Quick answer: Six edtech tools that suit homeschooling families are TextingStory (retell lessons as text-message stories), Google Arts & Culture (the new home of the old Google Expeditions virtual tours), a vector drawing tool for visual projects, Quizlet (flashcards and quizzes), ProWritingAid (writing feedback) and Wizer (interactive worksheets). Most have a free version with paid upgrades, so start free and pay only for features your child actually uses.
Why edtech helps homeschooling families
Families choose to homeschool for many reasons: some believe they can offer their children a better or more personal education, and others do so for social, religious or health reasons. Homeschooling also grew sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey found that about 5.4% of households with school-age children reported homeschooling in spring 2020, rising to 11.1% by autumn 2020. An earlier version of this article said the number of homeschooling families had grown by “over 60,000” in a year; we could not find a source for that figure, so it has been replaced with the Census Bureau data.
It is easier to teach at home today than ever before, because so much material is available both for students and for parents who want to learn how to teach. Useful types of edtech include recording tools, blogging and journaling tools, project-based learning tools, decoding (reading) tools, and digital posters and bulletin boards.
The six tools below were picked in the original version of this article in 2019. We have checked each one again in October 2026 and noted what has changed.
1. TextingStory: retell a lesson as a text conversation
TextingStory is a chat-story maker. You write a conversation between any characters you choose, and the app plays it back like a series of text messages. It can also export the story as a video.
For homeschooling, this is an engaging way to dramatise history, social studies or literature. After studying a topic, the student rewrites it in their own words as a text conversation, for example between two historical figures or two characters from a novel, and then turns it into a short video to share. Rewriting the material in a new form shows whether the student has really understood it.
According to its website, TextingStory is available on iPhone, iPad and Mac through the App Store, on Android through Google Play, on Windows, and as a free web app that works in a browser. Check the age rating and the sharing settings before younger children use it.
2. Google Arts & Culture: virtual field trips (formerly Google Expeditions)
The original article recommended Google Expeditions, which let students take virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tours of museums, oceans and outer space from their desks. Google Expeditions has been discontinued. Google announced in November 2020 that the app would no longer be available from the Play Store and App Store after 30 June 2021, and said it was moving most of the Expeditions tours to Google Arts & Culture.
Google Arts & Culture is free on the web, Android and iOS. Students can explore museum collections, art galleries, historical sites and 360-degree tours without a VR headset. It is a good way to bring world history, art, science and geography lessons to life. A simple routine works well: choose one place to “visit”, explore it together, then ask your child to write or draw three things they discovered.
3. A vector drawing tool for visual projects (YouiDraw)
The original article recommended YouiDraw, an online vector graphics tool with a logo maker and a paint tool with custom brushes and paper textures, suitable for both beginners and experienced designers. In October 2026, the youidraw.com address redirects to Drawtify, an online vector design tool for logos, infographics and posters that has a free tier for learning use and a paid Pro plan. We could not confirm on Drawtify’s site that it is the same product as YouiDraw, so check it carefully before you sign up or share any personal details.
Whichever drawing tool you use, the teaching idea from the original article still works: ask your child to create a poster, diagram or infographic that summarises what they have learned. Turning information into a visual forces them to decide what matters most.
4. Quizlet: flashcards and quizzes
Teachers have long used games and friendly competition to teach and reinforce material. Quizlet is a simple but effective tool that lets students of any age review material in an engaging way.
The parent (or the student) creates a set of flashcards on any subject, from maths and science to English, history, foreign languages and social studies. Students can then study the set in different modes, such as flashcards, quizzes and matching games. You can also search for sets that other teachers, parents and students have already made, which saves preparation time; check them for errors before you rely on them.
According to Quizlet, flashcards are free. Some study modes, such as Learn and practice tests, are limited on a free account, and full access needs a paid Quizlet Plus subscription. Check Quizlet’s current plans before you pay.
Learning through games keeps students interested and lets them work alone, in pairs or in groups. If you teach more than one child, they can compete against each other as they work through a set.
5. ProWritingAid: feedback on writing
ProWritingAid is a writing tool that helps students improve their writing skills. After a student writes a passage, the tool checks grammar, spelling and punctuation, and its reports point out issues such as overused words, readability problems and style weaknesses.
Students can write inside the tool, upload a document or paste in text from elsewhere. The reports give an overview of the piece’s strengths and weaknesses with concrete suggestions, which makes them a useful starting point for a conversation about the writing. Treat the suggestions as prompts to think about, not rules to accept automatically.
According to ProWritingAid’s pricing page in October 2026, the free plan gives suggestions on 500 words at a time and limits how often some reports can be run each day; the paid Premium plans remove these limits. For more ideas, see our writing tips and tricks for a good article.
6. Wizer: interactive worksheets
Traditional worksheets are a fallback for teachers everywhere, but they are often static and dull. Fast learners finish quickly and get bored, while slower learners plod through the sheet. An interactive worksheet lets learners keep learning while they work, express themselves in different ways and go at their own pace.
Wizer lets the parent or teacher build a digital worksheet that includes images, videos and interactive tasks. Task types include open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, watching a video, matching and fill-in-the-blanks. Many answers can be checked automatically, and the parent can review the work and give individual feedback. There is also a gallery of worksheets made by other teachers.
According to Wizer’s pricing page, there is a free plan and a paid Premium plan with extra features such as video instructions, scheduling and grouping students. Check the current plans on Wizer’s site.
How to choose edtech tools for your homeschool
- Start with your goal. Pick a tool because it solves a real problem, such as revising vocabulary or getting feedback on essays, not because it is popular.
- Try the free version first. Most of these tools have free plans. Pay only once you know your child will keep using a feature.
- Check privacy and age rules. Read each tool’s privacy policy and minimum age, and set up accounts yourself for younger children.
- Keep screen time balanced. Mix digital tools with books, hands-on experiments, outdoor time and conversation.
- Review regularly. Apps change their features and prices often, and some, like Google Expeditions, shut down. Check every year that your tools still work for you.
If you teach science at home, our list of technology tools for science classrooms covers virtual labs, Kahoot and more. For more on how digital tools are changing teaching, read how classrooms are becoming dynamic.
Frequently asked questions
Is Google Expeditions still available?
No. Google removed the Expeditions app from the app stores after 30 June 2021 and moved most of its tours to Google Arts & Culture, which is free to use without a VR headset.
Are these homeschooling tools free?
Most have a free version. Quizlet, ProWritingAid and Wizer all offer free plans with paid upgrades, and TextingStory has a free web app. Prices and limits change, so check each tool’s current plans before paying.
Which tool is best for improving writing?
ProWritingAid gives detailed feedback on grammar, style and readability. TextingStory is better for creative retelling, which builds understanding rather than technical writing skill.
Can these tools replace a curriculum?
No. They are supplements that make practice and revision more engaging. You still need a plan for what your child should learn and in what order.
Tool details in this guide were checked in October 2026 against each tool’s official website and pricing page, Google’s 2020 announcement on Expeditions as reported by the technology press, and the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey. Features and prices change often, so confirm them on each tool’s site before you sign up.
