Parenting

ABCmouse Review (2025): The only app my toddler actually asks for

After six months using ABCmouse of testing with my toddler, it’s the rare learning app that’s both fun and structured. My daughter now confidently identifies her letters and actually asks to “do her lessons.”

Gabrielle

I’m Gabrielle, a former tech professional turned full-time parent and business partner at TheNiftiest. These days, most of my time is spent chasing after a very energetic toddler while juggling work, family, and everything in between. As we navigate this new chapter, I share honest, firsthand reviews of the products we actually use—whether they make parenting easier, work more flexible, or life a little more fun. My goal is simple: to cut through the noise with transparency and give real insights into what works (and what doesn’t) for families like mine. Because let’s be real—when you’re short on time and running on coffee, you want to know what’s truly worth it.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you sign up through my recommendations, I may earn a commission—at no extra cost to you.

After six months using ABCmouse with my toddler, it’s the rare learning app that’s both fun and structured. My daughter now confidently identifies her letters and actually asks to “do her lessons.” The new version of ABCmouse (called ABCmouse 2) splits Reading and Math into separate learning paths, layers in playful “worlds” for exploration, and offers a free Basic tier plus a 30-day Premium trial. For most families of ages 2–8, this is the easiest on-ramp to consistent early-learning at home.

What I look for in a Learning App

When looking for content for my daughter, I consider for two important factors:

I’m a firm believer that young children learn through play. Looking for products that are not only geared towards learning but are fun is essential.

I want screentime I can feel good about as a parent, identifying content that is not only fun but engages her brain is a win-win.

What ABCmouse is—and why we use it

ABCmouse is a comprehensive early-learning program for ages 2–8 that blends guided lessons with playful exploration. For my family, the appeal is the structure: there’s always a next step (no hunting for “the right thing”), but there’s also room for free play when my daughter just wants to “play paint” or “visit the pets” or “go to the aquarium.” The curriculum covers reading, math, science, art, and music, so I feel like we’re reinforcing school-ready skills without turning screen time into a battle.

It’s also a heck of a lot less annoying than Paw Patrol… So that’s been a win-win for me and my daughter.

Quick specs (the need-to-knows)

Ages: 2–8
Subjects: Reading, Math, Science, Art/Music, plus open-ended “My World” play
Devices: ABCmouse is on iOS/Android and also runs on desktop/web browsers
Trial & Plans: Free Basic (limited), Premium monthly or discounted annual with 30-day trial
Profiles: Up to 3 child profiles (Premium)

What’s new in ABCmouse 2 (and why it matters)

The newly released ABCmouse2 has some distinct differences, and in my opinion nice improvements.

Separate Reading & Math Learning Paths: The original ABCmouse blended subjects; ABCmouse 2 gives each child two distinct paths—Reading and Math—so I can set each subject to the right level. My daughter is further along in letters than numbers, and the split makes it simple to tailor both.
“My World” play hubs: Between lessons, my kid dives into themed zones like Pet Town and an Aquarium—lightweight, skill-supporting play that keeps the “one more activity?” momentum going.
Modern, mobile-first design: ABCmouse 2 feels faster and cleaner on phones/tablets. If you still want desktop, the original ABCmouse is there, but my 3-year-old loves the tap-and-swipe flow.

Our Experience

We tested the app with our daughter and evaluated everything from appropriate learning content to the user interface and how easy it was for me as a parent to control the experience. Here was our approach and what we found:

How we tested

Timeframe: 6 months
Child: One daughter, age 3
Schedule: 10–15 minutes, 4–5 days/week
Goals: Letter recognition, sound awareness, early number sense
What we tracked: Engagement (asks to play?), skill carryover (letter ID during story time), and ease of use for me

Results: Clear jump in letter identification and willingness to sit for short, structured activities. The reward loop (tickets → new items) keeps her coming back without bribery battles.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Guided structure that still feels like play
Separate Reading & Math paths you can level independently
Engaging hubs (pets, aquarium, etc.) to keep momentum
Generous pricing: legit free Basic + 30-day Premium trial; strong first-year discount
Kid-friendly design that works on the devices we already use

Cons

Basic plan caps you at 10 activities/day—you’ll quickly want Premium if your child is engaged
Mobile-first may bug desktop-diehards (though original ABCmouse still supports web)
Like any app, you’ll want to set boundaries and stick to short sessions (it is still ‘screen time‘ after all)

The Verdict

If you want a realistic way to add learning to your daily routine—and you’re tired of fighting over screen time—ABCmouse nails the balance of structure and fun. The free Basic plan lets you see if your child connects, and the $45 first-year premium deal is easy to justify if they do.

Tips to get the most from your trial

Make it a routine: 10–15 minutes after snack or before dinner time, a few days a week. Or when you really need that kid-free bathroom break (if you know, you know).
Level smart: Set Reading & Math levels independently; if your child breezes through one, bump that path up first.
Use the checkpoints: Treat “Show What You Know” as your mastery moment—cheer the pass and move on.
Mix lesson + play: Alternate a Learning Path activity with a My World zone to keep energy high.

Start your 30-day Premium trial then $14.99/ mo. until canceled→ Here

Who it’s for / Who it’s not for

Great for: Parents of kids 2–8 who want a structured, low-friction way to build literacy and math at home—especially if your child responds to rewards and short wins.

Maybe not for: Families who only want to DIY a curriculum from books and hands-on activities without screens (you can still use ABCmouse printables, but the core is app-based).

Does ABCmouse actually work?

Several outcome studies—including a randomized, controlled study of kindergarteners—report significant gains in early literacy (and in some cases math) with regular ABCmouse use. In plain language: when kids use it consistently, they tend to progress faster than peers who don’t. Combine that with our real-world results (letters clicked), and I’m confident it’s more than just flashy screens. (Note that many studies are funded by the company; still, methods and findings are publicly available so you can judge the results for yourself too.)

Here is a link to the research so you can check it out for yourself!

Who Else Did We Look At?

The quality learning app market for 3 year olds is relatively small but we did also evaluate HOMER.

HOMER is another early-learning app targeting ages 2–8 with a big emphasis on reading; it typically offers a 30-day trial (though you can access a 60-day free trial offer with this link here), with pricing commonly seen around $12.99/month or ~$79.99/year, and supports up to 4 child profiles under one membership. It’s strong for families who want a reading-first experience with simple, personalized pathways.

I still believe ABCmouse is the better choice for most families. The breadth (reading, math, science, art/music), separate Reading/Math learning paths, and the free Basic option to test daily without entering payment info. If your child is laser-focused on learning to read and you want the simplest possible reading pathway, HOMER is a solid alternative. For an all-around early-learning hub with better structure and variety, ABCmouse wins in my house.