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Structured phonics for beginning readers

For a young child, the important things are a clear order of sounds, blending from the start, short decodable books, and no guessing from pictures. Price and polish vary a lot more than quality.

What to look for

At this age, short daily sessions with someone listening matter more than any app feature.

Checked October 2026 · 16 options

Showing 16 of 16, our picks first

Reading Horizons At-HomeApp · Ages 4–9 (Discovery) and 10 to adult (Elevate) · Web

Orton-Gillingham-based reading software for home, in a version for ages 4–9 and one for 10 to adult.

  • Paid
  • Up to multisyllable words
  • Dictation spelling

Reading.comApp · Ages 3–8 · iOS, Android

Scripted phonics lessons you do together, with pictures hidden to stop guessing.

  • Paid
  • Up to vowel patterns

Phonics HeroApp · Ages 4–7, plus catch-up · Web, iOS, Android

Synthetic phonics games covering all 44 sounds, with spelling at every level.

  • Paid
  • Up to multisyllable words

Lexercise Professional TherapyOnline tutoring · Pre-K to 11th grade · Online sessions, Web

One live 45-minute Orton-Gillingham therapy session a week online, plus daily practice games.

  • Paid
  • Up to Latin & Greek roots
  • Tutor listens
  • Dictation spelling

Brainspring Virtual TutoringOnline tutoring · Kindergarten to adult · Online sessions

Live 1:1 online tutoring in Phonics First, an accredited Orton-Gillingham program, from K to adult.

  • Paid
  • Up to Latin & Greek roots
  • Tutor listens
  • Dictation spelling

iReading TutorOnline tutoring · Pre-K to adult · Online sessions

Online dyslexia tutoring using Wilson, Barton and other structured programs, with published prices.

  • Paid
  • Up to prefixes, suffixes & spelling rules
  • Tutor listens
  • Dictation spelling

Hammond Bell (online Barton tutoring)Online tutoring · Ages 5–19 · Online sessions

Online-only Barton Reading & Spelling tutoring with Barton-certified tutors, at least twice a week.

  • Paid
  • Up to Latin & Greek roots
  • Tutor listens
  • Dictation spelling

Funnix Beginning ReadingApp · Kindergarten to 2nd grade · Web

Scripted Direct Instruction reading lessons on the web that a parent runs, from first sounds to about 3rd grade.

  • Paid
  • Up to multisyllable words
  • Dictation spelling

Lexia Core5 ReadingApp · Pre-K to 5th grade · Web, iOS

The adaptive program many schools use, from letter sounds to Greek combining forms.

  • Paid
  • Up to Latin & Greek roots

ReadingDoctor OnlineApp · Kindergarten to 3rd grade, and older strugglers · Web, iOS

Speech-pathologist-designed synthetic phonics software with mastery-gated sets and spelling.

  • Paid
  • Up to vowel patterns

Dyslexia Hub Structured LiteracyApp · Primary school · Web

A free 32-level structured literacy video course from Ireland's national dyslexia charity.

  • Free
  • Up to prefixes, suffixes & spelling rules
  • Dictation spelling

Sweet PhonicsApp · Ages 3–8 · iOS

A K–2 phonics app with 101 lessons, decodable stories it listens to, and tile-to-typing spelling.

  • Paid
  • Up to prefixes, suffixes & spelling rules
  • Listens to reading
  • Dictation spelling

Jolly Phonics – Learn to ReadApp · Ages 3–7 · iOS, Android

The UK's well-known synthetic phonics program as a lesson app for parents and teachers.

  • Paid
  • Up to vowel patterns

Oz PhonicsApp · Ages 4–7 · iOS

A series of cheap iPad phonics apps, with an American accent option and spelling by dictation.

  • Paid
  • Up to vowel patterns
  • Dictation spelling

Initial Code (Sounds-Write)App · Ages 4–6 · iOS

Sounds-Write's iPad app for its first phonics units, with handwritten spelling.

  • Paid
  • Up to blends & digraphs
  • Dictation spelling

Sounds-Write parent courseApp · Ages 3–6 · Web

A free short video course showing parents how to teach first sounds and three-letter words.

  • Free
  • Up to short-vowel words
  • Dictation spelling

Related lists

Who it is forFor dyslexiaWho it is forOlder struggling readers