Intro: 2017 Ranking | Top 10 Best Apps for Toddlers | Free, Paid, Educational, and Game Toddler Apps
While their parents may have been asking for a new box of crayons when they were their age, twenty-first-century toddlers are growing up using mobile devices for play and learning on toddler apps at an early age.
Because of this, in addition to looking for good toddler toys, parents also need to look for the best apps for toddlers.
But it is important to be sure that the apps for toddlers you’re loading onto that smartphone or tablet, whether they are free toddler apps or paid, are entertaining, engaging, and provide a good experience for your child.
According to a recent study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 96.6% of children under four have used a mobile device, and 75% of them had their own device.
This makes finding the best toddler apps for your child of the utmost importance, since they are spending so much time interacting with toddler apps on a daily basis.
We have researched the best apps for toddlers out there—both the paid apps and the best free apps for toddlers—to bring you our “Top 10 Best Apps for Toddlers” list.
We have divided our list into the 5 best paid toddler apps and the 5 best free toddler apps, looking for those that have won awards and have excellent reviews.
Our list includes top toddler apps for fun, creativity, education, and games, all focused on the toddler age group.
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Top 10 Best Apps for Toddlers | Ranking Comparison
Table: The above list of best toddler apps is sorted alphabetically
Best Free Toddler Apps
Top Toddler Apps | Cost: |
| Drawtime | Free |
| KidloLand—Nursery Rhymes for Kids | Free |
| Lego® Duplo® Train | Free |
| The Wheels on the Bus | Free |
| Toddler Counting 123 Kids Free | Free |
The 5 Best Paid Apps for Toddlers
Top Toddler Apps | Website |
| Dr. Panda’s Swimming Pool | http://drpanda.com/app/dr-pandas-swimming-pool/ |
| Dr. Seuss’s ABC | http://www.oceanhousemedia.com/products/abc/&legacy/ |
| Highlights™ Monster Day | https://www.highlights.com/store/apps/highlights-monster-day |
| The Strawberry Garden | https://www.soundtouch.com/ |
| Toca Life: Town | http://tocaboca.com/app/toca-town/ |
Free Apps for Toddlers | The 5 Best Free Toddler Apps
These days, a family can go through apps for toddlers as fast as their children outgrow their clothes, so finding free toddler apps that are high-quality, educational, and engaging is a big win for any parent or grandparent.
The best toddler apps have some staying power due to the ability to grow with a child and offer them more challenging activities as they learn and advance.
In this first half of our list of the top apps for toddlers, we’ve included information about each of the apps for toddlers and the company that makes it, and we give you a look at some reviews and ratings, listing the awards for each of those in our list of the 5 best free apps for toddlers.
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Category: Fun, Confidence
Cost: Free
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The best free toddler apps ratings for Lego® Duplo® Train in iTunes is 3.5 out of 5 stars, and in Google Play it is 3.8 out of 5 stars
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In one of the best free apps for toddlers reviews, a mom stated it was the “best toddler game I’ve found, my just-turned 2 year-old loves this!”. The sibling of a 4-year-old whose little brother loves both Legos and trains said, “This is a good thing for him, thank you for this game.”
Awards: The Guardian 50 Best Android Apps for Kids, 2013.
Downloads: iTunes Store, Google Play Store
Image Source: GiggleUp
Toddler Counting 123 Kids Free
by GiggleUp Kids Apps and Educational Games Pty Ltd
Description: This is one of the free apps for toddlers that focuses on math and learning to count. It’s made to be easy, without any complicated menus, and it jumps straight into the fun with just one tap. It also has 8 different languages that can be used with high-quality voice-overs. There are more than 130 objects in 10 categories (like animals, transport, and more).
Category: Math Skills
Cost: Free
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The free toddler apps ratings for Toddler Counting 123 Kids Free in iTunes is 3.5 out of 5 stars, and in Google Play it is 3.9 out of 5 stars
In one of the best free toddler apps reviews, a mom gave it her “Mommy Award” and said her son has been playing it since he was 6 months, and it “helped him learn to count.” Another mom said, “My son learned to count well into the double digits using this app.”
