A whitelist-only YouTube player. Nothing else gets through.
Pick the YouTube channels you want. Everything else disappears -- no Shorts, no comments, no algorithm. Works great for keeping kids on approved channels, and just as well if you want YouTube without the noise.
100%
Channel approval
You decide
Content control
Web + Mobile
Platforms
~2 min
Setup time
Dashboard
Child Profiles
Maya • 9
12 channels approved
Jaden • 6
8 channels approved
Luca • 4
5 channels approved
Safe by Design
No Shorts • No Comments
Only full videos from approved channels. No distractions.
What is Kivvie?
Kivvie is a whitelist-only YouTube player. You approve channels, and only those channels show up. Shorts, comments, recommendations, ads -- gone. Most people use it for their kids, but plenty of adults use it too when they just want to watch what they came to watch. Free on iOS and Android.
How it works
Three simple steps to safer YouTube
Set up takes a couple minutes. Sign in, add your kids, approve some channels. Done.
Sign in with Google
1 minuteStart here on the website. Sign in with Google once so we can search YouTube channels for you.
Create child profiles
Multi-child supportAdd profiles for each child from the web dashboard. Each profile gets its own approved channels.
Approve channels
Full controlSearch for safe channels and approve them per child. Then download the mobile app, sign in with the same Google account, and hand it over. Kids only see what you've approved.
What you get
Simple controls that put you in charge
You pick the channels, each kid gets their own list, and everything else stays off. No algorithms deciding what's "appropriate."
Approve Channels
Search and approve exactly which YouTube channels are available per child. Everything else stays hidden by default. Use channel packs to instantly add curated bundles recommended by other parents.
Multiple Child Profiles
Create profiles for each child, each with their own approved channels. Works well for families with kids of different ages.
No Shorts, No Comments
Shorts and comments are always off. Kids only see full videos from channels you've approved. That's it.
Mobile & Web Access
Parents manage settings via web dashboard. Kids watch safely on iOS or Android mobile apps.
How they compare
YouTube Kids vs Kivvie
YouTube Kids uses an algorithmic recommendation engine fed by child behavioral data to decide what kids see next. Kivvie uses parent-curated whitelisted channels. The parent is the algorithm, not a data pipeline.
| Feature | YouTube Kids | Kivvie |
|---|---|---|
| Content approach | Algorithmic filter | Parent whitelist only |
| YouTube Shorts | Shown | Completely removed |
| Comments | Visible | Hidden |
| Algorithmic recommendations | Yes | None |
| Channel selection | Pre-selected library | Any YouTube channel |
| Per-child profiles | Limited | Unlimited |
| Ads | Contextual ads shown | No ads, ever |
| Child data usage | Feeds algorithms and ad targeting | Parent dashboard only |
| Data shared with third parties | Affiliates and "trusted businesses" | Never shared |
| Voice data collection | Collected for voice search | Not collected |
| Device fingerprinting | Hardware model, IP, unique IDs | None |
| Price | Free | Free + paid plans |
Questions we get a lot
Frequently Asked Questions
If something's not covered here, email us.
?How is Kivvie different from YouTube Kids?
YouTube Kids runs an algorithm over a pre-selected library, but stuff still slips through. Kivvie works the other way around: it starts empty. Nothing shows up until you approve specific channels. You can add any public YouTube channel, and each kid gets their own list. There are also no Shorts and no algorithmic recommendations, so kids only see full-length videos from channels you've picked.
?How do I get started?
About 2 minutes. Start on the website: sign in with Google on the web dashboard, create a profile for each kid, and approve their channels. We never see your password. Then grab the mobile app on iOS or Android, sign in with the same account, and hand it over. They'll only see what you've approved. The support page is there if you get stuck.
?What channels can I approve?
Any public YouTube channel. Khan Academy Kids, Bluey, Numberblocks, random hobby channels your kid is into. If it's on YouTube, you can add it. There's no pre-approved library. You search YouTube from the parent dashboard and approve what you want. Each kid's profile has its own list.
?Can I set different channels for different kids?
Yes. Each child profile has its own separate channel list. So your 10-year-old gets science and documentary channels while your 5-year-old only sees Sesame Street and StoryBots. You manage everything from one dashboard, and changes sync to the app right away. The free plan includes 1 profile -- paid plans give you unlimited.
?Are YouTube Shorts and comments shown?
No. Shorts are gone. Not hidden behind a toggle, just not there. Comments are off too. Kids see full-length videos from your approved channels, with no recommendations and no autoplay pulling them somewhere else. We did this on purpose. A 2023 JAMA Pediatrics study linked short-form video to reduced attention spans in children, and we didn't want any of that in the app.
?Is Kivvie free?
Free plan gets you 1 child and 5 channels, no card. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for unlimited kids and channels. There's yearly and lifetime pricing further up the page too. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play. To upgrade, head to kivvie.app.
?Is my data safe?
Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. We don't sell or share your information and we don't show ads. Watch history and duration may be collected so you can see what your kids watched in the parent dashboard, but it's never used for algorithms, ads, or shared with anyone. Kivvie is COPPA compliant. You can review, export, or delete your data whenever you want. The full details are in our Privacy Policy.
?Do I need technical knowledge to set this up?
Nope. Sign in with Google, create a child profile, search for channels. That's it. The dashboard at kivvie.app walks you through it, and most people are done in under 2 minutes. The support page has step-by-step instructions if you need them.
?What devices does Kivvie work on?
You manage everything from kivvie.app, which works in any browser on any device. Kids watch on the mobile app, available on both iOS and Android. Changes you make on the dashboard sync to the app right away.
?What are channel packs?
Channel packs are bundles of YouTube channels grouped by age, interest, or subject -- like Learning, STEM, Creative, or Entertainment. Instead of adding channels one by one, you install a pack and your child's profile gets a bunch of parent-recommended channels at once. They're community-recommended, not sponsored. You can remove individual channels after installing a pack.
?How does Kivvie keep kids safe from inappropriate content?
Filters try to block bad content, but things always slip through. Kivvie skips that entirely. The app starts empty and only shows videos from channels you've specifically approved. There are no Shorts, no comments, no recommendations, and no way for kids to wander outside their channel list. If you didn't approve it, they can't see it.
