We bought Tonie boxes for the kids and they have enjoyed them immensely. There is another audio book product available called Yoto that I wanted to get to compare to the Toniebox. And then there’s the Yoto Mini, which is a smaller version of the Yoto. Tonie box vs. Yoto vs. Yoto Mini… which is the best??
This guide breaks down the pros and cons (and costs!) of each, so you can decide for yourself which one might be right for you and your family. If you’re looking for a screen-free alternative, both are really great products. Though I believe one is much better for the 5+ age group vs. the other. Read on to find out if you should buy a Tonie box or Yoto audio player!
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Cost comparison of Tonie Boxes vs. Yoto Mini Audio Player
Tonieboxes will cost around $99.99 with one Tonie (or story), while the original/full size Yoto is $119.99 and Yoto Mini will cost you $69.99. Keep in mind that the stories (Tonies or Yoto cards) are additional costs, ranging from $3.99 to $19.99 depending on the brand (like Disney content vs. Nickelodeon) and story.
Which has the better bang for your buck? While this depends on the age of your kids and what they like better, we’re going to say overall with all other things equal: The Yoto Mini is a better buy!
Ease of Use – Tonie Box vs. Yoto Mini Player
Neither the Toniebox nor the Yoto (or Yoto Mini, for that matter) is very difficult to use. The Toniebox uses two ear-shaped buttons for increasing and decreasing volume, while the Yoto has buttons you twist. Tonie has some nuances, like tapping the box on the sides can forward and rewind the stories. Both have a charging cord and don’t use individual batteries. For the kids, both seem equally easy to use. For younger kids, Toniebox is easiest to use. It helps that the kids can also use the figurines as little toys on their own!
The winner? Both, depending on age. For ages 4 and under who might not have the fine motor to insert a card, Tonies win. Age 5 could go either way. For ages 6+ I would skip the Toniebox and go straight to the Yoto Mini!
I have a blog post reviewing the Toniebox alone, and if you’ve read that already then you know we bought Tonieboxes for our kids at ages 2 and 5. It was a great buy at the time for those ages. My 5 year old loved her Toniebox, and my 2 year old really liked his for traveling. Read my in depth Toniebox review >
Which is best for travel?
We travel with our Tonieboxes a lot. BUT there are a few considerations here that I think are important to share.
- The Toniebox feels large in small hands. For our 3 year old and 5 year old, for example, the Toniebox was enough for them to hold without having to also hold on a Tonie. Tonies are magnetic and stick to the box, but if they drop the box then the Tonie goes down too, and the story stops. Our kids each choose a few Tonies to keep in their car seat cup holders but there isn’t a great place for the box to go.
- Yoto’s travel case is a much better setup than Toniebox’s for traveling by airplane. Part of the reasoning for this is that it’s much smaller, it holds more cards vs. Tonies (thus, more stories). In the Yoto travel case you can fit 30 cards! And one odd nuance of the Toniebox travel case… We have this travel case and when you close it, the Tonies are close enough to the top of the box that a random one will start to play once you close and zip the case.
- The Yoto Mini is perfect for travel. The cards stack nicely so that they kids can keep a few extras AND the Yoto Mini in their car seat cup holder. This means the kids don’t have to hold onto the player or the cards. If they drop the Mini, the story still plays because the card is inserted into the Yoto. The travel case holds multiple cards and the Yoto.
The winner for travel? Yoto Mini!
Comparison chart of features: Toniebox vs. Yoto vs. Yoto Mini
This comparison chart is to show you which features each has.
| Tonie Box | Yoto | Yoto Mini | |
| Create your own content | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Clock | x | ✔ | x |
| Headphone jack | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Volume controls | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Padded for drops/falls | ✔ | x | x |
| Alarm clock/okay to wake clock | x | ✔ | x |
| Radio option | x | ✔ | ✔ |
| Night light | x | ✔ | x |
| Noise machine (white noise) | x | ✔ | x |
| Recommended age (retailer) | 3+ | 3+ | 0+ |
| Cost for the player | $99.99 | $119.99 | $69.99 |
Do you have one of these? What’s your favorite, if you’ve tried more than one?
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