Best Montessori Crosswords for Kids Alternatives in 2026
The top Montessori Crosswords for Kids alternatives are Reading Eggs, Starfall and Lexia Core5 Reading: 15 phonics apps our editors would look at instead of Montessori Crosswords for Kids, in our ranking order.
Montessori Crosswords for Kids: An iPhone and iPad word-building app for phonics practice, not a sequenced curriculum. Where it falls short: does not provide a verified sequenced phonics curriculum.
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Best forFamilies wanting a structured, broad reading program
A structured phonics-to-comprehension program with extensive books and family reporting.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Reading Eggs -
Best forFamilies and schools seeking affordable phonics practice
A low-cost phonics and reading library for families, teachers, and schools.
- Offline access
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Starfall -
Best forSchools needing adaptive reading intervention
A school-focused reading program pairing adaptive practice with educator-guided intervention.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Lexia -
Best forYoung learners needing focused phonics lessons
A structured reading program with offline lessons and print materials, sold by monthly subscription.
- Offline access
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forSchools seeking a sequenced phonics curriculum
A sequenced phonics programme with lessons, books and learner progress tracking.
- Progress tracking
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Grow the Code -
Best forLearners needing structured, game-based phonics drills
A sequenced library of phonics games with progress reporting for home and school.
- Progress tracking
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Phonics Hero -
Best forFamilies wanting a free, playful phonics introduction
A free desktop phonics game with staged lessons, practice tools, and printable activities.
- Offline access
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forLearners needing assessed phonics and decoding practice
Assessed phonics and decoding practice for learners from early reading through adulthood.
7.5/10★★★★☆Try Reading Horizons -
Best forClassrooms seeking low-cost phonics readers and games
A web-based phonics supplement pairing decodable readers and games with teacher tools.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Letterland -
Best forFamilies seeking free early-reading practice
A free, focused reading sequence with sound practice, decodable books and progress tracking.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Level One -
Best forHome and school users wanting inexpensive phonics games
Phase-organised phonics games and printables, with free resources and annual subscriptions.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit PhonicsPlay -
Best forFamilies wanting broad phase-based phonics games
A web-based library of phased phonics games, with free play and paid access to all games.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Phonics Bloom -
Best forTeachers using a letter-sound lesson sequence
A teacher-focused phonics app built around daily lessons for 42 letter sounds.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Jolly Phonics -
Best foriPhone and iPad families wanting affordable basics
A staged early-reading path with a free starter and paid full access on iOS.
- Progress tracking
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forFamilies wanting offline phonics across devices
A multi-device phonics app with offline practice, stories, games, and progress tracking.
- Offline access
- Progress tracking
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit ReadingCraft
Montessori Crosswords for Kids Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Montessori Crosswords for Kids?
Reading Eggs: #1 in our Phonics Apps ranking, with an editor score of 8.9 out of 10. A structured phonics-to-comprehension program with extensive books and family reporting.
Is there a free alternative to Montessori Crosswords for Kids?
Yes. Starfall, Phonics Hero, Teach Your Monster to Read, Level One Reading and PhonicsPlay have a free plan or a free tier (8 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Montessori Crosswords for Kids?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Letterland Phonics Online starts lowest, at $0.49/user/mo.
Montessori Crosswords for Kids vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Age range | Instruction focus | Progress tracking | Supported platforms | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Montessori Crosswords for Kids | No | — | 4+ | Phonemic awareness | Yes | iPhone, iPad | 4.8 |
| 1 | Reading Eggs | No | $13.99/mo | Ages 2–13 | — | — | Web (desktop and tablet); iOS and Android apps | 8.9 |
| 2 | Starfall | Yes | $35/yr | Pre-K through grade 5 | — | — | Web, iOS, Android | 8.7 |
| 3 | Lexia Core5 Reading | — | — | Pre-K through fifth grade | — | — | Web browsers on PC, Mac, and Chromebook; iPad app; select Android tablets | 8.5 |
| 4 | Hooked on Phonics | No | $23.96/mo | Ages 3–8; Pre-K through early second grade | — | — | iOS, Android, Amazon Fire OS | 8.3 |
| 5 | Grow the Code | No | — | — | Blending | Yes | web, ios | 7.9 |
| 6 | Phonics Hero | Yes | $36/mo | — | Early reading | Yes | web, iOS, Android | 7.7 |
| 7 | Teach Your Monster to Read | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 7.6 |
| 8 | Reading Horizons | No | $50/yr | — | — | — | — | 7.5 |
| 9 | Letterland Phonics Online | No | $0.49/user/mo | 3-7 (broader Letterland phonics curriculum; app age range not specified) | Letter sounds | — | web, laptops, desktops, tablets | 7.4 |
| 10 | Level One Reading | Yes | None | 4–6 | — | — | Browser, iOS, Android | 7.3 |
| 11 | PhonicsPlay | Yes | £12/yr | — | Blending | — | web | 7.2 |
| 12 | Phonics Bloom | Yes | £15/user/yr | Year 1 children are usually 5–6 years old; the site covers Phases 1–6. | Blending | — | web | 7.1 |
| 13 | Jolly Phonics Lessons App | No | £4.99/mo | — | Letter sounds | — | iOS, Android | 7.0 |
| 14 | Phonics Play & Read | Yes | $4.99/mo | 3–8 | Early reading | Yes | iOS | 6.9 |
| 15 | ReadingCraft Phonics App | Yes | — | 4-7 | Letter sounds | Yes | iOS, Android, web | 6.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update






