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Reading Eggs Review

Monday, July 14th

2025 Learn to Read Program Reviews

Reading Eggs Review 1 Star Rating

Reading Eggs

1 Star Rating
  • $9.99 per month for up to 4 profiles
  • Over 4,000 ebooks in the online library
  • App-based program
  • Kids enjoy the songs in the app
  • A literacy pre-test is included to place kids on the right learning level
  • Kids get rewards and certificates
  • Parents can track progress
  • Offers a 30-day trial and easy cancellation

Reading Eggs, owned by Blake eLearning Pty. Ltd and based in New South Wales, Australia, is a popular learn to read program with over 20 million users worldwide. Reading Eggs' digital learn to read program is subscription-based for children ages 2-13. It includes five programs for different age groups: Reading Eggs Junior, Reading Eggs, Fast Phonics, Reading Eggspress, and Mathseeds. With a million downloads at Google Play, it is a popular program.

Based on scientific research

Reading Eggs' learn to read program claims to be based on solid scientific research and the six key sub-skills required for proficient reading. However, we are concerned that the scientific research might be based on memorization and guessing rather than truly understanding sounds that relate to letters.

Gamified approach to learning

Reading Eggs uses the lure of video gaming to get kids engaged. This may seem like a great idea at first and this is probably where the company's scientific research comes in - we know gaming can be at times nearly addictive to children - but parents report that children often end up in tears when they can't complete a level. There is no encouragement or help offered if the kids get something wrong - just a boing and "x” drawing and a prompt to try again. Others are focused on getting eggs in order to purchase items for their avatars, so they are in a hurry to guess the right answer or memorize, rather than actually learn. In many ways it's like a Facebook game, designed to keep the player playing rather than actually truly learning anything. One parent said their child became utterly obsessed with the gaming side of the app and stated that if your goal was to get a child hooked on a screen, this was a perfect app for it.

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Some think it's a waste of time and is low-quality

One teacher reviewed the Reading Eggs program and said it was "rubbish” and a "waste of money”. One of her problems with this app is that it did not explain things to the child when they got something wrong. All they had to do was continue guessing until they found the right answer. Another reviewer said the characters were not cute, but looked like they'd been made by a three year old using Blender AI. Other reviewers reported glitchy game play, where buttons wouldn't work and the game would freeze, causing their children to get frustrated and angry.

Parents have very little control

While there is a progress report system, it is very limited. There is no way to tell what activities your child has been working on, and no way to know time spent on each task. Parents cannot assign specific lessons and don't know what is happening in the program.

Doesn't help children with learning difficulties

In 2020, it was reported that Reading Eggs lacked instructions for children with disabilities. Parents have also complained that there are no explicit instructions for many of the lessons, and that has left some children in tears of frustration. AUSPELD, an association that advises Australian schools on teaching children with learning difficulties, removed Reading Eggs from its list of recommended resources.

Easy cancellation policy

Because this is an app-based program, cancellation is as simple as going to the subscriptions in your phone and clicking "cancel”. There is no other obligation or fine print.

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Problematic history of inappropriate content

In 2019, Reading Eggs faced criticism for an inappropriate spelling lesson. As late as 2023, parents reported that the app was showing their children content that was not developmentally appropriate. Issues such as abortion were included in the ebook library, and while such topics are important to discuss, they are not developmentally appropriate for children as young as those for whom this program is recommended.

Too many negatives

Due to the gamified style of this app and the developmentally inappropriate content found in the library, along with the lack of parental insight and control in Reading Eggs' learn to read program, we cannot recommend it as a good solution at this time.

What's the Best Program to Help a Child Learn to Read?

Choosing the best learn to read program is a daunting task because every child is unique and learns differently. But there are a few tried and true ways to narrow down your search to find a perfect program that can help a child learn to read.

While every child is unique, there are some tried and true methods to teach literacy that have stood the test of time and are pretty universal in application. These are teaching reading and literacy through a phonics emphasis (teaching letter sounds) or a sight words emphasis (teaching children to memorize common words in the English language).

The Best Learn to Read Programs Compare Learn to Read Programs Compare Learn to Read Program Reviews What are the best Learn to Read Programs Best Learn to Read Program Reviews

Learn to Read Program FAQ

All ages can use these programs. Programs and courses have material suitable for all ages to use. Whether it is Pre-K, Elementary, middle school, high school levels, or adults there are programs that can help anyone learn and improve their reading skills.
Most learn to read programs are self-paced and allow the customer to learn the material at their own time. On average each course can take about 20 minutes to a couple of hours depending on the length of the material given. For most effective learning, it is recommended to plan out the courses ahead of time, and to review course material, when available.
Depending on the company and type of course, the cost can range anywhere from $49.99 to $199.99. Monthly plans can range from $6.99 to $30 per month. Having additional students on one course plan, with some companies, can reduce the cost per month.
Depending on the company you consider, there are typically multiple levels of learning from beginner to expert. Most companies organize difficulty with the age of the student. Courses are typically divided into the following structured categories: Pre-K, Elementary, middle school, or high school levels. Keep in mind, several companies only go up to 8th grade, rather than offering levels for high-school students. Be sure to read the details before selecting a plan.
Yes, depending on the type of plan you choose. Be sure to read the details of any course you intend to purchase.
Of course, companies offer several different learn to read programs and are committed to customer satisfaction. Some companies even offer a free 2-week trial (no commitment), 30 days from the date of delivery to request a full refund, 14-day money-back guarantee, and more.
Kids learn to read when they can identify individual or combinations of letters. Next, they connect those letters to sounds (talking and listening). Having a good program that has systematic teaching about phonics is key for a child to being able to learn how to read. Phonics is a method of teaching a person to read by correlating sounds with individual or combinations of letters.
On average, most children begin to read around the age of 6 or 7 years old. Some children even learn as early as 4 years of age. As a bit of advice, keep in mind that even if your child has a head start in learning how to read, his or her peers may eventually catch up - and that's ok.
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Continued from above...

