Peko Pal vs Yoto vs a phone
| Feature | Yoto Player |  Peko Pal | A phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | No touchscreen; a small pixel display | None. Buttons and sound. | Touchscreen |
| Stories, podcasts and music | Yes, from cards or the Yoto app | Stories and podcasts stored on the device, plus internet radio. No cards to carry or lose. | Any app |
| Ask about the story | No | In interactive books, they ask a question mid-story and Peko answers | No |
| Lessons | No | On any topic you choose, taught at their level | Learning apps |
| Other apps | Night light, clock and alarm | Night light, recorder, glowlight, walkie-talkie and more, added from the app | Any app |
| Talk with friends and family | No | Voice or text messages and calls with people you approve, on another Pal or in the Peko Pal app on an iPhone or iPad | Anyone, unless you set up controls |
| Walkie-talkie | No | Pal to Pal, with no Wi-Fi needed | No |
| Ask questions out loud | No | Optional AI. You write the rules it follows. | General-purpose AI apps built for adults |
| Make and print things | No | Ask Peko for a coloring page or a story, and print it at home | With apps and a printer |
| Internet | None | No web browser. AI web search uses a kid-safe filter. | The open internet |
| Social media, feeds and ads | None | None | Everywhere |
Yoto features are from yotoplay.com as of October 2026 and can change. Yoto is a trademark of its owner; Peko Pal isn't affiliated with Yoto.
Why Peko Pal is the next step after a Yoto
They get to talk to people
Kids love their stories. They need people too. Voice or text messages and calls with the grandparents, cousins and friends you approve, and a walkie-talkie for the sibling down the hall.
No cards to carry or lose
Stories live on the device. They pick one with the arrows and press play, in the car, at Grandma's or on a plane.
Stories that answer back
In interactive books, they hold the button mid-story and ask a question. Peko knows the story and answers, without spoiling the ending.
Still no screen
Buttons and sound, just like they're used to. You set it all up and keep the guardrails in the Peko Pal app.
Far more than a player
Stories are just the start. You add apps from the Peko Pal app, and new ones keep arriving.
Lessons on any topic
Type a topic and a goal in the Peko Pal app, from times tables to why the seasons happen. Peko finds out where your child is by asking, and teaches from there.
How Lessons work
Make it, then print it
With AI turned on, your child can ask Peko for a coloring page, a story or a calendar, then say "print it" and it comes out of your printer at home.
How printing worksA few of the apps
Browse all apps and stories
Which one fits your family
- Yoto Player
Stay with a Yoto if listening is all they need for now.
- Peko Pal
Choose Peko Pal when they're ready to talk with friends and family on their own, but not ready for a screen.
- A phone
Get a phone or smartwatch when they need to reach you away from home, or you need to see where they are. Peko Pal has no GPS and no cellular radio.
More on how it differs from a phone or tablet: Peko Pal vs a phone or tablet. On safety and privacy: Is Peko Pal safe for kids?