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Did this specific Top Picks list help you decide to do any of the following?

Did this specific Top Picks list help you decide to do any of the following?

Submitted by johnwilliams on

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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Essential Apps Guide

Free Apps for Kids

Who doesn't love a free app? Free is great -- but wading through all the terrible free apps is not so great. This list features some of our favorite free-to-download apps for kids, and, although some have in-app purchases, we've only included apps that are still fun to play without paying.

Browse Free Apps for Kids

PBS KIDS Video
AGE
3
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
TV show clips in easy-to-navigate app for young kids.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Kindle Fire
(2011)
Toca Kitchen Monsters
AGE
3
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Silly spin-off is more fun for Toca veterans than newbies.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2012)
Leo's Pad: Preschool Kids Learning Series
AGE
4
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Charming stories, interactivity get preschoolers thinking.
csm_app
Devices: iPad
(2012)
MarcoPolo Ocean
AGE
4
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Preschoolers build, explore, and play in colorful ocean app.
csm_app
Devices: iPad
(2014)
Editors' pick
Feel Electric!
AGE
5
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Electric Company app helps kids learn to express emotions.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
(2011)
Lego Friends Story Maker
AGE
6
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Easy-to-use multimedia story creator with focus on girls.
csm_app
Devices: iPad, Android
(2014)
Sonic Dash
AGE
6
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Famous hedgehog a perfect fit for the endless runner craze.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
(2013)
Editors' pick
Toontastic
AGE
6
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Create amazing multi-scene cartoons with musical scores.
csm_app
Devices: iPad
(2011)
Angry Birds
AGE
7
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Popular knock-down-blocks app pits birds against pigs.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2010)
NASA App
AGE
7
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Information-packed tool delivers videos, photos, and more.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
(2011)
Sushi Monster
AGE
7
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Clever and challenging addition and multiplication practice.
csm_app
Devices: iPad
(2012)
Flow Free
AGE
8
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Color puzzle game grabs grade-schoolers to grown-ups.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2012)
Smash Hit
AGE
8
QUALITY
 
Beautiful glass-breaking game simply mesmerizes.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
(2014)
Subway Surfers
AGE
9
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Bright, entertaining take on endless-runner genre.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2013)
Bike Race Free
AGE
10
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Enjoyable, stunt-filled racer has open chat in multiplayer.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2012)
Hill Climb Racing
AGE
11
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Physics-based driving game not original, but fun and free.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
(2012)
Plants vs. Zombies 2
AGE
11
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Clever update to popular app, but now with in-app purchases.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
(2013)
Jetpack Joyride
AGE
13
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Fly high on a machine gun while trying not to die.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2011)
The Sims FreePlay
AGE
15
QUALITY
 
LEARNING
Freemium sim both enjoyable and playable without spending.
csm_app
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
(2012)

Other great lists from our editors

Best Apps for Kids Ages 9-12
Best Kid Games Mobile Apps

Advice on the big issues

What You App-Solutely Need to Know About Apps