ABCmouse vs PBS KIDS Games

ABCmouse is an early learning program for children ages 2–8, with activities across reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music. Its curriculum includes more than 13,000 activities and personalized Learning Paths, plus STEM activities, coding fundamentals, a Parent Dashboard, customizable avatars, tickets and rewards, and Pet Town. A child's Learning Path progress, avatar customizations, and My World updates sync between the mobile app and a desktop or laptop web browser. Mobile web browsers are not supported; phone and tablet users are directed to the app. The free Basic plan allows up to 10 activities per day for one child profile. Premium monthly costs $14.99 a month and has a 30-day trial for web signups; annual Premium is 45.00 USD for the first year, then renews at $59.99 a year plus tax. ABCmouse for Teachers is a free web-based tool for PreK–2nd grade educators to manage classes, assign homework, and share printable resources; individual free educator accounts are for classroom use in the U.S. and Canada.

PBS KIDS Games is a free collection of educational games for children ages 2 to 8. Its app listing describes more than 280 curriculum-based games covering subjects such as math, reading, science, and art, with play available in English and Spanish. The web catalog includes titles such as Stu's Delivery Service, City Island Adventure Game, and Carl's Collections. A Building Games topic includes Marble Run, Toy Maker, and Alma Train Game. PBS KIDS also describes its apps as a way to watch and play its content while away from home. The service is listed for web, Android, iOS, and Windows, and the PBS KIDS Games plan costs nothing. An account is not required to use PBS services, though an account can save progress, settings, or created content. PBS says it does not collect information that directly identifies a child on its own, but may collect information about game activity, videos watched, pages viewed, and links clicked. For accounts, usernames are moderated to discourage personal information and passwords are encrypted. PBS identifies itself as a private nonprofit corporation founded in 1969.