My kids love listening to music, but I don’t always love listening to their music. Rather than having the latest tween favorites blasting through our house, we decided to get our younger kids their own MP3 players. They love having control over what they listen to, and I love that they are happy and I don’t have to hear “Baby Shark” 10 times in a row.
I’m not quite ready for my youngest kids to have a cell phone quite yet, so an MP3 player was the logical choice. We have tried several different players with our multiple children. Listed below are some of our favorite top MP3 players for children with pros and cons for each.
What To Look For In A Kids’ MP3 Music Player
- Ease of use. You want a device that is easy for your child to use without help. A younger child will do better with a basic unit that has easy to push buttons without all the frills. An older child will be able to maneuver a more complicated player.
- Durability. No one wants to waste money on a child’s item that will break right away. Look for a device that will hold up to your child, especially if your kiddo is prone to rough play.
- Sound quality. Even kids don’t like listening to music if the quality is poor. Make sure the MP3 player you choose has good sound quality.
- Price. Obviously, price is a consideration for most people. Nearly all of the options on this list are very budget friendly.
- Features. What features does your kid want in an MP3 player? Does he just want to listen to music or is there something more he wants to do? Some MP3 players have photo or Bluetooth capability. Maybe you want a pedometer, games, or Wi-Fi.
| MP3 Players for Kids | Key Features | Formats |
|---|---|---|
Sony Walkman MP3 Player | ||
Wiwoo MP3 Player | ||
SanDisk Jam MP3 Player | ||
AGPTEK MP3 Player | ||
Hotechs MP3 Player/B | ||
GRTDHX MP3 Player | ||
Soulcker MP3 Player | ||
AKAMATE MP3 Player | ||
TIMMKOO MP3 Player | ||
Apple iPod Touch 7 |
Top Budget MP3 Players For Kids
There are a lot of options when it comes to music players for kids. Here are the ones we have found work best and are most user-friendly for kids of various ages.
1. Sony Walkman
If you’d prefer a more conventional MP3 player, Sony still has their Walkman available in red and black colors. They’ve been through a few generations and all of them are pretty similar quality with newer models having more plastic than previous generations.
Overall, the build quality and is good and not great. The Walkman has a battery life of up to 35 hours and includes functions like an alarm and timer. You also get some pretty decent Sony earbuds that come along with it. Storage capacity goes from 4-16GB along with the price which ranges from $55 to $70.
Getting music onto the Walkman is also fairly simple. Simply drag and drop it from iTunes or your Windows Media Player.
If there’s one complaint I have about it, it’s that the buttons are fairly sensitive. Occasionally you’ll feel them switching off in your pocket. This is a pain when you’re outside mowing the lawn. Trust me!
Overall you get a brand name MP3 player with some decent features for a little bit more than the generic ones. To me, I think the extra price is worth it. This is a good choice for a kid who isn’t quite ready for a cell phone.
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Good audio quality
- Easy to transfer music
- Available from $55 to $70 (4-16GB)
Cons:
- Buttons are sensitive
- More expensive than other options
2. Wiwoo MP3/MP4 Player
If you want something that’s cute and easy to spot and manage, I like Wiwoo’s B4. The design is made especially for kids with a bear paw and pink and blue color options. The menu is fairly easy to navigate with big keys and an intuitive menu. And it’s very affordable at right around $25.
The Wiwoo supports MP4, MP3, WMA, and WMV audio formats. It comes with 8GB internal memory which can be expanded up to 128GB with a micro SD Card.
Additional functions include radio, a built-in microphone, AB replay and voice recording, and even a few built-in games! The Wiwoo comes with built-in noise restrictions that prevent your young child from listening to music too loud. It also includes earbuds.
The Wiwoo includes a feature that I absolutely love to use with my kids. It has lockout controls so they can’t press the buttons and then constantly change the song or stop the music. This allows them to list for a while without needing your help to get back to the right area.