Honorable Mention: Mentioned in a story in the New York Times.
Downloads: iTunes Store, Google Play Store
Image Source: KidloLand
KidloLand—Nursery Rhymes for Kids
by Internet Design Zone
Description: This is one of the free apps for toddlers to use at bedtime. The app includes more than 550 nursery rhymes, songs, stories, and other activities for children from newborns to 5 years old. The app includes 10 Aesop’s Fables, classic bedtime stories, and more. It’s also noted as being one of the best toddler apps recommended by more than 130 “Mom Bloggers.”
Category: Story time, Bedtime
Cost: Free
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The best free toddler apps ratings for KidloLand—Nursery Rhymes for Kids in iTunes is 4.5 out of 5 stars, and in Google Play it is 4.1 out of 5 stars
In one of the free toddler apps reviews, one mom said it was great for babies, and that “the nursery rhymes are a life saver on long car rides.” A dad reviewer stated that it was good for all children and “is amazing for my children.”
Awards: 2016 KAPi Award: Best Children’s App, Best Content, Most Creative Experience; Academics’ Choice Smart Media Award.
Downloads: iTunes Store, Google Play Store, Amazon Kindle Fire
by Kindoma
Description: This is one of the most unique and best free apps for toddlers that we’ve seen for family interaction. The app allows you to draw and interact with your child over video calls or messaging. It allows you to multitask along with your favorite video calling apps and send and receive drawings with your child or grandchild.
Category: Fun, Family connectivity
Cost: Free
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The free toddler apps ratings for Drawtime in iTunes is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
In one of the best free apps for toddlers reviews, a mom whose parents lived across the country said that it “has become our go-to app when we want to chat,” and that it helped keep her two daughters connected to their grandparents.
Awards: 2016 KAPi Award: Best Children’s App (pre-readers).
Downloads: iTunes Store
Image Source: TabTale
by TabTale
Description: This is one of the free apps for toddlers that brings a beloved song to life in an interactive sing along. The app includes 10 different games, rich animations, and activities with HD-quality graphics and sounds. It also includes a coloring book and teaches spelling and vocabulary.
Category: Music, Spelling, Vocabulary
Cost: Free
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The free toddler apps ratings for the Wheels on the Bus in iTunes is 4 out of 5 stars, and in Google Play it is 3.8 out of 5 stars
In one of the best free toddler apps reviews, one dad said, “My daughter loves this game, keep it up.” One mom said, “Great app, my 2-year-old and 1-year-old love this app.”
Awards: 4-Star Rating at TopBestAppsForKids.com, Nominee for 2015 TabbyAwards: Kids, Family, and Entertainment.
Downloads: iTunes Store, Google Play Store
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Paid Toddler Apps | The 5 Best Paid Apps for Toddlers
In our second group of 5 best toddler apps in our list, we are going to take a look at some high-quality paid toddler apps that are well worth the price to keep your child entertained, engaged, and learning.
At less than $5, these paid top toddler apps still offer a great bargain when it comes to keeping your child occupied in a fun activity that can also teach them important new skills.
Image Source: Dr. Panda
by Dr. Panda Ltd.
Description: This is one of the top toddler apps that is interactive and has no in-app purchases or advertisements. Children can go for a virtual swim while taking care of baby animals.
There are secret treasures to discover and lots of fun interactive activities, such as making food, playing dress-up, shooting a water cannon, and more.
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Category: Fun, Discovery
Cost: $1.99
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The toddler apps ratings for Dr. Panda’s Swimming Pool in iTunes is 4.5 out of 5 stars, and in Google Play it is 4.2 out of 5 stars
In one of the best apps for toddlers reviews, one mom said it was a “Great game for 2-year-olds!” Another parent remarked that it was “so much fun, my babysitter loves it.”
Awards: Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice Award for Excellence in Design.
Downloads: iTunes Store, Google Play Store
Image Source: Oceanhouse Media
by Oceanhouse Media
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Description: This is one of the best toddler apps for teaching reading skills. Children can engage with the beloved Dr. Seuss characters in this deluxe digital book app that allows them to tap, drag, and tilt their mobile device to find playful surprises. This is one of the best apps for toddlers that was developed in collaboration with early literacy experts.
