Kokotree vs PBS Kids Games: Free App Comparison

PBS Kids Games is one of the most popular free educational apps for children, featuring beloved characters like Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, and friends from Sesame Street. Kokotree is an award-winning preschool learning app with original content—videos, games, and worksheets all created by early childhood educators without TV licensing or franchise tie-ins.

Quick Verdict: PBS Kids Games can't be beat on price—it's genuinely free with quality games. The catch: it's games only (videos require a separate app), includes sponsor messages, and no progress tracking. Kokotree costs $4.99/month but bundles everything together—videos, games, printables—in a completely ad-free environment with detailed parent insights. Choose PBS Kids for free games. Choose Kokotree for a complete, trackable learning system.

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Comparison at a Glance

Pricing Comparison

PBS Kids Games Pricing

PBS Kids Games is 100% free—no premium tier, no in-app purchases. This is possible because PBS is a nonprofit supported by public funding and corporate sponsors. Note: The app includes brief sponsor messages (like "brought to you by…") but no traditional advertising.

Kokotree Pricing

No hidden costs: Zero ads, zero sponsor messages, zero in-app purchases.

The real comparison: PBS Kids Games is free with sponsor messages. Kokotree Premium is $4.99/mo with no interruptions whatsoever.

Feature Breakdown

Content Type & Focus

PBS Kids Games: Purely an educational games app—280+ interactive games covering math, reading, science, problem-solving, and creativity. No video content (there's a separate PBS Kids Video app for that). Games are tied to PBS TV shows, so children play with characters they know from Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Curious George, Sesame Street, Odd Squad, and more.

Kokotree: Videos and games under one roof, plus printable worksheets. No separate apps needed. Content spans nursery rhymes, structured learning videos, interactive games, and bedtime stories—around 500 activities total, so you're not managing multiple platforms for different needs.

Winner: PBS Kids for beloved TV characters. Kokotree for all-in-one convenience.

Character Recognition & Engagement

PBS Kids Games: Major advantage—kids already know and love these characters from TV. Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Sesame Street, Curious George, Odd Squad—instant engagement because children have existing relationships with these characters. This is a significant draw for many families.

Kokotree: 100% original characters created specifically for the app. Children develop new relationships with Kokotree's recurring cast. Characters are designed for learning, not entertainment franchises. Episodes build ongoing storylines that connect over time.

Winner: PBS Kids for instant recognition. Kokotree for original, learning-focused characters without commercial tie-ins.

Parent Involvement Required

PBS Kids Games: Games require active interaction—tapping, swiping, problem-solving. Most games are designed for children to play independently, but younger kids (2-3) may need help navigating between games. No "set it and forget it" option since games require constant engagement.

Kokotree: The video format changes the equation. Kids watch, engage with short games between episodes, and continue without needing direction. Toddlers as young as 2 handle the navigation. When you need to step away for a few minutes, the content keeps flowing without requiring tap-tap-tap interaction.

Winner: Kokotree for hands-off engagement.

Ad Experience

PBS Kids Games: Free but includes sponsor messages ("PBS Kids is made possible by…"). These are brief acknowledgments, not traditional ads, but they do exist. Some parents find them acceptable; others prefer completely ad-free experiences.

Kokotree: 100% ad-free. No sponsor messages, no interruptions, no "brought to you by" screens. Ever.

Winner: Kokotree for completely ad-free experience.

Offline Learning Extensions

PBS Kids Games: Games can be downloaded for offline play—great for travel. No printable worksheets or companion materials included. The separate PBS Kids for Parents website has some printable activities, but they're not integrated into the app.

Kokotree: Full offline video downloads plus printable worksheets that extend learning beyond the screen—perfect for reinforcement or screen-free time.

Winner: Kokotree—better integrated offline experience with printables.

Progress Tracking

PBS Kids Games: Very limited progress tracking. Parents can see which games their child has played but not detailed learning progress or skill development metrics.

Kokotree: Dedicated Parent Dashboard shows exactly what your child is learning, time spent on educational content, progress across developmental areas, and suggestions for extending learning offline.

Winner: Kokotree—more comprehensive parent visibility.

Ecosystem Integration

PBS Kids Games: Part of a larger PBS Kids ecosystem. There's also PBS Kids Video (streaming episodes), the PBS Kids website, and PBS TV broadcasts. If your child watches PBS shows, the games extend that experience. However, you need multiple apps to get both games and videos.

Kokotree: All-in-one app with videos, games, and worksheets. No need for multiple apps or subscriptions. Simpler experience, but not tied to a broadcast TV ecosystem.

Winner: PBS Kids for families already in the PBS ecosystem. Kokotree for an all-in-one solution.

Curriculum Coverage

Both apps cover core learning domains. PBS Kids excels in specific areas through specialized shows (Daniel Tiger for emotions, Wild Kratts for science, Odd Squad for math/logic).

