20+ Best Streaming Services for Children

Disney is the name for universally fun and exciting Hollywood-style content, but if you’re looking more for wholesome enrichment, PBS is more in line with what you’re after. Committed to making a positive impact on children through entertainment, PBS Kids encourages respectful interaction in diverse society, involving parents, teachers, and caregivers to have a say in the kind of programming shown on TV.

The main goal of PBS Kids is to contribute to the mental welfare of its young audience, and the shows available on the service endeavor to reflect this in a way both entertaining and - wait for it - completely free of charge.

That’s right; you can subscribe to PBS Kids without spending a penny, so there’s no reason not to give it a shot. Here you can watch “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Arthur,” “Molly of Denali,” and more.

You will have access to limited episodes of “Sesame Street,” but if you’re looking for a more robust catalog of Big Bird, Elmo, and Oscar the Grouch, check out Max.

With the mobile app, you can download various shows for offline entertainment on-the-go.

We recommend giving the free version a try, but be aware that the app will swap out episodes periodically. If you’d like the full library of each show available, simply add PBS Kids as a channel through Amazon Prime Video.

The free PBS Kids Games app provides educational games based on the PBS Kids shows, and that’s also worth a download.

Normally one of our top choices, when it comes to the countdown for best children’s streaming services, Netflix is firmly adequate. “CoComelon” and “Octonauts” are bona fide toddler favorites, while family movies like “Over the Moon” and “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” provide a bit of prestige. The Michelle Obama nutrition show “Waffles + Mochi” also provides valuable lessons.

One downside to Netflix’s kids’ section is that it looks like an endless scroll of cheaply animated cash grabs, so it’s hard to separate the worthwhile titles from the discount-bin video dandruff.

Netflix does have arguably better content for tweens and teens, however. Shows like “Stranger Things”, “Wednesday,” or “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” are both Netflix originals. If you’ve got two kids, one older than the other, and are concerned about protecting the younger, you can always set up a Netflix Kids account.

If you’re a Prime member you’re already getting this service for free. Much like the above PBS Kids, that makes Amazon Prime another easy winner for a good budget option.

Even if you’re not a Prime member, the video service is only $8.99 / month.

The standard Amazon Prime Video service is a hodgepodge of children’s programming. It offers many popular kids’ shows, but you’re consigned to a handful of seasons unless you’re willing to pay more. The regular subscription offers episodes of shows like “Sesame Street,” Nickelodeon’s “Spongebob Squarepants,” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”. If your child really needs “PAW Patrol,” you can add a Paramount+ subscription through Prime Video as well.

One major frustration with Prime Video is that the navigation is terrible. It can be hard to separate the quality shows from the low-effort garbage. Prime Video has a staggering amount of poor content on its platform, and kids can’t easily discern it from the thumbnail.

A good option is to pair your Prime Video subscription with inexpensive channel add-ons, so you can get the full PBS Kids library or all the shows on Noggin, Boomerang, Ameba, or Kidstream. Without the add-ons, you could say Prime Video’s kids’ selection is a mile wide and an inch deep.

Max has pulled back on its kids’ content under new ownership, so it’s a better service for adults than children. There’s still a decent library here.

Max is home to the superhero adventures of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and the other DC characters. You’ll also see several Cartoon Network shows and some classic Warner Bros. animation including Looney Tunes.

Popular shows on the platform include “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” “Ben 10,” and “Adventure Time.” Max is home to some episodes of “Sesame Street,” as well. Classic series include “The Smurfs,” and “The Flintstones.”

The movie library does include “The Wizard of Oz.” Max is often home to the Harry Potter films (though they do move off the platform often).

A new player to the game as of summer 2021, Sensical brings some great features that will appeal to parents. The service is separated with specific content for preschoolers (ages 2-4), little kids (ages 5-7) and big kids (8-10). Every video is viewed, vetted, and rated by dozens of individuals trained in child development.

While you won’t find as much content as some other services, Sensical combines TV shows and short videos to create a compelling mix. Children can also watch virtual live streaming channels focused on specific topics like games and puzzles, history, sports, science, music, and more.

Parents also have some excellent tools, including a dashboard to get reports on what your child has been learning and how long he or she has been watching. If your child exceeds the time limit you set, you can simply offer a temporary override with a PIN code.

The service is ad-supported, but The Streamable didn’t see any commercials when we tested it at launch.

We only found one feature-length movie on the service. This is primarily a service for short videos and TV shows.

Hopster Learning is an ad-free video streaming and interactive app that is kidSAFE+ Coppa certified with access to 2,000+ family-friendly preschool TV shows, formal early childhood curriculums from around the world, educational games, preschool books, music, and more.

HooplaKidz Plus was a video streaming app for kids that makes learning easy with 650+ curated videos. Content ranges from Nursery Rhymes to 230+ preschool songs and learning videos. The app appears to be dead as of 2024, replaced by All Babies Channel Plus.

Ameba is a children’s video streaming service that is full of educational programming. The content catalog comprises 14,000+ episodes and 2,800 hours of kid’s shows.

Da Vinci is a streaming service for children 7+. It includes 13,000+ hours of award-winning TV shows and documentaries that encourage creativity, social-emotional learning, and curiosity. The app includes 200+ games developed by academics in childhood education and cognitive development.

Hoopla is a free streaming service accessible with your library card. The service features movies and TV shows, along with millions of audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and more. The BingePass feature also allows free access to services like Curiosity Stream, Hellosaurus, and Hallmark Movies Now.

Ryan and Friends Plus is a video streaming service with the star of “Ryan’s World” and the hit Nickelodeon show “Ryan’s Mystery Playdate.” The service offers fun, educational shows, cartoons, and exclusive content! Featuring science experiments, DIY crafts, pretend play, challenges, and tons of other kid-favorite activities that are fun for the whole family.