Phonics tends to be easier and more helpful since children can come across an unfamiliar word and, with the help of phonics, sound it out. Sight words tend to be trickier because memorization is favored over learning. This can also be problematic in spelling, too. If children don't understand phonics, they have a more difficult time spelling unfamiliar words.

Learn to read programs can utilize these principles in tailored, customized ways that fit with the individual student, and that is where you can really decide which program is best for your child. Some learning programs focus on games while others make use of songs. Still others have a multisensory approach, which works well for children who have disabilities or problems focusing. Some programs are not just for reading but offer a comprehensive curriculum.

As you consider different learn to read programs, there are a few key aspects you'll find to be most important:

  • Price. How much does the learn to read program cost? Does it offer a good value for the money - are there resources and tools, updated content, and quality that meet the price point? Is there an annual commitment? A money-back guarantee? Is the price subject to change?
  • Age range. Is the program suitable for the age of the child(ren) you want to help with their reading progress? Is it developmentally appropriate for the ages it services? If you are looking for a consistent curriculum, does the program continue for older age ranges?
  • Teaching method. Does it follow a phonics-based or sight-word-based approach? Is it disability-friendly? Does it utilize too much screen time, or does it offer off-screen learning as well? Is there a lot of parent involvement, or does it lean toward independent learning? Does it include any physical activity? Does it include print material?
  • Reviews. What are parents and educators saying about this program? Does it have a positive or negative reputation? How long has it been around? Is it backed by scientific studies? Have there been any litigations or controversies surrounding it? Have people with similar educational philosophies and values found it to be helpful? How does it rate for children with dyslexia or ADHD? These are all excellent questions to ask when searching for a learn to read program that meets your specific needs.
  • Updates. Is the learn to read program updated? How recent are parent reviews or awards? Does the website have broken links or outdated information? Are social media channels updated consistently? If you are using an app or an online platform, is it updated for security and new software enhancements?
  • Spelling and writing. Does it include a program to teach spelling to your child(ren)? Is there a trace feature so children can learn to write? Does it offer printable worksheets for handwriting practice, or is it all online?
  • Full program or supplemental. Does the program offer a full reading curriculum (like a homeschool curriculum)? If so, does it align with state requirements? Is it meant to reinforce other programs or help struggling readers catch up over the summer?

To help your child learn to read, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the top programs available today. We're confident that this information will make it simple and even fun to find a learn to read program that is perfect for your emerging reader!

Compare Learn to Read Programs

Select any 2 Learn to Read Programs to compare them head to head

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  • Hooked On Phonics
  • Kiz Phonics
  • Scholar Within
  • Duolingo
  • K5 Learning
  • Phonics In Motion
  • ABC Mouse
  • Homer
  • Reading Raven
  • Time 4 Learning
  • Reading Kingdom
  • Reading Eggs
Hooked On Phonics vs Kiz Phonics Hooked On Phonics vs Scholar Within Hooked On Phonics vs Duolingo Hooked On Phonics vs K5 Learning Hooked On Phonics vs Phonics In Motion Hooked On Phonics vs ABC Mouse Hooked On Phonics vs Homer Hooked On Phonics vs Reading Raven Hooked On Phonics vs Time 4 Learning Hooked On Phonics vs Reading Kingdom Hooked On Phonics vs Reading Eggs Kiz Phonics vs Scholar Within Kiz Phonics vs Duolingo Kiz Phonics vs K5 Learning Kiz Phonics vs Phonics In Motion Kiz Phonics vs ABC Mouse Kiz Phonics vs Homer Kiz Phonics vs Reading Raven Kiz Phonics vs Time 4 Learning Kiz Phonics vs Reading Kingdom Kiz Phonics vs Reading Eggs Scholar Within vs Duolingo Scholar Within vs K5 Learning Scholar Within vs Phonics In Motion Scholar Within vs ABC Mouse Scholar Within vs Homer Scholar Within vs Reading Raven Scholar Within vs Time 4 Learning Scholar Within vs Reading Kingdom Scholar Within vs Reading Eggs Duolingo vs K5 Learning Duolingo vs Phonics In Motion Duolingo vs ABC Mouse Duolingo vs Homer Duolingo vs Reading Raven Duolingo vs Time 4 Learning Duolingo vs Reading Kingdom Duolingo vs Reading Eggs K5 Learning vs Phonics In Motion K5 Learning vs ABC Mouse K5 Learning vs Homer K5 Learning vs Reading Raven K5 Learning vs Time 4 Learning K5 Learning vs Reading Kingdom K5 Learning vs Reading Eggs Phonics In Motion vs ABC Mouse Phonics In Motion vs Homer Phonics In Motion vs Reading Raven Phonics In Motion vs Time 4 Learning Phonics In Motion vs Reading Kingdom Phonics In Motion vs Reading Eggs ABC Mouse vs Homer ABC Mouse vs Reading Raven ABC Mouse vs Time 4 Learning ABC Mouse vs Reading Kingdom ABC Mouse vs Reading Eggs Homer vs Reading Raven Homer vs Time 4 Learning Homer vs Reading Kingdom Homer vs Reading Eggs Reading Raven vs Time 4 Learning Reading Raven vs Reading Kingdom Reading Raven vs Reading Eggs Time 4 Learning vs Reading Kingdom Time 4 Learning vs Reading Eggs Reading Kingdom vs Reading Eggs
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