Tech startup KidsPod has launched a mobile app with podcasts for kids to fill a gap in the market.

Targeting kids ages three to 13, the new KidsPod app has a catalogue of more than 300 podcasts on topics ranging from science to bedtime stories, including Brains on! (APM Studios), Wow in the World (Tinkercast), Greeking Out (National Geographic Kids) and The Past and the Curious (Mick Sullivan). 

In beta since April, the app launched yesterday, offering a free subscription that allows kids to access all the audio, as well as a paid option (US$34.99 per year) with additional features such as personal profiles, a favorites library, offline listening playlists and a podcast-related coloring book. 

To date, the podcast industry has largely overlooked the kids market, resulting in a lack of diverse audio content for kids, says KidsPod founder Jessica Ray. “The podcast world was built for adults, so kids content creators ended up creating their own distribution channels to be able to reach their audience. But that leaves families with only niche, premium options.”

KidsPod aims to fill the gap by offering a cheaper alternative to major podcast platforms, while also providing a safe and interactive space for families, says Ray, adding that her current focus is on building awareness for the app before acquiring more content. 

A recent Kids Listen report found that kids and parents regularly listen to podcasts together. The majority (70%) of adults listen to podcasts with their kids at least three times a week, and 48% do so daily, Kids Listen found.