The best free history apps (2026)
Short answer
The best free history apps in 2026 are Histopia (6.3/10: lessons, courses and daily challenges free, optional Premium for extras), Learn History: Timeline Quiz (6.0: 27 of 49 topics free forever, the rest a one-time $6.99), Khan Academy (5.6: completely free world and US history courses from a nonprofit), Clio and World History Encyclopedia (both free and nonprofit). Most other history apps are free to download but paid to use: Paladin ($12.99 a month), Nibble ($19.99), Historo and HistoryDays offer only a free sample. Aurelius, our app and the top-scoring history app (9.2/10), is not free either: it has a 3-day free trial, then $9.99 a month. The best free combination is a free course (Khan Academy) plus a free reference (World History Encyclopedia).
"Free" on the App Store usually means free to download. We read every listing and in-app purchase list on October 20, 2026 and sorted the apps by what you can actually learn without paying. We make Aurelius, which is not free, so it is not on the free list.
Truly free: the 5 best
Ordered by our score. All five let you learn with no time limit and no subscription.
- 1
HistopiaFree lessons with history minigames and collectible cards6.3/10 - 2
Learn History: Timeline QuizFree timelines and quizzes on 27 topics, no subscription6.0/10 - 3
Khan AcademySchool-style world and US history courses, completely free5.6/10 - 4
ClioFinding historic sites and museums near you in the US4.5/10 - 5
World History EncyclopediaReading reliable history articles, reviewed by historians4.5/10
1. Histopia
6.3/10 Fair · review · how we score
"Learn, earn coins, unlock courses, and enjoy daily challenges for free." Premium ($9.99 a month) only removes ads and adds XP, energy and cosmetics. A learning path of short lessons with quizzes, streaks and leaderboards, plus ancient board games like Senet and the Royal Game of Ur. Catch: ads, and courses unlock with coins you earn. Histopia review.
2. Learn History: Timeline Quiz
6.0/10 Fair · review · how we score
"All 27 base topics stay 100% free, forever"; the other 22 unlock with a one-time $6.99, no subscription. Timelines, flashcards and quizzes from Ancient Egypt to Space Exploration. Catch: a study tool more than story lessons. Review.
3. Khan Academy
5.6/10 Average · review · how we score
Completely free, from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit: world history, US history and art history courses with videos, articles and exercises, on iPhone, Android and the web. Catch: long school-style units, history is one subject among many. Khan Academy review.
4. Clio
4.5/10 Limited · review · how we score
A free nonprofit map of US landmarks, museums and historic sites near you, written mostly by scholars and museum professionals. Catch: a guide, not a course. Clio review.
5. World History Encyclopedia
4.5/10 Limited · review · how we score
Free, nonprofit articles, maps and videos reviewed by historians, with offline reading. Catch: a reference to read, not lessons. Review.
Free to download, paid to learn
| App | What's free | Then (US App Store) |
|---|---|---|
| Aurelius (our app) | 3-day free trial, full access | $9.99/month or $79.99/year |
| Historo | A selection of lessons | $8.99–$9.99/month |
| HistoryDays | Daily events | From $4.99/week |
| History Master | Free to try | From $3.99/month |
| Paladin | Download (free content not stated) | $12.99/month |
| Nibble | Free trial | $19.99/month |
| Histia | Not stated | $3.99/week |
How to use a free trial without paying
Cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you are not charged. Apple notes that with some apps, cancelling during a free trial ends access straight away, so set a reminder rather than cancelling on day one. On iPhone: Settings → your name → Subscriptions (Apple); on Android: Google Play → Payments & subscriptions (Google).
The best way to learn history for free
Combine a free course for structure with a free reference for depth: Khan Academy's world history course, plus World History Encyclopedia for any topic that grabs you, plus the 13-era order so you always know where you are. Test yourself after each session: it costs nothing and is the most effective study habit there is (how to learn history).
If you'd rather have short lessons in order with the quiz built in, try Aurelius, our app, for 3 days free and cancel in your settings if it's not for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free history app?
Histopia scores highest among apps whose lessons are free (6.3/10). Khan Academy (5.6/10) is the best completely free option for full courses, with no ads.
Is Aurelius free?
No. Aurelius has a 3-day free trial, then costs $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year on the US App Store.
Is Paladin free?
Paladin is free to download, but its listing does not say what you can learn without Pro, which costs $12.99 a month.
Are there free history apps with no ads?
Khan Academy, Clio and World History Encyclopedia list no in-app purchases and are run by nonprofits. Histopia shows ads unless you buy Premium.
Is there a free history app with quizzes?
Histopia (quizzes, trivia arena) and Learn History: Timeline Quiz (multiple-choice, true/false and chronological-order quizzes on 27 free topics). Khan Academy has exercises and tests.
The bottom line
You can learn a lot of history for free: start with Khan Academy or Histopia. If you want short daily lessons in chronological order with a quiz after each, Aurelius is worth its 3-day free trial.
Sources
- US App Store listings and in-app purchase lists, and Google Play listings (US), of the 12 apps, read October 20, 2026.