The Best Educational Apps That’ll Keep Kids Busy for Hours

We updated this article in March 2022 to add more information based on extensive research done by the Good Housekeeping Institute and cut down our top-rated picks to a curated list of 11 to help you make an easier decision.

It can be challenging to keep kids appropriately occupied sometimes, especially when school is out. Today's kids are spending a good chunk of their days on tablets, phones and other electronic devices and finding apps that provide kid-friendly, developmental content in bite-sizes pieces can be difficult. Using screen time to help supplement their education can be beneficial and fun, especially since many educational apps include games to make learning more exciting.

Our experts work together with our consumer panel to test the best children's apps out there based on ease of use, engagement, price point and tech pitfalls. We've reviewed dozens of apps to bring you our favorites. These are the best of the best for engaging, entertaining and educational content to help support and aid gaps while keeping your kids entertained, whether they're in pre-school or high school. Grab your charger (or portable battery) and download the best apps for kids in 2022:

Our top picks

• Best Overall Educational App for Kids: ABCmouse.com
• Best Educational App for All Ages: Khan Academy
• Best Educational App for Reading: Epic!
• Best Educational App for Kids in Preschool: Nick Jr.
• Best Educational App for Kids in Elementary School: Quick Math Jr.
• Best Educational App for Kids in High School: Duolingo
• Best Educational App for Kids Learning the Alphabet: Starfall ABCs
• Best Educational App for Multiple Kids: Homer Learn & Grow
• Best Educational Video App for Kids: Brainpop Jr. Movie of the Week
• Best Educational App for Coding Kids: Swift Playgrounds
• Best Educational App for Learning Piano: Simply Piano