Before taking the class in school, kids might only think of "science" as thick boring textbooks and dry lectures. What they'll quickly learn, though, is that in reality, science - at times - is about explosions, mysteries, and mind-bending discoveries.
It just takes the right tools to help transform a child’s "unknown" into a thrilling journey—and what better way to do that than through science apps?
Whether kids want to explore the cosmos, build virtual ecosystems, or conduct experiments from the couch, the opportunity to learn more is literally at their fingertips.
What Makes a Good Science App?
First—a great science app excites as much as it teaches. Here’s what sets the best science apps apart from the rest:
Hands-On Exploration: The best science apps encourage kids to dive in with experiments, simulations, and interactive challenges.
Age-Appropriate Design: Science content should be clear, engaging, and suited to the child’s developmental level.
Scientific Accuracy: A great app is based on real, up-to-date science.
Eye-Catching and Fun: Bright visuals and creative gameplay make learning science feel like playtime.
No Cost/No Worries: A truly valuable free app should offer meaningful learning experiences without requiring extra purchases.
The Best Free Science Apps for Kids
With this criterion in mind, here are 7 free science apps that can make learning feel like an unprecedented adventure.
| App Name | Best Age Range | Coolest Feature | App Store Rating | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. SkyView Lite | 6-12 | Point device to the sky, identify stars & planets | ⭐ 4.6 (18.1K Ratings) | iOS | Android |
| 2. Khan Academy Kids | 4-8 | Adaptive lessons in science, math, & reading | ⭐ 4.8 (102.1K Ratings) | iOS | Android |
| 3. Science for Kids (Tappity) | 4-10 | Interactive quizzes & science adventures | ⭐ 4.5 (6.9K Ratings) | iOS |
| 4. PBS Kids Play & Learn Science | 3-8 | Hands-on experiments & interactive games | ⭐ 4.2 (428 Ratings) | iOS | Android |
| 5. The Human Body by Tinybop (Free Demo) | 6-10 | Explore the human body in real-time | ⭐ 4.2 (386 Ratings) | iOS |
| 6. Plum's Creaturizer | 6-9 | Create imaginary creatures & learn about habitats | ⭐ 3.8 (83 Ratings) | iOS |
| 7. Inventioneers Lite | 6+ | Experiment with physics by building contraptions | ⭐ 4.3 (287 Ratings) | iOS | Android |
1. SkyView Lite
App Store Rankings: #11 in Education, 4.6 Stars, 18.1K Ratings
Why Kids Love It: This "out of this world" science app lets kids point their device at the sky to identify stars, planets, and constellations. Keeping in mind what makes a good science app, this is engagement at its best, as kids can do something and immediately see the result.
Why Parents Think It's Awesome: I talk with my kids about the vastness of space and just how much is going on up there. While no app can completely pull back the curtain on the great unknown, SkyView Lite allows users to experience a world they've literally never set foot in.
Best For: Ages 6-12
Download: iOS App Store or Google Play
2. Khan Academy Kids
App Store Rankings: #129 in Education, 4.8 Stars, 102.1K Ratings
Why Kids Love It: Fun and interactive lessons introduce young learners to the basics of science alongside math and reading. It's hard to go wrong when apps execute disguising educational games and other challenges as real learning.
Why Parents Think It's Awesome: There is a time and place for really deep learning content, but most kids don't need to jump in that far, especially to start. I like how this app resembles the types of apps and games already use; it's a sense of familiarity with additional levels of learning.
Best For: Ages 4-8
Download: iOS App Store or Google Play
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3. Science for Kids by Tappity
App Store Rankings: 4.5 Stars, 6.9K Ratings
Why Kids Love It: Interactive lessons, quizzes, and science adventures make learning exciting. Of all of the apps on this list, it's the closes to science class, but still functions in a way to get kids excited and keep them engaged.
Why Parents Think It's Awesome: You can tell a lot of time and effort went into this app and its content. Custom animations, videos, and lessons really make it feel like an elevated experience. As a parent who has seen so many different "cookie cutter" type of apps that are a dime a dozen, you can tell this app had a goal of going above and beyond.
Best For: Ages 4-10
Download: iOS App Store
4. PBS Kids Play & Learn Science
App Store Rankings: 4.2 Stars, 428 Ratings
Why Kids Love It: Offers fun, hands-on science experiments and interactive games that challenge kids to think differently about what they're trying to accomplish. The app also encourages multiple ways of arriving at a solution, which can help kids to continue tinkering.
Why Parents Think It's Awesome: To tack on to my point above about the many low-value apps, I can't tell you how much I love when an app is attached to an established name. I'm not saying there isn't any room for new developers to come along, but in this case, PBS has been on the forefront of learning for years.
Best For: Ages 3-8
Download: iOS App Store or Google Play
5. The Human Body by Tinybop (Free Demo Version)
App Store Rankings: #171 in Education, 4.2 Stars, 386 Ratings
Why Kids Love It: They can explore the human body in a hands-on way, watching organs work in real time. Maybe for the first time, kids can see just how incredible the human body is in terms of its many functions.
Why Parents Think It's Awesome: I'm not going to lie—because the human body is such a complex machine, the fact that this app isn't a bunch of cartoons and games makes is a great thing in my opinion. There is a time and place for gamification, but sometimes you just need to the facts.
Best For: Ages 6-10
Download: iOS App Store
6. Plum's Creaturizer
App Store Rankings: 3.8 Stars, 83 Ratings
Why Kids Love It: Kids can create their own imaginary creatures, place them in nature, and learn about their adaptations. It's literally a blank slate for creation, yet one that is tied to results and outcomes.
Why Parents Think It's Awesome: A big potential turn off for kids when it comes to science is the emphasis on hard facts and data. While those things form the bedrock of science, there still needs to be elements of imagination, innovativeness, and discoverability.
Best For: Ages 6-9
Download: iOS App Store
7. Inventioneers Lite
App Store Rankings: 4.3 Stars, 287 Ratings
Why Kids Love It: They can experiment with physics concepts by building contraptions and solving fun puzzles. It's a builder's playground as - like some of the apps mentioned above - it allows for multiple solutions to challenging problems.
Why Parents Think It's Awesome: I said there was a time and place for gamification, and this is it. What better way to get kids thinking than to put a problem in front of them that requires creativity and out-of-the-box thining in order to solve it.
Best For: Ages 6 and up
Download: iOS App Store or Google Play
Ready to Get Started?
Science isn’t something kids have to learn—it’s something they get to explore. With these free apps, they can test the laws of physics, grow a digital forest, or blast off into space, all from the palm of their hand. The best way to learn is by doing, and these apps make it possible anytime, anywhere.
So go ahead, download an app, dive into a new world, and watch as science becomes their favorite subject.