A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
The Best Online Reading Programs for Kids (2026)
Apps, tutors and classes, picked by what your child needs. We run Bookstaken, so every price here has a source.
The short answer
It depends on what your child needs. For learning to read, a phonics app like Reading Eggs. For a child behind at school, short 1:1 lessons with Hoot Reading or Brighterly. For dyslexia, a structured literacy specialist. For a child aged 6–14 who already reads, keen or reluctant, and is ready to talk books through, form opinions and write their own stories: Bookstaken, which is us.
Pick by what your child needs
One pick for each, and what it costs.
Learning to read
Reading Eggs
$99.99 a year
Phonics games and lessons, ages 2–13
Also good: Hooked on Phonics, ages 3–8
A free start
Khan Academy Kids
Free
Reading and phonics games, ages 2–8
More books at home
Epic
$11.99 a month
A digital library for ages 12 and under
Behind at school
Hoot Reading
About $30–37 a lesson
25 minutes 1:1 with a qualified teacher
Also good: Brighterly, 45 minutes from $17.70
Dyslexia
A structured literacy specialist
About $113 an hour
Orton-Gillingham trained, 1:1
Learning with other children
Outschool
$10–26 a class
Small live classes, ages 3–18
A daily routine
Kumon
About $100–200 a month
Worksheets every day, plus centre visits
Speaking confidently, in India
PlanetSpark
Fees after a free trial
Live 1:1 public speaking and writing
Also good: Bambinos, small groups from ₹4,499 a month
- This is us
Thinking and talking about books
Bookstaken
$20 a session
A real book, talked through 1:1 with a college mentor: their own opinions, their own stories. Ages 6–14.
Side by side
Every program on this page. Prices checked October 2026.
| Program | Who it's for | Sessions | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | |||
| Reading Eggs | Ages 2–13 | Own pace | $99.99 a year |
| Hooked on PhonicsApp and books | Ages 3–8 | Own pace | About $80 a year |
| Khan Academy Kids | Ages 2–8 | Own pace | Free |
| EpicA digital library | Ages 12 and under | Own pace | $11.99 a month |
| Live 1:1 lessons | |||
| Hoot Reading | Pre-K to grade 8 | 25 minutes | $148 a month for one a week |
| Brighterly | Grades 1–9 | 45 minutes | From $17.70 a lesson |
| PlanetSparkIn India | K–12 | Not published | Fees after a free trial |
| Bookstaken This is usOn Google Meet | Ages 6–14 | 60 minutes | $20 a session |
| Tutors you choose | |||
| Varsity TutorsIn the US | All ages | You choose | Not published; about $70–100 an hour |
| TutorfulIn the UK | All ages | You choose | Set by each tutor |
| A dyslexia specialistOnline or in person | All ages | By the hour | About $113 an hour |
| Classes and centres | |||
| OutschoolSmall live groups | Ages 3–18 | 30–45 minutes | $10–26 a class |
| BambinosSmall live groups, in India | Ages 4–15 | 25 minutes | ₹4,499–4,999 a month |
| KumonLearning centres | Pre-K and up | Daily worksheets | About $100–200 a month, plus enrolment |
Loved by Parents, Enjoyed by Kids 💛
across the world
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
Where Bookstaken fits
More than reading: a mentor to think out loud with.
Every session, your child reads a real book picked for their interests, talks it through, gives their own verdict and writes their own story.
A good fit if your child
- Loves reading and wants someone to talk books with
- Reads, but keeps their thoughts to themselves
- Can read, but avoids books
- Is between 6 and 14
Look elsewhere if your child
- Is still learning letter sounds: try Reading Eggs or Hoot Reading
- Has dyslexia: see a structured literacy specialist
- Needs exam practice: a subject tutor suits better
60 minutes 1:1 with a trained college mentor, at $20 a session. The first session is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the best online reading program for kids?
It depends on what your child needs. For learning to read, a phonics app like Reading Eggs ($99.99 a year). For a child behind at school, 1:1 lessons with Hoot Reading or Brighterly. For dyslexia, a structured literacy specialist. For a child aged 6–14 to talk books through, form their own opinions and write their own stories, Bookstaken.
Q: What is the best online reading program for struggling readers?
First find out where the struggle is. If it's sounding out words, a phonics program or a 1:1 teacher like Hoot Reading. If it might be dyslexia, ask your child's school about an assessment and see a structured literacy specialist. If your child reads the words but doesn't understand or enjoy them, a 1:1 mentor who reads real books with them, like Bookstaken.
Q: What is the best free reading app for kids?
Khan Academy Kids is free, for ages 2–8, with reading and phonics games. Your local library may also lend e-books and audiobooks for free.
Q: What is the best online book club for kids?
A book club is a group: Outschool lists book clubs for kids, run by independent teachers. If your child would rather talk books through one to one, Bookstaken pairs them with a trained college mentor: a real book picked for their interests, 60 minutes a session, ages 6–14, with a report after each one.
Q: Is Outschool worth it for reading?
It can be, for trying a topic with other children at $10–26 a class. Each teacher runs their own classes, so quality varies: read the reviews, and check the class length and size.
See all 8 questions
Q: Is Kumon good for reading?
Kumon builds a daily habit with worksheets, which suits some children. It isn't live 1:1 teaching, and it costs about $100–200 a month per subject in the US, plus an enrolment fee.
Q: What are the best online English classes for kids in India?
PlanetSpark for live 1:1 spoken English and public speaking (fees after a free trial). Bambinos for live small groups, from ₹4,499 a month. Bookstaken for 1:1 reading with real books, ages 6–14, with a report after every session.
Q: Is Bookstaken a reading app?
No. Each session is 60 minutes, live and 1:1 on Google Meet, with a trained college mentor. Your child reads a real book picked for their interests, talks it through and writes their own story. The first session is free.
Sources, checked October 2026: Reading Eggs, Hoot Reading, Brighterly and Bambinos from their own pricing pages; Hooked on Phonics from ThePricer; Epic from its App Store listing; Khan Academy Kids from its own site; Outschool from its class listings and its pricing guide for teachers; Kumon from ThePricer and MyEngineeringBuddy; Varsity Tutors from PrepMaven; PlanetSpark and Tutorful from their own sites, which don't publish one price; specialist rates from The Reading Guru's 2026 study. Prices change, so check before you pay.
