How we evaluate
Purpose
This page sets out how we review and compare kids' learning products and family tech, so that you can judge our verdicts against the criteria and evidence behind them rather than taking them on trust.
What we check
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Pricing and cancellation transparency | 25 % |
| Data and privacy terms | 20 % |
| Parental controls and safety design | 15 % |
| Set-up friction for the adult | 10 % |
| Content quality against the product's own stated curriculum | 20 % |
| Support and refund | 10 % |
Weights fixed on 6 October 2026; they sum to 100 %. Head-to-head comparisons report each criterion separately and name the better fit per criterion; ranked shortlists apply these weights.
How we test
The editor personally trials a product's free tier or trial on the parent side: the sign-up flow, pricing as displayed, the cancellation path, the data and privacy terms, and the parent dashboard. Each step is recorded with dated screenshots. Learning outcomes with children are not tested, and we never claim them.
Every review page carries this sentence, with the date filled in:
Parent-side experience tested on <date>; learning outcomes with children not tested.
Where no parent-side test is possible — for example hardware players with no trial — the page says so plainly in its own words, compares only what the brands' own pages state, and dates every figure. Such comparisons are researched, not hands-on, and name the better fit per criterion instead of ranking.
How we word recommendations
A recommendation is always "best for <need>, by these criteria" — never "best overall". Every price or rate we quote carries the date it was checked, because plans and prices change.
What we do not cover
By policy, kids' banking and debit cards, children's supplements, and foods high in fat, salt or sugar are out of scope.
Community evidence
Where we cite community reports — for example from Reddit or Trustpilot — they are quoted as user reports with a link to the source, never presented as established fact.
Affiliate independence
Some links are affiliate links. Verdicts are reached against the criteria above before commission is considered, and products with no affiliate programme are covered on the same terms as those with one. See the affiliate disclosure.
Corrections
Found an error or an out-of-date figure? E-mail contact@kidsdigitallearning.com. We correct the page and note the change.