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7 Reading Programs for Struggling Readers in 2025

Around 4 in 10 kids in the US today struggle with reading comprehension, and increased screen time isn’t helping. Without support, it can impact their academic progress and, thus, confidence. As a certified reading tutor at Brighterly with over 10 years of experience, I’ve worked with hundreds of students to improve their reading confidence and overcome learning gaps. In this article, I review the best available reading programs for struggling readers in 2025, designed to help kids improve their skills and enjoy reading again.

Key points

• Those who want personalized tutor support should pitch upon Brighterly or Learn with Homer.
• If your child prefers interactive, game-based learning, try Reading Eggs or Time4Learning.
• Students who prefer self-paced, structured lessons may want to consider Read Naturally, Abeka Academy, or Khan Academy.

What is the most effective reading program?

The most effective reading program is the one that offers personalization to your child’s knowledge and learning pace, aligned with the official school curriculum and focused on standardized test requirements rather than opaque goals. However, even the best program works best when supported by a qualified reading tutor whose expertise and personality match your child. 

7 best reading programs for struggling readers

• Brighterly reading program
• Reading Eggs  
• IXL Learning
• Read Naturally
• Time4Learning 
• Khan Academy
• Learn with Homer

Online reading programs for struggling readers: Comparison

	Age group	Cost	Format
Brighterly reading programs for kids	Grades 1-9	From $17.4/lesson	1:1 live tutoring, personalized lessons, plenty  of  free  reading worksheets, phonics & comprehension focus
Reading Eggs reading programs for students	Grades 1-6	$9.99/month or $69.99/year	Phonics games, progress tracking, spelling and comprehension activities
IXL Language arts programs	Grades 1-9	$9.95/month	Standard-aligned, adaptive learning
Read Naturally Intervention programs	Grades 1-9	$89-$299/program	Fluency-based, audio-supported reading, teacher-guided and independent formats
Time4Learning reading programs	Grades PreK-12	$29.95- $39.95/month	Self-paced homeschool curriculum with no live teacher involved. Multimedia reading lessons, progress tracking
Khan Academy reading lessons	Grades 1-2	Free	Interactive books, phonics practice, social-emotional learning
Learn with Homer reading programs for kids	Grades 1-2	$9.99/month or $59.99/year	Phonics and storytelling, voice recording, personalized learning path

#1 Brighterly reading program for struggling readers

🔔 Age group: grades 1-9

✅ Best for: those who want to improve their basic reading skills and gain confidence, or those who require a reading comprehension boost

How to help a struggling reader with Brighterly reading program?

Brighterly offers help for struggling readers through engaging, one-on-one online lessons tailored to each child’s unique needs. The focus is on building foundational skills and confidence in reading, step by step.

To get Brighterly help for struggling readers, follow these steps:

• Book the 1st reading class guided by a certified reading tutor for free.
• Based on your child’s reading level, pace, and goals, the program matches the child with a tutor who fits just right.
• The tutor will craft a custom learning plan that targets sight word recognition, fluency, or reading comprehension, depending on what your child needs most.

Brighterly features

• Certified reading tutors
• Customized lessons
• Alignment with the US standards

Certified reading tutors

Brighterly works with certified, child-friendly reading tutors who know how to keep young learners engaged while delivering real results. Each tutor is carefully vetted for their teaching method, skills and rapport with kids.

Customized lessons

Each student starts with a free 1-on-1 session to assess their level. From there, Brighterly builds a personalized learning plan tailored to each child’s needs, pace, and goals. As your child becomes more  confident,  you  can  also  focus on how to increase their reading speed without losing comprehension.

Alignment with the US standards 

Brighterly reading program and all lessons follow US school standards and Common Core guidelines, so your child stays aligned with what’s taught in class.

Additionally, Brighterly offers free reading tools to help families get started. As part of at home reading programs for struggling readers, you can book a free reading lesson with a certified tutor, including a personalized diagnostic of your child’s reading level, strengths, and weaknesses. Brighterly also provides free reading worksheets, assessment reading tests, and other resources on how to help a struggling reader at home. You can also  explore  additional  ways to strengthen  comprehension in Reading Comprehension Strategies article.

Brighterly: Key pros and cons

Based on reviews from Trustpilot and parent forums, I’ve highlighted the list of Brighterly’s main pros and cons. Parents particularly appreciate the personalized 1:1 lessons and alignment with the US curriculum, but the lack of group classes and reliance on a stable internet connection may be drawbacks.

