Monday, July 14th
2025 Learn to Read Program Reviews
Reading Kingdom
- Starts at $19.99 per month or $199 per year (a 20% savings) for one child
- Customized to fit your child
- Fun graphics and sound effects
- Emphasis on spelling
- Teaches basic computer skills
- Works across all devices
- Individual assessments provided
- 30-day free trial available
- Annual plans do not automatically renew
- Scholarships available for those who cannot afford the subscription
Reading Kingdom's learn to read program relies heavily on teaching sight words through games and activities. It teaches students to read and write with comprehension to the third grade reading level by training children to memorize 100 sight words and six skills they say are required to create literate readers and writers: sequencing, writing, sounds, meaning, grammar and comprehension. It is worth noting most other learn to read programs in our review teach the same skills.
Has a time limit built in
One thing we really love about Reading Kingdom is the time limit feature, which tells the child after a lesson that the time is over and they are finished. This helps children balance screen time with other kinds of learning.
Uses a phonics-plus approach
Reading Kingdom uses what they refer to as a phonics-plus approach, but we found there was more "plus” than "phonics”. Focusing on sight words, the Reading Kingdom learn to read program is proud of not having to make kids spend a lot of time sounding out words. Instead, in addition to the core sight words, Reading Kingdom teaches children to decode what a word is through context and other means. which helps the children discern what pronunciation they will use based on grammar and spelling rules, without making them memorize the rules.
Pricing structure is unnecessarily complicated and expensive
The pricing structure here is overly complicated, and it is a very expensive program for what you get, especially in comparison to more proven and tested learn to read programs readily available. The first student is $19.99 per month, or $199.99 per year (20% off) with a one-month trial. If you pay at the time of signup (skipping the trial) it is only $14.99/month or $149.99/year. Each additional student is $9.99/month, or $99.99 per year (20% off) with a one-month trial. If you pay at the time of signup for an additional student (skipping the trial), it is only $7.49/month or $74.99/year. In addition, they charge extra for things that would usually come included in other programs. Story Smarts, for example, is $49.99 for an annual subscription. Spelling Ninja is $19.99 per year. And, Super Sight Words (which you'd probably want to have), is $49.99 for an annual subscription. These additional resources really rack up the cost of this program.
Refunds, cancellations, and auto-renewals
Monthly subscriptions may be canceled at any time. If you cancel before the end of the 30-day trial period, you will not be charged at all. Monthly subscriptions renew each month. Annual subscription payments are one-time and do not renew. We like how they at least spell this all out after the confusing pricing structure. Reading Kingdom does not offer refunds.
Outdated social media and broken site links
Reading Kingdom actively updates their Facebook channel, but the website directs users to a broken link for their Instagram account. The YouTube channel hasn't been updated in five years, with the most recent update before that being nearly a decade ago. We finally found the Instagram page and it is a carbon copy of the Facebook channel. Most posts are inspirational quotes or brief advertisements for the program, but few show any indication that people are using this program.
No current reviews
Most reviews of Reading Kingdom are outdated and several years old. The reviews we could find were overwhelmingly tepid. There is a definite "meh” vibe here. With the price of this program being very exorbitant for what you get, we would suggest looking elsewhere for a learn to read program.
More Learn to Read Program Reviews
The 12 Best Learn to Read Programs
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).
Learn to Read Program FAQ
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!
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