The kids' software directory

Classroom tools

What teachers use to run a class.

130 researched
1 to know about
122 more on G2, not yet researched

Researched by Peabody

Facts from each maker's own pages (terms, pricing, privacy), with our one-line take. A to Z; we rank nothing until we have tried it.

Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
99math
99math (Estonia) · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
A low-effort, free way for teachers to make fact practice lively; parents of kids who dislike timed competition may want a calmer tool.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Adobe Express for Education
Adobe · ages grades K-12 through a school
A good free option for schools that want design and AI in one tool and will set the admin controls; families cannot set it up for a young child on their own.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
AI Literacy Lessons for Grades K-12
Common Sense Education · ages grades K-12 (AI-specific lessons start in grade 6)
A good free starting point for teachers and parents who want to talk about AI with middle and high schoolers; anyone wanting hands-on AI building should pair it with a project-based course.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
AI Unplugged
Stefan Seegerer and Annabel Lindner (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg) · ages about 10-18 (designed for lower and upper secondary; some activities adapt for primary)
A strong free choice for teachers or homeschool parents who want kids to understand how AI learns without using AI tools; families wanting a ready-to-run app 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.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Arcademics
Arcademics · ages about 6-14 (grades 1-8)
Fine for quick fact-fluency races at school or home; families who want no ad tracking or who have a child anxious about speed should skip it.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Autodesk Fusion (Education)
Autodesk · ages about 14+ (high school and up)
Worth it for high schoolers serious about engineering or 3D printing; younger makers should start with Tinkercad.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
BandLab (SongStarter, BandLab for Education)
BandLab Technologies (BandLab Singapore Pte Ltd) · ages 13+ on the public app; younger students only through BandLab for Education
BandLab for Education is a strong free pick for school music classes; teens can use the main app with a parent's okay, but younger kids should stay in the classroom version.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Be Internet Awesome: Interland
Google · ages about 7-12
A good free starting point for online safety with kids 7-12, best paired with family talks since the game alone did not change behavior in testing.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Beanstack
Joyful Reading Company · ages all ages; K-12 for schools
Worth using for your library's summer reading program; skip the streak pressure if it makes reading feel like homework.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Book Creator
Book Creator (part of Kami) · ages about 4-18
A strong fit for teachers who want kids to author multimedia books themselves; not a tool for AI-generated stories.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
BrainPOP (and BrainPOP Jr.)
BrainPOP · ages about 5-14 (K-8+)
Excellent when a school provides it; families paying alone should try the free sneak peek first.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Brisk Teaching
Brisk Teaching · ages grades K-12 (students through school)
A low-cost, privacy-minded helper for teachers; parents may want to ask whether essays get teacher comments or only AI comments.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Canva for Education (Magic Studio)
Canva · ages grades K-12 through a teacher
A solid, free choice for school design projects when teachers set the AI controls; not for under-13s at home.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Canvas LMS
Instructure · ages grades K-12 and college
Parents do not pick Canvas, but if your school uses it, install the Parent app and ask which outside tools are connected to your child's courses.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Civic Online Reasoning
Digital Inquiry Group · ages about 11-18 (middle school to college)
Among the stronger free options for teaching teens to check what they read online; parents wanting a self-paced app for kids will need to adapt it.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
ClassDojo
ClassDojo, Inc. · ages about 4-14 (preschool through middle school)
Handy for families whose teacher already uses it; parents can stick with the free core and skip the paid extras.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
ClassLink LaunchPad
ClassLink, Inc. · ages grades K-12
Parents do not pick it, but should ask their district whether the selfie login is turned on and how photos are stored.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Clever
Clever Inc. · ages grades K-12
Parents do not choose it, but it is worth knowing which apps your district connects through it.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Code Club
Raspberry Pi Foundation (UK charity) · ages about 9-13 (school-aged)
A proven, free way for kids 9-13 to learn coding with others; families without a local club can use the same projects at home.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
CodeAI (formerly Code.org), incl. Hour of AI
CodeAI (nonprofit, formerly Code.org) · ages grades K-12
A dependable free starting point for classrooms and families; check the outside organization's rules before using any Hour of AI activity not made by CodeAI.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
CodeHS
CodeHS, Inc. (also owner of Tynker) · ages grades K-12 (mostly middle and high school)
