For a YouTube Kids alternative with no ads, look at KidNation, Khan Academy Kids, Lingokids or Vooks. PBS KIDS Video is free, though short sponsor messages run before some episodes. Kidoodle.TV and Sensical are also free, but expect ads on both.

Heads-up: KidNation is our app. We checked every other app’s App Store page on November 5, 2026. We asked one question of every listing: will a kid see ads?

First, does YouTube Kids have ads?

Yes. Google’s help pages say YouTube Kids shows a limited amount of paid advertising marked “Ad” or “Sponsored”. YouTube Premium removes those paid ads. It doesn’t remove promotions that creators include in their own videos, such as brand shout-outs.

If paid ads are your only problem, Premium removes them. If you want a smaller, hand-picked library too, read on.

Quick picks

See all 7 apps side by side in our comparison sheet.

The list

1. KidNation (our app)

KidNation is a zero-ad video app for kids ages 5 to 8. Its hand-picked library includes music and music videos made by our co-founder, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges.

YouTube Kids can’t do this. After a video, Word Ninja takes words from what your kid just watched and turns spelling into a game. And the Storyteller lets kids choose characters and story details, then reads them a new illustrated story.

KidNation is freemium. Some content is open. A subscription opens the premium library. A new version is coming, so join the waitlist to hear first.

2. PBS KIDS Video

PBS KIDS offers free shows, offline downloads and live PBS KIDS TV from your local station. There’s no subscription. The App Store listing says brief corporate sponsor messages play at the start of select full-length episodes. They’re short, but they’re there.

3. Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids is a learning app first, with sing-along and dance videos built in. It’s completely free for ages 2 to 8, with no ads or subscription.

4. Lingokids

Lingokids offers more than 4,000 activities, including games and shows. It’s 100% ad-free, runs on a subscription and works offline. It skews young. A 7- or 8-year-old may find parts of it too young.

5. Vooks

Vooks turns picture books into narrated animations with words on screen. It’s ad-free and subscription-only. The pace is deliberately slow. Good for bedtime.

6. Kidoodle.TV

Kidoodle.TV is free and requires no subscription or credit card. It uses an ad-supported plan, so your kid will see ads. It also needs an internet connection.

7. Sensical

Sensical is free and sorts videos into Preschool (2 to 4), Little Kids (5 to 7) and Big Kids (8 to 10). Its listing says it follows “kid-safe advertising standards”, so expect ads.

How we picked

Each app had to be made for kids and include videos. We used each App Store listing’s own language about ads instead of guessing. Prices change, so check the store before paying.

Questions parents ask

Is there a YouTube Kids with no ads?

A YouTube Premium membership removes paid ads from YouTube Kids. Outside YouTube, KidNation, Khan Academy Kids, Lingokids and Vooks say they’re ad-free.

Is PBS KIDS Video ad-free?

Not completely. The app is free, but its listing says brief sponsor messages play before some full-length episodes.

What’s a safe video app for a 6-year-old?

Look for a closed, hand-picked library with no open comments or chat. That’s how we built KidNation for kids ages 5 to 8.

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Want videos that lead into a spelling game and a story made for your kid? Join the KidNation waitlist.