PBS KIDS Games vs Starfall

PBS KIDS Games9.1Visit Starfall8.4Visit

Higher score PBS KIDS Games #2 in Apps For Kids 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit PBS KIDS

vs

Starfall #8 in Apps For Kids 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Starfall

• PBS KIDS Games fits best

  Kids wanting free, varied educational games

• Starfall fits best

  Families seeking structured early literacy practice

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Side by side

Feature	PBS KIDS Games 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Starfall 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.4
Ranking	#2 in Apps For Kids	#8 in Apps For Kids
Best for	Kids wanting free, varied educational games	Families seeking structured early literacy practice
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free	$35/yr
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile, Desktop	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android, Windows	Web, iOS, Android
Features PBS KIDS Games 0/3 · Starfall 0/3
Offline use	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Parent dashboard	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Child profiles	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Age range	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Learning focus	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported languages	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	280+ games span math, reading, science, STEM, and art English and Spanish gameplay supports bilingual households Available on web, iOS, Android, and Windows	Free Learn-to-Read sequence introduces letter sounds and phonics Reading activities cover fluency, comprehension, fiction, and nonfiction Web and mobile access, with offline content in some apps
Cons	Content is focused on children ages 2–8 One free plan offers no tiered feature choices Broad subject coverage may not suit single-subject study	Home Membership costs $35 per year for full activity access Offline content is not available in the main Starfall App School deployment with Mobile Device Management is limited to School Membership
Our verdict	PBS KIDS Games is a free collection of more than 280 curriculum-based games for children ages 2–8. It targets preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary learners with activities connected to PBS KIDS characters and shows. The catalog… Read the review →	Starfall brings early reading practice together with games, books, songs, and creative activities for children from Pre-K through grade 5. Its free Learn-to-Read sequence introduces letter names and sounds, then progresses through phonics… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• PBS KIDS Games — where it wins

  • 280+ games span math, reading, science, STEM, and art
  • English and Spanish gameplay supports bilingual households
  • Available on web, iOS, Android, and Windows

  Where it doesn't

  • Content is focused on children ages 2–8
  • One free plan offers no tiered feature choices
  • Broad subject coverage may not suit single-subject study

• Starfall — where it wins

  • Free Learn-to-Read sequence introduces letter sounds and phonics
  • Reading activities cover fluency, comprehension, fiction, and nonfiction
  • Web and mobile access, with offline content in some apps

  Where it doesn't

  • Home Membership costs $35 per year for full activity access
  • Offline content is not available in the main Starfall App
  • School deployment with Mobile Device Management is limited to School Membership

• PBS KIDS Games9.1/10 · Free plan

  A free, wide-ranging learning game collection for preschool and early elementary children.

  Visit PBS KIDSFull verdict →
• Starfall8.4/10 · Free plan

  A free-to-start reading platform with structured phonics and broader learning activities.

  Visit StarfallFull verdict →