The kids' software directory

Courses and learning platforms

Online courses, mostly for older kids and teens.

53 researched
1 to know about
116 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 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 researchPaidNo ads
AoPS Online
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS Incorporated) · ages grades 5-12 (about 10-18)
A strong fit for a child who loves hard math and wants contest prep; a child who is behind in math needs something gentler.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Babbel
Babbel · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
A solid choice for a motivated older teen; younger kids are not allowed and are better served by kids' apps.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Beast Academy
Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) · ages 6-13 (levels 1-5, roughly grades 1-5)
A great fit for curious or advanced elementary kids and homeschoolers who enjoy a challenge; kids who need gentle catch-up practice should start elsewhere.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Codecademy
Codecademy LLC · ages 16+
A good next step for a motivated 16- or 17-year-old; younger kids need a coding tool built for them.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Connections Academy
Pearson · ages grades K-12
Worth a look for families who need school at home and have an adult free to coach; families expecting it to match a good local school should read the research first.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Coursera
Coursera, Inc. · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
Worth it for a self-driven older teen chasing one specific skill or certificate; younger kids and casual learners should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFree
Crash Course (and Crash Course Kids)
Complexly · ages about 13-18 (Crash Course Kids about 8-11)
Great for teens reviewing for class; younger children should watch Crash Course Kids on a supervised account.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
CS50's Introduction to AI with Python
Harvard University (CS50) · ages strong teens (about 15+) and adults
A serious, free course for motivated teens who already code in Python; not for beginners or younger kids.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
DeepLearning.AI
DeepLearning.AI · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
Great for a teen coder who wants to build with AI; non-coders and younger kids should start elsewhere.
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 researchFree
Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool
Lee Giles (Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool) · ages preschool-grade 8 (about 4-14); high school on a sister site
A strong free option for homeschool families comfortable with a Christian worldview and supervising web use; secular families or those wanting a closed, ad-free platform should skip it.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
edX
2U, LLC · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
A good free option for a capable teen who wants a full college course; not for younger kids or anyone needing hand-holding.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Elements of AI
MinnaLearn and the University of Helsinki · ages older teens and adults (about 15+)
Good for strong-reading teens and parents who want to understand AI together; too text-heavy for younger kids.
Desk researchFree
Exercism
Exercism (UK not-for-profit) · ages 13+ (16+ in the UK and EU)
Good for teens who already code and want practice and feedback; beginners and younger kids should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
fast.ai Practical Deep Learning
fast.ai (Jeremy Howard) · ages about 16+ (needs a year of coding)
One of the best free routes into real AI for a strong teen coder; not for beginners.
Desk researchFree
freeCodeCamp
freeCodeCamp (US 501(c)(3) charity) · ages 13+ (aimed at adults and older teens)
A top free option for motivated teens 13+ heading toward web development; younger or less independent learners need something more guided.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
futurecoder
Alex Hall and open-source contributors · ages about 12+
One of the best free first Python courses for a patient tween or teen; younger kids may want something more visual.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code Inc. (nonprofit) · ages about 8-18 (grades 3-12)
A great free option for girls who would enjoy learning to code with peers; kids without a nearby club may need an at-home tool instead.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Google AI Essentials
Google (on Coursera) · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
A fine quick primer for a teen 16 or older who wants to use AI tools well; free AI-literacy courses cover similar ground for younger kids.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Google Machine Learning Crash Course
Google · ages about 15+ (needs algebra and some Python)
A strong free next step for a teen who has done some coding and math; too hard as a first look at AI.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Hack Club
Hack Club (nonprofit, Vermont) · ages 13-18
Excellent for motivated teens who want to build and ship with peers; parents should talk with their teen about online chat first.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
iD Tech
internalDrive, Inc. (iD Tech) · ages 7-19 (camps 7-17, teen academies 13-18)
A strong but costly choice for tech-hungry kids whose families can afford camp; read the media release and refund terms before you pay.
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
Kaggle Learn
Kaggle (Google) · ages about 16 and up
A useful free next step for older teens who already code; younger kids are not allowed.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Khan Academy
Khan Academy (nonprofit) · ages about 5-18 and adults (grades K-12, plus college and test prep)
A strong free default for families and schools that will set a weekly routine; kids who need a game to stay engaged may do better with something more playful.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Kids Cook Real Food
Kitchen Stewardship LLC (Raising Healthy Families, Katie Kimball) · ages about 2-12 (Teens Cook Real Food for 13-21 is on a waitlist)
Suits parents who want a structured plan to teach several kids real kitchen skills at home; skip it if you want a kid to learn alone from an app.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Mango Languages
Creative Empire, LLC (d/b/a Mango Languages) · ages about 8 and up (K-12 school plans; family profiles for kids)
