What is Amazon FreeTime? A Detailed Overview for Parents and Amazon Sellers
Amazon FreeTime (now called Amazon Kids+) is a subscription service from Amazon that provides ad-free entertainment and books for kids ages 3-12.
With over 15,000 movies, TV shows, books, apps, audiobooks, and games, Amazon Kids+ offers extensive content tailored to specific age groups. It‘s designed to provide a kid-friendly entertainment experience.
As an experienced Amazon seller, I often get questions from parents about what exactly FreeTime offers and whether it‘s worthwhile. In this detailed guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about Amazon‘s kid-centric entertainment platform from pricing to features to usability.
Let‘s dive in!
Overview: What is Amazon FreeTime/Kids+?
Amazon first launched this service in 2012 under the name "FreeTime Unlimited", though most referred to it simply as "FreeTime". In 2020, they rebranded it as Amazon Kids+ to better communicate the kid-focus.
The key thing to understand about FreeTime/Kids+ is that it provides unlimited access to kid-appropriate entertainment through your Amazon account. With parental controls, you can easily filter content to align with your family‘s needs.
Specifically, here‘s what you get access to with an Amazon Kids+ subscription:
- Over 1,000 popular ebooks and book series
- 8,000 kid-friendly movies and TV episodes
- Ad-free radio stations and playlists through Amazon Music
- Hundreds of Audible books for kids
- Over 1,000 kid-focused apps – educational, creative, and entertainment apps
- Access to hundreds of games – creative building games, arcade games, strategy games and more
Everything is carefully screened to provide age-appropriate content without ads. There are over 20,000 titles overall.
The goal with Amazon Kids+ is to give parents peace of mind that their kids have access to entertainment and books tailored specifically for their age group.
Now that you understand the basics, let‘s explore some key questions about Amazon‘s kids subscription in more detail:
How Much Does Amazon Kids+ Cost?
One of the most common questions parents have is how much does Amazon Kids+ cost?
There are a few pricing options:
For US Customers:
- $2.99/month for Amazon Prime members
- $4.99/month for non-Prime members
You can also pay annually:
- $36/year for Prime members (saves 17%)
- $79/year for non-Prime members (saves 27%)
The annual plan allows you to save a bit compared to paying month-to-month.
For Canadian Customers:
- $3.99/month for Prime members
- $5.99/month for non-Prime members
- $39.99/year for Prime members (saves 17%)
- $71.99/year for non-Prime members (saves 28%)
So in both the US and Canada, Prime members get a discounted rate. But Amazon Kids+ does not come included with a regular Prime membership – it‘s a paid add-on.
One tip if you have multiple kids – get the annual family plan. You can add up to 4 child profiles for one flat annual fee.
Next, let‘s look at exactly what content you get access to with Amazon Kids+.
What Does Amazon Kids+ Include? Content Catalog and Highlights
One of the most compelling reasons for Amazon Kids+ is the extensive catalog of content spanning books, video, apps, Audible, and games.
Let‘s explore some of the entertainment highlights:
Books
- Over 1,000 popular ebooks and series
- Most classic children‘s novels like Charlotte‘s Web
- Bestselling series like Harry Potter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Magic Treehouse
- Education and non-fiction books for kids
Movies & TV Shows
- Over 4,000 shows and movies from studios like Disney, PBS, Nickelodeon, and more
- Popular kids programming like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer
- Animated films and family movies like Shrek, Despicable Me, and more
Apps
- 400+ kid-friendly apps spanning educational, creativity, and gaming apps
- Top app titles like Toca Boca, Dr. Panda, Khan Academy Kids, Endless Reader and more
- Apps focused on STEM skills, coding, reading, writing, and math
Audiobooks
- Over 200 ad-free kid-focused audiobooks
- Ranges from short stories and novels to foreign language learning
- Popular titles like Charlotte‘s Web, Winnie The Pooh, Magic Treehouse, and more
Games
- Over 400 games covering arcade, strategy, adventure, and more
- Top titles like Where‘s My Water, Cut The Rope, Lego Games, Fruit Ninja and popular characters like Snoopy, Sonic, and Angry Birds
As you can see, the content catalog spans books, video, education, apps, audiobooks and games. Top titles kids love from leading brands and studios.
Importantly, Amazon Kids+ curates all this content across three age groups:
- Ages 3-5
- Ages 6-8
- Ages 9-12
So your child will only see age-appropriate suggestions. Next let‘s look at how Kids+ works across Amazon devices.
What Devices Work With Amazon Kids+?
A question I often get from parents is what devices work with Amazon Kids+?
The good news is that Kids+ works across a variety of devices:
- Fire tablets: Such as the Fire 7, Fire HD 8, and Fire HD 10
- Kindle E-Readers: Including the basic Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Oasis
- Android phones & tablets
- iPhone & iPad: Via the Amazon Kids+ app from the iOS app store
- Chromebooks: Can access much of the content and parental controls
Some games and apps may only work on mobile devices. But you can access Kindle books, Prime video, Audible books, and some games on laptops.
So Amazon Kids+ can be used across Fire tablets, Kindle e-readers, Android devices, iOS devices, and Chromebooks. This flexibility makes it easy for families with different device needs.
Now let‘s explore some of the key parental control features Amazon offers.
