Augmented reality apps are just cool. And we’ve shown you some educational AR apps along with those to help you spruce up your living space. So why not let the kiddos in on the fun?
Here are some terrific iPhone and iPad AR apps for kids. They let your little one experience technology in a unique way with objects and characters they feel like they can reach out and touch. Heck, you might have as much fun with these apps as they do!
AR apps for kids
We’ve chosen the best AR apps that are free with optional in-app purchases. This lets you see if your child enjoys the augmented reality stories and games before you spend a dime. They’re listed in no particular order.
‎Thomas & Friends Minis
Thomas the train is a favorite for many kids and with this enjoyable AR app, your child becomes a builder. Assemble the train tracks, add houses and trees around it, and paint the ground with snow, grass, or water.
When the train tracks are built and ready for business, put them to work with augmented reality. You place the platform with your creation on a flat surface and watch it go!
For a fun train track building game with your favorite railroad character, your boy or girl can have fun with or without the AR option.
- Availability: iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Cost: Free with in-app purchases for additional train sets.
Color Quest AR
If your child likes to color pictures, then they’ll love Color Quest AR. Create a cute and colorful character and then watch it come to life with augmented reality. You can both watch as the characters dance around and even join in the fun!
This coloring app has a healthy theme which makes it even better. Color fruits and vegetables, get quick health facts, and keep coloring to unlock more characters and bonus games.
Why not let your little one see the characters they color come alive before their eyes? Color Quest AR is an enjoyable apps with extras you’ll both enjoy.
- Availability: iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Cost: Free with in-app purchases for additional pictures to color
Do Not Touch (by Nickelodeon)
Do Not Touch (by Nickelodeon) is a definite must-try AR app for your child. Just put the Do Not Touch button on a flat surface and then, of course, touch it! Press the button for fun surprises and games.
You might get a balloon animal doing something silly, a group of cartoon eyeballs coming to greet you, or a game of whack-a-mole with a colorful monster.
You can customize the button with a neat theme and see some of your favorite Nickelodeon characters. Do Not Touch is completely free without worries of in-app purchases, so check it out!
- Availability: iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Cost: Free
Wonderscope
For immersive stories that your child becomes a part of, take a look at Wonderscope. Using augmented reality, you’ll see cute characters and amazing locations right in your living room. Then guide the characters through their journeys by speaking what’s shown on the screen.
Join Clio’s Cosmic Quest for free and see how enjoyable an interactive AR story can be. Follow Clio through the portal in space and interact with her and other characters in the story.
If you and your child like Wonderscope, there are plenty of additional stories to pick from with in-app purchases. Wonderscope is definitely worth checking out for the little one in your life.
- Availability: iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Cost: Free with in-app purchases for additional stories
Avo!
Avo! is a very unique and entertaining app that the whole family can enjoy. You’ll guide Avo through his environment by drawing lines where you want him to walk. Pick up the magical beans along the way to earn points for buying things like glasses and clothes.
Play in AR mode and customize the buttons for what you’d like Avo to do like dance, wave, or jump for joy. You can even snap photos or record video as Avo plays on the floor in front of you.
With Avo!, you get the first two episodes for free. If you’d like to continue the journey which takes Avo to a magical world, solving mysteries, and helping his inventor Billie, you can do so via the in-app purchases.
If you want an awesome experience that everyone in your family can enjoy, take Avo! for a spin!
- Availability: iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Cost: Free with in-app purchases for additional episodes
Wrapping it up
AR apps for kids come in all forms from coloring to stories to games. So hopefully there’s one or more on this list your child will enjoy, and maybe you too! Let us know if you have an augmented reality app for children that you’d like to recommend in the comments below!
For more apps your child might like, check out these coding apps for children or these apps for kids to build healthy habits.