# YouTube Kids vs Side+

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Side+ at 96% against YouTube Kids's 54%. Side+ also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6). YouTube Kids's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Side+ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. YouTube Kids asks for nothing beyond the download.

Side+ holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: YouTube Kids has 2.7M ratings behind it against 7.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of YouTube Kids's written reviews are positive against 96% of Side+'s.

YouTube Kids ships an update weekly, Side+ every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | YouTube Kids | Side+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (2.7M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube-kids/id936971630/reviews) | **[4.9 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/side-plus/id1589187670/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.7M** | 7.1K |
| Positive reviews | 53.7% of reviews | **96.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#46** | — |
| Size | 210 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Sidemen Entertainment Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1589187672) |

## What reviewers say

### YouTube Kids

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube-kids/id936971630)

**Currently charting:** #46 Top Free · Entertainment (US App Store)

This app offers a safe and engaging video platform for children to explore their interests. Parents can personalize content filters, set screen time limits, and hand-pick videos to ensure a positive viewing experience.

**Highlights:** Personalized content filters, Age-based modes (Preschool, Younger, Older), Approved Content Only mode, Watch it Again tab, Parental Controls, Screen time timer

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for kids
- 👍 Appropriate content
- 🔒 Parental controls
- 🎨 Customizable profiles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent video availability
- 🔍 Limited search and subscription options
- 🎶 Lack of music and audio options
- 📺 Outdated/repetitive content

**Reported bugs**

- Difficulty accessing parental controls
- Videos freezing or not loading
- Inappropriate content slipping through filters

**Requested features**

- Add ability to comment, like, and subscribe
- Improve search functionality and video recommendations
- Expand content for older kids (8-12)
- Allow language preferences for video selection
- Implement a 'back to beginning' video playback option


### Side+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/side-plus/id1589187670)

Access exclusive content, behind-the-scenes footage, and interactive Q&A sessions from popular creators. Engage with a global community and participate in unique challenges and events.

**Highlights:** Exclusive weekly episodes, Behind-the-scenes content, Exclusive podcast access, Weekly Q&A segments, Exclusive challenges and events, Private Zoom calls

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Side+ Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Side+ Yearly | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth app experience
- 👍 Entertaining content
- 💡 Exclusive behind-the-scenes and podcasts
- 🤑 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Needs better content organization/navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Full-screen mode issues (video pausing)
- Resume feature not always accurate

**Requested features**

- Add ability to sort/filter content by date or category
- Improve video playback controls (e.g. seek, pause)
- Add subtitles/closed captions for accessibility


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YouTube Kids free?

YouTube Kids is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Side+ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, YouTube Kids or Side+?

Side+ is rated higher. YouTube Kids averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.7M ratings, while Side+ averages 4.9 from 7.1K ratings.

### Do YouTube Kids or Side+ have ads?

Neither YouTube Kids nor Side+ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, YouTube Kids or Side+?

YouTube Kids ships an update weekly, and Side+ every 6 weeks. Most recently, YouTube Kids was updated on September 26, 2026 and Side+ on September 25, 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.*