Duolingo ABC Alternatives: Full Curriculum Apps

Duolingo ABC is a genuine achievement—a 100% free literacy app from one of the most respected names in education technology. The 700+ bite-sized lessons use Duolingo’s proven gamification to teach letters, phonics, and early reading. And it works.

So why would anyone look for Duolingo ABC alternatives?

Because preschool education isn’t just reading. While your child masters letter sounds, they also need numbers, science concepts, creative expression, and social-emotional skills. Duolingo ABC does one thing very well—but apps like Duolingo ABC with broader curriculum coverage prepare children more completely for kindergarten and beyond.

Why Parents Look for Duolingo ABC Alternatives

Duolingo ABC’s strengths are also its limitations:

• Literacy-only focus — No math, no science, no art, no social-emotional learning. Reading is essential, but it’s roughly 20% of what preschoolers need to learn.

• Gamification can become compulsive — The streak system and rewards that make Duolingo addictive for adults can create unhealthy pressure for young children. Missing a day shouldn’t feel like failure at age 4.

• No video content — Everything is interactive tapping and tracing. Some children learn better from watching and listening, especially toddlers who aren’t ready for constant interaction.

• Repetitive lesson structure — The consistency that helps language learning can feel monotonous when it’s your child’s only educational app.

• No printable extension — Screen time stays on screen. There’s no bridge to hands-on activities.

Quick Comparison: Apps Like Duolingo ABC

Best Duolingo ABC Alternatives

Kokotree — Beyond Phonics to Full Early Learning

Duolingo ABC teaches your child to read. Kokotree teaches your child to read AND count AND explore science AND express creativity AND understand emotions. That’s not a criticism of Duolingo—it’s just a different scope.

Where Duolingo ABC offers 700+ literacy lessons, Kokotree offers a complete STEAM curriculum across approximately 500 activities including videos, games, and printable worksheets. Your child isn’t just tracing letters—they’re watching a video about how plants grow, playing a counting game with farm animals, and coloring a printable that reinforces what they learned.

The format is also fundamentally different:

• Video-first learning — Kids can watch educational content independently, not just tap through exercises
• Varied activity types — Videos, interactive games, AND printable worksheets keep things fresh
• All subjects covered — Literacy, numeracy, science, art, music, social-emotional skills
• No pressure systems — No streaks to maintain, no points to accumulate, no loss aversion psychology

For families using Duolingo ABC, the question isn’t whether it works for reading—it does. The question is whether reading alone is enough for your preschooler’s development.

Why it complements or replaces Duolingo ABC: Kokotree covers the same literacy fundamentals PLUS everything else preschoolers need. The video format also gives parents “I need 15 minutes” moments that pure interaction apps can’t provide.

See our full Kokotree vs Duolingo ABC comparison →

Khan Academy Kids — Free Full Curriculum

If free is essential and you want more than literacy, Khan Academy Kids is the most obvious Duolingo ABC alternative.

• 100% free — No ads, no subscriptions, no paywalls—just like Duolingo ABC
• Full subject coverage — Reading, math, social-emotional, creativity
• Character-guided — Kodi the bear and friends make learning feel like play
• Some video content — More variety than Duolingo’s tap-only approach

Best for: Families who love “free” but need broader curriculum coverage. More interactive than video-based—kids need to engage actively with every lesson.

ABCmouse — Maximum Academic Coverage

ABCmouse is the most comprehensive academic app for preschoolers, period.

• 10,000+ learning activities — Sometimes overwhelming, but never limited
• Full curriculum — Reading, math, science, art, music, social studies
• Step-by-step learning path — Clear progression with levels and certificates
• Progress tracking — Detailed parent reports

Best for: Families wanting maximum academic preparation for kindergarten. At $14.99/month, it’s a significant investment, and the volume can be intimidating.

Homer — Reading Plus Extras

Homer started as a reading app but has expanded to include math and additional subjects.

• Strong phonics foundation — Similar quality to Duolingo ABC for literacy
• Growing subject coverage — Math, creativity, social-emotional
• Personalized path — Adapts to your child’s interests
• Sleep stories — Bonus content for bedtime

Best for: Families who prioritize reading but want more than Duolingo offers. Still reading-centric but broader than pure phonics.

Reading Eggs — Structured Phonics Alternative

If your main need is literacy and you want more structure than Duolingo’s bite-sized approach:

• Systematic phonics curriculum — Maps to classroom teaching methods
• Longer lessons — More immersive than Duolingo’s quick hits
• Extends to age 13 — Grows with your child longer
• Teacher-style instruction — More explicit teaching, less pure gamification

Best for: Families wanting rigorous phonics instruction that mirrors school methods. Not for parents seeking broader curriculum—Reading Eggs is literacy-only.

Free Duolingo ABC Alternatives

Since Duolingo ABC is free, budget matters. These options won’t cost you anything:

• Khan Academy Kids — The best free alternative with full curriculum coverage. No ads, no tricks.
• PBS Kids Games — Free games from PBS shows covering various subjects
• Starfall — Free basic access to phonics and reading activities (full access requires subscription)

Choosing the Right Learning App After Duolingo ABC

Think about what your child needs beyond reading:

Choose Kokotree if: You want one app covering everything—literacy, math, science, art, emotional skills—with video content kids can watch independently.

Choose Khan Academy Kids if: Free is essential and you want comprehensive subjects with interactive activities.

Choose ABCmouse if: Maximum academic preparation is the goal and budget allows $14.99/month.

Choose Homer if: Reading is still the priority but you want a bit more subject variety than Duolingo ABC provides.

Duolingo ABC Alternatives FAQ

What is the best alternative to Duolingo ABC?

For free alternatives, Khan Academy Kids offers the most comprehensive curriculum. For paid options, Kokotree provides broader STEAM coverage with video content at an affordable $4.99/month. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize price (Khan) or content variety (Kokotree).

Is Khan Academy Kids better than Duolingo ABC?

They excel at different things. Duolingo ABC is more polished for literacy specifically—the gamification is tighter and more addictive. Khan Academy Kids covers more subjects but with less focus on any single area. Both are free; Khan is better for whole-child development.

Are there apps like Duolingo ABC for math?

Khan Academy Kids and Kokotree include math alongside literacy. For math-only with Duolingo-style gamification, try SplashLearn (paid) or Khan Academy’s math exercises. There isn’t a perfect “Duolingo for math” for preschoolers.

What’s the best full-curriculum preschool app?

ABCmouse has the most content but is expensive and overwhelming. Kokotree offers curated quality across all subjects at $4.99/month. Khan Academy Kids provides solid free coverage. Each serves different priorities.

Can Kokotree replace Duolingo ABC?

Yes. Kokotree includes phonics and early reading content as part of its STEAM curriculum. The approach is different—more video-based, less gamified—but the literacy foundations are there alongside math, science, art, and social-emotional learning.

Ready for Complete Early Learning?

Duolingo ABC handles reading. Kokotree handles everything else—and reading too.

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More Alternatives Guides

Looking for alternatives to other apps? These guides might help:

• Epic Alternatives — Another reading-focused app with format limitations
• Khan Academy Kids Alternatives — If you want video content kids can watch independently
• YouTube Kids Alternatives — If you want safe, educational video content

← See All Alternatives Guides

Related Pages:

• Kokotree vs Duolingo ABC: Full Comparison
• See All Preschool App Comparisons