A strong school choice for teens learning to code; families can use it for homeschool courses.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
CommonLit
CommonLit (nonprofit) · ages about 8-18 (grades 3-12)
A strong free choice for teachers wanting good reading passages with questions; parents looking for a home reading app for young kids should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
CS Unplugged
Computer Science Education Research Group, University of Canterbury (New Zealand) · ages about 5-14
A great free pick for teachers and homeschool parents who want screen-free computing lessons; kids who want to start coding right away need a separate tool.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Curipod
Curipod · ages grades K-12
A sensible choice for classrooms that want more writing with quick feedback and a teacher in the loop; not a home product.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Dash
Wonder Workshop (now MORAVIA Education) · ages about 6-11
A dependable coding robot for ages 6-11 with clear privacy promises; families wanting no screens should look at Cubetto or KIBO.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Day of AI
Day of AI (nonprofit, founded through MIT RAISE) · ages grades pre-K-12
A solid free choice for teachers who want structured AI lessons at every grade; parents looking for an app a child can use alone should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Desmos (and Amplify Classroom)
Desmos Studio PBC; classroom lessons by Amplify Education · ages about 10-18 for the calculators; grades K-12 for Amplify Classroom lessons
Every middle and high schooler should know the calculator; younger kids get more from the teacher-led Amplify Classroom activities than from the tools on their own.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Diffit
Diffit, Inc. · ages grades K-12 (teacher tool)
A helpful, low-risk tool for teachers and homeschool parents preparing reading at several levels; there is nothing here for a child to use alone.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Discovery Education Experience
Discovery Education · ages grades K-12
A solid teacher resource library; parents will see it only through school, and it is a supplement rather than something to judge a child's learning by.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips
Discovery Education, Inc. · ages grades K-12 (each trip lists grades)
A useful free extra for teachers and homeschoolers, with an eye on who sponsored each trip; kids looking for hands-on learning will want more than video.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
DreamBox Math
Discovery Education (formerly DreamBox Learning) · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
A well-tested choice for K-5 math at school or home; families who want free practice or older-grade content may look elsewhere.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Edison robot
Microbric (Edison) · ages 4-16 (maker's range)
A budget-friendly classroom robot that spans barcodes to Python; families wanting app control or AI features should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle · ages grades K-12 (students invited by a teacher)
A popular, low-risk teacher tool; parents meet it through homework, and there is little to manage at home.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Edthena AI Coach
Edthena (R3 Collaboratives) · ages for teachers; students appear in classroom video
A teacher-growth tool; parents should only care about how their school handles classroom recording consent.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Eduaide.AI
Eduaide.AI · ages for teachers (materials for grades K-12)
A cheap, teacher-only planning helper with clean data rules; not something a child or parent uses.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Education.com
Education.com, Inc. (IXL Learning) · ages about 4-14 (pre-K to grade 8)
A practical source of printables and practice for parents and teachers; kids get the most from it with an adult choosing the work.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
enVision Mathematics (Savvas Realize)
Savvas Learning Company · ages grades K-12
Families get it through school; ask whether your district has the AI features on and how student data is handled.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Estimation 180
Andrew Stadel · ages grades 3-8 (about 8-14)
A simple, well-liked warm-up for teachers and homeschool parents of grades 3-8; it is a daily habit, not a full math program.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Eureka Math
Great Minds · ages PreK-grade 12
Useful for parents whose child's school uses it and who want to follow along with the free tip sheets; homeschoolers wanting a gentle, self-paced program may find it heavy.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Eureka Math²
Great Minds PBC · ages PreK to Algebra I (about 4-15)
A well-regarded core math curriculum your district picks; ask for parent guides if the methods look new.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Experience AI
Raspberry Pi Foundation with Google DeepMind · ages about 8-16, mainly 11-14
A good free pick for teachers and club leaders of 11-14-year-olds; families wanting a self-guided app for kids should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
FarmFood 360
Farm & Food Care (Canadian agriculture group) · ages about 9 and up (grades 5-12)
A good free look inside farms for classes and curious kids, best paired with a talk about where the content comes from.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Flint
Flint, Inc. · ages grades 3-12 (schools usually start in grade 3)
A reasonable choice for schools that want an AI tutor teachers can supervise closely; children under 13 can use it only through a school.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Foundations A-Z
Learning A-Z (LAZEL, Inc., a Cambium Learning Group company) · ages about 5-11 (grades K-5)