Overall, this is one of my highest recommended products on the list. It’s great for ages 3, 4 and 5 and has a lot of great built-in features. For $25, it functions better than some of the generic options as well.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Lockout controls
- Fun kid themes
- Noise restrictions
- Radio
Cons:
- Not great for older kids
- Can’t use without earbuds
3. SanDisk Jam MP3 Player
The Sandisk MP3 player has been around for a while and given only a few updates. I had one before I carried a phone with me everywhere I went. So, I had a good understanding of exactly how it works. We went with this option for our 10 and 12 year-olds; however, for the most part, I would recommend it for all ages.
The Jam is the most basic version and therefore the one of the cheapest at around $30. It comes in 8 different color options and has a 1-inch LED screen. The battery life lasts around 18 hours and can be quickly charged once it runs out.
If your kid needs more than 8GB, although that’s a ton of music, there’s an optional micro SD card expansion slot so you can add additional space.
So, for $30 you get all of what your kid needs and nothing more than that. I consider this a huge plus. The reason I recommend it for 8 and older is because it’s rather small. As such, it’s easy for young kids to lose. That’s a lesson I’ve already learned more than once (unfortunately).
The main reason is that it’s not that expensive and, unlike many of the generic options, the interface is easy to use. A lot of the cheap MP3 players on the market in the $20 to $30 range simply don’t make sense. There’s simply not enough competition in the space anymore. However, this one works well, sounds good, and gives you a few different options.
Ultimately, the SanDisk is a good option. The software works well, the battery lasts a long time, the product is high quality, and the interface is easy-to-use.
Pros:
- Quality sound
- Durable build
- Clip makes it easy to secure
- Easy-to-use buttons and navigation
- FM Radio
Cons:
- Small and Easy to Lose
- No recording capabilities
- Not easy to use with audiobooks
4. AGPTEK MP3 Player
For under $40, the AGPTEK is a pretty good option. It plays a variety of music files including MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, APE, and FLAC and comes in 5 colors.
The menu is fairly plain with an older style to it. For me, this wasn’t a big deal as I simply wanted to load a bunch of songs on it and then have my kids play them shuffled. To load songs on it, it’s as simple as plugging in the USB to your PC and then dragging and dropping your audio files to it. The user interface was pretty easy to use.
AGPTEK claims that this allows for 80 hours of audio playback. I didn’t verify that number; however, I can confirm that it’s impressive.
It includes some mediocre earbuds that (again) were more than fine for my young kids.
I still feel like the AGPTEK options are a bit clunky compared to Sandisk’s options above. However, my kids have really enjoyed using the AGPTEK. Overall, this model seems like a pretty decent deal for the amount you pay. It has a somewhat cheap build quality to it, but the audio sound is better than I thought I’d get with it.
Pros:
- 5 Colors
- Plays MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, APE, and FLAC
- Easy to use menu
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Not great for listening to audiobooks
- No earbuds included
5. Hotechs MP3/MP4 Player
First of all, this is an imported MP3 player and not a name brand. However, I’m featuring this here because some of these are getting pretty good. You may find this exact model under another manufacturer name. That simply means that multiple sellers are trying to sell the same MP3 player from a reseller store like Alibaba to customers on Amazon. So, in that case, go with whatever is cheapest.
In terms of the audio quality, I’d consider this inferior to the SanDisk model above. However, it’s not bad at all and certainly not something that a six or seven-year-old would be concerned with. The main issue I had with this particular MP3 player is that the interface is a little more difficult to use.
That being said I really like the various colors you can get with it (8 in all). And you can regularly find it for just around $20. And once you understand the interface it’s not that big of a deal.
This MP3 player is technically an MP4 player as well and so it can play some video. That’s certainly not the reason I bought it; however, it might be fun to put some small AVI shows or home videos on it.
Included with this are some cheap earbuds that are pretty good for kids. Considering how many of these my kids have broken, I’ll take all of the pairs I can get.
Pros:
- Big enough for younger children
- Lots of colors available
- Plenty of storage (32GB)
- Radio
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Mediocre build and audio quality
- Features don’t always work as expected
Overall, the Hotechs, as well as other similar generic options, are a good option for young children. Over a period of a few years, it’s likely that something like this may break. However, with the price, you’ll be a lot happier that it was this rather than a phone or iPod.
6. GRTDHX MP3 Player
Just as the generic item before, this one has a few options on Amazon that are very similar. Right now though, this is the one with the best price and features. Still, I think you’ll find it a bit clunky compared to the other options above.
