Best Streaming Services for Kids in 2026: What I Trust as a Dad of Three

Netflix is a force in the streaming space, and it’s a standout option for parents looking for a streaming service for their children. Not only does Netflix have a deep content library for parents, but it also has a solid offering for kids. Users can filter content by characters, shows, and movies. Content isn’t limited to cartoons, either; the platform offers plenty of live-action content, plus educational shows for younger kids.

The Netflix parental controls are fairly exhaustive, but they can only be activated via desktop. I learned the hard way several years ago that you can’t do it in the app. Morgan McDougal, a Reviews.org writer and longtime Netflix subscriber, pointed out in her Netflix review that one drawback is that the platform locks some content in the ad-supported tier. If you wish to avoid that, you must pay up for an ad-free tier, which quickly gets expensive.

Popular titles: “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” “Madagascar 2,” “Ms. Rachel”

Paramount+ is a top streaming service for kids, thanks in large part to the platform's abundance of Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. content. Paramount+ also has a wealth of family franchises, including Sonic the Hedgehog, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Paw Patrol. Users can set parental controls within the desktop platform.

As Reviews.org writer Danika Miller shared in her Paramount+ review, another key perk of the platform is access to next-day airings of CBS shows and original content. This makes it a worthy contender for families seeking an affordable platform that works for everyone. If you hate ads, you may want to consider upgrading to Paramount+ Premium for $13.99 monthly. I have the ad-supported tier, Paramount+ Essential, and can tell you that the ads can be pervasive, hitting upwards of three minutes per ad block.

Popular titles: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender”

If you want a platform with limited explicit content, Disney+ is one of the best streaming services to consider for kids. In fact, children’s media is largely what the app has to offer. Disney+ houses loads of old and new Disney content. Not only that, but you can also watch National Geographic, Pixar, and Star Wars content. And for $1 more, you can bundle Disney+ with Hulu to create a strong offering for the entire family.

Reviews.org writer Benjamin Lee noted in his Disney+ review that the platform is intuitive, and its hubs streamline content discovery. As a Disney+ user, I can confirm that it simplifies finding something to watch. One drawback to consider is that parental controls leave you wanting more. Fortunately, there’s not that much inappropriate content on Disney+, but curious children can switch to Hulu content relatively easily and find something inappropriate for young eyes.

Popular titles: “Toy Story,” “The Mandalorian,” Marvel catalog

YouTube Kids is a solid, free option for families familiar with the YouTube ecosystem. The app segments content based on age and has over one million videos. It has three categories: Preschool (4 and under), Younger (5–8), and Older (9–12). Content is ad-supported unless you connect the account to an existing YouTube Premium account.

For parents concerned about young children finding questionable content, YouTube Kids lets you turn off search functions, which also allows parents to approve channels their children can watch. You can set parental controls on the site or within the app, plus set time limits. Children can’t switch to regular YouTube content without having a password. One drawback is that the content for older kids seems too young. You may want to consider letting older kids or teens use regular YouTube with strict parental controls instead.

Popular titles: “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Ms. Rachel,” “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”

Parents of younger children understandably want to protect them from seeing inappropriate content. Thanks to HappyKids.TV, that’s possible without sacrificing entertaining and educational shows and movies. HappyKids.TV is free to use and has over 150,000 videos for children. The content is grouped by age, ranging from 0–4 to tweens. Overall, the platform has the most content for children aged 4–9.

You can also still find content based on popular shows, movies, and stories. The app has gaming content for Minecraft, Roblox, Sonic, and more. I love that HappyKids.TV doesn’t require an account to activate parental controls. HappyKids.TV is Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) compliant and kidSAFE certified, meaning it’s held to standards that restrict using a child’s personal data for targeted advertising. One area where some parents may have concerns is gaming videos. Some content can feel unfiltered or YouTube-like, which could be a drawback to parents of younger children.

Popular titles: “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” “My Little Pony,” “Sonic”

Identifying a streaming service for kids that is suitable for your needs can be challenging. You want to ensure that streaming subscriptions are worth it without compromising your children's safety. Consider the following features when reviewing streaming services for your home.

It’s important to safeguard your children from inappropriate content. Most streaming services offer parental controls, but you may need to activate them on a desktop.

Not every streaming service for kids has the same content. If your child isn’t a Disney fan, for example, a Disney+ subscription may not be worth the cost.

If you have multiple children, you may run into conflicts over who gets to stream when. You may need to pay for more simultaneous streams if you can’t coordinate viewing times.

Not all streaming services have intuitive user interfaces, despite having a cost. Make sure everyone knows how to navigate the app to avoid frustration.

Streaming doesn’t eliminate ads. Some services will have more than others, so prepare for the possibility of long ad breaks. You can upgrade to an ad-free tier, but that increases costs fast.

Cutting costs is essential when streaming, but it’s not always easy. Use the following tips to help create a setup that works for you.