A solid choice for K-5 teachers or homeschool families who want a structured phonics plan; parents of a child who already reads well will get little from it.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI)
Heinemann (part of HMH) · ages grades K-8 (systems by level)
A long-used small-group intervention with independent early-grade evidence; parents of struggling readers should ask how often their child is seen and how progress is measured.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Freckle
Renaissance Learning · ages about 5-18 (grades K-12; math through Algebra 2)
A reasonable school pick for differentiated practice, especially in districts already using Star tests; families can't buy it directly.
Desk researchThrough schools
Fundations
Wilson Language Training · ages grades K-5
A solid school phonics core for early grades; parents mostly meet it through their child's school.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Generation Genius
Newsela (Generation Genius) · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
Useful for teachers and homeschool parents who want ready science videos with activities; families wanting hands-on exploration or proof of learning gains may look elsewhere.
Desk researchFree
GoNoodle
GoNoodle, Inc. · ages about 4-10 (pre-K to grade 5)
A fun free way to add movement breaks; parents should expect branded, sponsored content.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Google Classroom (guardian email summaries)
Google · ages grades K-12 (any child with a school Google Workspace account)
Worth turning on if your child's school uses Google Classroom; it will not help families whose school uses something else.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
iCivics
iCivics, Inc. (nonprofit founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor) · ages about 11-18 (grades 6-12)
A strong free choice for middle and high school civics; younger children will find most games too advanced.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Illustrative Mathematics (IM Math)
Illustrative Mathematics (nonprofit) · ages grades TK-12 (about 4-18)
A solid free choice for parents who want to see or reinforce what school math is teaching, and for homeschoolers comfortable leading lessons; families wanting a self-running app should look elsewhere.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Imagine Language & Literacy
Imagine Learning · ages about 4-12 (grades pre-K-6)
A reasonable choice for schools with many English learners in the early grades; families cannot buy it and should ask their school what it records.
Desk researchThrough schools
Jamie Oliver's 10 Skills (Ministry of Food)
Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited · ages about 3-14 (UK primary and secondary; US schools and community groups)
A good free starting point for schools and clubs teaching basic cooking; families cooking at home will get more from free recipe sites, since this is built for classrooms.
Desk researchFree
K12 online school
Stride, Inc. · ages grades K-12 (about 5-18), plus online pre-K
Worth a look for families who need full-time school at home and can supervise daily; families wanting a light supplement should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kahoot!
Kahoot! (Kahoot ASA) · ages about 6 and up; grades K-12 and adults
A fun group review game for classes and family quiz nights; less useful for deep learning or for kids who get anxious under time pressure.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kami
Kami (Kami Limited, also maker of Book Creator) · ages grades K-12 (about 5-18), plus adults
A practical school tool for marking up and turning in work, especially for kids who need read-aloud or translation; parents rarely need it at home.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kidgeni
Kidgeni Inc. · ages about 5-12
A reasonable pick for families or classes that want a supervised AI art and comic space for under-13s; skip if you want kids drawing or writing without AI.
Desk researchThrough schools
Kira
Kira Learning · ages about 11-18 (middle and high school courses)
Worth a look for schools teaching computer science, especially in Tennessee; parents can ask the school how student chats with the tutor are stored and used.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kodable
SurfScore, Inc. (Kodable Education) · ages about 5-11 (grades K-5)
A solid first coding path for K-5 at school or home; families after free tools may prefer Scratch or Code.org.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Labster
Labster ApS · ages about 13-18 (high school), mostly college
A good add-on for high school science classes that lack lab space or equipment; it should prepare students for hands-on labs, not replace them.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Lalilo
Renaissance · ages grades K-2 (about 5-8)
Fine as classroom phonics practice if your school uses it; families cannot buy it directly.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Legends of Learning
Legends of Learning · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
A strong fit for K-8 classrooms that want game-based science and math; parents wary of reward loops and paid passes should watch how their child uses Awakening.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Lexia Core5 Reading
Lexia (Cambium Learning Group) · ages pre-K to grade 5
One of the better-evidenced school reading programs, especially for struggling and disadvantaged readers; families get it only through a school.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Lightspeed Filter (with Lightspeed Alert)
Lightspeed Systems (Lightspeed Solutions, LLC) · ages grades K-12 (about 5-18)
Parents do not buy it, but if your child's school device runs Lightspeed, assume searches, chats and documents on it are seen by the school, and ask the district what Alert scans and who gets flagged cases.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Linewize Monitor