Pros and Cons

PBS Kids Games Pros

• ✅ Completely free—no subscription needed
• ✅ 280+ educational games
• ✅ Beloved characters kids already know (Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, etc.)
• ✅ Curriculum-aligned content from trusted PBS
• ✅ Available in English and Spanish
• ✅ Games downloadable for offline play
• ✅ Part of larger PBS ecosystem (TV, video app)

PBS Kids Games Cons

• ❌ Games only—no video content (need separate Video app)
• ❌ Sponsor messages (not fully ad-free)
• ❌ Requires active interaction (no "walk away" content)
• ❌ No printable worksheets in-app
• ❌ Limited progress tracking for parents
• ❌ No multiple child profiles
• ❌ Characters tied to TV franchises, not original

Kokotree Pros

• ✅ Everything in one app—no juggling PBS Games + PBS Video
• ✅ Absolutely zero ads or sponsor messages
• ✅ Characters designed for learning, not merchandise
• ✅ Parent dashboard shows actual progress and skills learned
• ✅ Printable worksheets for offline reinforcement
• ✅ Content flows naturally without constant tapping
• ✅ Multiple child profiles track progress separately
• ✅ Calm pacing designed for young attention spans
• ✅ Independently verified for educational quality

Kokotree Cons

• ❌ Premium subscription required for full access ($4.99/mo)
• ❌ Smaller game library than PBS Kids
• ❌ Original characters (no instant recognition)
• ❌ English only (no Spanish)
• ❌ Narrower age range (2-6 vs PBS Kids' 2-8)

Who Should Choose PBS Kids Games

PBS Kids Games is ideal for:

• Families who want free content with no subscription commitment
• Kids who love PBS characters like Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Curious George
• Parents who want games rather than video content
• Bilingual families who want English and Spanish options
• Families already in the PBS ecosystem who watch PBS shows
• Budget-conscious parents who need $0 educational content

Choose PBS Kids Games if: You want high-quality free games with characters your child already loves from TV.

Who Should Choose Kokotree

Kokotree makes sense for families who:

• Want to track learning—PBS doesn't show you what skills are developing
• Dislike any ads—even PBS's gentle sponsor messages
• Prefer original characters not tied to TV shows or merchandise
• Need video content that flows without constant interaction
• Want printable activities integrated with what kids watch
• Have multiple children and want separate progress tracking

Choose Kokotree if: You're willing to pay $4.99/month for the convenience of one ad-free app with real progress tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PBS Kids Games better than Kokotree?

They serve different purposes. PBS Kids Games is an excellent free games app with beloved characters—great for interactive play. Kokotree is a video streaming service designed for independent viewing. Many families use PBS Kids Games for active screen time and Kokotree when they need "walk away" content.

Is PBS Kids Games really free?

Yes. PBS Kids Games is completely free with no premium tier or in-app purchases. It includes brief sponsor messages ("PBS Kids is made possible by…") but no traditional advertising.

Does PBS Kids have videos?

Not in the Games app. PBS Kids has a separate Video app for streaming episodes. Kokotree combines videos and games in one app, while PBS Kids splits them into two apps.

Why pay for Kokotree when PBS Kids is free?

You're paying for different things: video-based content (vs games), completely ad-free experience (vs sponsor messages), original characters, printable worksheets, detailed progress tracking, and the "walk away" factor—content designed so parents don't need to supervise.

Can I use both PBS Kids Games and Kokotree?

Absolutely! Many families use PBS Kids Games for interactive play sessions and Kokotree for video-based learning when they need independent screen time. They complement each other well.

Which app is better for toddlers (ages 2-3)?

For toddlers, Kokotree's video content is easier to engage with passively. PBS Kids Games requires active tapping and interaction, which may be challenging for the youngest users without parent help.

Does PBS Kids have ads?

PBS Kids doesn't have traditional ads, but does include sponsor messages—brief acknowledgments like "PBS Kids is made possible by [sponsor]." Kokotree has zero sponsor messages or ads of any kind.

Is Kokotree actually educational?

Verified by third parties, yes. The curriculum was developed by credentialed early childhood educators following STEAM standards. EduTech recognized it for educational quality, NYT Wirecutter recommended it, and it carries COPPA certification for child safety.

Final Verdict

PBS Kids Games is one of the best free educational apps available—hard to argue with free, high-quality content featuring characters kids love. It's excellent for interactive game-based learning. The tradeoffs: sponsor messages, games-only format (no videos), and limited progress tracking.

Kokotree costs money but consolidates everything—videos, games, worksheets, progress tracking—into one ad-free package. For $4.99/month, you get a cleaner experience with detailed insights into what your child is actually learning.

The real question: Is the convenience and tracking worth $4.99/month to you? PBS Kids Games proves free can be excellent. Kokotree proves premium can be worth it.

Ready to Try Kokotree?

Both apps have free options—you can test Kokotree's sample content alongside PBS Kids Games and see which one fits your family's needs.

• Try Kokotree Free →
• Get the Kokotree App →
• View Pricing →
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