ABCmouse is the reliable minivan of educational apps—not flashy, not particularly imaginative, but it gets the job done and has been doing it well for over a decade. The curriculum is legitimately good (hence why half of U.S. public libraries use it), and kids actually enjoy the games and reward system enough to keep coming back.

The big question is whether you want structured, curriculum-based learning or more creative, exploratory play. This is firmly in the former camp. It's drill-and-practice dressed up with cute animations and virtual hamsters. For parents wanting to supplement school or build specific skills, it's excellent. For parents wanting to spark creativity and imagination, look elsewhere.

The subscription model is the main pain point—it's not cheap, and you need to actively manage auto-renewal. But if you're committed to screen time being educational screen time, ABCmouse delivers on that promise better than most.