The Lego Movie’s exit from one platform is a reminder of how often the family catalogue shifts. A favourite arrives, plays for a year, and then jumps to another service. That cycle is why most families keep two or three streaming apps installed at once, and why the cheaper free apps are worth their slot.
We picked six streaming apps for Android that families actually use today. The list ranges from paid leaders to ad-supported free tiers, with one kid-only service and one PBS slot that should be on every tablet a child uses. Every pick supports parental controls, downloads (where applicable), and a Chromecast or Android TV layout.
What to look for in a family streaming app
A few things matter when you pick:
- Profiles. A separate kids profile keeps history clean and adult content out of recommendations.
- Parental controls. A PIN on title-rating filters is the bare minimum.
- Downloads. Family trips, planes, and patchy data make offline playback important.
- Catalogue depth. Some apps have one good show; others have a hundred.
- Ads. Free apps run ads; the question is whether the ad breaks respect the audience.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Paid tier | Profiles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Broadest catalogue | Android, iOS, web, smart TV | No (basic ads tier paid) | Standard, Premium | Up to 5 |
| Disney+ | Disney/Marvel/Pixar/Star Wars | Android, iOS, web, smart TV | No | Standard, Premium | Up to 7 |
| YouTube Kids | Curated kid content | Android, iOS, smart TV | Yes | Optional Premium | Multiple kid profiles |
| Tubi | Free movies and shows | Android, iOS, smart TV | Yes | None | Yes |
| PBS Kids Video | Educational shows | Android, iOS, Fire TV | Yes | None | Profiles per child |
| Pluto TV | Free live family channels | Android, iOS, Fire TV, Roku | Yes | None | Profiles |
The apps
1. Netflix — Best for broadest family catalogue
Netflix still has the deepest cross-genre family library on any single app. The Kids profile filters titles to TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, and TV-PG, removes mature recommendations from the rail, and locks profile switching with a PIN if you set one. Offline downloads cover both phones and tablets; the new Game tab quietly added kid-friendly mobile titles included with the subscription.
Where it falls short: the price has crept up. The ad-supported tier shows ads in most kid programming, which not every household wants.
Pricing:
- Paid: ad-supported, standard, and premium tiers; no free plan
- Family Sharing across one household per account
Platforms: Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, smart TVs, web, consoles
Bottom line: the broadest default for families that watch across genres.
2. Disney+ — Best for Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars households
Disney+ owns the catalogue every household with kids ends up wanting. Pixar and Disney Animation are full strength, Marvel and Star Wars sit next to them, and the Hulu-on-Disney bundle brings in National Geographic and a deeper general library on a single account. The parental controls cover age ratings, profile PINs, and screen time limits.
Where it falls short: outside the headline franchises, the family library thins quickly. Prices and bundle structure shifted multiple times in the last year.
Pricing:
- Paid: standard (ad-supported) and premium tiers; bundle pricing varies by region
- Up to seven profiles per account
Platforms: Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, smart TVs, web, consoles
Bottom line: the obvious second app if you already have Netflix and want strong family franchises.
3. YouTube Kids — Best curated kid content
YouTube Kids is the only kid-specific app most households actually use. Profile-based curation keeps content age-appropriate, the timer cuts sessions off, and the search-off setting prevents kids from typing anything that bypasses the curated shelf. Channel-level approvals give parents the deepest control of any app on the list.
Where it falls short: the algorithm does not always catch low-quality content. Manual approve-only mode is the safest setup but takes parent time.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature, ads in most regions
- Paid: ad-free via YouTube Premium subscription
Platforms: Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, smart TVs, web
Bottom line: the kid app every household with a tablet should install.
4. Tubi — Best free movies and shows
Tubi runs ad-supported streaming with a surprisingly deep movie back catalogue, including a strong family rail and a kids profile that filters titles by age rating. The Android TV layout is clean, downloads work on mobile, and the lineup refreshes weekly with classic Lego cartoons, animated features, and family-friendly comedies.
Where it falls short: the ad load is heavier than Netflix’s ad tier. The interface pushes recommendations across the catalogue, so the kids profile is essential.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature, every title, ad-supported
Platforms: Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, smart TVs, web, consoles
Bottom line: the strongest free family library on Android today.
5. PBS Kids Video — Best for educational shows
PBS Kids Video is the on-demand library for every PBS Kids show from Daniel Tiger to Wild Kratts. No ads run inside content, the live stream offers a 24-hour PBS Kids channel, and the app caches recent episodes for offline play. Kids profiles handle multiple children with separate watch progress.
Where it falls short: the catalogue is PBS-only, so household variety still requires a second app. Some older series rotate.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature, no ads inside content
Platforms: Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, smart TVs, web
Bottom line: the gentlest catalogue for younger kids, with no surprise ads.
6. Pluto TV — Best for free live family channels
Pluto TV is the easiest way to put a kids cartoon channel on a tablet without managing a watchlist. The Kids tab lines up dedicated channels for classic Nickelodeon cartoons, MTV Kids music videos, and Tom & Jerry blocks. The app also includes a Pluto Kids profile that hides non-family channels behind a setting.
Where it falls short: ads run between most blocks, and a few channels are heavier than others. Choice paralysis on the channel guide is a real thing for younger viewers.
Pricing:
- Free: every channel, every show, ad-supported
Platforms: Android, iOS, Android TV, Fire TV, Roku, smart TVs, web
Bottom line: the easiest channel-style pick for road trips and rainy afternoons.
How to pick the right one
If you already pay for Netflix, keep it and add a free app. The kids profile and the catalogue depth cover most household needs.
If your house is Disney-leaning, Disney+ is the second paid app. The franchise depth is hard to match.
For free apps, install YouTube Kids first because it covers everything from short cartoons to long-form learning. Add Tubi for movies and shows that change weekly, and Pluto TV for live channels that need no choice. Install PBS Kids Video if you have younger kids; the catalogue is gentler and ad-free inside content.
A practical free stack for a tablet you hand a child: YouTube Kids plus PBS Kids Video plus Tubi. A paid stack for a family TV: Netflix plus Disney+ plus YouTube Kids.
FAQ
What is the best free streaming app for kids on Android?
YouTube Kids and PBS Kids Video are the strongest free apps for young children. Tubi and Pluto TV both add free family movies and live channels alongside.
Are these apps safe for kids to use unsupervised?
YouTube Kids and PBS Kids Video are designed for unsupervised use with strong parental controls. The others rely on profile filters and PIN locks; expect to set those up before handing over the tablet.
Can I download family shows for offline play?
Netflix and Disney+ both support offline downloads on Android. YouTube Kids supports downloads with a YouTube Premium subscription. Tubi supports limited downloads on mobile. PBS Kids Video and Pluto TV stream only.
Which app has the best parental controls?
YouTube Kids has the most granular controls, including channel-level allow lists and a timer. Disney+ and Netflix have strong profile and PIN controls but no granular channel filters.
How many family streaming apps do most households need?
Two or three covers most needs: one paid headliner (Netflix or Disney+), one free curated kids app (YouTube Kids or PBS Kids Video), and an optional free general app (Tubi or Pluto TV).
