📚 Reading apps and reading coaches · 🧸 Early learning (ages 2-6)
HOMER
By Begin (Conscious Content Media, Inc.). Visit HOMER
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
HOMER is an early learning app for ages 2 to 8, best known for its step-by-step learn-to-read pathway. It also has math, social and emotional learning, thinking games and creative activities, personalized by age and level. Parents get printables and tips. HOMER belongs to Begin, the company that also sells codeSpark, Little Passports and Learn with Sesame Street. It is a subscription app with a 30-day free trial and up to four child profiles.
Our take: A gentle, well-made start for toddlers and preschoolers; parents of confident readers will get more from a library app.
| Ages it suits | about 2-8 |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | You must be a parent or legal guardian to use the services and create the account; children under 13 need a parent's permission and use it through the parent's account. HOMER says it is kidSAFE COPPA certified. (terms) |
| Price | Paid. $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year after a 30-day free trial (US, Oct 2026). Renews automatically. |
| Works on | iPhone and iPad, Android |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI described by the maker. |
What's good
- Clear reading pathway for very young kids
- Several subjects in one app
- kidSAFE COPPA certified
- Up to 4 child profiles
Watch for
- Marketing's 74% figure comes from one small 6-week study of one skill
- Subscription renews after the trial
- Website ad tracking aimed at parents
Data and privacy
HOMER says it follows COPPA and holds the kidSAFE COPPA seal. Begin's privacy policy for its websites allows interest-based advertising and cookies from outside ad companies aimed at adults. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The 74% claim comes from a small study by NYU researcher Susan Neuman, hosted by the maker: 82 Head Start children, randomly assigned, 15 minutes a day for 6 weeks, measuring phonological awareness against a math-app group. No larger or independent replication found.
In the Big Index
- On the list 19 best apps for preschoolers (2026)
- HOMER
Alternatives to HOMER
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.learnwithhomer.com/
- https://www.beginlearning.com/terms-of-use/
- https://www.beginlearning.com/privacy-policy/
- https://site-static.learnwithhomer.com/static/pdf/can-an-app-close-the-literacy-gap-efficacy-learn-with-homer-susan-neuman-nyu.pdf
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.