The kids' software directory

Video, animation, audio and streaming

Watching, making and streaming video, animation and audio.

20 researched
1 to know about
162 more on G2, not yet researched

Peabody's own: the Cartoons maker. It is ours, so it is not in the list below and we do not rate it.

Researched by Peabody

Facts from each maker's own pages (terms, pricing, privacy), with our one-line take. A to Z; we rank nothing until we have tried it.

Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Animaker
Animaker · ages 18+ by its terms (teachers, older students with a parent)
A tool for teachers making lesson videos, not for kids; families wanting a kids' animation app should look at Stop Motion Studio or FlipaClip instead.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Art for Kids Hub
Art For Kids Hub (Rob and family) · ages about 4-12
A great free start for kids who want to learn to draw; use the paid membership if YouTube's ads and autoplay worry you.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Audacity
Muse Group and contributors (open source) · ages about 10+
The standard free tool for a child recording a podcast or voice-over on a computer; tablet users should use GarageBand instead.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Blender
Blender Foundation (open source) · ages about 12+
Ideal for a motivated teen who wants to learn real 3D; younger kids should start with Tinkercad.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
CapCut
ByteDance (Bytedance Pte. Ltd.) · ages 13+ (teens)
A strong free editor for teens 13+ with a parent's OK; families who care about data and ads, and anyone under 13, should pick iMovie or another tool.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
FlipaClip
Visual Blasters LLC · ages about 10-17
Good for tweens and teens who want to animate drawings on a phone; parents of younger kids may prefer an ad-free paid app like Procreate Dreams.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
iMovie
Apple · ages about 6+
The easy first pick for families and schools with Apple devices; Windows, Android and Chromebook users need another editor.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Moises
Moises Systems Inc. · ages 13 and up
A strong practice tool for teen musicians and their teachers; younger kids are not allowed, and parents should check the subscription and ad settings.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
OBS Studio
OBS Project (open source) · ages about 13+
A strong free recorder for teens 13+ making tutorials or game videos; parents should agree on rules before any live streaming.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Pinna
Pinna LLC · ages 3-12
A good pick for families who want curated, ad-free audio for kids 3 to 12; less needed if a library app covers you.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Procreate Dreams
Savage Interactive · ages about 10+
The private, ad-free animation pick for older kids with an iPad; phone-only kids will need FlipaClip instead.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Soundtrap
Soundtrap AB (Sweden) · ages grades K-12 through school; 13+ for personal accounts
A good fit for schools teaching music or podcasting on Chromebooks; families at home may get more from free GarageBand or BandLab.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Spotify (Spotify Kids and managed accounts)
Spotify · ages 13+ on their own; younger through Spotify Kids or managed accounts
Easy to make safe for kids with a managed account or Spotify Kids; teens on regular accounts need the explicit filter on.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Stop Motion Studio
Cateater, LLC · ages about 5-14+
One of the safest creative apps for kids of almost any age; skip only if your child wants drawn rather than photographed animation.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Story Time From Space
Global Space Education Foundation (nonprofit) · ages about 4-10 (lesson plans for K-12)
A memorable free story time for young space fans at home or in class; teachers wanting full ready-made units will find the curriculum thin.
Desk researchFree
TikTok
TikTok USDS Joint Venture (US); ByteDance elsewhere · ages 13+ (separate Under 13 Experience in the US)
If a teen 13+ uses it, link Family Pairing and keep the defaults; younger children should not have a regular account.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Twitch
Twitch Interactive · ages 13+
For teens 13+ watching streams with Parental Controls linked; not for younger children, and think hard before letting a teen stream.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
WeVideo
WeVideo · ages grades K-12 through school; 13+ for personal accounts
A solid choice for schools with Chromebooks that want managed video projects; a family on Apple devices will get more from free iMovie.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
YouTube (main app, teen accounts)
Google · ages 13+ on their own; younger only through supervised accounts or YouTube Kids
Fine for teens with supervision and the default protections; children under 13 should be on YouTube Kids or a supervised account instead.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Zigazoo
Zigazoo · ages kids and teens (App Store rating 9+)
A safer practice ground than TikTok for kids who badly want to post videos; parents should still watch for the brand and creator push.

Know before you buy

Shut down, exposed children's data, or said unsafe things in tests.

WarningFreeNo ads
Toontastic 3D
Google · ages about 5-12
Skip it; for young kids' animation today, Stop Motion Studio or ScratchJr are maintained choices.

Also listed on G2

Products G2 files here that we have not researched yet, in G2's order. Most are built for adults or businesses. G2 categories: Video Editing Software, Animation Software, Audio Editing Software, Live Stream Software.