Comparison
Kivvie vs FamilyTube: two parent-picked YouTube players
FamilyTube and Kivvie both replace the open YouTube feed with content a parent has approved. FamilyTube is an iPhone and iPad app built around videos, channels and playlists you add, with curated channels in several languages. Kivvie gives each child a channel list in native iOS and Android apps, managed from a web parent dashboard.
Reviewed 19 October 2026. Kivvie is our product, so this comparison has a commercial point of view.
We checked the first-party product information below and Kivvie's current app behaviour. Features and prices can change. Read our comparison process.
Short answer
Choose FamilyTube if your family only uses iPhone or iPad and you like sharing single videos straight from the YouTube app, or you want curated channels sorted by language, age and category. Choose Kivvie if your kids use Android, Android TV or Google TV as well as Apple devices, or you want to manage every child's list from a web dashboard.
FamilyTube is best for
Apple-only families who want to hand-pick individual videos and playlists, with curated channels in several languages.
Kivvie is best for
Families with mixed devices who want per-child channel lists, a web parent dashboard and ready-made channel packs.
| Feature | FamilyTube | Kivvie |
|---|---|---|
| Core model | Only videos, channels and playlists the parent adds appear. | Only approved channels and parent-added playlist videos appear. |
| Devices | iPhone and iPad, and it can also be installed on some Macs as an iPad app. We found no Android app listed. | Native iOS and Android child app, including Android TV and Google TV, with a web parent dashboard. |
| Adding content | Share from the YouTube app, paste a link, search, import a channel or copy a playlist. | Approve channels from the parent dashboard or install and edit a curated channel pack. |
| Recommendations | No random recommendations or "Up Next" queue. | No standard YouTube recommendation feed. |
| Curated starting point | Curated channels by language, age and category. | Curated channel packs plus a free calm channel list builder. |
| Profiles | Separate child profiles with Pro, which has a 7-day free trial. | Separate lists per child. |
| Parent controls | PIN-protected parent zone with PIN reset. Its developer says screen time controls are planned. | Web parent dashboard; child device paired with a setup code. |
Where Kivvie fits
Kivvie is not trying to replace every parental control tool. It is a focused YouTube safety layer. Parents use Kivvie when they want access to useful YouTube channels without giving children the standard YouTube feed.
The whitelist model is simple: no channel appears until a parent approves it, so unknown creators stay out. Shorts stay out of channel feeds and search; parents can add any video to a playlist.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Is Kivvie an alternative to FamilyTube?
Yes. Both replace open YouTube browsing with a library a parent approves.
Does FamilyTube work on Android?
Its App Store listing covers iPhone and iPad, and we found no Android app listed. Kivvie has native iOS and Android apps.
Can FamilyTube add single videos?
Yes. Parents can share a video from the YouTube app or paste a link. Kivvie centers the feed on approved channels and also supports parent-built playlists of videos.
Does either app show YouTube recommendations?
Neither shows the standard recommendation feed. FamilyTube says it has no random recommendations or "Up Next" queue.
Does FamilyTube have screen time limits?
Its developer says screen time controls are planned. Kivvie focuses on content and is intended to work alongside Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link for time limits.
Try whitelist-only YouTube
Set up Kivvie in about 2 minutes. Approve channels, install the child app, and keep the standard YouTube feed out of the picture.
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