Kids learning apps earn well. Lingokids makes $2.54M–10.16M a month by our estimate and Kiddopia $737K–2.95M (not Apple data, October 16, 2026). But the youngest kids app in the top 60 grossing Education apps launched in December 2021, so a newcomer has a hard road. The Kids Category has its own rules, with purchases and links only behind a parental gate.
How much kids apps make
On October 16, 2026 the US top 60 grossing Education chart included 8 kids apps. Lingokids was number 9, Learn to Read by Reading.com number 14, Keiki number 24 and Kiddopia number 25.
| App | Released | US ratings | Top grossing rank | Monthly revenue, our estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lingokids | Sep 11, 2015 | 668,114 | #9 | $2.54M–10.16M |
| Learn to Read (Reading.com) | Dec 14, 2021 | 75,760 | #14 | $881K–3.53M |
| Kiddopia | Jun 6, 2017 | 160,016 | #25 | $737K–2.95M |
| Speech Blubs (speech) | Jun 7, 2017 | 57,728 | #39 | $357K–1.43M |
| Bebi (toddlers) | Jul 29, 2019 | 41,348 | #48 | $251K–1M |
| Keiki | May 17, 2020 | 92,975 | #24 | $235K–938K |
| Pok Pok | May 19, 2021 | 25,042 | #55 | $179K–718K |
| Epic (kids' books) | Dec 1, 2013 | 519,214 | #26 | $69K–277K |
Appto data as of October 16, 2026. Rating growth September 16 to October 16, 2026. Rating counts and chart positions from the US App Store on October 16, 2026. Revenue is our estimate, not Apple data.
Epic, the kids' books app, has a low end of $69K in our estimate, yet it was number 26 in the grossing chart, above Kiddopia. For large older apps our estimate tends to run low, and this is such a case.
No new names at the top since 2021
The freshest kids apps in the chart are Pok Pok, launched on May 19, 2021, and Learn to Read, launched on December 14, 2021. The rest appeared between 2013 and 2020. As Appto's research noted on October 3, 2026, kids apps grow on parents' trust in the brand and on advertising, and organic search helps them less than in other categories.
That doesn't mean you can't get in. It means you need a narrow reason the giants serve poorly, such as one topic a parent understands at once, and patience to grow the app longer than usual.
Kids Category rules
If the app is for children and sits in the Kids Category, separate App Review rules apply (sections 1.3 and 5.1.4, October 16, 2026).
- Links out of the app, purchases and other distractions only in a separate area behind a parental gate.
- Third-party analytics and third-party advertising are not allowed in such apps, with narrow exceptions.
- No personally identifiable or device information may go to third parties.
- Children's data laws apply, COPPA in the US and GDPR in the European Union.
- Once an app has been in the Kids Category, the rules keep applying in later updates, even if the category is deselected.
In practice the purchase screen is shown only to the parent, and analytics is easier to collect with your own tools inside the app.
What goes into version 1
- Hints by voice and picture. A two to four year old can't read yet.
- Large touch targets. A toddler won't hit small buttons near the screen edge.
- A few short games in one style. Colors, shapes, counting to five. One game takes a couple of minutes.
- A parents' area behind a gate. Purchase, settings, sound, time.
- Offline play. In the car or in a queue there isn't always a network.
How the niche charges
Every app in the table is free to download (US App Store, October 16, 2026) and charges inside, with the purchase shown only behind a parental gate as the rules require. One clear price is easier to explain to a parent. For example one or two games free, the whole set for one purchase or a subscription, and no ads inside.
Risks
- Content volume. The leaders have piled up games and cartoons for years. A small set has to be made carefully and in one style.
- Trust. Parents choose familiar brands. Screenshots, description and the data policy should answer their questions up front.
- Testing with children. You can't tell from screenshots whether a child will like a game. Show it to kids before release.
How we counted
Appto estimates revenue from 30 days of App Store rating growth, before Apple's commission. It is our estimate, not Apple data. In half of the cases the estimate is within 2x of the real figure, in four out of five within 3x, and for large apps it tends to run low. Ads, web sales and Google Play are not included. The method is explained in our article on estimating app revenue.
Next steps
In the book 50 iPhone App Niches toddler games are niche 48, with an angle for a newcomer, a version 1 plan and a task for the agent.
In Appto you can check your own kids topic on fresh App Store data. Appto and the agent build the screens, the code and the App Store page, and submit the app to Apple from your account or show you what to press in App Store Connect.
Questions
How much do kids learning apps make?
By our estimate as of October 16, 2026, Lingokids makes $2.54M–10.16M a month, Learn to Read $881K–3.53M and Kiddopia $737K–2.95M. It is an estimate from App Store rating growth, not Apple data.
Can a kids app show ads?
In the Kids Category third-party ads and third-party analytics are not allowed, with narrow exceptions. Money comes from a purchase or a subscription behind a parental gate.
What is a parental gate?
A simple task an adult can solve and a toddler can't. Purchases, outside links and settings sit behind it.
Does a new kids app stand a chance?
Yes, but the way in is hard. The youngest kids app in the top 60 grossing Education apps launched in December 2021. You need a narrow topic and time to grow.
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