Worth checking your library card first: a solid, conversation-first language course for older kids and teens, less suited to young children who need games to stay engaged.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Math Academy
Math Academy · ages about 9-18 and adults (4th grade math up)
A serious option for math-keen kids and homeschoolers who want to move fast; a child who needs encouragement or a human teacher may find it too self-driven.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Math Mammoth
Maria Miller · ages grades K-8
A strong, affordable pick for homeschool families and parents filling math gaps who want paper-based, explanation-heavy lessons; kids who need games or color to stay motivated may balk.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Microsoft Learn
Microsoft · ages about 13+
Useful for a tech-minded teen aiming at a first certificate; younger kids will find it dry.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
MIT OpenCourseWare
Massachusetts Institute of Technology · ages about 14+ (college-level material)
Excellent for a self-motivated teen who loves a subject; skip it for kids who need structure or feedback.
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 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 researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
OpenStax
OpenStax, a nonprofit initiative of Rice University · ages about 14 and up (high school and college)
A solid free textbook source for teens and homeschooling families at the high school level; parents of younger children will find little here.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Outschool
Outschool, Inc. · ages about 3-18
Good for families who want a live teacher for a specific interest or gap; skip it if you are not comfortable with recorded video calls with adults you have not met.
Desk researchPaid
Outschool cooking classes
Outschool, Inc. · ages about 9-18 for the cooking listings we saw (Outschool overall covers 3-18)
Good for tweens and teens who want a live, social cooking class from home; younger kids need a parent beside them, and families uneasy about recorded video should skip it.
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 researchFree, with paid extras
PW (Physics Wallah)
PhysicsWallah Private Limited · ages about 11-18 (classes 6-12), plus adults
A low-cost choice for Indian teens preparing for JEE, NEET or boards; parents should read the advertising clause and watch the workload.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Simply Piano
Simply Ltd · ages school-age kids, teens and adults
Suits motivated kids with a keyboard at home who want to learn songs; a human teacher still matters for technique and posture.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Skoove
Learnfield GmbH · ages teens and adults (younger kids with a parent)
A solid self-study option for teens or a parent learning alongside a child; not designed for young kids on their own.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Snap!
University of California, Berkeley, with SAP · ages about 12-20 (the terms say it is aimed mainly at ages 12-20)
A good next step for teens who have outgrown Scratch and want real computer science; younger beginners should start with Scratch.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Sur La Table cooking classes (online and kids)
Sur La Table (owned by Marquee Brands) · ages most classes 14+ with a paying adult; kids' and teen in-store series for younger cooks
Good for a parent and older child cooking a real meal together with live help; families wanting a class built for young kids should look at in-store series or other providers.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
TED-Ed
TED Conferences (nonprofit) · ages about 9-18
A reliable free video library for upper elementary through high school, best watched with a teacher's or parent's questions.
Desk researchFree
The Odin Project
The Odin Project (open-source volunteer community) · ages about 15+ (built for adult career changers)
Excellent for a determined older teen aiming at web development jobs; not suited to children or casual learners.
Desk researchPaid
Think Academy
Think Academy International Education, Inc. (TAL Education Group) · ages pre-K to grade 12 (math programs start at grade 1)
Fits families who want an accelerated, contest-focused math class with a live teacher; families wary of cross-border data sharing or academic pressure should look elsewhere.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Time4Learning
Time4Learning (a Cambium Learning Group brand) · ages about 4-18 (PreK to grade 12)
A practical option for homeschooling parents who want a ready-made online curriculum; families wanting a teacher-led, accredited program need the separate virtual school.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Tynker
Tynker (Neuron Fuel), owned by CodeHS since 2025 · ages about 5-18 (grades K-12)
A reasonable paid pick for families who want a guided, game-like path from age 5 to Python; budget-minded families can get much of the same from free Scratch and Code.org.
Desk researchPaid
Udemy
Udemy, Inc. (affiliate of Coursera) · ages 18+; teens about 13-17 only through a parent's account
Useful for motivated teens learning a specific skill with a parent's account; younger children and kids who need guidance should skip it.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Unity and Unity Learn
Unity Technologies · ages about 13-18
Right for motivated teens heading toward game development careers; younger kids will get further with Scratch, GDevelop or Roblox Studio first.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Varsity Tutors
Nerdy Inc. · ages about 6-18 and adults (elementary to graduate school)
Useful for families who want live one-on-one help, especially for test prep; get prices and cancellation terms in writing, and decide whether you are comfortable with recorded sessions.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Yousician
Yousician Ltd · ages about 13 and up
A fit for teens learning guitar or another instrument on their own; younger kids are outside its own privacy rules.

Know before you buy

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

WarningFree
Food Network Kitchen
Food Network (Warner Bros. Discovery) · ages was a general-audience app
Skip the app; it no longer exists. The free website can still help a parent and older child cook from a video class.

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: Online Learning Platforms, Online Course Providers, Digital Learning Platforms.