A guide for parents
Quiz apps for kids: what parents should look for
A good quiz makes children curious and quietly builds knowledge and reading skills along the way. But not every app that looks educational is a good choice for kids. These points help you find a suitable app in just a few minutes.
The checklist
If an app answers these seven questions well, you can relax and let your child play.
Does the app show ads?
Ads are distracting, can lead out of the app with a single tap and are often not recognisable as ads to children. The App Store has no dedicated ad label – but the “App Privacy” section gives a clue: if it lists “Third-Party Advertising” as a purpose, the app shows ads. A quick look at the reviews usually tells you too.
How do purchases work?
Many free apps make money through in-app purchases. What matters is that your child can’t buy anything by accident: purchases should sit behind a parental gate, such as a maths problem that pre-schoolers can’t solve. One-time purchases are usually fairer than subscriptions, because nothing keeps running unnoticed.
What data does the app collect?
Every app page in the App Store has an “App Privacy” section that shows which data is collected and whether it is used for tracking. For kids’ apps: the less, the better. An app that needs no account and works offline almost always has the edge here.
Is the app right for my child’s age?
The App Store age rating (4+, 9+, 13+ …) only tells you whether content is harmless – not whether it suits your child’s level. Good kids’ quizzes distinguish between age groups, so six-year-olds don’t struggle with questions meant for twelve-year-olds and older children don’t get bored.
Can my child play alone yet?
For early readers, a read-aloud feature is worth its weight in gold: a button reads the question out, and your child can still answer independently. Without it, the quiz quickly becomes a job for the parents.
How does the app keep children motivated?
Collectible rewards such as stickers or badges are great motivators. Be wary of mechanics that create pressure: time limits that push towards a purchase, gambling-like loot boxes or messages like “You’re about to lose your streak!”. Wrong answers should be resolved kindly, not punished.
Is the app in the Kids category?
Apps in Apple’s Kids category have to meet stricter rules: as a rule no third-party advertising or analytics, and purchases or links out of the app only behind a parental gate. That’s no seal of quality for the content, but it’s a good sign of a child-friendly approach.
Also worth doing: the right settings on iPhone and iPad
- Turn on Ask to Buy: with Family Sharing, you can require children to ask for permission before every purchase.
- Block in-app purchases: under Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases you can switch in-app purchases off entirely.
- Set screen time: with App Limits you decide how long games may be played each day – regardless of what the app itself allows.
- Start together: play the first few rounds with your child. That way you can see for yourself how the app handles mistakes and whether the questions fit.
An example
How we do it in Quizerra Kids
We built Quizerra Kids around exactly these points – and we’re open about where the app makes money:
- No ads, no tracking, no analytics tools – the app is in Apple’s Kids category
- No account, no sign-up; the app works completely offline
- Two age levels (6 to 8 and 9 to 12) with a read-aloud button for early readers
- Stickers for the album as a reward, friendly feedback on wrong answers
- Four categories are free forever; more can be unlocked with a one-time purchase – only behind a parental gate
Frequently asked questions
From what age do quiz apps make sense?
As soon as children can handle pictures, symbols and questions that are read aloud – usually from around five or six. With a read-aloud feature, children who don’t yet read fluently can join in too.
Are free kids’ apps safe?
Free doesn’t mean nobody pays: many free apps are funded by ads or data. Ad-free apps with a one-time purchase behind a parental gate are usually the better choice for children.
How can I tell whether an app collects data?
From the “App Privacy” section on the app’s App Store page and from the developer’s privacy policy. If it says “Data Not Collected”, or if the app works without an account and offline, that’s a good sign.