# Kidoodle.TV vs Playpen

The clearest difference is rating: Playpen at 5.0 against Kidoodle.TV's 4.1. Playpen also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 6 days vs monthly). Kidoodle.TV's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (420 vs 3). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Playpen sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Kidoodle.TV asks for nothing beyond the download.

Playpen holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kidoodle.TV has 420 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Kidoodle.TV ships an update monthly, Playpen every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kidoodle.TV | Playpen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (420 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidoodletv-safe-streaming/id738646967/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playpen-parental-control/id1629800310/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **420** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 67.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Freemium |
| Size | 79 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [A Parent Media Co. Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/738646970) | [Josh Holtz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460622095) |

## What reviewers say

### Kidoodle.TV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kidoodletv-safe-streaming/id738646967)

Stream thousands of kid-safe TV episodes and full series for free. Discover new shows updated weekly, create custom profiles with parental controls, and enjoy educational content. This ad-supported platform offers unlimited access to a vast library of entertainment for children.

**Highlights:** Stream thousands of kid-safe episodes, Discover new shows weekly, Customizable profiles with parental controls, Educational content for toddlers and K-12, Large gaming and gameplay library, Available in over 160 countries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app for kids
- 🚀 Lots of content
- 🔒 Safe and appropriate for children
- 💡 Useful parental controls
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Difficult to find and block specific content
- 💸 Too many ads
- 🔋 Drains device battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Parent controls don't work as expected
- Playback issues and video freezing
- Difficulty signing in and accessing account

**Requested features**

- Add more popular shows like Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
- Improve search and filtering to easily find and block unwanted content
- Offer a premium subscription to remove ads
- Add offline viewing and download options
- Improve Chromecast and smart TV support


### Playpen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playpen-parental-control/id1629800310)

This app helps parents keep children entertained with pre-approved activities, preventing access to the full device. It allows parents to select specific content like YouTube videos or photo albums, ensuring a safe and engaging experience for kids and peace of mind for adults.

**Highlights:** Curated child-friendly activities, Restricted access to device features, Pre-approved YouTube videos, Access to specific photo albums, Interactive animal sounds, Apple Watch control

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Plus Annually | $12.99 | per year |
| Plus Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kidoodle.TV free?

Kidoodle.TV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Playpen free?

Playpen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Kidoodle.TV or Playpen?

Playpen is rated higher. Kidoodle.TV averages 4.1 out of 5 from 420 ratings, while Playpen averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Kidoodle.TV or Playpen have ads?

Kidoodle.TV shows ads; Playpen does not.

### Which is updated more often, Kidoodle.TV or Playpen?

Kidoodle.TV ships an update monthly, and Playpen every 6 days. Most recently, Kidoodle.TV was updated on November 6, 2026 and Playpen on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
