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Online homeschool reading and phonics programs, compared

3 programs, listed alphabetically, each with its grades, method, format and cost a year as the publisher’s own site showed them on October 31, 2026. Open a card for the strengths, the watch-outs and who it fits.

What this list holds

Online programs teach on a computer, tablet or app, mark the work and keep records for you.

Reading and phonics programs teach a child to read: letter sounds, blending, decoding and the first books. Some are scripted lessons a parent reads from; others are apps that teach and check the child on screen.

This list holds programs sold for reading and phonics on their own. Full curricula that teach it along with every other subject are on homeschool all-in-one curricula.

At a glance

  • 2 of the 3 show a price on the publisher's site. For one child and one year of the main package they run from $35 to $99.99.
  • How the child works: 3 on screen.
  • Grades: 2 reach pre-K or kindergarten, all reach the elementary grades, 2 reach middle school and none reach high school.

Grades each program covers

Night Zookeeper
  1. PK
  2. K
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
Reading Eggs
  1. PK
  2. K
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
Starfall
  1. PK
  2. K
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
Alphabetical, as the table below. Each row lights the grades the publisher states.
Which grades are you shopping for?

2 of the 3 reach pre-K or kindergarten:

  • Reading Eggs Ages 2 to 13, about pre-K to 8th grade
  • Starfall Pre-K to 5th grade; math and the full grade range need a home membership

All 3 reach the elementary grades:

  • Night Zookeeper Ages 6 to 12 (about 1st to 6th grade), with an easy mode for ages 5 to 7
  • Reading Eggs Ages 2 to 13, about pre-K to 8th grade
  • Starfall Pre-K to 5th grade; math and the full grade range need a home membership

2 of the 3 reach middle school:

  • Night Zookeeper Ages 6 to 12 (about 1st to 6th grade), with an easy mode for ages 5 to 7
  • Reading Eggs Ages 2 to 13, about pre-K to 8th grade

None of the programs on this list reaches high school. Every program, with a filter for any combination.

Alphabetical. We never rank programs, and none pays to appear.
ProgramSubjectsGradesMethodFormatCost a yearFaith label
Night ZookeeperNight ZookeeperReading and phonics, Language arts1–6TraditionalOn screenNot shownNot labelled
Reading EggsBlake eLearning (3P Learning)Reading and phonics, Language artsPre-K–8TraditionalOn screen$99.99Secular
StarfallStarfall Education FoundationReading and phonics, MathPre-K–5TraditionalOn screen$35Secular

Each program in a line

  • Night Zookeeper: A family with a reluctant writer aged 6 to 12 who will write more for a story world and an audience.
  • Reading Eggs: A family that wants a child to practice reading in short sessions on a tablet or computer, with several children sharing one plan.
  • Starfall: A family with a young child who likes short games and songs and needs gentle phonics or math practice to add to other lessons.

Before you buy

Check how much time a day it puts in front of a screen, whether it works offline, and how billing and cancelling work.

Look at how many minutes a lesson takes, whether the readers are included or sold separately, and how the program places a child who already reads a little.

Most publishers post samples and a placement test; each card links the placement test where the publisher has one.

Related lists

How we label

Every fact on a card was read on the publisher's own website on the date shown, and the page it came from is linked. A fact we could not confirm there is left out. Costs are for one child and one year of the main package, as the publisher's page showed them that day; prices and sales change. Method and format are the publisher's own description where it gives one. The only thing we say about religion is one label, secular or faith-based, given by the rule above; where the publisher's pages don't settle it, the card has no label.

No affiliate links, no sponsored places, no ranking. Something wrong or out of date? Send a correction; publishers can send corrections, never money.