If you have kids, you may be hesitant to ditch the cord since younger viewers tend to have a few favorite channels they regularly watch but it’s important to know the Best Streaming Services for Kids.
But if you want to minimize or eliminate cable or satellite as your main viewing source, introduce your kids to streaming services they might enjoy even more.
Even if you’re only looking to supplement what you already have, there are some streaming services worth considering for kids.
We offer our recommendations below.
Table of Contents
Disney+
You can’t get more kid-friendly than Disney+, a popular streaming services with something for all under-21 age ranges.
For younger kids, there’s “Toy Story” and other Disney animated and live-action gems.
If your kids are older, steer them towards the Star Wars and Marvel content.
There’s even a package deal option with Hulu and ESPN+ if your kids are into sports.
Pros
• Offline downloading
• Lots of family-friendly goodies
• The ability to create multiple profiles
Cons
• Lack of live TV unless you do the Hulu bundle
• Less overall content when compared to Netflix
• Content tends to linger around, which could make it feel stale for kids (and parents watching, too)
Price: $7.99 per month
PBS Kids
This streaming service is worth considering if you want something more enriching and stimulating for your kids.
The price is right, too!
PBS Kids is absolutely free and includes access of kid-friendly faves like “Arthur” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”
For a fuller library of content, however, you’ll need to add PBS Kids as an option via Prime Video.
Pros
• Free games app
• Mobile app that can be used to download shows for offline viewing
• Good for kids’ mental stimulation
Cons
• Not too much stuff for older kids
• Free version has fluctuating episode availability
• You’ll need Prime Video to gain access to more content
Price: Free (by itself)
HBO Max
You may not think of the home of “Game of Thrones” and other grown-up faves as being all that kid-friendly, but HBO Max offers some surprises for younger viewers.
In addition to childhood classics like “Charlotte’s Web,” HBO Max offers some Cartoon Network selections, “Sesame Street,” and a new version of “Looney Tunes.”
Pros
• Vast library with selections for kids of all ages
• Parental controls
• A little something for everyone in the family
Cons
• Skimpy animated selections
• Not too many family films
Price: $9.99 per month
Noggin
If your kids are “PAW Patrol,” “Blue’s Clues” and “Peppa Pig” fans, they’ll love Noggin.
The programming is a bit repetitious, but kids tend to be amenable to content of this nature, especially if they really like what they see.
Pros
• Up to 5 profiles
• Parental dashboard
• Offline downloads
Cons
• Limited library
• Not too much educational content
• Episodes may show up in random order
Netflix
Netflix’s kid-friendly content is on the decent side, but you’ll have to sort through some offerings that are more meh than wow.
Disney and Pixar selections are available here and there, though.
To be fair, Netflix does appear to making an effort to boost its kid-oriented library with toddler faves like “Octonauts” and family fare like “Over the Moon.”
Plus, there are some tween and teen delights like “Stranger Things” that could make Netflix worthwhile for younger eyes.
Pros
• Nice variety for the whole family
• Buzzworthy originals
• Offline mode
Cons
• Lack of live streaming options
• Limited top-quality kid-friendly content
• Some recognizable titles are disappearing due to a loss licensing
Price: $8.99 a month
Netflix, Hulu and Prime are considered the top choices worldwide and if you are looking for a streaming service that is child friendly and fits on your budget you should start comparing these three services by reading Internet Advisor Netflix, Hulu, and Prime comparison.
Honorable Mention
Free and ad-supported, Sensical is a 2021 newcomer worthy of an honorable mention.
The presented videos are reviewed by child development experts and divided into appropriate categories for preschoolers, little kids, and big kids.
The content is a mix of TV shows and short videos.
There are also virtual live-streaming channels devoted to things like music, history, science, and games and puzzles.
And alternatively there are some great websites for kids.
