The 50 best mastery-based apps for PreK-12th grades

Written By Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

We polled over 200k families from parent groups around the world to ask them educational apps their kids love, we then vetted them for scientific accuracy and pedagogical approach - and tested them with our group of 30 Modulo learners (PreK-12th grade)

In our quest for high quality educational apps, we were specifically looking for mastery-based apps that made learning fun and engaging. The very best apps went a step further by personalizing the experience for each student (the app learns about the child’s learning style and preferences as they play and customizes the experience as it goes) Another factor we were looking for is that these apps were ones that children could do independently while parents were working (after their parents had downloaded the app and helped them get get oriented).  

Here are our 50 favorites. And there is something great here for every age. We’ve categorized them by subject (and list grade level after every app) There are not as many apps specifically focused on science or creative writing, but the apps in the “complete curriculum” or “language arts” categories cover these subjects. 

We have a special category devoted to self-directed learning. Many of the most important skills for children to learn are not necessarily taught in school (critical thinking, autonomy and creativity to name a few). We hope you will enjoy exploring this category as well.

And without further ado, here are our 50 favorite apps. We recommend trying a few out with your student, seeing how they respond and then building a few into your daily repertory. Apps are supposed to be fun and nurture a love of learning, so there’s no reason to force your child to do an app they don’t love.

This lis is constantly growing as parents and teachers send us more great suggestions. If you have an app you think is missing from this list, please let us know!

Coding

  1. CodeSpark Academy https://codespark.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/codespark-academy-kids-coding/id923441570 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.codespark.thefoos Grades: All

  2. Scratch Jr https://www.scratchjr.org/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scratchjr/id895485086?ls=1 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.scratchjr.android Grades: All

Complete curriculum

  1. IXL https://www.ixl.com/apps https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ixl-math-practice/id693689912 Grades: All

  2. Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/khan-academy-learn-math-biology/id469863705 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.khanacademy.android Grades: All

  3. ABC Mouse https://www.abcmouse.com/abt/homepage https://apps.apple.com/us/app/abcmouse-com/id586328581 Grades: PreK-2nd

  4. Khan Academy Kids https://learn.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-kids/ https://learn.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-kids/clkg/https/itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1378467217?pt=698519&ct=landingpage&mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.khankids.android Grades: PreK-2nd (MODULO FAVORITE)***

  5. BrainPop and Brain Pop Jr https://www.brainpop.com/about/apps/ https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/brainpop/id364894355 https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=BrainPOP&hl=en_US Grades: PreK-8th grade (MODULO FAVORITE)***

  6. Adventure Academy https://www.adventureacademy.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adventure-academy/id1380452295 Grades: 2nd-8th

Foreign Language

  1. Duolingo https://www.duolingo.com/ https://apps.apple.com/app/duolingo-learn-spanish-french/id570060128 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo&hl=en_US Grades: All

  2. Gus on the Go https://www.gusonthego.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/toojuice/id396747437 https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=toojuice,+LLC Grades: PreK-1st

Geography

  1. Stack the Countries
 https://dan-russell-pinson.com/category/games/stack-the-countries/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-countries/id407838198 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freecloud.StackTheCountries&hl=en_US Grades: 2nd- Grownup

  2. Stack the States https://dan-russell-pinson.com/category/games/stack-the-states-2/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-states/id381342267 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freecloud.StackTheStates Grades: 2nd- Grownup

Grammar

  1. Madlibs https://www.madlibs.com/apps/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mad-libs/id326885152 Grades: All

Handwriting

  1. L’Escapadou Writing Wizard https://lescapadou.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/lescapadou/id367460664 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lescapadou.cursivefree&pcampaignid=MKT-Other-global-all-co-prtnr-py-PartBadge-Mar2515-1 Grades: PreK-2nd

How to read (early literacy)

  1. Read Along https://readalong.google/ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.seekh Grades: PreK-1st

  2. Teach Your Monster to Read https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/ https://apps.apple.com/app/teach-your-monster-to-read-phonics-and-reading/id828392046 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teachyourmonstertoread.tmapp Grades: PreK-1st

  3. Fast Phonics https://readingeggs.com/fast-phonics-games/ https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/blake-elearning/id530378341 https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Blake+eLearning+Pty+Ltd Grades: PreK-1st

