We Reviewed Dozens Of The Best Learning ABCs Apps for Kids So You Don’t Have To. Here Are Our Top Picks.[2022 Updated]
Did you know that children start laying the foundation for reading in infancy? The earlier they begin to have experiences with letters and words, the more equipped they will be to learn to read when the time is right. So show them letters, talk about sounds, and generally operate like they understand you. And sooner or later, they will!
New alphabet apps are popping up every day. Some are best for younger kids around preschool age and others are for kids who are ready to read and learn their alphabet. We searched far and wide and found some great alphabet apps that are unique and fun. Here are some of the most Amazing Alphabet Apps For Kids! Our roundup of some of the best alphabet apps out there!
1.Endless Alphabet
Price: $8.99 on iOS App Store; Free on Google Play Store with in-app purchase of $8.99 to unlock content
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
One of my all-time favorite educational apps, Endless Alphabet, also scored the 2o13 App of the Year Runner-Up in the App Store. Endless Alphabet is a beautifully designed alphabet app for kids that features an immersive, interactive experience. Kids will join all sorts of little monsters as they build their vocabulary, literally. Each word in the app features an interactive puzzle game with talking letters, and a short animation that will illustrate the definition of the word. There are over 50 words to learn (in an ever-growing collection). This app is not to be missed!
The app presents letters with delightful animations and engaging puzzles. Best of all, it’s designed to build vocabulary, too! Imagine your preschooler spouting words like “gargantuan” and “cooperate.” Children will love to hunt through the alphabet for monsters, and then rescue letters from the monster stampede to put them back in their proper order.
The app encourages free play, with no high scores or failures to worry about. It’s a low-stress game that children will love, which makes it perfect for early learners. It costs $8.99 on the App Store, and it’s free to try with an in-app purchase of $8.99 on Google Play.
It’s consistently highly-rated on both app stores. It’s also very popular with users, having a whopping 4.7 stars on both app stores.
2.Dinosaur Train A to Z
Price: $1.99 with in-app purchases
The Dinosaur Train A to Z app teaches children their dinosaur alphabet from A to Z! Brought to you by PBS KIDS, this alphabet app features the essential dinosaur collection, and encourages children to explore the subjects of life science and natural history. Through the letters of the alphabet, children will learn about 26 dinosaurs – feeding them, x-raying them, and learning unique facts about each one along the way! The app also features a dinosaur index with sorting and classification filters to help children build their science inquiry skills.
It offers in-app purchases of packs of other groups of dinosaurs for ninety-nine cents each or an ultimate complete pack for $4.99. This is definitely one unique alphabet app you don’t want to miss!
3.AlphaTots Alphabet
Price: $2.99
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
AlphaTots Alphabet app is a great alphabet app brought to you by Spinlight Studio. This app introduces the alphabet through 26 action verbs…b is for building robots, d is for digging for treasure, and z is for zapping alien spaceships! Each letter of the alphabet features a fun preschool puzzle or mini-game that will teach children the letter as well as an action verb that begins with that particular letter.
In addition to the interactive alphabet, there is also a great sing-a-long song to help children memorize their ABC’s. A perfect alphabet app that will help your child spring into learning!
4.ABC Alphabet Phonics Games for Kids Based on Montessori Learning Approach
Price: $1.99 with in-app purchases
ABC Alphabet Phonics is an awesome take on animated flashcards. Kids can enjoy 26 animated flashcards, one for each letter of the alphabet. Kids can learn their alphabet, as well as phonics sounds as they explore the interactive elements of each page. Each letter page has multiple touch points that allow children to interact as they expand their vocabulary – there are over 100 interactions. This app is full of phonetic fun and great interactive learning opportunities!
The app costs $1.99 and offers in-app purchase to add functionality such as letter tracing, vowel sounds and more for $2.99 each. You can also purchase the “all in one learning center” for $9.99.
5.Elmo Loves ABCs
Price: $4.99 with in-app purchases
This award-winner has songs and videos about each letter. There are coloring pages and other activities, too. Kids will learn about letter sounds, letter tracing, and much, much more.
The app has some in-app purchases. There is a seasonal fun pack available for ninety-nine cents. One unique feature about this app is you can add your own content to help your child learn even more.
6.Dr. Seuss’s ABC
Price: $3.99
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
No collection of ABC apps would be complete without mentioning this classic! The ebook version comes from Oceanhouse Media, so you know it’s high quality. Each page features surprises and interactions to explore, all related to the letter in focus. It’s hilarious and fun and engaging.
Dr. Seuss’s ABC is very inexpensive for all of the hours of fun and learning your child will enjoy.
7.Alphabet Sounds Word Study
Price: $2.99
This app is just the ticket when your child is ready to transition from learning ABCs to learning how to read. It feeds students developmentally appropriate spelling activities that are designed to move them forward in the same way that spelling naturally develops. Don’t be surprised as your young learner starts to represent beginning sounds, then ending sounds, then medial vowels- this is exactly what is supposed to happen! Left to develop in this way, children learn to conform more and more of their invented spellings to more conventional versions over the course of the elementary years.