This device boasts an FM radio and voice recorder, which kids love. It has a sports armband and earbuds, which makes it perfect for a kid on the go. A pedometer also makes it easy for tracking exercise for kids. Bluetooth functionality is good in theory, but it doesn’t always work well on this machine.
Overall, you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth $50 to pay for a device like this. We’ve seen prices for similar models from $35 to $60. That being said, we’d probably avoid this one. The price is quite a lot compared to other options on this list.
Pros:
- 32GB built-in storage
- Bluetooth 4.0 functionality
- FM radio, voice recorder
- Includes sports armband and earbuds
- Pedometer
Cons:
- Bluetooth doesn’t always work well
- Sound quality isn’t great
7. Soulcker MP3 Player with Bluetooth 4.0
For a kid on the go, the Soulcker MP3 player might be the right option. This player comes with an arm band, so it’s great to use while exercising or playing around. It has a built-in pedometer. Kids can listen either with or without the earbuds, and the Bluetooth connectivity makes it even easier to listen to favorite songs.
The screen on this is well lit and easy to read. However, you have to use the fast forward button to scroll through each song, which can be tedious and tricky especially for young kids.
This unit is 16GB, but you can get an SD card separately to increase the storage capacity. Even with an SD card, the Soulcker can only hold 4000 songs, though the manufacturer claims it can hold more.
Pros:
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Has pedometer
- Small and compact
- Comes with arm band
Cons:
- Heavier than other options
- Earbuds aren’t good quality
- FM radio only works when earbuds are plugged in
8. TIMMKOO MP3 Player
If your child wants more than just a regular MP3 player, check out the TIMMKOO. In addition to playing music, it can record and play back videos. The audio quality is good. Internal storage on this unit is 8GB, but you can purchase a separate SD card and get up to 128GB of storage.
While the manufacturer claims this player has a 30-hour battery life, it is actually closer to 5 or 6 hours. This unit is a good choice for older kids. It is harder to use than some of the other models on this list.
Kids like that the TIMMKOO has a stop watch, calculator, calendar, and FM radio.
Pros:
- 4-inch touch screen
- Video recording capability
- Good sound quality
Cons:
- Less user-friendly than other options
- Radio only works when earbuds are plugged in
- Songs listed alphabetically so you have to scroll through to find song
9. AKAMATE MP3 Player
If you want a good quality music player for kids at an affordable price, the AKAMATE 16GB is a good choice. With 16GB of space built in and another 128GB available (by purchasing a separate micro SD card), your child can store all his favorite songs and more.
Kids love that this player has Bluetooth and a long lasting battery. The AKAMATE 16GB is very compact but still easy to operate. It has a voice recorder and video capabilities. There is no internet capability with this MP3 player.
Pros:
- Bluetooth
- Built-in speakers
- Pedometer
- Video
- FM radio
Cons:
- Poor instruction manual
- Easy to accidentally hit “record” button
10. Apple iPod Touch 7
Ok, ok. I know this doesn’t exactly fit into the “budget” category. However, to make a fair comparison I wanted to include the Apple iPod Touch 7. It is considered to be one of the very best MP3 players for kids, though it is one of the most costly.
This player has all the bells and whistles that older kids love. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities as well as music and games. Kids love that they can use the iPod Touch 7 to text their friends or video chat through FaceTime. A long battery life means lots of time to listen to music, play games, and connect with friends before recharging again.
Kids can take great photos and videos with this device. You can choose between 32GB, 128GB, or 256GB models.
This is a great MP3 player for kids that should last several years. However, it is considerably more expensive than any of the other options on this list. We recommend the Apple iPod Touch 7 for older kids, as it is too complicated for younger children to use without help.
Pros:
- Connects with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Texting and FaceTime capabilities
- Camera
- Good amount of memory
Cons:
- Much more expensive than other players
- Better for older children
Conclusion
Overall, our favorite MP3 music players for kids are the Wiwoo for very young kids and the Sony Walkman or SanDisk for older kiddos. Be aware that some of the players on this list do not come with earbuds. The earbuds that are included with others are generally not great quality. We have reviewed our favorite headphones and earbuds for kids.
