Starfall alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 30, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Starfall: most maths and upper-grade content needs a paid membership, and english only and focused on reading. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Starfall, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. GCompris currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	GCompris	Open source	Yes	Windows, Linux, Android +1	5 of 5	62.6
2	Tux Paint	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +1	4 of 4	59.6

1. GComprisTop pick
Best for: Parents and schools wanting a free, ad-free activity suite for kids aged 2 to 10
Open sourceWindows, Linux, Android, macOS
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Starfall
Free, offline, open-source activity suite covering reading, maths and science in many languages.
Pros
More than 100 activities across reading, maths, science and more
Completely free, open source and without ads
Translated into many languages
Teacher companion app for classroom use
Cons
No iOS app
macOS build is stuck on an older version
Simple activities that older children outgrow
Visit GCompris Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is GCompris a good Starfall alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Activities
More than 100
Checked Oct 29, 2026gcompris.net(opens source in a new tab)
Age range
2 to 10
Checked Oct 29, 2026gcompris.net(opens source in a new tab)
License
AGPL-3.0
Checked Oct 29, 2026gcompris.net(opens source in a new tab)
Owner
KDE community
Checked Oct 29, 2026gcompris.net(opens source in a new tab)
iOS
Not available
Checked Oct 29, 2026gcompris.net(opens source in a new tab)
2. Tux Paint
Best for: Young children's first drawing app at home or in school computer labs
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Starfall
Free creative drawing app for kids who need a break from structured reading lessons.
Pros
Free with no ads or in-app purchases
Simple, large tools that young kids can use alone
Runs on almost every desktop platform and Android
Cons
No official iOS app
Drawing only; no structured lessons
Older kids may find it too basic
Visit Tux Paint Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.377
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Tux Paint a good Starfall alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Age range
3 to 12
Checked Oct 30, 2026tuxpaint.org(opens source in a new tab)
Price
Free, no ads
Checked Oct 30, 2026tuxpaint.org(opens source in a new tab)
License
GPL-2.0
Checked Oct 30, 2026tuxpaint.org(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Haiku
Checked Oct 30, 2026tuxpaint.org(opens source in a new tab)