Curious about how today’s most popular literacy apps compare? Check out the thorough reviews on phonics.org where literacy experts share their honest thoughts. In this article, we consider the usefulness of visually-augmented reading apps, of which there are many available today!

When evaluating reading apps for kids, it’s crucial to consider how they address foundational literacy skills. This is especially important today, given the challenges faced by the 2.28 million U.S. students with specific learning disabilities (National Centre for Learning Disabilities). 

Literacy is deeply linked to various aspects of life, including physical and emotional health, employment prospects, and self-esteem. Therefore, choosing effective, helpful resources is vital for supporting struggling readers. 

By avoiding apps that fail to address key literacy skills effectively, parents and educators can ensure their time and resources go to what matters most: proper instruction. To support your child’s learning process, you must opt for tools that genuinely enhance literacy development and overall well-being—and options that don’t waste valuable time and money on ineffective methods. 

What is the Best Type of Reading Instruction? 

The International Dyslexia Association recommends Structured Literacy as an effective approach for teaching people—particularly those with a specific learning disability—how to read. 

Structured literacy techniques are supported by research-based practices that are shown to be effective. Notably, these approaches involve explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics. While not a quick fix, this approach has been found to build foundational literacy skills for anyone learning to read. 

What Doesn’t Work in Reading Instruction?

In reading instruction, certain techniques are ineffective, particularly those focusing on visual aspects that do not address the underlying issues of reading difficulties. 

According to the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), methods such as relying on the overall shape of a word to read are, “completely useless for promoting growth in reading.”  

Additionally, The American Academy of Pediatrics has emphasized that visual problems are rarely responsible for reading difficulties, noting that eye exercises, vision therapy, or special tinted lenses lack scientific evidence for improving long-term educational performance in cases of dyslexia or similar conditions. Research consistently shows that reading disabilities are not caused by visual function issues, but rather by more complex neurocognitive factors. Therefore, techniques that attempt to alter visual representations of words are generally ineffective and should be avoided in favor of more evidence-based approaches to literacy instruction.

Most Ineffective Reading Education Apps (and Why You Should Avoid Them)

When choosing a phonics or reading app to help your students learn, it’s crucial to avoid ones that mainly rely on changing the visual presentation of words. 

Instead, prioritize apps that are based on evidence-based approaches, such as the science of reading and synthetic phonics. This is essential to ensure that time and resources are used productively to genuinely help struggling children learn to read. This way, you instill necessary literacy concepts in your child gradually, making sure they receive the foundational skills and knowledge to grow into confident, capable readers.

That said, let’s highlight some of the most ineffective (albeit seemingly innovative) types of apps that don’t foster reading development—or worse, could negatively impact children’s literacy instruction.

1. Bionic Reading App

Bionic Reading is an example of an app that primarily focuses on changing the visual presentation of words. Bionic reading strategies claim to deliver a type of “reading aid” by bolding the first few letters of every word in a text. The Bionic Reading website claims that it “guides the eye over the text and the brain remembers previously learned words more quickly.” 

This app relies on the myth that reading is primarily a visual task. Debunking this myth, extensive studies have not found visual strategies like Bionic reading to be effective. A small sample of people who tried reading with this method actually ended up reading more slowly than usual, finding the “unusual appearance” of the Bionic Reading format distracting.

2. BeeLine Reader

BeeLine Reader is a paid app and browser extension that can replace plain black font with an “eye-guiding color gradient.” The app claims that this service improves reading speed and ability for “all ages and skill levels” and that it’s particularly useful for people with dyslexia. 

However, two reading experiments found that kids who read with this format actually had a slower reading pace compared to a plain black font. The experiments found that using the app hindered reading comprehension for third-grade readers. From a science of reading perspective, it would be best to avoid using this app, particularly for kids with learning disabilities, as changing the visual appearance of words in this way has not been shown to improve reading ability. 

3. Dyslexia Fonts

Multiple apps focus on changing the font of a text to improve reading ability, particularly for people with dyslexia. OpenDyslexic and Open Dyslexic font Aa are apps that will convert digital reading materials to the ‘OpenDyslexic’ font. This font features letters that are thicker at the bottom. The app claims that people with dyslexia will be better able to read better with this font. 

However, multiple studies have found that special “dyslexia fonts” do not help people with dyslexia—or anyone else—read better or faster. Given that “the font Dyslexic was not preferred by the children with dyslexia or by the children with normal reading development” (2017), there does not appear to be any reason to use apps that have this feature. 

The Issue With Ineffective Reading Apps

Many ‘reading’ apps on the market can mislead well-intentioned educators and parents, often preying on their desperation to support a child who struggles with reading. Some of these apps promote techniques that lack research support and are ineffective. In some cases, these apps actually hinder reading abilities. 

The real danger here lies in the potential for these unproven methods to not only fail to improve reading skills but to inevitably discourage learners from further practice. When ineffective strategies are used, children might begin to think of themselves as incompetent or “dumb” for not being able to grasp the concepts being presented. This can undermine a child’s self-esteem and confidence, making it even harder for them to believe in their ability to succeed. In reality, children may simply need the proper guidance and instruction that equip them to finally begin reading with confidence. 

Overall, visual-based reading apps and techniques can detract from effective practices that actually do help people learn to read. It’s crucial to carefully evaluate apps and choose those that have practices backed by credible research to ensure that efforts to support literacy are both effective and encouraging.

How to Make Informed Decisions When Choosing a Literacy Program

A good rule of thumb in choosing a reading app is to avoid any program or technology that promises a quick fix by changing the visual appearance of words. This includes bolding certain letters, changing text color, or using specialized ‘dyslexia’ fonts. 

To help you find reading apps and phonics programs that are effective and enjoyable for kids, Phonics.org has a library of informative articles and program reviews. Our goal is to support parents and teachers as they help kids learn to read through systematic, direct guidance. To discover proven apps for literacy instruction, explore the articles at phonics.org.