8 Best Streaming Services for Children
Looking for the best streaming service for kids? We’ve pulled together a list of the best options to keep your little ones entertained.
If your kids have a favorite cable channel or two, it can make you think twice before cutting the cord. With so many paid streaming services available, it’s tough to make the best call in choosing one that will still let them tune in to their favorite movies and TV shows.
We’ve put together a list of our top best picks of streaming services for children. While each child’s interests may be different, our selected services feature enough content that you’re sure to find a winner. You may also want to churn through services to find the right one for your family.
While live streaming services like YouTube TV or Sling TV may offer some kids’ streaming options, you’re going to want the on demand availability of these services. Each of our recommendations works with Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV.
Best for Kids
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The Streamable’s Choice
Disney+
The king of creating kid-friendly content, it’s no surprise that Disney’s streaming service more than meets the bar. While the other options on this list are good in their own respects, Disney+ is hands-down the winner. The simple reason? Their catalog.
For the youngest kids, Disney and Pixar classics like “Ratatouille,” “Toy Story”, or “Aladdin” are sure-fire winners. The Disney+ offline mode means you can load up an iPad for a long trip and your kids will stay entertained.
For todders, “Doc McStuffins” is always a hit.
The service also offers Jim Henson’s brilliance by way of “The Muppet Show” and various Muppet movies.
If you’d like something more subdued, even the youngest kids can enjoy the great nature documentaries available on the service. Disney Nature offers several relaxing films like “Monkey Kingdom,” “Oceans,” “Dolphin Reef,” and “Penguins.” Under the National Geographic section, you’ll find “Giants of the Deep Blue,” “700 Sharks,” “What Sam Sees” and “Wild Cats of India.”
As your children grow up, they might want something a little more sophisticated. Thankfully, Disney+ brings Star Wars and the Marvel Universe to the table. In addition to the blockbuster films, new, high-quality content is being uploaded to the service regularly. “The Mandalorian,” “WandaVision,” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” are three prominent sci-fi/action series that have gained critical and popular praise.
There’s also a massive selection of content for tweens, like “High School Musical,” “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” and “Hannah Montana.”
If your kids are into sports you might consider their package deal with Hulu and ESPN+. The bundle can provide entertainment for the whole family and you’ll save by combining them.
Pros:
- Multiple profiles
- Offline downloads
- Family-friendly content
- Nexus for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic
Cons:
- No live TV unless bundled with Hulu Live
- Less overall content than Netflix
- Content may grow stale unless you like watching the same movies and shows over and over
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Best for Toddlers
PBS Kids
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 HBO 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.
Pros:
- Free
- Offline downloads
- Great for young kids’ mental health and development
Cons:
- Not much for older kids
- Episode availability changes unless you pay for the Prime Video channel
- Broad selection means not all programming will be enjoyed
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Noggin
If your child loves to kick back with a graham cracker and binge ultra-popular shows, Noggin might be the perfect choice. It has mega-hits like “Peppa Pig,” “PAW Patrol,” and “Blue’s Clues.” You can create up to 5 profiles, so each of your children can have their own viewing history.
A nifty parental dashboard on Noggin’s website allows you to see what your child has been watching.
The interface is a little clunky, especially if you’re expecting kids to navigate the platform. There’s also the repetitious nature of the programming, which kids may love, but it can grind on parents after a while. It may be fun watching the “PAW Patrol” pups saving various animals in need, but kids won’t really learn much in the course of an episode.
Perceptive parents will note that the Noggin library is almost identical to Paramount+. The big difference is that Paramount+ has a lot of content for adults as well. Because Noggin is inherently ad-free, that may be a better option. Otherwise, Paramount+ makes sense, but we would suggest paying for the ad-free tier ($9.99 / måned) to avoid unwanted marketing messages.
Pros:
- 30-Day Free Trial
- Offline downloads
- Incredibly popular shows
Cons:
- Episodes may play in random order
- Library is somewhat limited
- More “junk food” TV than educational
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Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is coming on strong with its children’s programming. You’ll find popular Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows like “PAW Patrol,” “Blue’s Clues,” “Peppa Pig” and SpongeBob SquarePants.”
The service has also been bulking up its feature-length family movies, so you’ll find titles like “Rumble” and “Clifford the Big Red Dog.”
While the content will likely keep your kids entertained, one major drawback is the fact that the ad-supported tier of Paramount+ still features commercials - often three ad breaks per show. If you’re a parent looking for a “safe” streaming experience, that’s a negative that should be considered. Your options are to pay for the ad-free tier ($9.99 / måned), or simply subscribe to Noggin, which has an almost identical programming lineup.
Pros:
- Popular shows from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.
- Same-day releases of major movies like “Clifford the Big Red Dog”
Cons:
- Selection more limited than some services
- Ads appear far too frequently in ad-supported tier
- Most shows aren’t educational
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HBO Max
While HBO is the proud home for awesome programming like “True Blood” and “Game of Thrones,” both shows are about the furthest thing from what kids should be watching!
It may come as a surprise then that HBO Max is one of our top contenders for the best streaming for children. Kids can watch “Spies in Disguise,” “Spirited Away,” “Charlotte's Web,” and more.
HBO Max also has kids’ shows like “Sesame Street”, the new “Looney Tunes,” and even select content from Cartoon Network.
Because of HBO Max’s vast library, it’s great for kids of all ages and adults as well. It’s our pick as the Best Streaming Service for Families.
Pros:
- Good for the whole family
- Parental controls
Cons:
- Not as many animated movies and shows as Disney+
- Weaker selection of family films
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Amazon Prime Video
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 NOK 64 / måned (about the same as either Netflix or Disney+).
The standard Amazon Prime Video service is a hodgepodge of children’s programming, offering 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.
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.
Pros:
- Wide variety of content for kids
- Free if a Prime member
- Optional free trials for Prime and channel add-ons
Cons:
- Clunky UI
- Virtually no original content for kids
- Options limited without channel add-ons
- Limited content for teens
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Netflix
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” 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.
Pros:
- Wide variety
- Original programming
- No commercials
- Offline mode allows on-the-go viewing
Cons:
- Losing content to other services
- No live streaming
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Sensical
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.
Pros:
- Free
- Great parental controls
- Different content curated by age
- Virtual live streaming channels by topic
Cons:
- Slim library may get stale
- No offline viewing
- Ad-supported
Honorable mention:
There are many smaller players that might appeal to your children, so it might be worth experimenting with those month-to-month. Many can be added as Amazon Prime Video channels, so that’s worth a consideration.
- Hopster - $7.99 / month
- Toon Goggles - $1.99 / month
- HooplaKidz Plus - $2.99 / month
- Kidstream - $4.99 / month
- Ameba - $3.99 / month
- Kidoodle.TV - $4.99 / month
- Yippee (Christian content) - $7.99 / month
More Free Options:
Assuming you’ve already enjoyed the free content from PBS Kids and Sensical, you should also consider the options available through your local library. Many offer free DVD rentals, and most provide free access to a service like Kanopy or Hoopla. Those streaming services usually have incredibly thin catalogs, but you may find a diamond in the rough.