This app will nudge them along a developmental spelling pathway. It makes a great supplement to the rote-learning lists so common in the early grades because it is more developmentally appropriate.
8.Joy Joy ABC 123 Tracing Game
Price: Free with in-app purchases to unlock content
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
Is it time for your child to start learning to write? This app provides some great stepping-stones. There are tracing opportunities galore here, as well as letter matching and some other games that will keep toddlers and preschoolers engaged as they learn.
The free version of the app is limited. You will need to make in-app purchases to unlock all the letters, access additional games, and remove ads.
9.Interactive Alphabet ABC’s
Price: $2.99
iOS App Store
Interactive Alphabete ABC’s is designed to grow with your young child as he or she learns about letters. The “Baby Mode” introduces the very young to letters by showing the interactive toys. Later, children can trace letters, and eventually pair the letters with sounds and words that begin with the key letter.
The app is designed to allow both writing and typing. Parents can add their own content, too, which is amazing. This app has some great features for young children or those with special needs. You should check it out today!
10.ABC Kids – Tracing & Phonics
Price: Free
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
Fun, simple, and free are some great words to describe ABC Kids – Tracing & Phonics. This app offers low-key and engaging alphabet experiences that are just right for toddlers and preschoolers who’d like to begin to learn about reading. There are tracing activities, pictures that help children associate key words with letters, and matching games that will challenge them.
The app is full-featured and free, with no advertisements or in-app purchases, which will set parents’ minds at ease.
11.Starfall ABCs
Price: Free
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
Here’s a gem from the creators of the Starfall website for beginning readers. Kids will see, hear, and interact with letters, words, and even entire sentences in this wonderful app that supports prereading and reading readiness skills.
The app is a great supplemental source for learning in the toddler and preschooler years, and offers an outstanding opportunity for parents and caregivers to chime in and learn how to help young ones get ready to read. Be sure to take time to use it with your children!
12.LetterSchool – Learn to Write
Price: Free with in-app subscription purchases
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
LetterSchool – Learn to Write is nearly perfect as a tracing app. It helps children learn how to form all the letters, capital and lower case, in a variety of styles from block letters to cursive, and more. The app also includes number tracing, geometric shape tracing, and simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words to read and trace.
There is a parent tracking system so you can see and document children’s progress. Kids will adore the engaging animations, and parents and teachers will appreciate the great activities and content. The in-app purchases offer various subscription plans.
13.Joy Joy ABC 123
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
The app has been designed for kids between the ages of 1 and 5 years and will help them learn the English alphabets and build their vocabulary. Baby Joy Joy: Tracing Letters, which is available on Apple Store and Google Play, is an app that parents can use to introduce their children to letters, sounds and words. It also helps parents support their kids’ learning and develop a foundation in early reading.
Full features:
* This is a free app, Offers In-App Purchases.
* Teaches kids English alphabets.
* Kids can learn through colorful characters and interactive games. They can tap and trace alphabets to make them appear on screen.
Baby Joy Joy Characters: Baby Joy Joy, Super Monkey, Little Blue Brother, Frog, Kitten, Duck
14.Metamorphabet: Amazing ABC’s
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
Children can poke, prod, and otherwise manipulate the ABCs to discover huge surprises for each one. The app will provide countless playful opportunities to learn about letters and increase vocabulary.
Parents will appreciate that there are no in-app purchases in this app. The app is so intuitive that kids of all ages will be able to use it with next to no learning curve. This app costs $4.99 on the App Store and $3.99 on Google Play.
15.Talking ABC
Delight your young learner with this claymation animated look at the alphabet. Each letter is introduced with a special clay animal. The app also includes 6 alphabet games to round out the offerings.
Your youngster will also learn by singing the cute alphabet song and two modes: letters and sounds. The artwork is unique and interesting, so it will be unlike anything your child has ever seen.
Learning the alphabet is important to continued school success, so get things off to a great start. This app is a fun way to practice letter recognition and letter sounds. It costs $2.99.
16.ABC Animals – Your Alphabet Letters Mini Adventure
Hundreds of animal words and over a thousand unique animal photographs are featured in this app that will keep children entertained and learning for hours. Each letter and animal connects to a carefully screened YouTube video for even more adventurous fun.
One unique feature is that this app is customizable. Put in your own pictures and record your own voice overs for a very personal touch every young child will love. The app costs ninety-nine cents.
17.ABC Go
What little one doesn’t love things that go? This ABC app maximizes that interest by sharing all kinds of things that go paired with delightful photos and printed words for each letter of the alphabet.