Qoria (Linewize) · ages grades K-12 on school accounts and devices
If your district uses it, ask what is monitored, who sees alerts, and whether it runs at home on school devices; it's a school decision, not a family one.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Machine Learning for Kids
Dale Lane (independent, built with IBM Watson APIs) · ages about 8-16 (schools and code clubs)
Good for a teacher, club leader or hands-on parent who wants kids to build real AI projects in Scratch; less suited to a child working alone at home.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
MagicSchool
Magic School, Inc. · ages grades K-12 (students only through a teacher)
A reasonable choice for schools that train teachers to check its output; parents should ask whether it is used for IEPs or behavior plans, where testing found bias.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Marty the Robot
Robotical · ages 4+ (maker says learners as young as 4)
Great for schools that want a robot kids remember, from age 4 up; budget-minded families should weigh the $449 price and ask about the app's tracking.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Math in Focus: Singapore Math
HMH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), with Marshall Cavendish Education · ages grades K-8 (about 5-14)
Good news if your school uses it; parents helping at home should learn the bar-model approach, and families shopping on their own will find it hard to buy.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Math Worksheets 4 Kids
Math Worksheets 4 Kids (company not named on the site) · ages grades K-12 (interactive worksheets K-8)
Good value for parents and teachers who want lots of printable, standards-matched practice; it drills skills rather than teaching them.
Desk researchFree
Math-Drills
Math-Drills.com · ages grades K-8
A dependable free source of printable math drills for parents and teachers to hand out; children should not be left to browse the ad-supported site on their own.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Mathspace
Mathspace Inc. · ages about 8-18 (grades 3-12)
A strong step-by-step math practice tool for grades 3-12, free at home; families should weigh the 2026 breach and keep account details minimal.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Matific
Matific (Slate Science) · ages about 4-14 (grades K-8)
A good fit for young kids who learn by playing with math ideas; check the free trial first, and do not count on the advertised score gains.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Merlyn Origin
Merlyn Mind (Merlyn for Education) · ages used by teachers; students of any grade see it in class
Of interest to schools wanting hands-free classroom tech; parents should ask how classroom audio is handled, and buyers should confirm the product's future after the reported sale.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Microsoft MakeCode (micro:bit, Minecraft and more)
Microsoft · ages about 8-16
A strong free choice for kids who want code to make something happen in the real world or in Minecraft; skip the Minecraft editor if you have no Education license.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Microsoft Reading Coach
Microsoft · ages about 5-14 (stories from kindergarten to middle-school level)
A solid free fluency tool for children who can already sound out words; very new readers need a phonics program first.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Minecraft Education
Mojang Studios / Microsoft · ages about 5-18 (K-12)
Worth it when a school uses it with good lessons; families at home are better served by regular Minecraft plus the free educational worlds.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Mission US
THIRTEEN / WNET (public media) · ages about 10-14 (middle school)
One of the best-evidenced history games for grades 5-9; preview missions before handing them to younger or sensitive kids.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Mr. Nussbaum
Nussbaum Education Network, LLC · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
A handy free game library for elementary classrooms and home practice; families who want an ad-free, structured program should look at paid alternatives.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Mystery Science
Discovery Education · ages about 5-11 (grades K-5)
A good fit for elementary teachers and homeschool parents who want ready science lessons; kids looking for something to explore alone will find it teacher-centered.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Nearpod
Nearpod (Renaissance Learning, Inc.) · ages about 5-18 (grades K-12)
A widely used way for teachers to make lessons interactive; parents meet it through school, and families do not need it at home.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF)
Next Gen Personal Finance, a California nonprofit · ages about 11-18 (middle and high school)
A strong pick for schools and homeschool co-ops teaching personal finance to teens; parents wanting a self-guided kids' app should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
NoRedInk
NoRedInk, part of IXL Learning · ages grades 3-12
A solid classroom writing tool for grades 3-12; families should watch how IXL's ownership changes the free version.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy Ltd (UK government arm's-length body) · ages about 4-16 (EYFS to Year 11)
Excellent for UK families and teachers, and useful for anyone wanting free structured lessons; US families following state standards may find it a poor fit.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
OER Project
Big History Project, LLC (non-commercial) · ages about 11-18 (grades 6-12)
A strong free history curriculum for teachers and co-ops; homeschool families should note the terms say it is meant for school-directed use.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Onshape Education
