Which education apps should Indian children use?
For most children, start with free, curriculum-linked resources: the government's DIKSHA platform and NCERT textbooks, Khan Academy for maths and science, and Google Read Along for early readers. Add a paid service only when your child clearly needs something those cannot give, such as a live teacher, structured JEE or NEET preparation, or patient one-to-one help with daily doubts.
A quick note on terms for readers outside India: CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and ICSE (run by CISCE) are the two main national school boards, and NCERT is the government body that writes the textbooks CBSE schools use. Many states also run their own boards.
Key takeaways
- •Start free: DIKSHA, NCERT ePathshala, Khan Academy and Google Read Along cover a lot of ground at no cost.
- •Pay only for something your child is missing, such as a live teacher, structured exam preparation or patient help with daily doubts.
- •Never sign a multi-year contract or take a loan to pay for an education app.
- •Judge an app by what your child can explain afterwards, not by how long they spend on it.
- •No app replaces school, a good teacher, sleep, play or time with you.
What has changed in Indian EdTech?
During the pandemic, education apps grew very quickly in India, often sold through aggressive marketing and long prepaid packages. Since then the sector has contracted. The most visible case was BYJU'S, whose parent company faced insolvency proceedings and lender disputes, and which had earlier been questioned by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) over its sales practices.
Two things have changed since. First, many parents are now (rightly) wary of contracts, loans and sales calls. Second, conversational AI has arrived. Tools built on large language models can answer a child's question in plain words, at any hour, and try a different explanation when the first one does not land.
That is useful, but it is not magic. International reviews, including UNESCO's 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report on technology in education, have stressed that strong evidence for the learning benefits of most education technology is still limited, and that technology helps most when it supports good teaching rather than replacing it. Keep that in mind as you read any app's marketing, including ours.
What are the main types of education app, and who do they suit?
Rather than rank apps by brand, it is more useful to understand the six types available and what each is good at. Prices and features change often, so check each provider's website before deciding.
DIKSHA and NCERT ePathshala
Free government platforms
Best for: Any CBSE or state-board student who needs textbook-linked material
Strengths
- +Free, run by the Government of India
- +Linked to NCERT and many state textbooks (QR codes in printed books open matching content)
- +Available in several Indian languages
Limitations
- –Content quality and depth vary by subject and state
- –Mostly self-directed; no one checks whether your child understood
Khan Academy
Free non-profit learning platform
Best for: Building maths and science concepts step by step
Strengths
- +Genuinely free, with no advertising
- +Clear short videos plus practice exercises that check mastery
- +Has India-specific maths courses organised by class; check coverage for your child's subjects
Limitations
- –Not a full match for every CBSE or ICSE chapter
- –Works best for children who can study independently
Google Read Along
Early reading app
Best for: Children learning to read in English or Hindi and some other Indian languages
Strengths
- +Free, works offline once stories are downloaded
- +Listens as the child reads aloud and gently helps with difficult words
Limitations
- –Narrow focus: reading practice only
- –Younger children still need an adult to read with them
Live online tutoring (for example Vedantu)
Paid classes with human teachers
Best for: Children who learn better with a real teacher and a timetable
Strengths
- +A human who can explain, encourage and answer questions live
- +Structured courses mapped to board syllabi
Limitations
- –Costs more than self-paced tools
- –Fixed class times; quality depends on the individual teacher
Exam preparation platforms (for example Unacademy, Physics Wallah)
Competitive exam courses
Best for: Class 11 and 12 students preparing for JEE, NEET or similar exams
Strengths
- +Structured courses, mock tests and large peer communities
- +Faculty who specialise in competitive exams
Limitations
- –Not designed for primary or middle school
- –Can add to pressure if started too early or without the child's real interest
AI tutors and companions (for example Kyloen, MeraTutor)
Conversational AI tools
Best for: Everyday doubts, practice and explanations at the child's own pace
Strengths
- +Available when a teacher is not; can explain the same idea in several ways
- +Child-focused tools add age-appropriate rules and parent visibility
Limitations
- –AI can be confidently wrong; children need to check important facts
- –Quality and safety differ widely between products
- –Not a substitute for a teacher, counsellor or doctor
A word on general chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini: they can be impressive study aids for older teenagers, and their makers have added teen settings and parental controls. But they are built for a general audience and will usually hand over answers if asked. We look at this in more detail in our guide to ChatGPT and children.
Kyloen, which publishes this blog, sits in the AI tutor and companion category. It is built for school-age children, follows the NCERT syllabus, guides children with questions rather than handing over answers, and gives parents a weekly summary. It is free during beta (planned at ₹499/month after launch). It is a young product with rough edges, it does not offer video lessons or full JEE/NEET courses, and like every AI it can make mistakes.
What should children use at each age?
Under 6
Very little. The WHO advises no sedentary screen time for babies and no more than an hour a day for children aged 2 to 4, with less being better. Reading together, talking, play and outdoor time do more for early learning than any app. If you use one, choose something you can sit and do together, such as a reading app.
Classes 1 to 5
Short, supervised sessions. Read Along for reading, Khan Academy or DIKSHA for maths practice, and an AI tool only if it is designed for children and you can see what is happening. Keep sessions brief and in a shared space.
Classes 6 to 10
This is where an interactive tool can help most, because the syllabus becomes more abstract and doubts pile up between lessons. A sensible set-up is one free concept resource plus one tool for doubts and practice, whether that is a tutor, a teacher's office hours or a child-focused AI.
Classes 11 and 12
If your child is preparing for a competitive exam, a structured course with test series is usually the core tool. Add general AI assistants carefully, with clear family rules about using them to understand rather than to copy.
A seven-point checklist before you pay for any app
- Have I tried the free options (DIKSHA, ePathshala, Khan Academy) for at least two weeks?
- Can I explain in one sentence what this app will do that my child cannot get elsewhere?
- Is it month-to-month, with no loan, EMI or multi-year prepayment?
- Have I read the refund and cancellation terms, and saved a copy?
- Does the privacy policy say what data is collected about my child, where it is processed and how long it is kept?
- Is there advertising inside the child's experience? (There should not be.)
- After two weeks, can my child explain something they learned in their own words?
If you have a complaint about an education service you have paid for, India's National Consumer Helpline (1915) can guide you on next steps.
Finally, notice when an app is not the answer. If your child is anxious, refusing school, struggling to read well past the age their classmates manage it, or losing sleep, talk to their teacher or your paediatrician first. Those are signs that need a person, not a subscription.