Yoto Player 3rd Generation

Overall Score: 8.5/10

The Yoto Player represents a fundamentally different approach to kids' entertainment. Instead of a screen, kids insert physical cards that trigger audio content. No WiFi needed during play, no apps, no notifications. Just stories, music, and podcasts controlled entirely by the child.

After 18 months of daily use, I consider the Yoto one of the best purchases we have made for our kids. The independent play it enables is remarkable. My 5-year-old listens for hours without asking for help or getting into trouble online.

The Verdict: The Yoto Player is excellent for families who want engaging content without screens. The ongoing card costs are real, but the library integration and Make Your Own cards help manage expenses.

The Yoto has a small pixel display that shows simple animations but cannot display video, images, or text content. This is intentional. Kids engage with audio only.

Once cards are linked (a one-time WiFi setup), the Yoto plays content offline. Kids cannot browse, message, or access anything beyond the inserted card content.

Kids have full control: insert card, adjust volume, skip tracks. No parent intervention needed. This builds independence and agency.

Built-in night light and sleep timer make it ideal for bedtime routines.

Yoto offers 1,000+ cards including:

• Classic stories (Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter)
• Educational content (Brainbots, National Geographic)
• Music (kids songs, classical, lullabies)
• Podcasts (Wow in the World, Story Pirates)
• Audiobooks and radio dramas

Blank cards ($7 for 5-pack) let you record your own content or link free podcasts/audiobooks. This dramatically reduces ongoing costs.

Many libraries lend Yoto cards or provide digital content you can load onto MYO cards.

Initial Cost:

• Yoto Player: $100
• Starter cards (often bundled): $0-30

Ongoing Cost:

• Story cards: $7-15 each
• Make Your Own cards: $1.40 each (5-pack)
• Yoto Club subscription (optional): $10/month for rotating cards

The card model is both a feature (physical, collectible, tradeable) and a drawback (ongoing expense). Families who leverage MYO cards and library content spend far less.

1. Families seeking screen-free alternatives
2. Parents who want kids to play independently
3. Households limiting tablet time
4. Kids who love audiobooks and stories
5. Families with bedtime routine struggles

1. Budget-conscious families (ongoing card costs)
2. Kids who need visual engagement
3. Families who prefer subscription models over physical media

• Yoto Player Specifications. Yotoplay.com. 2025.
• Common Sense Media Screen-Free Devices. 2025.

Overall Score: 8.5/10

The Yoto Player represents a fundamentally different approach to kids' entertainment. Instead of a screen, kids insert physical cards that trigger audio content. No WiFi needed during play, no apps, no notifications. Just stories, music, and podcasts controlled entirely by the child.

After 18 months of daily use, I consider the Yoto one of the best purchases we have made for our kids. The independent play it enables is remarkable. My 5-year-old listens for hours without asking for help or getting into trouble online.

The Verdict: The Yoto Player is excellent for families who want engaging content without screens. The ongoing card costs are real, but the library integration and Make Your Own cards help manage expenses.

The Yoto has a small pixel display that shows simple animations but cannot display video, images, or text content. This is intentional. Kids engage with audio only.

Once cards are linked (a one-time WiFi setup), the Yoto plays content offline. Kids cannot browse, message, or access anything beyond the inserted card content.

Kids have full control: insert card, adjust volume, skip tracks. No parent intervention needed. This builds independence and agency.

Built-in night light and sleep timer make it ideal for bedtime routines.

Yoto offers 1,000+ cards including:

• Classic stories (Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter)
• Educational content (Brainbots, National Geographic)
• Music (kids songs, classical, lullabies)
• Podcasts (Wow in the World, Story Pirates)
• Audiobooks and radio dramas

Blank cards ($7 for 5-pack) let you record your own content or link free podcasts/audiobooks. This dramatically reduces ongoing costs.

Many libraries lend Yoto cards or provide digital content you can load onto MYO cards.

Initial Cost:

• Yoto Player: $100
• Starter cards (often bundled): $0-30

Ongoing Cost:

• Story cards: $7-15 each
• Make Your Own cards: $1.40 each (5-pack)
• Yoto Club subscription (optional): $10/month for rotating cards

The card model is both a feature (physical, collectible, tradeable) and a drawback (ongoing expense). Families who leverage MYO cards and library content spend far less.

1. Families seeking screen-free alternatives
2. Parents who want kids to play independently
3. Households limiting tablet time
4. Kids who love audiobooks and stories
5. Families with bedtime routine struggles

1. Budget-conscious families (ongoing card costs)
2. Kids who need visual engagement
3. Families who prefer subscription models over physical media

• Yoto Player Specifications. Yotoplay.com. 2025.
• Common Sense Media Screen-Free Devices. 2025.