With a simple interface and built-in video clips, this app is perfect for the very young as well as older kids who are focused on learning their ABCs. The videos are served from YouTube, so the app does need an active internet connection to operate correctly. This app costs $2.99.
18.Montessorium: Intro to Letters
Here’s a thorough and complete introduction to the alphabet that is developmentally appropriate as only Montessori techniques can be. This app features interactive activities that will help your child learn to recognize capital and lowercase letters, match sounds to letters, trace letters, and more.
In true Montessori style, this app is not too frilly or distracting but offers naturally engaging explorations of the alphabet. Kids can learn at their own pace and in their own way. The app also includes a recording studio, allowing parents to record their own versions of the sounds and words in a familiar voice. It’s a must-have, especially if your child is struggling a bit to learn letters. It costs $3.99.
19.Interactive Alphabet ABCs
Interactive Alphabet ABCs offers five different modes of play that grow with your child. Even young toddlers can join in the fun with the interactive tour (developers say it’s suitable for ages 1+).
Kids can learn the ABC Song, get a dose of matching keyword pictures with letters, working with capital and lowercase letters, and more. The app moves gradually to more challenging activities when your child is ready, so it’s a great way to begin learning.
In addition, this app is highly customizable. Users can add their own alphabet pictures, choose left-handed support for tracing activities, and more. Hats off to the developers! The app costs $2.99.
Tracing & Writing
20.iWrite Words (Handwriting Game)
Take some of the tedium out of handwriting practice with this gem. Kids will enjoy helping Mr. Crab collect the balls as they drag their finger in the proper strokes to correctly form the letters. Spell the complete word to see a cute drawing.
Sometimes the toughest part of teaching children to write is the boredom they experience while practicing to gain the proper control of their muscles and to learn the strokes to make letters. This app adds some fun to the experience.
In addition, children will develop fine motor skills and will have fun while they practice. The app costs $2.99.
21.Scribble Cards
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
Lots of writing practice here! This simple and no-frills flashcard set gives your child plenty of opportunities to trace, copy and write capitals, lowercase letters, and numbers. Kids get to see the letter or number and then copy it. The recognition software will help them know how close they came.
The app is extremely simple to use, with a clean, no-nonsense interface. It is very child-friendly and can be used without Wi-Fi or internet. The app costs ninety-nine cents.
22.ABC Preschool Kids Tracing & Phonics Learning Game
This app rolls activities from the entire preschool curriculum into one, but it focuses on tracing and writing. Kids can trace and write letters, numbers, shapes, straight lines, curves, and more. They can also practice their colors, shapes, and numbers.
There is a range of activities, so it’s suitable for the very young up through about kindergarten or level. Parents should be aware, however, that there are advertisements and in-app purchases of $2.99 within this app. Be sure to review it thoroughly to make sure it is right for your child.
23.Writing Wizard for Kids
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
Kids can write and trace not only letters and numbers, but also entire words with this comprehensive app. One really nice feature is that adult users can enter their own words and voice overs, which adds a nice personal touch and also makes the app good for practicing those early spelling lists.
Another nice feature is that there are several fonts to choose from. The app also uses stickers and other motivational tools to help your child stay on track with learning. It costs $4.99 on the App Store, and is free with in-app purchases between ninety-nine cents and $4.99 on Google Play.
Letter Sounds & Phonics
24.Starfall ABCs
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
The people behind the Starfall Reading website have put together a delightful app to help preschoolers get ready to read. Children will see, hear, and interact with letters at the word and sentence levels, and get to play games as well.
Some activities include matching capital to lowercase letters, seeing the capital and lowercase letters while hearing their names and sounds, seeing vivid keyword pictures to match each letter, and following the alphabet through a maze.
The app provides lots of kinds of productive practice with foundational skills that kids need to get ready to learn to read. It’s free to download and play.
25.Pinkfong ABC Phonics
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
26 dynamic letter games will engage your preschooler as he or she learns about letter sounds. The app includes tracing and letter songs as well.
One unique feature is ABC Phonics’ alphabet photo frames. The app can take your pictures and put an A-to-Z photo frame around it. Decorate your pictures with frames such as “K is for kiss” or add a witch’s hat and the letter W.
This free version of the app is limited, but it will allow you to make a good decision about purchasing the full version. The free version does include in-app purchases of $1.99 each and outside advertisements.
26.The Joy of Reading
iOS App Store / Google Play Store
This great app focuses on phonemic awareness- the foundational understandings of how letters make sounds and are spoken in sequence to build words. It includes 8 games that are perfect for preschoolers and even early readers. The app is bright, colorful and encouraging.
It costs $3.99 on the App Store and $4.49 on Google Play.
27.ABC House
Young children will learn to connect spoken words with the letters and sounds that make them up in this cool app. There are over 60 everyday objects to explore by the letters that make the words. It also includes over 100 video clips to show the items in use.
The app costs $2.99. And if your child likes it, there are 10 other similar offerings from the same developer using different topics.