YouTube Kids is a video app for children, built for parents and guardians who want to set the filters themselves. Google LLC released it for Android on February 22, 2015. It is free, rated Everyone, and supports ads but no in-app purchases. Content is sorted into Preschool, Younger, Older and Approved Content Only modes, and the latest update is dated November 3, 2026.
First steps after install: parental setup and picking a mode
Parental setup is needed to get the best experience for a family. Do this before handing over the device. The app also covers two sign-in cases: a Google Account managed with Family Link, or use without signing in at all.
The privacy notice depends on that choice. Accounts managed with Family Link fall under the Privacy Notice for Google Accounts managed with Family Link. Kids who use the app without signing in fall under the YouTube Kids Privacy Notice.
Then choose a content mode for each child. Preschool is aimed at the youngest kids, with ABCs and curiosity-building videos. Younger mode widens the mix to songs, cartoons and DIY crafts. Older mode lets kids search popular music and gaming videos. Approved Content Only mode shows just the videos, channels and collections a parent hand-picks.
Timer, Watch it Again tab and flagging: what the app does well
The strongest point is the range of control over what a child sees. Parents can personalize individual profiles with custom content filters as children grow. That matters in a household where a preschooler and an older sibling use the same app.
The Timer feature freezes the app when screen time is up. The developer frames this as a prompt to take a break and use new skills offline.
A Watch it Again tab collects favorite videos and content a parent has shared with the child. If a parent dislikes a video or channel, or sees something inappropriate, it can be flagged for review by Google's team. The developer says the blocking process aims to keep videos family-friendly, but acknowledges that each family's preferences differ.
Who should pick an alternative to YouTube Kids
Kids may see commercial content from YouTube creators that is not paid advertising. The app also carries ads. Parents who want a space with no commercial material at all may find this a poor fit.
The app is also a video-first product in the streaming category. Families who want a broader catalog of films and series might look at Netflix, Disney+ or HBO Max as alternatives. Older teens who outgrow Older mode may be better served by the standard YouTube app, though that removes the kid-specific controls.
YouTube Kids pros and cons
Pros
- Four content modes: Preschool, Younger, Older and Approved Content Only
- Parents can hand-pick videos, channels and collections
- Timer freezes the app when screen time ends
- Watch it Again tab gathers favorites and shared videos
- Free with no in-app purchases, rated 4.2 on Google Play
Cons
- Contains ads
- Kids may see commercial content from creators that is not paid advertising
- Parental setup is required for the best experience
- Update history and app size are not published
Is YouTube Kids safe?
YouTube Kids is published by Google LLC and listed on Google Play with an Everyone content rating. It has no in-app purchases, but it does show ads. The developer says the blocking process aims to keep videos family-friendly, yet it makes no guarantee, so parents can flag content and use Approved Content Only mode for tighter control.
How to install YouTube Kids
- Press the Google Play button on this page.
- Check the listing in the Play Store and press Install.
- Open YouTube Kids when the install finishes. Updates arrive through Google Play.
