Duolingo ABC review

Duolingo ABC is the free starting point for the youngest children, before a spelling list ever comes home. It offers more than 700 short lessons on the alphabet, phonics, sight words and vocabulary for preschool to 2nd grade, with letter tracing, drag-and-drop prompts and interactive stories that highlight each word as it is read aloud. Mini games and rewards keep kids moving through the lessons. Duolingo says there are no ads or in-app purchases, and the app works offline. Apple lists it as an Editors' Choice. For spelling, its role is the foundation: letter-sound knowledge and sight words. It does not describe custom word lists or spelling tests, and content ends at 2nd grade, so older children will need Spelling Shed, Spelling Stars or Spell It. We compared documented features and published prices only.

Who it is for

Preschool to 2nd grade kids learning letters and sounds

Price

Free: no ads or in-app purchases.

There are no ads or in-app purchases to worry about
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Over 700 bite-sized lessons on the alphabet, phonics, sight words and vocabulary
• Letter tracing and drag-and-drop activities
• Interactive stories that highlight each word as it is read aloud
• Works offline
• No ads or in-app purchases

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Completely free
• Strength: Apple Editors' Choice
• Strength: Offline play for travel
• Weakness: Teaches reading foundations rather than spelling lists
• Weakness: Content stops at 2nd grade
• Weakness: No custom word lists described

Key facts

• Grades: Preschool to 2nd grade
• Lessons: Over 700
• Price: Free, no ads or in-app purchases
• Offline: Yes

Where it ranks

Duolingo ABC is No. 7 in our Best Games to Help With Spelling verdict.