  4. Homer https://learnwithhomer.com/w-105-010/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app-bundle/homer-reading-stories/id1446799970 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.learnwithhomer.webapp&hl=en_US Grades: PreK-2nd

  5. Reading Eggs https://readingeggs.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reading-eggs-learn-to-read/id726696040 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blake.readingeggs.android Grades: Prek-6th

  6. Duo Lingo ABC https://apps.apple.com/us/app/duolingo-abc-learn-to-read/id1440502568 not available Grades: Preschool

  7. 22L's sight words game https://22learn.com/app/4/sight-words.html https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sight-words-games-flash-cards/id530809322 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cz.cfc.androidgp.sightwords Grades: PreK-1st

Language Arts

  1. Dreamscape Squiggle Park https://www.squigglepark.com/dreamscape/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/squiggle-park-dreamscape/id1435417296?ls=1 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.SquigglePark.DreamScape Grades: PreK-2nd

  2. Get Epic https://www.getepic.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/epic-books-for-kids/id719219382 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getepic.Epic Grades: PreK-5th (MODULO FAVORITE)***

  3. Starfall https://www.starfall.com/h/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/starfall-free/id707189889 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.starfall.more&hl=en_US Grades: K-3rd

  4. Dragon Box Apps https://dragonbox.com/products https://itunes.apple.com/app-bundle/db-complete-math-pack/id1439041986?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=8158527847106528812 Grades: All

Math

  1. Math Seeds https://mathseeds.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/blake-elearning/id530378341 Grades: PreK-3rd

  2. Math Tango https://www.originatorkids.com/?p=1008 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1234698308?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 not available Grades: K-4th (MODULO FAVORITE)***

  3. Slice fractions https://ululab.com/slice-fractions/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/slice-fractions/id794730213 https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Ululab Grades: K-5th

  4. Prodigy https://www.prodigygame.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/prodigy-kids-math-game/id950795722 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prodigygame.prodigy&hl=en_US Grades: K-8th

  5. Fruit Ninja Academy https://academy.fruitninja.com/ https://apps.apple.com/app/fruit-ninja-academy-math-master/id914394279?ign-mpt=uo%3D6 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XBK1P78/ref=mas_dl Grades: 1st

Music

  1. Rhythm Cat https://melodycats.com/rhythm-cat/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rhythm-cat-hd/id583711348 https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=LMuse+Limited Grades: All

Movement

  1. Go Noodle https://family.gonoodle.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gonoodle-kids-videos/id1050712293 Grades: K-5th

  2. Endless Alphabet https://www.originatorkids.com/?p=564 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/endless-alphabet/id591626572 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.originatorkids.EndlessAlphabet&hl=en_US Grades: Preschool

Preschool

  1. Epic Games https://www.amazon.com/s?i=mobile-apps&rh=p_4%3AEpicGames&search-type=ss Grades: Preschool

  2. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox http://monkeypreschool.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/monkey-preschool-lunchbox/id328205875 Grades: Preschool

  3. Sesame Street https://www.sesamestreet.org/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sesame-street/id912435108 https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=7850090303831496329&hl=en_US Grades: Preschool

  4. Kiddopia https://kiddopia.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kiddopia-abc-toddler-games/id1223397201 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paperboatapps.google.kiddopia Grades: Preschool

Reading for dyslexic students

  1. Nessy https://www.nessy.com/us/apps/ https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/nessy-learning-limited/id410276291 https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=6265313553831027907 Grades: K-10th grade

Science

  1. Skyview https://www.terminaleleven.com/skyview/iphone/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/skyview/id404990064 https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Terminal+Eleven Grades: All

  2. Tiny Bop Apps https://tinybop.com/apps/the-human-body https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id682046579 Grades: All

  3. Elements App https://www.touchpress.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-elements-by-theodore-gray/id364147847 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.max.Elements&hl=en_US Grades: All

  4. Play and Learn Science (PBS) https://pbskids.org/apps/play-and-learn-science-.html https://apps.apple.com/us/app/play-and-learn-science/id1300256105 https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=8332149447945516079 Grades: PreK-2nd

