ReadTheory vs Skybrary
ReadTheory
readtheory.org
Skybrary
skybrary.orgSide by side
| Figure | ReadTheory | Skybrary |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $40/mo | $4.17/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 6 |
| Spec score · Reading Apps | 8.8 (#6) | 7.7 (#34) |
| Audience | The School & District plan is described for schools and districts, with the platform supporting K–12, ESL, and special education learners. | The Classroom Plan is described as ideal for Pre-K through third-grade classes of up to 35 students. |
| Content | The platform offers thousands of standards-aligned fiction and nonfiction texts, printable materials, and custom content creation. | The paid family library includes 1,000+ handpicked books and 150+ virtual field trips. |
| Security | ReadTheory says it encrypts data in transit and at rest, separates sensitive data on separate networks, restricts access by least privilege, and undergoes annual independent security audits. | The school page says Skybrary uses end-to-end encryption and strict no-data-sharing policies. |
| Support | Support is offered through live chat, email and self-service guides, with a stated goal of answering within 24 hours. | Customer support is available at [email protected]. |
Plans
ReadTheory
- BasicFree
- BasicFree
- School Champion$40 a month
- School Champion$40 a month
- School & DistrictPriced on request
Skybrary
- 30-Day Free TrialFree
- SkybraryFree
- Skybrary Plus (Monthly)$6.99 a month
- Skybrary Plus (Annual)$49.99 a year
- Classroom Plan$179 a year
- School Plan$1,610 a year
In their own words
ReadTheory
ReadTheory is a web-based platform for personalized reading comprehension practice. A benchmark assessment identifies a student's reading level, then the platform adjusts practice as the student works. Its library includes thousands of fiction and nonfiction texts aligned to standards, alongside printable materials and tools for creating custom content. Reports cover Lexile and grade levels, ELA standards, and student progress history. The platform serves K–12, ESL, and special education learners, and the School & District plan is aimed at schools and districts. Browser-based access is designed for Chromebooks, tablets, and Windows or macOS computers; phones are not optimized for student use. Integrations listed include LMS, LTI, and rostering, with single sign-on through Clever, Google Classroom, and ClassLink. ReadTheory says student personal information is not sent to third-party AI systems or used to train AI or machine-learning models. The free Basic plan covers one staff member and 30 students with limited quizzes and progress history. School Champion costs $40 a month for one staff member and 40 students, with unlimited quizzes and progress history.
Skybrary
Skybrary is a reading app for children ages 3–9, with eBooks and virtual field-trip videos on Android, iOS, and the web. Its free plan includes 100 books, 50 adventure videos, up to five child profiles, reading progress tracking, and offline access. The paid family library offers 1,000+ handpicked books and 150+ virtual field trips. Read-aloud narration and text highlighting support reading practice, and children can save books for offline use. A Family Dashboard tracks lifetime minutes, completed books and videos, and recent favorites. Educators have dashboards, reading reports, lesson plans, roster tools, and classroom management features; school accounts can use Clever rostering and sign-in. The Classroom Plan is for classes of up to 35 students, while the School Plan supports up to 350 students and 10 classrooms. Skybrary says it does not display ads or sell student data to third parties. A 30-day trial is listed, and paid family plans start at $6.99 a month. Virtual field trips do not currently support closed captioning.