Comparison
WhitelistVideo vs Kivvie: which whitelist app fits your family?
In the US, Kivvie costs $4.99 per month for unlimited child profiles and channels. WhitelistVideo's US Basic plan starts at $6.99 per child for 30 channels. Both cover iOS, Android, and Android TV or Google TV. WhitelistVideo also filters YouTube on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook through a browser extension; Kivvie does not. Kivvie has an ongoing free plan with one child and five channels.
Reviewed 12 September 2026 by Kivvie's product team. 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 WhitelistVideo when you need YouTube filtering on Windows, Mac, or Chromebook. Choose Kivvie when you want one family subscription, an ongoing free plan, and curated channel packs on phones, tablets, and Android TV or Google TV. Both block unapproved channels on mobile and TV. WhitelistVideo offers a two-hour test before a paid plan.
WhitelistVideo is best for
Families who need Windows, Mac, or Chromebook coverage.
Kivvie is best for
Families who want one subscription for the household, separate child profiles, curated channel packs, and an ongoing free plan on iOS, Android, or Android TV or Google TV.
| Feature | WhitelistVideo | Kivvie |
|---|---|---|
| Core mechanic | Whitelist-only: block everything, allow approved channels. | Whitelist-only: nothing appears until a parent approves the channel. |
| iOS app | A child app for iPhone and iPad. After Screen Time or FamilyControls access is approved, it can restrict YouTube access in other browsers. | Native iOS app built specifically as a whitelist-only YouTube player. |
| Android app | Native Android app with a Full YouTube mode and a separate Curated Feed mode. | Native Android app that is whitelist-only by default, no standard YouTube mode to fall back to. |
| Chrome extension | Chrome and Edge extensions support Windows and Mac. Chrome supports Chromebook, where personal devices need Family Link supervision to reduce removal risk. | No browser extension. Kivvie is app-based on iOS and Android plus a web parent dashboard. |
| Android TV / Google TV app | Yes, a dedicated TV app that always runs in Curated Feed mode. | Yes, the native Android app runs on Android TV and Google TV, whitelist-only by default. |
| Shorts | Blocked by default on every plan. A parent can allow Shorts from the dashboard. | Shorts are not part of the player. There is no Shorts surface to disable. |
| Child profiles | Basic and Premium are billed per child. Lifetime covers up to five children. | Dedicated child profiles with independent approved-channel lists, channel packs, and per-child settings. |
| Curated channel packs | Not a built-in feature; parents build each whitelist manually or via chat commands. | Curated channel packs let parents install a themed bundle of pre-vetted channels in one step. |
| Parent management style | Web/Android dashboard on all plans. Premium and Lifetime also list WhatsApp and Telegram chat management. | Parent web dashboard only. No WhatsApp or Telegram management. Device pairing uses a setup code so child devices do not need a Google sign-in. |
| Device pairing without child sign-in | Not a documented feature; setup generally expects the child device to run the app directly. | Setup codes let a child device pair to a profile with no Google account required on that device. |
| Free plan | A two-hour test period with no card. The current specifications do not list an ongoing free plan. | Ongoing free plan (not a trial) with 1 child profile and 5 approved channels. |
| Paid pricing | Basic starts at $6.99/month per child in the US for 30 channels. Premium is $14.99/month for 100 channels. Lifetime is $299 for up to five children. Prices vary by country. | $4.99 monthly, $49 yearly, or $99 lifetime in the US. One subscription covers unlimited child profiles and channels. |
| Best role | Families who need a Chrome extension on Windows, Mac, or Chromebook alongside YouTube whitelisting. | Families who want per-child profiles, channel packs, and one household subscription on phones, tablets, and Android TV or Google TV. |
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. That removes the hardest parts of YouTube safety in one move: Shorts, comments, recommendations, autoplay rabbit holes, and unknown creators.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to WhitelistVideo?
Kivvie is the closest alternative for families who want a dedicated app where children only see parent-approved YouTube channels. WhitelistVideo remains the better fit when a Chrome extension is essential.
Is WhitelistVideo the same idea as Kivvie?
Yes, both use a whitelist-only model: nothing plays until a parent approves the channel. The mechanics are similar, but platform coverage and pricing differ.
Does WhitelistVideo have an Android TV app and Kivvie does not?
No, both do. WhitelistVideo has a dedicated Android TV/Google TV app, and Kivvie's native Android app also runs on Android TV and Google TV, whitelist-only by default.
Which one is cheaper?
In the US, Kivvie is $4.99 per month for unlimited children and channels. WhitelistVideo Basic starts at $6.99 per month per child for 30 channels. WhitelistVideo adjusts prices by country, so check its live pricing page outside the US.
Which app is better for a Chromebook?
WhitelistVideo is the better fit for Chromebook because it has a Chrome extension and Kivvie does not. WhitelistVideo says children can remove the extension on a personal Chromebook, so it recommends adding Family Link supervision. Kivvie is for iOS, Android, and Android TV or Google TV child devices.
Is WhitelistVideo free?
WhitelistVideo's current specifications list a free two-hour test with no credit card, followed by a paid plan. Kivvie has an ongoing free plan for one child profile and five approved channels.
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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