Kids Subscription Audit (2026)

The average family with kids spends $800-2,000/year on children's subscriptions — apps, boxes, streaming, gaming. Here's a complete audit with free alternatives for each category.

📱 Educational Apps ($100-300/year)

ABCmouse ($60-80/year): Free alternative → Khan Academy Kids (free, no ads, better rated) — Cancel guide
Homer ($60/year): Free alternative → Duolingo ABC (free reading/phonics)
Noggin ($8/month): Free alternative → PBS Kids app (free, same characters)
Epic! Books ($10/month): Free alternative → Libby/Overdrive (free with library card — same ebooks)
Prodigy Premium ($60/year): Free alternative → Prodigy free tier + Khan Academy

📦 Subscription Boxes ($250-500/year)

KiwiCo ($288-504/year): Free alternative → NASA STEM + dollar store supplies — Cancel guide
Lovevery ($320-480/year): Free alternative → IKEA + Melissa & Doug toys — Cancel guide
Little Passports ($312/year): Free alternative → National Geographic Kids + Google Earth — Cancel guide
Highlights Magazine ($40-60/year): Free alternative → Library copies + Highlights.com free activities

🎬 Streaming for Kids ($100-250/year)

Disney+ ($14/month): Consider → rotation strategy (subscribe 2-3 months, watch everything, cancel, come back later)
YouTube Premium Family ($23/month): Consider → YouTube Kids app (free, ad-lighter) or uBlock Origin on desktop
Netflix Kids ($7-16/month): Consider → library DVD/Blu-ray (free) or Tubi/Kanopy (free with library card)
Paramount+ for Nick shows ($6-12/month): Consider → Pluto TV (free, has Nick channels)

🎮 Gaming ($100-400/year)

Roblox Premium ($5-20/month): Consider → base Roblox is free. Premium adds Robux — set a monthly allowance instead of auto-renewing
Nintendo Switch Online ($20-50/year): Relatively affordable — keep if kids play online
Xbox Game Pass ($10-17/month): Consider → buy used games instead if they only play 2-3 titles
Apple Arcade ($7/month): Consider → free games are abundant. Most Apple Arcade games collect dust after a week

Total Potential Savings

Typical family with 2 kids:

• Educational apps: $150-300 → $0 (free alternatives)
• Subscription boxes: $300-500 → $60-120 (DIY + dollar store)
• Streaming: $200-400 → $80-160 (rotation strategy)
• Gaming: $100-300 → $50-100 (budget caps + free tiers)

Typical savings: $500-1,200/year while your kids still have access to quality educational content

The Library Card: The Ultimate Free Kids Subscription

A single library card replaces $500+/year in kids subscriptions:

Libby/Overdrive: Free ebooks and audiobooks (replaces Epic!, Audible Kids)
Kanopy: Free streaming (replaces some Netflix/Disney+ content)
ABCmouse access: Many libraries offer free ABCmouse/Tumblebooks
STEM kits: Borrow-and-return activity kits
Programs: Free coding classes, reading challenges, summer activities
Physical books: Remember those?

📊 Find Every Family Subscription
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