PTC · ages about 12+ (middle school to college)
A strong free choice for teens on robotics teams or in engineering classes; younger kids should start with Tinkercad.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Ozobot Evo
Ozo EDU, Inc. (Ozobot) · ages grades K-8
A strong classroom choice for K-8 coding that starts without screens; families on a budget may find the single-robot price steep.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Padlet
Wallwisher, Inc. (Padlet) · ages school-age kids with a teacher, plus adults
A good class tool when a school account manages who can see and post; families should not set up open boards for young kids on their own.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
ParentSquare
ParentSquare, Inc. · ages families of K-12 students
If your district uses it, set your notification preferences and it becomes the main school inbox; there is nothing for a family to buy.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
PBS LearningMedia
PBS and local public TV stations · ages pre-K to grade 12
A trustworthy free source of short educational videos for teachers and curious families; check your local station's version for state-specific collections.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Polypad (and Mathigon courses)
Amplify Education (formerly Mathigon) · ages about 5-18 (grades K-12)
A free, ad-free playground that suits teachers and parents who will set a challenge; kids who want a guided path with rewards will lose interest.
Desk researchFree
PrimaryGames
PrimaryGames, Inc. · ages about 5-13
Handy for free classroom fillers and holiday printables; parents wanting focused, ad-free practice should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Quill.org
Quill.org (nonprofit) · ages grades K-12
One of the safest and best-evidenced writing tools for schools; homeschool families can use it as a teacher too.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Raspberry Pi Projects and Experience CS
Raspberry Pi Foundation · ages about 7-18 (projects); grades 3-8 (Experience CS)
An easy free recommendation for families and teachers who want step-by-step projects beyond Scratch basics.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Ratatype
Ratatype · ages about 13+ (per its own policy)
Reasonable for teens learning to touch type; for younger students, schools should pick a tool built and licensed for under-13s.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Raz-Kids
Learning A-Z (LAZEL, Inc., a Cambium Learning Group company) · ages grades K-5
Common and useful for leveled practice when a teacher assigns it; not a replacement for library books a child picks.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Reach All Readers
Anna Geiger (formerly The Measured Mom) · ages about 5-9 (grades K-3); the site is for adults
Worth a look for K-3 teachers and homeschooling parents who want structured phonics printables; families wanting an app their child uses alone should skip it.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Read 180
HMH · ages grades 3-12
A well-studied option for older students far behind in reading; check that your child gets real teacher time, not just the app.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
ReadWorks
ReadWorks (nonprofit) · ages about 5-18 (grades K-12)
A solid free source of reading passages for teachers and parents who will assign them; reluctant readers who need a game or story hook may lose interest.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Remind
ParentSquare, Inc. · ages about 10-18 (students in classes, teams and clubs), plus parents
Fine for a coach or teacher who needs quick reminders; schools are better served by the ParentSquare platform it is being folded into.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
RIF Literacy Central
Reading Is Fundamental (nonprofit) · ages about 3-12
A useful free shelf of book activities for teachers, librarians and reading-minded parents; kids won't use it on their own.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
SchoolAI
SchoolAI · ages grades K-12 (and college)
One of the more carefully governed classroom AI tutors; parents can ask whether their school uses the 24/7 portal and how long chats are kept.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Securly Aware
Securly, Inc. · ages grades K-12 on school accounts and devices
If your district uses it, ask what is scanned, who sees alerts and the wellness score, and what the Home app shows; it's a school decision, not a family one.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Seesaw
Seesaw Learning · ages about 4-12 (PreK-grade 6)
A good fit for elementary schools that want kids to show their thinking and keep families in the loop; families cannot sign up on their own.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
SketchUp for Schools
Trimble · ages grades K-12
A good free 3D tool for schools on Google or Microsoft; families at home should try Tinkercad or Onshape's free student plan.
Desk researchThrough schools
Skye AI maths tutor
Third Space Learning · ages UK Years 3-7 and GCSE (about 7-16)
A reasonable option for schools wanting extra maths practice at scale, as long as they accept recorded lessons; parents cannot buy it directly.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Smithsonian Learning Lab
Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology · ages grades PreK-12
A trustworthy free source for teachers and older students; younger children do best with a teacher-made collection.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Snorkl
Snorkl · ages grades K-12
Suits teachers who want students to talk through math and get fast feedback; families cannot buy it, and schools should check the data agreement first.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Sora
OverDrive · ages grades K-12 (school collections)
