I’ve been asked so many times to share my thoughts on the Toniebox vs Yoto Player. We have and love both. So let me break it down for you, so that you can decide if the Toniebox or the Yoto Player will be best for your kiddos.
What We’ll Cover:
- All about the Toniebox
- All About the Yoto Player
- Toniebox Vs. Yoto Player: Which is best?
- Yoto Player and Toniebox best times to buy: do they go on sale?
Watch the review: Toniebix Vs. Yoto Player
All About The Toniebox
The Toniebox will cost you about $100. Then you buy the stories which come downloaded on these little figurines called Tonies. Each Tonie will cost you anywhere from $15 to $20.
The Toniebox is very easy to use. The kids can place the little Tonie figurine on top of the box and the story will play through the speakers. You can also plug in some headphones if you don’t want it playing out loud. The volume is controlled by pressing the little ears on the box and you just tap the box itself to fast forward or reverse.
There are about 120 Tonies available. They have a great variety, which includes a lot of your kid’s favorite story’s. My kids really enjoy the little figurines of their favorite characters.
The box itself is super durable and come already prepared to be touched and handled by little hands. We haven’t had any problems with it being damaged.
All About The Yoto Player
The Yoto Player will cost you slightly more at $120. It does have a few more features, such as a ready-to-wake clock and noise machine. It’s still pretty durable, but there may be a little more risk of damage when put in to little hands. They have what’s called an Adventure Jacket that you can purchase that will protect the Yoto Player if it were to fall or be thrown by a little one. We have managed just fine without one.
There is also the option to get the Yoto Mini. It’s pretty much the same as the Yoto Player but smaller. Honestly, I wish I had gotten this one. It’s just better for on-the-go and cheaper. It’s only about $70. Both players are headphone-compatible.
Yoto plays cards, ranging from $4 to $12. They also have a lot of sets that you can purchase, which makes it cheaper per card. For me, the Yoto cards are much easier to store than the Tonies.
As far as ease of use goes, the Yoto is pretty simple. It might be slightly more complicated for younger children than the Tonie box, but you use the knobs on the front to adjust the volume and skip forward or backward in the story. Then, there is a main power button on the side that also acts as the pause button.
The Yoto Player is designed for children ages 3 – 12+. There is a lot more variety when it comes to their story cards (although the Tonies are catching up). The last time I checked they had something like 600 Yoto cards. Something for every age. Picture books and longer chapter books. Because of this, I wonder if we will be able to use the Yoto for more years.
Which Is Better, Yoto Player or Toniebox?
That being said, my kids prefer the Tonies. I can’t say exactly why because I find the story quality to be equal for all. But I think it’s in the novelty of the Tonies themself. I also think the Toniebox is easier for a 3-year-old to use than the Yoto. I’ve spoken to other parents who all say the same thing about their kids preferring the Tonies.
However, my kids do use their Yoto player a lot, too. They are 2 and 5 years old. Honestly, I can’t say which I prefer as a parent for this reason. Currently, the Tonies keep my kids entertained longer, but I like the variety, price point, and longevity of the Yoto Player.
Really, both are fantastic options, and you can’t go wrong either way!
Yoto Player Sales?
So ar sales on Yoto Players have been very scattered. No big doorbuster deals that I’ve seen. If you buy on their website you can usually sign up for a card membership and maybe get a small discount. The Yoto club allows you to get 2 cards a month at a discount.
Toniebox Sales?
Toniebox goes on sale more often. Keep your eyes peeled for Black Fridays and Prime Days. You can also buy bundles of tonies with your box to get those at a discount. There is also a subscription on their website for 2-3 age-appropriate tonies a month.
