Epic
Epic is a digital reading platform for kids that provides instant access to a massive library of high-quality books, videos, and quizzes to fuel curiosity and reading confidence.
Lightspeed Classroom
Lightspeed Classroom is a classroom management software that helps you monitor student screens, push URLs, and keep students focused on learning during digital lessons in real-time.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Epic | Lightspeed Classroom |
|---|---|---|
| Website | getepic.com | lightspeedsystems.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Custom |
| Starting Price | Free | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 7 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2013 | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Redwood City, USA | Austin, USA |
Overview
Epic
Epic is a digital reading platform designed to spark a love for reading in children aged 12 and under. You get instant access to a massive library of over 40,000 books, audiobooks, and learning videos from top publishers. Whether you are a parent looking to support your child's literacy at home or an educator seeking to enhance your classroom library, the platform provides a safe, ad-free environment tailored to young learners.
You can easily track reading progress, set personalized goals, and discover new titles based on specific interests and reading levels. The platform solves the problem of limited access to diverse physical books by providing a portable, ever-expanding digital collection that kids can take anywhere. It effectively bridges the gap between entertainment and education through interactive features that keep children engaged with every page.
Lightspeed Classroom
Lightspeed Classroom helps you regain control of your digital learning environment by providing real-time visibility into student activity. You can see exactly what every student is doing on their device, whether they are in the physical classroom or learning remotely. This visibility allows you to identify students who are off-task or struggling and provide immediate support without disrupting the rest of the class.
You can manage your digital classroom with ease by pushing specific URLs to all student devices, locking screens for eyes-up instructions, and closing distracting tabs remotely. The platform integrates directly with your existing school directory and learning management systems, ensuring your class lists are always up to date. It is designed specifically for K-12 environments to ensure digital tools remain productive and safe for every student.
Overview
Epic Features
- Unlimited Library Access Explore over 40,000 high-quality books, including popular titles, series, and non-fiction from leading global publishers.
- Read-To-Me Books Support developing readers with professionally narrated audiobooks that highlight words as they are read aloud to build fluency.
- Progress Tracking Monitor how many books your child reads and how much time they spend learning with detailed activity reports.
- Personalized Recommendations Get custom book suggestions based on your child's age, interests, and reading level to keep them constantly engaged.
- Interactive Quizzes Check reading comprehension and reinforce learning with fun, short quizzes at the end of many popular titles.
- Offline Reading Download your favorite books to your mobile device so you can keep reading even without an internet connection.
Lightspeed Classroom Features
- Live Screen Monitoring. View all student screens in real-time from your dashboard to ensure everyone stays focused on the assigned lesson.
- Tab Control. Close distracting browser tabs on student devices remotely to bring their attention back to the relevant learning material.
- URL Sharing. Push specific websites or resources to your entire class instantly so everyone starts on the same page without typing.
- Screen Locking. Lock student devices with a custom message to get immediate 'eyes-up' attention for important verbal instructions or transitions.
- Student Messaging. Send private messages to individual students to provide discreet redirection or support without calling them out in front of peers.
- Web Rules. Create custom allow-lists for your specific class period to restrict browsing to only the sites needed for your lesson.
Pricing Comparison
Epic Pricing
- Free for elementary educators
- Access during school hours
- Assign books to students
- Track classroom progress
- Ad-free environment
- Everything in School, plus:
- 24/7 unlimited access
- Up to 4 child profiles
- Offline reading mode
- Detailed progress sharing
- Access on all devices
Lightspeed Classroom Pricing
Pros & Cons
Epic
Pros
- Massive selection of popular and recognizable titles
- Completely free for verified classroom teachers
- Engaging gamification elements like badges and rewards
- Easy to use interface for young children
Cons
- Free school version has restricted hours
- Subscription required for full home access
- Limited selection of titles for older teens
Lightspeed Classroom
Pros
- Real-time visibility into student browsing habits
- Easy integration with Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams
- Simple interface that requires very little technical training
- Effective remote management for hybrid or distance learning
Cons
- Occasional lag in screen updates on slower networks
- Pricing is not transparent for small private schools
- Requires consistent agent installation on all student devices