Spotify for Kids: What It Is & How It Differs

Spotify for Kids is a separate, child-safe version of the Spotify music streaming app, designed for children roughly ages 4 to 12. You open it with a child’s profile that parents set up through their own Spotify Family plan, and it replaces the full Spotify experience with a simplified interface, curated playlists, and strict parental controls. The main differences from regular Spotify are content filtering, the absence of explicit songs, no ads, no social features, and a much more restricted set of controls that parents manage from their own account.

Background: Why Spotify Created a Kids App

Spotify launched its standalone kids app in 2020 in Ireland, then expanded to other markets. The driving reason was that many parents were already letting their children use the main Spotify app, but that app was never designed for young ears. The main Spotify app includes explicit content, user-generated playlists with unpredictable titles and covers, and social features like seeing what friends are listening to. Parents wanted a way to let their kids enjoy music without worrying about inappropriate lyrics or accidental exposure to adult content. Spotify for Kids solves that by offering a walled garden of songs, stories, and soundtracks that are hand-picked by Spotify’s editorial team.

How Spotify for Kids Works

Spotify for Kids is not a free app; it is included with a Spotify Premium Family plan. A parent creates a child’s profile in the Family plan settings, then downloads the Spotify Kids app on the child’s device (iOS, Android, or Amazon Fire tablets). The child logs in with a PIN or by scanning a QR code that the parent generates. Once inside, the child sees a colorful, icon-based interface with categories like “Music,” “Stories,” and “Sleep.” There are no search bars, no playlists created by strangers, and no way to browse the full Spotify catalog. The child can play any of the curated content, and the app remembers their favorites and recently played items.

Key Differences from Regular Spotify

Here are the main ways Spotify for Kids differs from the standard Spotify app:

• Content filtering: All songs and stories are pre-approved by Spotify’s editors. Explicit lyrics are completely blocked, and even songs with mild language are often replaced with “clean” versions.
• No ads: The kids app has no advertisements at all, even on the free tier (though the app requires a Premium Family subscription anyway).
• No social features: There is no ability to follow friends, see what others are listening to, share playlists, or comment. The child’s activity is private.
• No user-generated content: Children cannot search the entire Spotify library or access user-uploaded podcasts or playlists. They only see what Spotify has curated for their age group.
• Parental controls: Parents can choose between “Younger” (ages 4-7) and “Older” (ages 8-12) content levels, and can block specific songs or artists from their own phone.
• Simplified interface: The design is much simpler, with large icons and no text-heavy menus. It’s designed for kids who may not be able to read well yet.

Parental Controls and Safety Features

The parental controls are the core of Spotify for Kids. Through the main Spotify app, a parent can access the Family plan settings and manage each child’s profile. You can switch the content level between “Younger” and “Older,” which changes the available playlists and filters. You can also block specific songs or artists from your child’s library, and you can see a list of what your child has been listening to recently. The app does not allow in-app purchases, and there is no way for a child to send messages or interact with other users. Additionally, the app is COPPA-compliant (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) in the U.S., meaning Spotify cannot collect personal data from children without parental consent.

How to Set Up and Choose the Right Plan

To get Spotify for Kids, you must have a Spotify Premium Family plan, which costs more than an individual plan and includes up to six accounts. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Subscribe to Spotify Premium Family on the Spotify website or app.
2. In the Family plan settings, tap “Add member” and select “Child” to create a child’s profile.
3. Enter the child’s name and birthdate, then choose the content level (Younger or Older).
4. Download the “Spotify Kids” app on your child’s device.
5. Log in using the PIN or QR code shown in the parent’s Spotify app.

You can change the content level or block content at any time. Note that the child’s profile is linked to your payment method, so there are no separate fees.

Common Problems and Limitations

One common issue is that the app is not available in all countries. Even if you have a Premium Family plan, the Spotify Kids app may not be downloadable in your region. Another limitation is that the catalog is much smaller than the main Spotify library—kids may not find every song they hear on the radio. Also, the app only works on mobile devices and tablets, not on desktop computers or smart speakers. Some parents have reported that the “Older” content level still includes songs with mild language, so it’s not a perfect filter. If a song is blocked, the child will see a message that it’s unavailable, and you can adjust the settings from your phone.

Costs and Comparison with Alternatives

Spotify for Kids is not sold separately; it’s a benefit of Spotify Premium Family, which costs more than an individual plan but less than paying for six separate accounts. If you already have a family plan, the kids app is free. Alternatives include Amazon Music for Kids (included with Amazon Kids+), Apple Music’s parental controls (which are less robust), and dedicated kids’ music apps like Yoto or Tonies that use physical audio players. Compared to those, Spotify for Kids offers the largest catalog of mainstream music, but it lacks the interactive storytelling features of some dedicated kids’ apps. If your child is over 12, Spotify recommends using the regular app with explicit content filtering enabled, but that still allows access to user-generated content and social features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Spotify for Kids without a Premium Family plan?
No. Spotify for Kids is only available as part of a Premium Family subscription. You cannot purchase it separately or use it with a free account.

Is Spotify for Kids really safe from explicit content?
Spotify’s editorial team reviews all content in the kids app, and explicit songs are blocked. However, some songs with mild language may still appear in the “Older” level. Parents can block specific songs or artists if they want stricter control.

Can my child listen to their own playlists on Spotify for Kids?
No. The app does not allow creating custom playlists or importing playlists from the main Spotify app. Children can only listen to the curated playlists and albums that Spotify provides.

Does Spotify for Kids work on a computer or smart speaker?
No. The Spotify Kids app is only available for iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire tablets. It is not available for desktop computers, smart TVs, or smart speakers.

Can I see what my child is listening to?
Yes. In the parent’s Spotify app, under the Family plan settings, you can view the listening history for each child’s profile. This shows the songs and playlists they have played recently.

What happens when my child turns 13?
When a child turns 13, they can be moved to a regular Spotify account (still under the Family plan). They will lose access to the kids app and its curated content, but they gain access to the full Spotify library and features.

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