Best Reading Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: CommonLit is ranked #1 of 47 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Duolingo and Epic. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Duolingo. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Epic at $0.60/mo.
Choosing a reading app starts with the reader: consider age range, the content format they use, and the skills they want to practice. Compared on comprehension practice, fluency practice, and phonics instruction, the entries offer different dimensions to weigh for a learner’s goals. Offline access and supported platforms can help you assess whether an app suits a particular routine, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. CommonLit, Duolingo, and Epic are among the options to compare. Use the listed features to narrow your choice by the kind of reading support and access that matter to the learner.
47 reading apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 CommonLit iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$350/mo Comprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
- 2 Duolingo iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free
- 3 Epic iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$0.60/mo Phonics instruction: YesComprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
- 4 Google Read Along Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Comprehension practice: Yes
- 5 Instapaper iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$5/mo
- 6 ReadTheory iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$40/mo Comprehension practice: Yes
- 7 Skybrary iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$4.17/mo Comprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
- 8 FBReader iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 9 Headway iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free
- 10 Teach Your Monster to Read iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free Phonics instruction: YesComprehension practice: Yes
- 11 Starfall iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4$2.92/mo Phonics instruction: YesComprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
- 12 Renaissance myON iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 Comprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
- 13 Reading Eggs iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1$8.33/mo Phonics instruction: YesComprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
- 14 Readwise Reader iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1$5.59/mo
- 15 Lexia Core5 Reading iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0 Phonics instruction: YesComprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
- 16 JW Library iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Phonics instruction: NoComprehension practice: NoFluency practice: No
- 17 Read with Phonics Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Phonics instruction: Yes
- 18 Read2Me iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Phonics instruction: YesComprehension practice: Yes
- 19 Reeder iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9 Phonics instruction: NoComprehension practice: NoFluency practice: No
- 20 YouScribe iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.9
- 21 BookFusion iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8
- 22 Hooked on Phonics iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Phonics instruction: YesComprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
- 23 Level One Reading iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Phonics instruction: Yes
- 24 AlReader Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7
- 25 Amira Learning iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7 Phonics instruction: YesComprehension practice: YesFluency practice: Yes
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Phonics instruction | Comprehension practice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CommonLit | 7.9 | Free plan | $350/mo | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 2 | Duolingo | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | Epic | 7.9 | Free plan | $0.60/mo | Yes | 7.25 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Google Read Along | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 5 | Instapaper | 7.9 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | 5.99 /mo | — | — |
| 6 | ReadTheory | 7.9 | Free plan | $40/mo | Yes | 40 /mo | — | Yes |
| 7 | Skybrary | 7.9 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Yes | 6.99 /mo | — | Yes |
| 8 | FBReader | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Headway | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | Teach Your Monster to Read | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Starfall | 7.4 | No | $2.92/mo | Yes | 5.99 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | Renaissance myON | 7.3 | No | — | — | — | — | Yes |
| 13 | Reading Eggs | 7.1 | No | $8.33/mo | No | 8.33 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | Readwise Reader | 7.1 | No | $5.59/mo | No | 9.99 /mo | — | — |
| 15 | Lexia Core5 Reading | 7.0 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | JW Library | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | No | No |
| 17 | Read with Phonics | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 18 | Read2Me | 6.9 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | Reeder | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | 1 /mo | No | No |
| 20 | YouScribe | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | BookFusion | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | 1.99 /mo | — | — |
| 22 | Hooked on Phonics | 6.8 | No | — | No | 23.96 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 23 | Level One Reading | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 24 | AlReader | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 25 | Amira Learning | 6.7 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which reading app is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
CommonLit is ranked #1 of 47 with a score of 7.9. Duolingo is second and Epic third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Epic has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.60/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.