At a glance
| Kadoo | Buddy.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Children aged 4–8 learning English as a new language | US App Store: "voice-based AI tutor for ages 3-8"; its English for kids page: ages 3–7, from "little to no English exposure" (CEFR Pre-A1) to A2 (App Store, buddy.ai) |
| How it teaches | Listening and finding: nearly 1,000 everyday words in 11 places, letters and their sounds, numbers to 100, 48 songs | Conversation with an AI tutor using speech recognition: "more than 1,500 everyday English words and phrases", pronunciation, listening, ABCs and tracing (buddy.ai) |
| Microphone | Not used | Central: "Buddy hears and responds using the latest voice recognition and AI technology" (App Store) |
| Free version | The house, a song, the alphabet and the photo album, for one child, with no time limit | "A free sample of its flashcard learning game" (FAQ) |
| US price | $12.00 a month or $100.99 a year; Family Plus $15.00 or $125.99 | Website: $12.49 a month after a 7-day trial, or $49.99 a year (prices); App Store: $14.99 a month (App Store) |
| Ads | None | None: "100% ad and micro-transaction free" (App Store) |
| Account | None | Optional, recommended after subscribing (FAQ) |
| App Store privacy label | Data Not Collected | Data Linked to You: Purchases, Contact Info, User Content, Usage Data, Diagnostics, Other Data. Data Not Linked to You: Identifiers (App Store) |
| Offline | Yes | Not stated in its official pages |
| Languages for parents | 8 | 9 (App Store) |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac with Apple silicon | iPhone, iPad, Android; "not available on laptops, desktops or smart TVs" (FAQ) |
| US App Store rating | New in October 2026, no ratings yet | 4.60 from 41,819 ratings (App Store) |
Facts about Buddy.ai were seen on 25 October 2026.
Where Buddy.ai is stronger
- Speaking, every day. A child can practice talking in English with a patient character as often as they like, which is hard to arrange otherwise.
- Levels. Its English course is organized by CEFR levels, from beginner to A2.
- Cheaper yearly on the web. $49.99 a year on its website, against Kadoo's $100.99.
- Well rated. 4.6 on the US App Store from tens of thousands of ratings.
Where Kadoo is different
- No microphone, no data. Kadoo never asks for the microphone, camera or location, has no account, and its App Store privacy label is Data Not Collected. Some families want that for a young child; it also means Kadoo can't check pronunciation.
- Listening first. Children connect each English word to the thing it names by finding, feeding or coloring it, which suits shy children and children who aren't ready to speak.
- Guided without words, in your language. The Explorer, the puppy and a little hand show what to do, and grown-ups get help in eight languages.
- Works offline. Every picture, word and song is inside the app.
Which one to choose
If your child is ready to talk and you want speaking practice with feedback, Buddy.ai is designed for exactly that.
If your child is at the very start, quieter, or you'd rather no voice or other data leave the device, Kadoo builds the listening vocabulary that speaking grows from. Our guide on a child who understands English but won't speak it explains why listening often comes first.
Sources
- Buddy.ai on the US App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/buddy-ai-kids-learning-games/id1255783056, seen 25 Oct 2026
- Buddy.ai website: English for kids, prices, FAQ, seen 25 Oct 2026
- Kadoo: the App Store and Kadoo's questions and answers
We recheck this page every three months. If something here is out of date, write to kadoo@inoviatech.io and we'll correct it.
