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AI tools for kids aren't one category. Chat assistants, coding tools, tutors and creative apps each do a different job, with different age rules and parent controls. Comparisons include ChatGPT, Gemini, Character.AI, Askie (a companion AI), Khanmigo, Scratch, Replit and Cursor. Find the comparison that matches what your child wants to do.
Categories
Each category does a different job. Knowing which one your child needs is the first step in comparing.
Answer questions, explain topics and help with writing. Examples: ChatGPT, Gemini, Character.AI, HeyOtto.
Compare: what parents can seeFrom block coding to AI that writes real code. Examples: Scratch, Replit, Cursor, HeyOtto Code.
Compare: age rules and where code runsGuide learners through problems step by step. Examples: Khanmigo, ChatGPT study mode, HeyOtto.
Compare: explains vs answersMake images, stories, presentations and graphics. Examples: Canva, HeyOtto.
Compare: age rules for AI featuresAI chat and assistants
General-purpose AI that answers questions and helps with writing and ideas. The biggest differences are age rules and whether parents can see conversations.
A general AI with a teen mode vs AI built for kids.
Read the comparisonFamily Link controls vs a parent dashboard.
Read the comparisonRoleplay chat vs AI built for learning.
Read the comparisonA companion AI chat vs safer general purpose AI for kids.
Read the comparisonCoding tools
Coding tools range from visual blocks to professional AI editors. Age rules, AI help and where projects run vary the most.
Five coding tools compared by age and goal.
Read the guideVisual blocks vs real code with AI help.
Read the comparisonLearning to build vs launching real apps.
Read the comparisonAn 18+ pro editor vs coding built for kids.
Read the comparisonGuides by age
Guides that cover several categories at once, including tutors like Khanmigo and creative tools like Canva.
Four tools compared for younger kids.
Read the guideOptions when ChatGPT is not allowed.
Read the guideSix tools, with parental controls compared.
Read the guideThree types of controls, explained.
Read the guideAt a glance
What each tool is, who it is for, and what parents can see, from each provider's own pages. Listed A to Z.
| Tool | What it is and who it is for | What parents can see |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | Design platform with AI tools. AI features are 13+, or younger through Canva Education. | No parent controls described for personal accounts; AI prompts are moderated. |
| ChatGPT | General AI assistant. Not for under 13; a parent's permission for 13–17, with a teen experience. | Optional linked controls like quiet hours. Parents can't read conversations. |
| Cursor | AI code editor for professional developers. Terms require users to be 18+. | No parent controls; built for adults. |
| Gemini | Google's general AI assistant. Under-13 access through Family Link. | Parents can turn it on or off for under-13s. Reading chats isn't described. |
| HeyOtto | AI platform for kids and teens 8–18: chat, homework help, creating and coding. | Parent owns the account, reads conversations and gets real-time alerts. |
| Khanmigo | Khan Academy's AI tutor, from elementary school to college. | Parent accounts see chat history and moderation alerts. |
| Replit | Platform for building and launching apps with AI. 13+, a parent's permission under 18. | No parent dashboard described; the teen owns the account. |
| Scratch | Free block-based coding from MIT, mainly for ages 8–16. No AI. | Moderated community; no parent monitoring tools described. |
How we compare
The same six questions run through every comparison. Use them for any tool, including ones we haven't covered.
The minimum age in the provider's terms, and whether a parent must consent.
Chat, coding, tutoring or creating. Tools built for one job do it differently.
Read conversations, get alerts, or only manage settings?
Does it explain and ask questions, or hand over answers?
What is collected, how long it is kept and whether it trains AI.
Clear documentation on safeguards and what they miss.
FAQ
Straight answers for parents comparing AI tools for kids and teens.
Mostly four: general AI chat assistants, coding tools, tutors and homework helpers, and creative or design tools. Many kids use more than one, and each has different age rules and parent controls.
Of the tools compared here, HeyOtto and Khanmigo. ChatGPT's parental controls don't show conversations, and Gemini, Canva and Replit don't describe it.
It depends on the tool. ChatGPT, Canva's AI features and Replit are 13+. Cursor is 18+. Gemini allows under-13s through Family Link. Scratch is mainly for 8–16, and HeyOtto is built for 8–18.
HeyOtto publishes them and includes its own product. Each comparison links the other provider's own help pages and terms, and shows the date we checked them.
We recheck each provider's policies when we update a page, and show the check date on it. Policies change, so confirm the details with the provider before signing up.
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Mostly four: general AI chat assistants, coding tools, tutors and homework helpers, and creative or design tools. Many kids use more than one, and each has different age rules and parent controls.
Still need a hand?
Start with what your child wants to do, check the age rules, and choose the level of parent visibility that fits your family.