  5. Wildkratts https://www.wildkratts.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wild-kratts-world-adventure/id844517266 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pbskids.wkwa Grades: PreK-2nd

  6. Tappity App https://www.tappityapp.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tappity-interactive-stories/id1265019371?ls=1 not available Grades: Prek-4th

Self-directed learning, critical thinking, creativity, social studies and other 21st century skills

  1. Kahoot https://kahoot.com/ https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1131203560 https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=5643238107618943124 Grades: All

  2. Youtube kids https://youtube.com/kids/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/youtube-kids/id936971630 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.youtube.kids Grades: All

  3. Tocaboca https://www.terminaleleven.com/skyview/iphone/ https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/toca-boca-ab/id419103351 https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/toca-boca-ab/id419103351 Grades: All (MODULO FAVORITE)***

  4. PBS Kids apps and games https://pbskids.org/apps/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pbs-kids-games/id1050773989 https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=PBS+KIDS Grades: PreK-2nd

  5. PBS kids videos https://pbskids.org/video/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pbs-kids-video/id435138734 Grades: PreK-2nd

  6. Minecraft https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/minecraft/id479516143 Grades: 2nd- Grownup

  7. Curiosity Stream https://curiositystream.com/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/curiositystream/id971830624 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.curiosity.curiositystream Grades: 3rd- Grownup

Typing

  1. Animal Typing https://apps.apple.com/us/app/animal-typing/id912022264 Grades: All

Manisha Snoyer (co-founder of Modulo)

For the last 20 years, I’ve taught over 2000 children in 3 countries (of all socio-economic backgrounds). I pioneered an English language program in a conflict region in the Middle East. I’ve worked as a bilingual public school teacher at some of the highest and lowest performing public schools and in all five boroughs of NYC. I’ve tutored 18 subjects in three languages to some of the wealthiest families in NYC, San Francisco and Paris to make up for shortcomings in private schools they were paying up to $60,000 a year to attend.

Since 2015, I’ve helped hundreds of parents start microschools (way before this was a household buzzword). I founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools and learning pods that was part of the Techstars 2018 class. In 2019, I created a virtual learning program to help families through the pandemic, a free online math tutoring program (masteryhour.org), and schoolclosures.org, a hotline developed in collaboration with Twilio and 80 other partners including Khan Academy, Revolution Foods and the Crisis Text Line, that served 100,000 families impacted by school closures.

I’ve climbed trees with children in forest schools in San Francisco, and tested new digital apps with kids in seven countries.

I’ve also coached dozens of families at different stages in their homeschooling journey. Most recently, I founded Modulo with homeschooling dad, best-selling author and tech entrepreneur Eric Ries, to help families curate their children’s education, social and childcare experiences drawing from a diverse array of in-person and online resources.


During the last three years, I’ve devoted much of my time to reviewing and testing secular homeschooling curriculum and other resource. I’ve spent the last three years talking to thousands of secular homeschooling families, and poring over tens of thousands of secular curriculum reviews and testing physical curriculum and digital apps for with hundreds of students to find the highest quality, most engaging, personalized learning materials for every type of learner.

I’ve spoken about homeschooling and modular learning at multiple venues including SXSW EDU, NY Tech Meetup, and on the LiberatedEd podcast.

In 2022, Modulo was one of 8 organizations who were awarded the Bridge Grant from the Vela Education Fund to expand access to homeschooling and modular learning to under-resourced communities.

My experience in education and homeschooling has led me to believe that there is no perfect education for every child, but families have an extraordinary amount of wisdom they can apply to building the perfect education for their individual child.

My goal with Modulo is to make it possible for any family to easily build a customized education that their child will love, and that will empower the whole family to thrive, taking into account, social, emotional and academic needs.

I love to answer questions from parents and receive feedback on how we can improve Modulo, so feel free to reach out anytime! I personally answer all the questions and comments readers leave on my blogs.

In my free time, I like hiking, traveling the world, tasting ceremonial grade matcha, enjoying dark chocolate.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Brandeis University with highest honors, with a double degree in French Literature and American Studies and minors in Environmental Studies and Peace & Conflict Studies.

And I love to learn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-snoyer-5042298/
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