Parental Control Features With Amazon Kids+
One major appeal of Amazon Kids+ is the suite of parental controls offered to families:
Content Filtering
- Age filters tailor content to 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 groups
- Block books, shows, movies, apps, games by title
- Use pre-set content filters like "Only Approved Content"
Time Limits
- Set daily time limits per child
- Once limit reached, access is blocked for the day
Educational Goals
- Set daily "learning" goals for reading, educational apps, etc
- Unlock entertainment only after goals are met
Bedtime & Downtime
- Set "bedtime" to disable access during set hours
- Downtime instantly pauses device access
Activity Dashboard
- View titles accessed, time spent, and progress towards goals
- Monitor all devices linked to child‘s profile
These controls allow you to customize device usage based on your family‘s needs and values.
As a parent myself, I think these parental control features are incredibly useful. Especially the ability to set goals and time limits to encourage learning and balanced screen time.
Next let‘s look at how you can use Amazon Kids+ on Fire and Kindle devices.
Setting Up & Using Amazon Kids+ on Fire Tablets and Kindle
Using Amazon Kids on Fire tablets and Kindle e-readers only takes a few steps:
Set up:
- Create child profiles with name, photo, age
- Access Kids+ within child profiles
- Enable parental controls like filters, time limits, goals
Using Kids+:
- Select your child‘s profile
- Discover books, videos, apps tailored for their age
- Tap to download content for offline use
- Monitor usage via Parent Dashboard
Once set up, Kids+ provides a kid-friendly environment tailored to each child. Download content for offline use during travel.
And you can always adjust controls like time limits as needed. Using Amazon Kids+ on Fire and Kindle devices is designed to be simple for the whole family.
What About Amazon Kids+ and Alexa?
Many parents also wonder about if and how Amazon Kids+ works with Alexa.
While they are separate services, here are some ways they can work together:
- Use Alexa voice commands to open the Kids+ app
- Listen to Audible books from the Kids+ catalog through Alexa
- Link your child‘s Kids+ profile to enable voice purchasing of Kids+ content through Alexa
- Block purchases through Alexa using Amazon Household parental controls
So while Amazon Kids+ and Alexa don‘t directly integrate, you can use Alexa voice commands to open and interact with your Kids+ account.
If you enable purchasing through Alexa, just be sure to put guardrails in place using Household controls. This will prevent unwanted purchases.
What About Amazon Kids+ and International Use?
Another common question I receive is does Amazon Kids+ work internationally?
Right now, Amazon Kids+ is only available in the United States and Canada. It does not work internationally in Europe, India, Australia, etc.
However, you can download titles to your device before leaving the US or Canada. Downloaded content remains accessible abroad.
So although you can‘t stream internationally, your kids can still read Kindle books, listen to Audible books, and access some downloaded content while traveling outside the US and Canada.
My advice is to download content before leaving the supported countries. This allows for offline use during international travel.
Tips for Saving on Amazon Kids+
As an Amazon seller, I know how important saving money is for families. Here are some of my top tips for saving on Amazon Kids+:
1. Choose the annual plan
The annual plan offers up to 28% off compared to paying monthly. And it allows the addition of up to 4 child profiles.
2. Compare pricing with and without Prime membership
Prime members save 25% on the monthly plan and 56% on the annual plan. If you‘re not a Prime member, compare costs to see if Prime‘s discounted pricing makes sense for your family.
3. Look for promotions
Occasionally Amazon offers introductory discounts like 50% off your first year of Amazon Kids+. It‘s worth checking around the holidays for deals.
4. Buy a Fire Kids tablet
New Fire Kids tablets come with 1 year of Amazon Kids+ included free. This essentially bundles the subscription cost into the tablet price.
5. Set limits and encourage balance
Use time limits and educational goals to encourage a balanced mix of reading, learning, and entertainment. Avoid the "endless content trap".
6. Download for offline use
Download titles to use offline when not connected to the internet. This allows for access to content anytime, anywhere.
Using these tips can help you maximize value from your Amazon Kids+ subscription. Let me know if you need any other advice!
Is Amazon Kids+ Worth It for Families?
At the end of the day, is a subscription to Amazon Kids+ worth the price for families?
In my opinion as an seller and parent, Amazon Kids+ is highly worthwhile:
It provides unlimited access to over 20,000 kid-appropriate titles across books, shows, movies, education, apps, Audible and games
The three age group filters help ensure your child only sees entertainment suitable for their age
Parental controls like time limits give you oversight and help encourage balance and learning
It works across Fire, Kindle, Android, iOS, and Chromebook giving you flexibility
Downloads allow for offline use during travel and even internationally
Annual plans cost as little as $3-4 per month for Prime members
For less than a kid‘s meal at a fast food chain, Amazon Kids+ offers unlimited, customized access to books, education, videos and more.
The filters, controls, and variety of content make Amazon Kids+ a top kids entertainment option. To me, the price is absolutely worth it for families compared to alternatives.
Final Thoughts
Well, we‘ve covered a lot of ground around Amazon Kids+! To recap:
Amazon Kids+ (formerly called FreeTime Unlimited) is a subscription service providing unlimited access to ad-free entertainment and books for kids 3-12.
It offers over 20,000 movies, TV shows, books, Audible titles, educational apps, and games tailored by age group. Parental controls like time limits give you oversight.
Amazon Kids+ works on Fire tablets, Kindle e-readers, Android and iOS devices, and Chromebooks. You can download content for offline use.
For Prime members, costs are $36/year or $2.99/month. Non-Prime pricing is $79/year or $4.99/month. Family plans allow up to 4 child profiles.
In my opinion and experience as an Amazon seller and dad, Amazon Kids+ is 100% worth the price for families. The kid-specific content and parental control features make it very valuable.
I hope this detailed overview helps explain exactly what you get with Amazon Kids+! Let me know if you have any other questions.
