Comparison

Books Alive! vs Craftopia

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Books Alive!

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Books Alive! For Kids® is a literacy and arts education program that makes books come alive through sight, sound, and touch and inspires a lifetime-love of reading and the arts for children ages 6 - 12. Each book within the BA!FK® app (which is still in its BETA version) has been selected by educators under the guidance of Learning Through Art, Inc. – the non-profit organization who designed and launched the Books Alive! For Kids in-person performing arts and literacy program in public schools over 30 years ago, and who have continued to inspire young readers and artists ever since. The app is a wonderful companion for learning at home or in school, and pairs with the Books Alive! For Kids® subscription program - where you can sign up to get REAL books and craft materials sent to your home or classroom to go along with all of those you see in the app. If your school is already a Books Alive! For Kids® subscription partner, reach out to your school’s resource coordinator or email us at support@lartinc.com and we’ll make sure you have your login info. **AT THIS TIME, BOOKS ALIVE! FOR KIDS® AND THE APP ARE ONLY AVAILABLE BY SUBSCRIPTION - SUPPORTING SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND HOMESCHOOLERS. To learn more or to sign up, contact support@lartinc.com** Download the app today and, with your Books Alive! For Kids® subscription, unlock the magic of literacy and the arts! Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in the app: GREAT BOOKS WITH GREAT MESSAGES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY The BA!FK® bookshelf is stocked with books chosen by Educators and utilized by Montessori Elementary schools for teaching about themes like Social-Emotional Learning, Putting a Stop to Bullying, Empathy, and the Beauty of our Differences. The BA!FK® app aims to engage entire families. And while there is plenty for a young reader to explore on their own (like videos, multiple-choice and word-identification games and coloring pages!), we hope that the adults in their lives will also be on-hand to discuss the stories, help with the crafts, and enjoy the performances with them. At times there are prompts to get help from a grownup - like when using scissors or glue, gathering craft supplies, or asking questions about big feelings – like feeling left out or being “different.” EMMY-AWARD WINNING VIDEOS Like many apps, ours engages and teaches through audio-visual learning, but unlike most others, our productions won an Ohio-Valley Regional EMMY (the region where our organization is headquartered) for best long-form Youth Content. That win – in the midst of the pandemic – inspired us to partner with app developers to make our content even more accessible and interactive to early-readers that we can’t always engage with in person. A MAGICAL CLUBHOUSE FULL OF FRIENDS AND ARTISTS Our host and mascot, Paige Turner the story-loving owl, helps kids see themselves in the stories they are reading. She asks the trusted adults in her life big questions about everything from what new words mean, to what it’s like to feel “different.” Paige also interacts with a variety of amazing professional artists and performers who help children see themselves in the arts - from choreographers and ballet dancers, to theatrical performers, visual artists, and even explorers of nature! IMAGINATIONS UNLOCKED FOR FULL-CHILD DEVELOPMENT Interactive and educational games, crafts, and activities Creative expression through storytelling, hands-on crafts, coloring, and activities that build a love for the outdoors, exploration, the arts, and physical performance. CREATED BY EDUCATORS Our hand-selected books and educational content are designed by education, arts, and early-literacy experts with more than 40 years of experience who have proven track records of improving literacy-levels and inspiring a love of reading. There's always support if you need it - by emailing support@lartinc.com; within your subscription; or by heading to the Books Alive! For Kids website booksaliveforkids.com.

About

Craftopia

Features
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Crafty is the ultimate arts and crafts companion for kids and families. Whether you have a box of crayons, a pile of recycled cardboard, or a bottle of shampoo at home, Crafty helps you turn whatever you have into something amazing. What can you make today? Simply tell Crafty what materials you have at home, and it instantly shows you every craft you can make right now — no shopping required. From paper butterflies and origami boats to fluffy slime and nature collages, there is always something fun to create. 108+ Crafts & Recipes Crafty includes over 108 step-by-step craft projects across six categories: Paper, Recycled, Nature, Fabric, Slime, and more. Every project includes a full materials list, clear instructions, difficulty level, time estimate, and recommended age range — so you can find the perfect craft for any skill level or afternoon. Make Slime Your Way Crafty's dedicated Slime section features 8 unique slime recipes designed for every household. No glue? No problem. Try the No-Glue Shampoo Slime, Oobleck, or Laundry Detergent Slime using ingredients you already have. Each recipe lists every ingredient you need and offers alternatives so you are never stuck. Smart Materials Tracker Tap any material on a craft page to instantly add it to your personal materials list. Forgot to add something before you started? Just tap the X next to any missing ingredient to add it on the spot — it turns green and the missing items banner updates in real time. Daily Rainbow Theme Crafty greets you with a fresh color theme every day of the week — from Ruby Red on Sundays to Violet on Saturdays — making every visit feel new and exciting. Explore & Save Your Favourites Browse crafts by type, save your favourites with a single tap, and revisit recently viewed projects right from the Home screen. The Explore tab makes it easy to discover new ideas filtered by category. Designed for Kids, Trusted by Parents Crafty is designed with children in mind — large text, colorful visuals, simple navigation, and age-appropriate content throughout. No ads, no in-app purchases, no distractions. Just creativity. Get started for free. All you need is imagination.

Screenshots

Books Alive!4 screens
Craftopia4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Craftopia at every 2 days against Books Alive!'s every 6 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Books Alive! ships an update every 6 months, Craftopia every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Books Alive! versus Craftopia: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBooks Alive!Craftopia
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLearning Through Art, Inc.JR Learning Plus LLC

In-app purchases

None

Books Alive!

No in-app purchases

None

Craftopia

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Books Alive! free?
Books Alive! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Craftopia free?
Craftopia is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Books Alive! or Craftopia have ads?
Neither Books Alive! nor Craftopia shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Books Alive! or Craftopia?
Books Alive! ships an update every 6 months, and Craftopia every 2 days. Most recently, Books Alive! was updated on October 27, 2026 and Craftopia on October 9, 2026.

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