Category: Reading Skills
Cost: $3.99
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The toddler apps ratings for Dr. Seuss’s ABC—Read & Learn in iTunes is 4.5 out of 5 stars, and in Google Play it is 4.7 out of 5 stars
In one of the best toddler apps reviews, one mom said they were “Loving the listen, read aloud, and read by myself features!” A dad said that it was superb and that “my 3-year-old loves it and has picked up some letters from us reading it together.”
Awards: Parents’ Choice Gold Award, 10 Best ABC iPhone Apps by TeacherswithApps.
Downloads: iTunes Store, Google Play Store
Image Source: Highlights
by Highlights for Children, Inc.
Description: This is one of the best apps for toddlers that teaches meaningful lessons about everyday life. Children care for a lovable monster from morning until night and gain emotional growth through caregiving as well as confidence building and development of fine motor skills. This is one of the best toddler apps that is ad-free with no in-app purchases.
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Category: Fine motor skills, Emotional growth
Cost: $2.99
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The best toddler apps ratings for Highlights Monster Day in iTunes is 5 out of 5 stars, and in Google Play it is 4.9 out of 5 stars
In one of the best apps for toddlers reviews, one mom said it was money well spent for her 1.5-year-old, and that it “does a great job keeping her occupied.” A dad mentioned that even though his daughter was six now, “she still thinks this game is adorable.”
Awards: Parents’ Choice Silver Award, 2016 Editor’s Choice Award from Children’s Technology Review.
Downloads: iTunes Store, Google Play Store
Image Source: Sound Touch
by SoundTouch
Description: This is one of the best toddler apps that brings in real, non-computer made drawings. It includes cute objects that respond with sounds and that move with each touch. You can choose among 17 languages. Kids learn about scarecrows, different types of animals, and the value of nature, bravery, and sharing.
Category: Fun, Personal growth
Cost: $1.99
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The apps for toddlers ratings for the Strawberry Garden in iTunes haven’t yet been established due to the app being fairly new, but SoundTouch and their prior app has 4 stars out of 5
In one of the top apps for toddlers reviews, a 5-star reviewer said “I got this book for my niece who is 3. She loved it.” Another reviewer said that her four-year-old “loved it.”
Awards: 2016 KAPi Award: Best Children’s App (pre-readers).
Downloads: iTunes Store
Image Source: Toca Boca
by Toca Boca AB
Description: This is one of the best apps for toddlers for creativity and exploration. In this app, kids rule Toca Town and can explore six different areas and make up activities for the 21 town inhabitants. There are also hidden treasures to discover throughout the app.
This is one of the top toddler apps that teaches improvisational skills and allows ordinary objects to take on magical qualities. It features beautiful original artwork and creative storytelling.
Category: Fun, Creativity, Imagination
Cost: $2.99
Ages: 5 and under
Ratings and Reviews: The top apps for toddlers ratings for Toca Life: Town in iTunes is 4 out of 5 stars, and in Google Play it is 4.3 out of 5 stars
In one of the Best apps for toddlers reviews, one reviewer said they loved all the Toca Boca games but “this one is by far my favorite.” Another reviewer said it was “exciting and provides hours of fun!”
Awards: 2015 KAPi Award: Best Children’s App (pre-readers), National Parenting Product Silver Award, Best Children’s App, Junior Design Awards 2014, shortlisted.
Downloads: iTunes Store, Google Play Store, Amazon Kindle Fire
Best Toddler Apps | Conclusion
When it comes to finding the best apps for toddlers to load on your child’s mobile devices, there are several great, award-winning choices out there.
Whether you opt for the greatest free toddler apps or one of the excellent paid apps for toddlers, you have some decent choices that provide an excellent value in education, entertainment, and engagement for your child.
We’ve found that there are a lot of great companies that are dedicating time and talent to create the best apps for toddlers to ensure parents can feel good about time spent by their young children on mobile devices and toddler apps.
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