📚 Reading apps and reading coaches · 🏫 Classroom tools
ReadWorks
By ReadWorks (nonprofit). Visit ReadWorks
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A free nonprofit library of more than 6,000 reading passages for kindergarten through grade 12, with question sets, vocabulary help and paired texts, including Spanish-English pairs. Teachers or parents create a class and assign articles; a child reads on screen or on paper, can listen to audio, highlight and annotate, then answers multiple-choice and written questions. Content spans science, social studies, fiction, poetry and social-emotional topics.
Our take: 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.
| Ages it suits | about 5-18 (grades K-12) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Not open to anyone under 13 whose registration has not been approved by school staff or a parent or guardian. Students should review the rules with a parent or teacher. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free for teachers, parents and students (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI found on the maker's pages. |
What's good
- Free with no ads on student pages
- Large library of nonfiction that builds background knowledge
- Audio support and Spanish-English paired texts
- Parents can make a home 'class' for a child
Watch for
- Plain reading-and-questions format; no game to keep kids going
- Teacher-facing pages carry ads, with no way to opt out
- Little independent evidence on reading gains
Data and privacy
ReadWorks collects limited data from under-13s only with consent from an educator or school on the parent's behalf, and says it does not sell student data or use it for targeted ads. It shows some ads to teachers on teacher-facing pages but says ads never appear on student pages. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
Mostly the maker's own reports (teacher surveys and a controlled study on engagement). ReadWorks cites product certifications from Digital Promise and EduEvidence; we found no independent outcome study or Evidence for ESSA rating.
In the Big Index
- On the list Top 50 free learning sites for kids (2026)
- On the list 18 best free printables and worksheet sites
- ReadWorks
Alternatives to ReadWorks
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.readworks.org/
- https://www.readworks.org/terms
- https://www.readworks.org/privacy
- https://about.readworks.org/parents.html
- https://about.readworks.org/the-research.html
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.