The top kid-friendly apps for 2021
Charlotte Thomas
Deputy Editorial DirectorThis page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
The top kid-friendly apps for 2021
1. My Talking Tom
My Talking Tom features a very cute cat who repeats what you say and responds to your touch.
You can also download apps for his equally cute friends such as Talking Ben the Dog, Talking Gina the Giraffe and Talking Larry the Bird.
Price: Free
2. Teach Your Monster to Read
An award-winning phonics and reading game, this app is really fun, too. Kids create their own monster and take it on an adventure playing three magical games that help them recognise sounds and letters.
Perfect for the first two years of learning to read.
Price: 99p
3. Tozzle
A big hit with Netmums who have toddlers. It's a series of puzzles and animations which little ones will love.
Price: £3.99
App Store only
4. Apps by Toca Boca
Toca Boca came up time and again with our members when we asked them for their number one app. There are loads to choose from, including Toca House, Toca Kitchen Monsters and Toca Hair Salon, all popular with Netmums.
Price: some free, some from £1.49
Available apps may vary between App Store and Google Play.
5. Apps by Duck Duck Moose
Apps by Duck Duck Moose are popular wth parents, too. Choose from a variety of apps, including Build-a-Truck, Musical Me!, Peek-a-Zoo and Fish School. They have colourful cartoon illustrations and plenty of interactive fun for little ones.
Price: Some free, some from £1.49
Available apps may vary between App Store and Google Play.
6. Cut the Rope
Another great app popular with children of all ages. You feed the cute monster Om Nom candy by cutting the rope to catch a star. Sounds complicated, but children seem to get it and love it.
Price: Free
7. World of Peppa Pig
Peppa Pig is loved by many and our members rated this fun app highly. The toddler-friendly app is full of songs, colouring-in games, puzzles and stories.
Price: 7-day free trial then £4.99 per month
8. Artie's Magic Pencil
Children will learn how to draw basic shapes by following Artie through a magic world and joining dots with their finger to create pictures.
Price: £2.99
9. BBC iPlayer Kids
Designed just for kids, the BBC iPlayer Kids' app is really easy and safe to use.
Watch and download their favourite shows to watch anywhere!
Price: free
10. Dinosaur Park Math
Dino Tim is a great way for younger children to get to grips with numbers. There are addition and subtraction sums using the numbers 0-20 as well as dinosaur games and dino facts.
Price: 99p
App Store only
11. Pocket Phonics
Many parents say they love this app, which teaches children how to say, recognise and write sounds and letters.
Price: £6.99
App Store only
12. Caillou Search & Count
For children five and under. This fun and engaging app combines hide and seek with counting, great for your kids' observation and numeracy skills. You can also play this over and over again, with random sequences, without repetition.
Price: Free
13. Toca Boo
We love the Toca range of apps. Toca Boo gives kids the opportunity to be creative and expand their imaginations. It's provides open-ended play with great interaction.
Toca Boo lets kids guide a girl disguised as a ghost through a spooky house, seeking out hiding places so she can jump out and startle her unsuspecting family.
Price: £3.99
14. Elmo Loves 123s
This award-winning educational app by Sesame Street is designed to teach young children numeracy. With catchy songs and puzzles, it's highly engaging and a lot of fun.
Price: £4.99
15. YouTube Kids
Let kids explore YouTube with this app designed to offer a safer experience. Videos are monitored to be family-friendly and you can set screen time limits, parental controls and block channels you don't want them to watch.
Price: free
16. Angry Birds and Angry Birds 2
An oldie but a goody, Angry Birds is still a firm favourite. Fire birds to destroy the greedy pig's defences. It's good fun (although the music does get annoying after a while).
Price: Free
17. My Very Hungry Caterpillar
My Very Hungry Caterpillar requires kids to feed it, play with it, and make sure it gets plenty of rest.
Each day unlocks a new activity until the first caterpillar forms a cocoon. Kids and their caterpillars will grow flowers, sort shapes, paint pictures, pick fruit, and go for a sail. A great app that teaches children about nurturing.
Price £5.99
18. Spot at the Farm
For children five and younger, join Spot and his friends at the farm. This intuitive app allows children to use their imaginations and explore. We particularly liked colouring in the sheep and watering and harvesting the seeds!
Price: £2.99
App Store only
19. Moshi Monsters Egg Hunt
Kids can catch and hatch up to six new Moshlings every day playing fun games and solving puzzles along the way.
Price: Free
20. Mr. Men: Mishaps & Mayhem
15 fast-paced games with all your favourite Mr. Men characters. This is a great one for the whole family to play, as the games are highly addictive. Everyone will be striving for the highest score.
Price: £2.99
App Store only
21. Laugh & Learn Shapes & Colors Music Show for Baby
Designed for babies and toddlers, this app from Fisher-Price offers two simple games that are simple and captivating for little ones. On Google Play you'll find it listed as Shapes & Colors Music Show.
Price: Free
22. Shape Gurus: Preschooler Game
Great for improving kids' knowledge of shapes, colours and puzzles there are 27 interactive puzzles to solve.
Price: £2.99
23. Endless Alphabet
This app may be pricey, but it continues to get great reviews from parents (and kids). Kids can use it to learn the alphabet and expand their vocabulary with the adorable monsters in Endless Alphabet.
Before you know it, your child will be using words like 'gargantuan' and 'cooperate'!
Price: £8.99
24. Sago Mini Monsters
This cute and colourful app lets little ones create mini monsters. Keep the monster happy with paint, food, and decorations and make as many different ones as you like.
Price: £3.99
25. The Monster at the End of This Book with Grover
This Sesame Street-themed animated kids' book is a lot of fun. As Grover performs, the words appear on the screen, highlighted as he says them.
Kids can also interact with Grover by tickling him as you read.
Price: £4.99
App Store only
26. Dino Tim: Basic Math
Dino Tim aims to teach kids to recognise basic geometric shapes, as well as to learn about colours and numbers.
Ideal for preschoolers and primary school children who will learn as they have fun.
Price: free
27. Minecraft
Older kids LOVE Minecraft. Explore worlds and build houses and castles with blocks. There's the option to play with friends, too.
Price: £8.99
28. Draw Something
A very popular app and described as great fun for all ages by Netmums. It is a bit like Pictionary as you draw words that others guess. It's great fun for keeping older children occupied and will entertain more than one child at once – but be warned as this one is highly addictive!
Price: Free
More activities and ideas
We have plenty of ideas for free family fun that doesn't cost a penny here on Netmums. Find out more in our jam-packed guide.
Apps and websites can be great for homeschooling, too. Find out more about some of the great online homeschooling resources available here.
Looking for more ways to keep your child occupied? Check out these ideas, or swap tips with other parents in our forum below.
Related stories
