Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Apple The Best Educational Apps for the iPad Here are 8 great iPad apps for learning at home or in the classroom By Daniel Nations Daniel Nations Writer University of Texas at Arlington Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 6, 2021 Apple iPad Macs Trending Videos Close this video player The iPad can be an effective way to complement any child's education. Whether a student is struggling to grasp a certain concept or entering pre-K, these educational apps are a great way to continue learning outside the classroom. Most of these apps are free, but some include in-app purchases to unlock additional lessons. 01 of 08 Khan Academy What We Like Courses are detailed. Qualified instructors. Affordable. What We Don't Like Instructors sometimes assume existing knowledge. Lacks expanded content. The most comprehensive educational app available for the iPad, Khan Academy covers K-12 subjects, including math, biology, chemistry, finance, and history, among others. The app includes more than 4,200 videos and lessons, from basic counting all the way up to SAT preparation. Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization focused on providing free education. While not as entertaining as some of the other apps on this list, it is the only one that compiles all subjects and all learning levels into a single free app. Download Khan Academy 02 of 08 BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week What We Like Free content available. New videos each week. Well-organized content. What We Don't Like Paid subscription for all content. Learn almost exclusively through video. Passive learning. Meant for children in kindergarten through third grade, BrainPOP Jr's Movie of the Week is a passive but entertaining way to teach kids reading, writing, math, social studies, and other subjects. Each free movie includes bonus quizzes and other activities meant to solidify the video's core lessons. The app offers two subscriptions. Explorer includes three related videos and a movie of the week. Full Access grants students unlimited access to all content. Download BrainPOP Jr. Movie of the Week 03 of 08 Preschool and Kindergarten Games What We Like Covers important preschool and kindergarten concepts. Engaging for very young kids. Parental monitoring features. What We Don't Like Limited activities for each age group. Requires a subscription to access all content. Games can feel repetitive. Preschool and Kindergarten Games is the first in a series of educational apps. Each one offers tools to learn the alphabet, numbers, language, and math skills. The apps come with a selection of games you can try for free. Students can easily exit games with a convenient slide-to-close mechanic, which is great for toddlers who could accidentally exit the app and lose their place. Download Preschool and Kindergarten Games 04 of 08 Geoboard What We Like Encourages creativity. Great replacement for a physical board. Collaboration is possible. What We Don't Like Lacks lesson plans and instructions. Intended for supervised use. Geoboard is a simulated pegboard with nails and rubber bands that can be manipulated to create shapes. It's meant to teach kids basic concepts in geometry, like angle and perimeter, and it's especially useful for visual learners. The iPad version of Geoboard includes a standard 25-pegboard and an expanded 150-pegboard. Download Geoboard 05 of 08 Math Bingo What We Like Good way for kids to practice math. Offers multiple difficulty levels. Includes a local leaderboard. What We Don't Like No instruction or feedback. Some non-math challenges. Can get tedious to play. Math Bingo uses game mechanics to teach basic math skills. It works more or less like regular Bingo, but rather than orienting letters and numbers on a grid, players solve a basic arithmetic problem to mark a square. The app works on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or all operations at once. Download Math Bingo 06 of 08 ABC Magic Phonics 1 What We Like Simple and easy to learn. Free to use. Good reading primer. What We Don't Like Doesn't fully teach reading. Not for learning letters. This first in a series of six ABC Magic Phonic apps uses flashcards to teach kids basic reading skills. Players are challenged to go through the alphabet and sound out the first letter of words. Kids can cycle through flashcards by swiping a finger across the screen, or they can press the random button to show a random card. It's a great way to introduce core reading and spelling concepts. Download ABC Magic Phonics 07 of 08 Elmo Loves ABCs What We Like Variety of activities. Teaches letters and sounds. No internet access required. What We Don't Like Requires more resources than most games for kids. A few bugs throughout the game. One of the most expensive apps on this list, Elmo Loves ABCs is great for parents looking to kick-start their toddler's knowledge of the alphabet. Hosted by everyone's favorite Sesame Street character, the app introduces kids to each letter of the alphabet with visual cues, coloring pages, and interactive games. Download Elmo Loves ABCs 08 of 08 HOMER Learn & Grow What We Like Personalized learning. Boosts reading skills. Includes music, stories, poems, and more. What We Don't Like In-app purchases. Unlimited access is expensive. A few non-educational games included. HOMER Learn & Grow features a variety of interactive lessons, including a phonetic learn-to-read activity. Kids follow along to learn different sounds and lessons about nature and the wider world. The app works best with Wi-Fi enabled, so new lessons can be downloaded as you go, although some must be purchased in-app. Download HOMER Learn & Grow Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit