Best KiwiCo Alternatives 2026: 6 Options Compared
Best KiwiCo Alternatives in 2026
KiwiCo sends hands-on STEM and craft projects to your door each month, with different crates tuned to different age tiers from toddlers through teens. The projects are well-designed and genuinely fun. But it's a recurring physical subscription — boxes pile up, projects get finished in an afternoon, and the ongoing cost adds up. Some parents also want more variety day to day, or a way to keep kids busy off-screen without waiting for the next crate to arrive. Here are six alternatives worth comparing, including one that gives you a new activity every day without shipping anything. For a direct look, see the Tovi vs KiwiCo comparison.
Top KiwiCo Alternatives
1. Tovi — Best Overall Alternative
Tovi replaces the monthly box with one personalized off-screen activity every day, built from things you already have at home — no shipping, no waiting, no clutter. Each activity is matched to your child's age, developmental stage, and your family's routine, and it draws on Montessori-inspired practical life and hands-on play rather than pre-packaged kits. Tovi also coaches everyday behavior and routines and tracks developmental milestones, and it spans birth through the teen years — so it grows with your child instead of aging out of a crate tier.
Pricing: Free tier available; premium plan for full features. Best for: Parents who want daily hands-on activities without recurring boxes or clutter.
2. Lovevery — Best for Babies and Toddlers
Lovevery sends thoughtfully designed play kits for young children, from newborns through the preschool years, each stage-matched to what your child is developing at that moment. The materials are high quality and the developmental reasoning behind each toy is clearly explained. It's more focused on early childhood than KiwiCo's wider age range.
Pricing: Subscription; check current pricing. Best for: Parents of babies and toddlers who want stage-based play materials.
3. MEL Science — Best for Serious STEM
MEL Science leans harder into science than KiwiCo, with chemistry, physics, and STEM kits (some paired with app or VR content) for older children. The experiments are more advanced and the science is more rigorous, which suits kids who are genuinely into how things work.
Pricing: Subscription; check current pricing. Best for: Older kids who want deeper, more challenging science experiments.
4. Green Kid Crafts — Best for Arts and Eco Projects
Green Kid Crafts sends craft- and nature-focused boxes with an eco-friendly bent, aimed at roughly ages 2-10. The projects tilt more toward art and creativity than pure STEM, and the sustainability angle appeals to families who care about materials and packaging.
Pricing: Subscription; check current pricing. Best for: Families who want craft-forward, eco-conscious project boxes.
5. Little Passports — Best for Geography and Culture
Little Passports takes a different angle entirely: subscription boxes themed around countries, world cultures, science, and exploration for a range of ages. Instead of a single build, each box tells a story and introduces a place or theme, which works well for curious kids who like learning about the wider world.
Pricing: Subscription; check current pricing. Best for: Kids curious about geography, cultures, and exploration.
6. DIY Projects at Home — Best Completely Free Option
You don't necessarily need a box at all. Free resources like library books, YouTube tutorials, and printable activity guides let you run STEM experiments and crafts using household materials — cardboard, baking soda, string, tape. It takes more planning than a ready-made crate, but the cost is essentially zero.
Pricing: Free (household materials). Best for: Hands-on parents who don't mind sourcing supplies and planning projects themselves.
Quick Comparison
| Option | Age Range | Format | Ongoing | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tovi | Birth–18 | Off-screen daily activities | New activity daily | Free / Premium |
| Lovevery | Birth–4 yrs | Stage-based play kits | Shipped by stage | Subscription (check current pricing) |
| MEL Science | ~5–14 yrs | STEM/science kits | Monthly box | Subscription (check current pricing) |
| Green Kid Crafts | 2–10 yrs | Craft & eco boxes | Monthly box | Subscription (check current pricing) |
| Little Passports | ~3–12 yrs | Geography/culture boxes | Monthly box | Subscription (check current pricing) |
| DIY at home | All ages | Self-sourced projects | As you plan them | Free (materials) |
The Bottom Line
KiwiCo is a great fit if you love the surprise of a monthly box and don't mind the recurring cost and the clutter that comes with it. But if you want more variety day to day, no shipping, or a way to fill screen-free time without waiting for the next crate, there are strong options at every budget. Tovi stands out for parents who want hands-on, developmentally matched activities every single day — built from what's already in your home, with nothing to unbox. Try Tovi free.
Related reads: What is practical life? | What is independent play?