📚 Reading apps and reading coaches · ➗ Math apps and platforms · 🧸 Early learning (ages 2-6)
Starfall
By Starfall Education Foundation (nonprofit). Visit Starfall
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Starfall is a long-running nonprofit website and app with reading and math games and activities for preschool through fifth grade. Its Learn-to-Read program walks children through letter sounds, phonics, fluency and comprehension in four steps and is free for every child. A paid membership unlocks the full set of reading, math and other activities. Children click or tap through activities on their own after an adult opens the site.
Our take: A safe, low-cost pick for preschool and early grades, especially for families who want no ads and no data collection.
Checked in a browser
A browser check on 2026-10-25: what loads, the ads and trackers we saw, and what a child meets first. Not a hands-on test.
| Child safety: 4 out of 5 | No ads or chat; Sign In, 'How to Join' and app links; a notice says the site has no advertising and does not collect personal information from children. |
|---|---|
| Data: 5 out of 5 | No third-party hosts were contacted at all. |
| Ease: 5 out of 5 | Big numbered 'Begin Step' buttons with pictures lead straight into the reading program. |
| Cost honesty: 3 out of 5 | Learn-to-read is free, but 'How to Join' and 'Become a Member' prompts invite paying to unlock math and more. |
What we found
- 0 third-party hosts; 2 first-party cookies
- No ad frames
- The page says the Learn-to-Read program is 'Free for every child, forever'
- Membership prompts ('Become a Member', 'Unlock geometry, measurement, and more') on the home page
From the test: No ads or third-party trackers at all and very easy to start; the reading steps are free, with a membership offered for more.
| Ages it suits | about 3-11 (Pre-K to grade 5) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Not stated as a minimum age. The terms are written for an adult user, who is responsible for any child they let use the service; Starfall says it never asks children for personal information. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Learn-to-Read is free; Home Membership $35 a year; educator plans from $70 a year (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android |
| Account | No account needed |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Core reading program free forever
- No ads or tracking
- Low yearly price for full access
- No child account needed
Watch for
- Simple, older-style activities
- Much content needs the paid membership
- Little feedback on the child's progress for parents
Data and privacy
Starfall says it shows no paid ads, does not track or profile users, does not sell data, does not store precise location, and never asks children for personal information; adults give an email to join. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The maker calls its program teacher-developed and research-backed; no independent study of Starfall found.
In the Big Index
- On the list Top 50 free game sites for kids (2026)
- On the list 20 best free learning game sites for kids
- On the list 16 best reading and word games for kids
- On the list 18 best learning games for preschoolers
- On the list Top 50 free learning sites for kids (2026)
- On the list 19 best apps for preschoolers (2026)
- Starfall
Alternatives to Starfall
Desk researchPaidNo ads
ABCmouse
Age of Learning, Inc. · ages about 2-6 (preschool to kindergarten)
A full preschool program for families who want one paid app; cancel carefully and watch the reward loop.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
ABCya
ABCya.com LLC (a division of IXL Learning) · ages about 4-12 (pre-K to grade 6+)
Handy for quick grade-level practice in class or at home; skip if you want an ad-free experience without paying.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Adventure Academy
Age of Learning, Inc. · ages grades 3-8 (about 8-13)
Good for kids who love online games and need a nudge toward school subjects; families wanting no social contact should set chat to off or choose a solo app.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Amazon Kids+ and Parent Dashboard
Amazon · ages 3-12
A good-value bundle for families already on Amazon devices with kids 3-12; skip it if your child mostly uses an iPad or a phone.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
AmblesideOnline
AmblesideOnline (volunteer advisory) · ages about 5-18 (Year 0 to Year 12)
A strong free plan for homeschool families drawn to Charlotte Mason and literature-rich learning; secular families or those wanting an interactive program should look elsewhere.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Amira Learning
Amira Learning · ages about 5-14 (school product; listed studies run from kindergarten to middle school)
Worth asking about if your child's school uses it; parents cannot buy it, so home users should look at family apps instead.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.starfall.com/h/
- https://teach.starfall.com/terms
- https://teach.starfall.com/privacy
- https://teach.starfall.com/about
- https://secure.starfall.com/lv/ways-to-join?ref=mp2026
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.