Brighterly pros	Brighterly cons
✅ Personalized 1:1 lessons tailored to each child’s special level	❌ No group classes – only one-on-one format
✅ Follows US curriculum and Common Core standards	❌ Requires a stable internet connection for online lessons
✅ Fun, gamified, and interactive learning experience
✅ Flexible schedule and education
✅ First lesson and diagnostic reading tests are completely free

Brighterly reading cost

Brighterly reading & math tutoring platform offers a very affordable price for 1-on-1 lessons starting at $17.40 per session. The first lesson is free and includes a personalized assessment, allowing to create a custom study plan. Final pricing depends on the selected package.

#2 Reading Eggs reading program for struggling readers

🔔 Age group: grades 1-6

✅ Best for: elementary school children requiring a game-based approach 

Another popular program is Reading Eggs which is designed to help kids with their reading skills through games, videos, and activities. The program’s curriculum focuses on phonemic awareness, word recognition, passages and reading comprehension.

Reading Eggs reading programs for struggling readers: Features

• Engaging interactive lessons in a game format 
• Phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension strategies
• Personalized lessons according to the skill level

Reading Eggs: Pricing

The Reading Eggs program offers a free trial period, followed by a subscription that costs $9.99 per month. There are subscription plans for families and schools.

Reading Eggs reading programs for struggling readers: Pros & cons

As seen in user reviews on Reddit, Reading Eggs stands out for its large game library but has limited personalization and fewer resources for older students.

Reading Eggs pros	Reading Eggs cons
✅ Large library of games	❌ Limited personalization
✅ Great for early reading training	❌ Lack of training for older students
	❌ No fixed lesson time — kids might spend too long on the screen

#3 IXL Language arts programs for struggling readers

🔔 Age group: grades 1-9
✅ Best for: students who particularly need strong phonics and reading foundations

IXL Language arts is a popular solution that seems to be ideal for students who prefer self-paced learning. This platform primarily focuses on vocabulary and fluency through adaptive questions, while being aligned with official teaching standards. 

IXL Language arts best online reading programs: Features

• Adaptive, standards-aligned reading practice
• Covers vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency
• Suitable for teacher-guided and independent use

IXL Language arts: Pricing

IXL offers flexible subscription plans depending on the number of lessons and students. For individual users, pricing starts at $9.95/month for a single subject. Annual plans and multi-student discounts are also available.

IXL Language arts programs for struggling readers: Pros & cons

IXL users admit to continuous feedback, while saying that the platform’s evaluation is fairly strict and potentially discouraging.

IXL Learning pros	IXL Learning cons
✅ Adaptive learning according to student level	❌ Very limited open-ended reading and creative writing tasks
✅ Real-time feedback with detailed progress tracking	❌ No live support or targeted help for kids who need extra guidance.
	❌ Harsh scoring system – One mistake can significantly drop the score, which can demotivate learners

 

#4 Read Naturally reading remediation program for struggling readers

🔔 Age group: grades 1-9
✅Best for: students who need to improve reading fluency and comprehension 

I often recommend Read Naturally, a research-based reading intervention program, to improve fluency and comprehension in struggling readers. This program combines teacher modeling, constant repeated reading, and progress monitoring to help students understand text better.

Read Naturally research-based reading programs for struggling readers: Features

• Focus on fluency through repeated reading
• Includes comprehension checks and progress tracking
• Offers printable materials and online access

Read Naturally: Pricing

Read Naturally offers subscription plans starting at $89 per program.

Read Naturally reading remediation program for struggling readers: Pros & cons

Read Naturally pros	Read Naturally cons
✅ Easy-to-follow curriculum and interface	❌ Costly for individual users
✅ Combines audio and visual learning	❌ Limited age range (mostly elementary)
	❌ Lack of vocabulary expansion tasks

#5 Time4Learning online reading programs for struggling readers

🔔 Age group: Pre-K to 12th grade
✅ Best for: families looking for a flexible, self-paced homeschool curriculum

Time4Learning offers a self-paced homeschool curriculum with multimedia reading lessons covering phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. It features automatic assessments, printable worksheets, and progress tracking, all without the need for a live tutor.

Time4Learning best reading program for struggling readers: Features

• Flexible curriculum ideal for homeschooling families
• Comprehensive multimedia lessons focused on key reading skills
• Includes automatic assessments and printable learning materials

Time4Learning: Pricing

Time4Learning pricing is subscription-based, starting at $29.95/month for Pre-K courses and $39.95/month for grades 6-12, providing access to multiple courses simultaneously. Free trial periods are often available.

