"For my fellow mom friends out there searching for “screen-free” toddler entertainment, you may have come across two storytelling devices, the Toniebox and the Yoto Player. These (somewhat similar) devices are essentially box speakers that play audio books, music, and more and are simple enough for a toddler to control on their own. Since you’ve probably heard of both, I’m here to share my honest review of Tonies vs. Yoto audio players for kids.
I’d seen the Toniebox and Yoto Player pop up across mom blogs and kid-focused Instagram accounts for the past few months and was pretty intrigued. I’m no stranger to screen time for my toddler. Sometimes, you need to plop your kid in front of the TV to get some things done, and there’s no shame in that. However, when my 2-year-old started chanting “I want a show!” on a regular basis, I started to brainstorm other ways to occupy her time and give her more educational options.
And that’s what brought me to Tonies and Yotos. Parents raved about these devices and how their kids gravitated toward them over television shows (seemed impossible to me!). But I was ready to give it a try. It was hard to decide which one to get. On the surface, they seem extremely similar and are both priced at $99.99.
If you’re on the fence about adding one of these toys to your home library of activities or can’t decide which one to get, here I’ll break down the unique attributes of each device. Plus, I’ll share my personal experience with the Tonies vs. Yoto debacle and the one I ultimately decided to get.
Yoto Player Pros and Cons
Cost
The Yoto Player itself starts at $99.99. There’s also a mini version for $69.99 that parents seem to love as well! From there, you’ll have to purchase Yoto Cards, which are little cards that play content on a Yoto player.
Yoto Cards have a much wider range of cost and run time than Tonies (which also require additional purchases to play the content). Yoto Cards start at around $5.99, with many around the $10-$15 mark. You can also buy sets of cards for $30+. Run time ranges hugely, with some cards containing 10 minutes of content and others with over four hours of content! You can also buy blank Yoto Cards to record yourself for the price of $24.99 for a pack of 10 (100 hours max of recording time per card—I can’t even wrap my head around how much content that is).
Types of Content
Both Yoto and Tonies devices offer a wide variety of content types, including songs, stories, things like mindfulness practices, and more. If your child has a particular interest, they will probably be able to find something they love on each. As the mom to a Disney princess-loving toddler, I quickly discovered both have Frozen content.
Yoto Cards are available for all types of stories (including classics, pre-school favorites, seasonal stories, and more), a wide range of music, podcasts, radio, sound effects, activities (like learning words in different languages, math, letters and sounds, mindfulness, and movement), and make-your-own cards, where you can record your own content. It truly does feel like the content offerings are endless and there are plenty of cards appropriate for toddlers and much older kids as well.
Ease of Use and Enjoyment
While neither player is particularly challenging, they are different in how they are used. For the Yoto Player, you insert a card in the top. There’s also a volume button and a matching button that allows you to fast forward through chapters or go back. It can be a bit challenging for little kids to know which of these buttons are used for what. The Yoto Player has a few more offerings than what the Toniebox has. The Yoto Player does have a screen that shows static images (though I’d still consider it a “screen-free” device), has a clock, can be used as a night light, and even offers a white noise setting.
Longevity of the Player
I can’t personally speak to the durability of the devices but do believe they both have a long lifespan in terms of quality. I recommend adding the Adventure Jacket to the Yoto Player if you have a not-so-gentle child. It’s also hard to know exactly how long your child will want to use the device for. All kids and their preferences are different, of course. Both devices are geared toward children 3 years and up.
After closely reviewing the offerings of each device, my guess is that the Yoto Player is likely to entertain your children for more years overall when compared with the Toniebox. Yoto has over 100 cards available in the 8-12 age category.
Toniebox Pros and Cons
Cost
Just like the Yoto Player, the Toniebox starts at $99.99 for their classic starter set. Other starter sets with specific characters and stories will go for more, typically around the $150 mark.
For the action figures that play the content, it’s very simple—they are all the same price at $17.99. It doesn’t matter what content is on the Tonie; they are all $17.99. There are a variety of Tonies and they play things like songs, stories, and more. The run time of each Tonie ranges from 16 minutes to 50 minutes. The only Tonie that is less are the Creative-Tonies, which are typically $12.99 and do not contain any content—you record it yourself (90 minutes of recording time).
Types of Content
Tonies come in five different categories: education (things like National Geographic Kids: Penguins), mindfulness, nap time, songs, and stories. The biggest offerings are with songs and stories, while the other categories feel a bit limited.
Ease of Use and Enjoyment
For the Toniebox, you simply put the toy on top of the player. The volume button is easy to use as well. Truthfully, the cards with the Yoto Player simply aren’t as fun as a Tonies Frozen or Sesame Street figurine. Plus, with fewer bells and whistles, the Toniebox is a bit easier for younger kids to navigate.
Longevity of the Player
A pro of the Toniebox is that it comes already padded, meaning no added cost for securing it (unlike the Yoto Player). As previously mentioned, your kiddo might outgrow the Toniebox sooner, as there are a select few Tonies in the 6+ age category.
Tonies vs. Yoto: Which Is Better?
In the Toniebox vs. Yoto debate, it’s hard to say which one is “better” and it really depends on the interests and attention span of your child. If you’re looking for something with cute little figurines that a toddler would love, you might want the Toniebox. If you prefer more content that will grow with your child (at a better price point), the Yoto Player may be best for you.
As far as bang for your buck goes when it comes to content, Yoto is the big winner. You will spend less on cards and get far more content. In terms of variety, I would say Yoto is the winner as well. Both devices are well-made for little hands, but the Toniebox wins in terms of fun and ease of use thanks to the characters. Because the Yoto Player has more cards and more activities available with much more content geared toward older children, Yoto wins in the longevity game.
My Experience
We have the Yoto Player and I’m happy with our choice. The attention span of my toddler is a bit limited at the moment, so we don’t typically get through a ton of content before she’s off and running to another activity. However, I think when she’s a bit older, she’s really going to use it a lot and love it. Another small positive is that the cards don’t take up much room—which is actually a large win when constantly trying to declutter.
I’m also glad I have the Yoto Player because there are lots of cards that fit her budding interests and I’d be a little disappointed with the Tonies to spend $17.99 for each Tonie when there isn’t a ton of listening time offered with each character. In terms of offerings and the amount of time we’ll spend using the device over the coming years, the Yoto was the right choice for us.
Whichever player you choose, you’re likely to have lots of fun with the content and it really is a great screen-free way to keep kids entertained when mama needs a break!
Shop Both Yoto and Tonies
Amanda Shapin Michelson, Former Editor
Amanda is a writer specializing in health, wellness, and motherhood. She recently wrote the book Pregnancy Hacks, sharing tips to comfortably get through the major ups and downs of pregnancy. She currently works for Babylist and lives in Maryland with her husband, kids Millie, Ezra, and Sloane, and pup Ollie.