Yoto vs Tonies

Two screen-free audio players that children run themselves. Yoto plays cards and has a big free audio side; Tonies plays character figures that small children love to collect.

We make WonderCast, the third option on this page, so read what we say about it as disclosure, not a review. Everything about Yoto and Tonies comes from their own websites and app listings, checked 27 October 2026. Prices change; follow the links for current ones.

Side by side

Feature	Yoto	Tonies	WonderCast
What it is	A screen-free audio player: a child slots in a Yoto Card to play a story, music or a podcast	A screen-free audio player: a child stands a character figure (a Tonie) on the Toniebox to play its stories and songs	An app that makes storybooks, audiobooks, songs and short movies starring your child, plus a free story library
Price	Yoto Player (4th Gen) $149.99, Yoto Mini (4th Gen) $109.99; cards bought separately	Toniebox 2 starter sets and individual figures; we couldn’t load a current US price from tonies.com, so check there	Free plan; Wondy $3.99 a month for the library; Starter $9.99, Creator $19.99, Studio $29.99 a month, each with a plain monthly count
Free to start	Free audio in the app, including Yoto Daily and Yoto Radio, plus monthly free digital cards	Not stated on the pages we checked	Six complete stories with no account, and the free plan makes and keeps 10 storybooks and 10 audiobooks
Your child in the story	No	No	Yes, from a photo, as an illustrated character that stays the same on every page
Words light up as they are read	No (audio only)	No (audio only)	Yes, every word, and a hard word is one tap from being sounded out
Your own voice	Yes: grown-ups record their own audio onto Make Your Own cards	Yes: a Creative-Tonie holds audio you record yourself	A grown-up can narrate in their own voice (Creator and Studio). Recording a child’s voice is switched off
Screen	No screen for stories; a small display shows artwork, icons and a clock	No	Yes: phone, tablet or TV
Where it works	The Yoto player, managed from the Yoto app	The Toniebox	iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and any web browser. No Android app yet
Ages	3 and up for the players; cards grouped 0–2, 3–5, 6–8 and 9+	Not stated on the pages we checked	About 3 to 8 (App Store 4+)

“Not stated” means the company’s own pages don’t say, not that it can’t.

Which one to choose

Choose Yoto if

you want one player that grows with your child, plenty of free radio and podcast audio, and cards you can fill with your own recordings.

Choose Tonies if

your child is very young, loves holding a favourite character, and you want the simplest possible “put it on the box” play.

Consider WonderCast if

you want stories about your own child, with their face in the pictures and the words lighting up as they are read, and no player to buy.

If keeping screens out of bedtime is the whole point, choose Yoto or Tonies: WonderCast needs a phone, tablet or TV.

Common questions

Is Yoto or Tonies better?

Neither wins outright. Yoto suits a wider age range and has more free audio in its app. Tonies suits toddlers who love a physical character figure. Both are screen-free.

Can I record my own voice on Yoto or Tonies?

Yes. Yoto’s Make Your Own cards hold recordings you make in the app, and a Creative-Tonie holds audio you record yourself. WonderCast lets a grown-up narrate whole stories in their own voice on the Creator and Studio plans.

Is there a screen-free option that puts my child in the story?

Not among these three. Yoto and Tonies are screen-free but play stories about other characters. WonderCast puts your child in the story but uses a screen; its audiobooks can be played with the screen away.

More comparisons

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