a part two. And I’d also love to hear from you if there are any reading programs that you’d like to see more in depth!
