Amazon Kids+ Review: Is It Better Than YouTube Kids? (A Parent's Guide)

Is Amazon Kids+ worth the cost? We review the parental controls, educational content, and compare it to YouTube Kids. Try it free for 1 month.

  

Featured image showing a kid-proof tablet running Amazon Kids+, a notebook with "Screen Time Rules" including "No Ads" and "Bedtime," and scattered toys on a parent's wooden desk

If you have a child between the ages of 3 and 12, you are fighting the same battle as every other parent: Screen Time.

You hand them a tablet to get 20 minutes of peace, but you worry. Are they watching weird YouTube videos? Are they clicking on ads? Are they accidentally buying $100 worth of gems in a game?

Amazon Kids+ promises to solve all of this. It’s an "all-you-can-eat" subscription for kids' content. But is it worth paying for when YouTube is free?

Here is my reasonable review on whether it’s a lifesaver or just another monthly bill.

Transparency Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We prioritize your child's safety and your peace of mind.

What Exactly Do You Get?

Think of Amazon Kids+ as a "Walled Garden." It is a safe digital playground containing:

  • 20,000+ Books: Disney, Marvel, Harry Potter, and more.

  • Ad-Free Movies & TV Shows: PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, etc.

  • Educational Apps & Games: No ads, no in-app purchases (this is huge).

It works on Fire Tablets, iPads, Android, and even Kindle e-readers.

The "Killer Feature": The Parent Dashboard

This is the main reason to sign up. The Parental Controls are brilliant.

Unlike an iPad where you just set a timer, Amazon Kids+ lets you set Educational Goals.

  • "Learn First": You can block entertainment content until your child reads for 30 minutes.

  • Bedtime: The tablet literally shuts down at a specific time (e.g., 8:00 PM). No arguments, no "just five more minutes." The screen just turns off.

Infographic illustrating the Amazon Kids+ Parent Dashboard "Learn First" feature: Step 1 is setting an educational goal (like reading) which is locked; completing it unlocks Step 2, entertainment content like games and videos.

"Expecting a new baby soon? Don't forget to check our Amazon Baby Registry Review for free gifts."

The Good Stuff

  • No Ads or Upsells: You will never hear your kid say "Dad/Mom, can I buy this skin?" because in-app purchases are blocked completely.

  • Age Filters: You set your child's age (e.g., 5 years old), and they only see content appropriate for 5-year-olds. It grows with them.

  • Value for Money: Buying just two or three good educational apps on the App Store would cost more than a month of this service.

The Bad Stuff (The Reasonable Cons)

  • Quality Variance: While there are great brands (Disney, LEGO), there is also some "filler" content and lower-quality games mixed in.

  • The Interface: On non-Amazon devices (like an iPad), the app can be a bit clunky compared to a native Fire Tablet experience.

Comparison infographic showing Amazon Kids+ as a safe "walled garden" with no ads, age filters, and bedtime controls, versus Free Apps/YouTube as a risky "open playground" with surprise purchases, unpredictable content, and constant ads.

Reasonable Verdict: Sanity is Worth the Price

If you are tired of policing YouTube or worrying about what your child is seeing, Amazon Kids+ is a no-brainer.

It turns a "mindless" tablet into an educational tool. Plus, the peace of mind knowing they can't click on ads is priceless.

My Advice:

  1. Get the [1-Month Free Trial].

  2. Set the "Learn First" goal immediately.

  3. Watch your child actually read books instead of just watching videos.

[Click Here to Start Your Free Trial of Amazon Kids+]

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