What are the best reading apps for kids and families?
It depends on whether you need books or a habit. For a big library of children's books, Epic is the pick, with Read-To-Me books and up to 4 child profiles on its paid family plan. For free books, use Libby with your public library card or Sora through your child's school. To build a reading habit at home, YOMU tracks reading time for every family member for free and ties it to rewards your family sets.
By the Best Reading Apps editors · Checked 30 October 2026 · Desk research
Our pick
Price: $4.99Epic
Our pick for a library of kids' books
40,000+ books, audiobooks and learning videos for kids, with Read-To-Me books, up to 4 child profiles and a parent dashboard on Epic Family. Age rating 4+.
The catch: Family use is a paid subscription after a 7-day free trial, and the App Store lists several monthly prices, from $4.99 to $13.99.
Also good
Best free books for families
Libby
Borrow children's ebooks and audiobooks free with your library card, including interactive read-alongs to read and listen together.
The catch: Holds on popular titles, and Libby is rated 9+ on the App Store.
Best for school reading
Sora
Your child's school library in an app, with assigned titles, a word list and a tally of time spent reading.
The catch: Only works if the school offers it.
Best for building a family reading habit
YOMU - Family Reading Habits
Profiles for every family member, parents included, on one device. Time a session live or add one afterwards for reading done at school, then earn streaks, achievements and gems. Tracking is free and ad-free.
The catch: iPhone only, and it does not supply books, so you read the books you already have. Family Rewards needs a subscription: $9.99 a month or $95.99 a year. YOMU is made by Yomu Inc., which also makes Magic Bookmark.
Books or a habit: which do you need?
- Your child needs more to read: Epic, or free books from Libby and Sora.
- Your child has books but rarely reads them: a habit tracker such as YOMU, where reading time earns rewards your family creates.
- You want to read alongside them: YOMU gives parents their own profile, and Libby has read-alongs.
Reading that happens away from the screen
Not every reading app needs a child on a screen. YOMU lets you add a session after the fact, so a paper book read at school or in bed still counts. Libby and Sora lend digital books, so they mean screen time, as does Epic.
Age ratings and privacy at a glance
- Epic: rated 4+.
- YOMU: rated 4+, with parental controls over rewards and visibility. Its privacy label lists no data used to track you.
- Libby: rated 9+. Its privacy label lists only diagnostics as linked to you.
- Hoopla: rated 12+, with Kids Mode for family-friendly browsing.
How do you choose a reading app by age?
- Pre-readers: books that read to them. Epic has a large collection of Read-To-Me books and audiobooks, and Libby has interactive read-alongs you can share with your child.
- Early readers: Epic's Spotlight Words and audio-enabled Dictionary Lookup teach vocabulary and pronunciation, according to its listing.
- School-age readers: Sora puts assigned titles in one place and keeps a running tally of time spent reading and books read.
- The whole family: YOMU gives every member a profile, parents included, and counts reading done away from the screen.
Check each app's age rating on the App Store before you hand over a device, and set up the parent controls the app offers.
Questions
- What is the best free reading app for kids?
- Libby, with a public library card, which includes interactive read-alongs. Sora gives students free access to their school library, and Epic School is free for educators and students during the school day.
- Is Epic free?
- Epic School is free for educators and students during the school day. Family use is Epic Family, a paid subscription with a 7-day free trial.
- Can parents track their own reading in YOMU?
- Yes. The App Store listing says parents can have their own profile, track their own reading and earn rewards too.
- Does YOMU come with books?
- No. YOMU tracks reading time and suggests books by age and interest, but you read your own books. You can time a session live or add it afterwards.
Sources
- Apple App Store (US), Epic - Kids' Books & Reading, read 2 November 2026.
- Apple App Store (US), Libby, the library app, read 2 November 2026.
- Apple App Store (US), Sora, by OverDrive Education, read 2 November 2026.
- Apple App Store (US), YOMU - Family Reading Habits, read 2 November 2026.
- Apple App Store (US), Hoopla: Your Library Anywhere, read 2 November 2026.