Time4Learning online reading programs for struggling readers: Pros & cons

From what I’ve seen, Time4Learning offers great multimedia lessons and lots of courses to choose from, but it lacks live tutors and requires parental supervision.

Time4Learning pros	Time4Learning cons
✅ Multimedia lessons cover phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension	❌No live tutor support – not ideal for kids needing real-time help
✅ Subscription gives access to multiple courses	❌ Requires parental supervision
	❌ Less interactive than live lessons

 

#6 Khan Academy free online reading programs for struggling readers

🔔 Age group: grades 1-2
✅ Best for: parents looking for a free but adaptive online learning platform

Khan Academy offers a free online learning tool with personalized reading practice. Its adaptive lessons are useful for developing foundational skills through interactive exercises and progress tracking, accessible for kids learning at their own pace.

Khan Academy reading programs for struggling readers free features

• Completely free to use with no subscription fees
• Interactive reading exercises and videos
• Progress tracking and detailed reports for parents and teachers

Khan Academy: Pricing

Khan Academy is entirely free, making it accessible to all students and families without any cost barriers.

Khan Academy free reading programs for struggling readers: Pros & cons

Reddit users say Khan Academy works well as a supplement but falls short as a standalone platform for comprehensive learning.

Khan Academy pros	Khan Academy cons
✅ 100% free with no hidden costs	❌ Less focused on one-on-one tutoring
✅ Extensive library of interactive content	❌ Limited live support or interaction
	❌ Not a comprehensive reading curriculum – better as a supplement, not a primary reading program

#7 Learn with Homer reading curriculum for struggling readers

🔔 Age group: grades 1-2
✅ Best for: early readers for foundational phonics and reading skills support

Learn with Homer is a popular interactive reading program designed for children aged 3 to 8. It combines phonics, stories, and personalized learning paths. The program offers a balance of guided lessons and independent exploration for a child.

Learn with Homer reading curriculum for struggling readers: Features

• Phonics-based lessons integrated with storytelling
• Interactive activities and games 
• Designed for preschool to early elementary students

Learn with Homer: Pricing

Learn with Homer offers a subscription for $9.99/month or $59.99/year, giving unlimited access to all reading lessons, stories, and interactive activities. New users can take advantage of a free trial.

Learn with Homer online reading program for struggling readers: Pros & cons

On Trustpilot, learners praise the program’s engaging phonics and personalized pace, but note its simplicity for older children.

Learn with Homer pros	Learn with Homer cons
✅ Combines phonics with engaging stories and interactive play	❌ Limited content beyond early elementary levels
✅ Personalized learning adapts to child’s pace	❌ Content overly simplistic for older kids
	❌ No parental controls or content filtering

What are the best reading programs for struggling readers in elementary school?

Based on my experience, the best online reading programs for struggling readers just beginning their reading journey are Brighterly, Reading Eggs, and Learn with Homer. These excel at building essential early literacy skills such as phonics, sight word recognition and comprehension.

What are the best reading programs for struggling readers for middle school?

The best reading programs for middle school struggling readers provide structured support to build vocabulary and comprehension skills. Programs like Brighterly and Read Naturally are designed to meet kids where they are and help them grow. These tools are especially helpful for students who need to build reading stamina.

What are the best programs for struggling readers for high school?

If you’re looking for the best programs for struggling readers in high school, it’s important to find ones that build fluency and comprehension. Programs like Brighterly, Read Naturally, and IXL Language arts can help older students strengthen critical reading skills. These resources focus on real progress and are great for teens who need tailored support to succeed in school and exams.

Next steps: Choose online reading program for struggling readers

Choosing the right reading program can be a game-changer for a struggling reader. With multiple online resources available in 2025, it’s essential to think about your child’s unique needs, whether they’re just starting or trying to catch up.

If your child needs a structured approach, programs like Learn with Homer or Read Naturally can help with decoding and fluency. For more independent learners, Khan Academy is a great free option that covers the basics well.

But if you are looking for something more personalized and interactive, Brighterly is the best reading program for struggling readers I recommend.

Here’s what makes Brighterly stand out:

• Customized reading lessons based on your child’s abilities
• Interactive gamified sessions 
• Affordable pricing and flexible plans

Want to see how it works? Book 1st reading class with Brighterly today and give your child the boost they deserve. Today a reader, tomorrow a leader!