If your child's school uses it, it is a safe, ad-free way to read assigned and free-choice books at home; there is nothing to buy as a family.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Soundtrap
Soundtrap AB (Sweden) · ages grades K-12 through school; 13+ for personal accounts
A good fit for schools teaching music or podcasting on Chromebooks; families at home may get more from free GarageBand or BandLab.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Sphero BOLT+
Sphero · ages grades 3-10 (about 8-16)
A solid classroom coding robot for grades 3-10; younger children are better served by screen-free robots like indi or Cubetto.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
ST Math
MIND Education (nonprofit) · ages about 4-14 (PreK-grade 8)
A strong choice if your child's school offers it, especially for visual learners; families wanting a cheap standalone app may find other options easier to buy.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
StoryJumper
StoryJumper, Inc. · ages about 6-14
A good no-AI choice for kids who want to write and print their own books; check sharing settings before anything goes public.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Sumdog
Sumdog (Sumdog Ltd in the UK, Sumdog Inc. in the US) · ages about 5-14 (US grades K-8; UK years 1-9)
A fun practice add-on for schools and families who want game-style drills; parents seeking proven gains or no online play with others should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Super Teacher Worksheets
Super Teacher Worksheets · ages about 4-12 (Pre-K to grade 6); the site is for adults
Good value for teachers and homeschool parents who want printable practice; not something to hand to a child as an app.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
TeachEngineering
University of Colorado Boulder (with partner universities, funded by the National Science Foundation) · ages about 5-18 (grades K-12)
A great free source for teachers and homeschool families who want real engineering projects; kids looking for something to do alone online won't find it here.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT)
Teacher Synergy LLC (IXL Learning) · ages Adults (teachers and parents); materials for pre-K to grade 12
A go-to shop for teachers and homeschoolers who can judge quality; check reviews and preview files before buying.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
The Math Learning Center (free math apps)
The Math Learning Center (nonprofit) · ages about 4-11 (PreK to grade 5)
A great free set of hands-on math tools for parents and teachers of young kids; families wanting a self-paced lesson app should pair it with something else.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
This Reading Mama
Becky Spence (This Reading Mama, LLC) · ages about 3-9 (preschool to early grades); the site is for adults
A useful printable source for parents and teachers of beginning readers; families who dislike ad-heavy sites may prefer the paid library.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Typing.com
Typing.com LLC · ages about 5-18 (K-12)
A solid free way for classes to learn touch typing; families who want no ads will need PLUS.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
TypingClub
EdClub · ages about 6-18
A strong free typing course; schools should consider the ad-free edition and parents should note the ads on individual use.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
UBTECH uKit Explore
UBTECH Robotics (Shenzhen, China) · ages about 9-15 (upper primary to junior secondary)
A fit for schools building a robotics and AI program for grades 4-9; families looking for a home kit should pick something sold directly with clear pricing.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
VEX IQ
VEX Robotics · ages grades 5-8 (maker's target)
A strong pick for schools and clubs teaching robotics to middle schoolers; families wanting a cheap home toy can find simpler kits.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Wayground (formerly Quizizz)
Quizizz Inc., doing business as Wayground · ages grades K-12
Good for teachers who want quick checks and review games; parents mostly meet it through school rather than choose it.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
WeVideo
WeVideo · ages grades K-12 through school; 13+ for personal accounts
A solid choice for schools with Chromebooks that want managed video projects; a family on Apple devices will get more from free iMovie.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Which One Doesn't Belong?
Mary Bourassa and contributors; now hosted by Christopher Danielson (Talking Math with Your Kids) · ages about 4-18 (sets range from preschool shapes to calculus graphs)
A free, proven classroom routine that also works at home for any age; just bookmark the new Talking Math with Your Kids address, not wodb.ca.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
WorksheetWorks
WorksheetWorks.com · ages about 5-14
A strong pick for parents and teachers who want custom printable practice without ads; it is a tool for adults, not something a young child uses alone.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Zearn Math
Zearn (nonprofit) · ages grades K-8
A solid pick for schools wanting evidence-backed math practice; parents looking for a home-only program will find it less suited.

Know before you buy

Shut down, exposed children's data, or said unsafe things in tests.

WarningThrough schoolsNo ads
PowerSchool SIS
PowerSchool · ages grades K-12 and their parents
Families can't avoid it if their district uses it, but should ask what data the district stores in it and watch for breach notices.

Also listed on G2

Products G2 files here that we have not researched yet, in G2's order. Most are built for adults or businesses. G2 categories: Classroom Management Software, Classroom Messaging Software, Virtual Classroom Software.