By
Michaël Maarek
Yoto or Toniebox? Both are screen-free audio players that a small child can run alone: a card slides into a Yoto, a figure sits on top of a Toniebox, and the story starts. We have lived with both at home, a Yoto Mini 4th Gen with a four-year-old girl and a Toniebox 2 (after a year with the Toniebox 1) with a four-year-old boy, and compared every Yoto and tonies model you can still find in the UK.
The short answer: under three, or a child who loves collecting characters, choose the Toniebox 2. From three, for the car, travel and a child who carries their player everywhere, choose the Yoto Mini 4th Gen. For a bedroom player with a night light and a better speaker, choose the Yoto Player 4th Gen.
Our picks
- Best for toddlers and bedtime: Toniebox 2 (£104.99). Certified from age 1, soft and squeezable, sleep light and sunrise alarm, Tonieplay games. Our score: 9/10.
- Best for the car and travel: Yoto Mini 4th Gen (£89.99). Pocket-sized, IP67 water resistant, up to 16 hours of battery, cheaper cards. Our score: 8.5/10.
- Best bedroom player: Yoto Player 4th Gen (£119.99). Stereo speaker, full-panel night light, okay-to-wake light, wireless charging.
- Best on a budget: Toniebox Lite (from £59.99). Plays every Tonie and works with Bluetooth headphones, without the games or the sunrise alarm.
How we chose: 7 models analysed, 2 tested hands-on
We looked at the seven Yoto and tonies players a UK parent can still find: Yoto Mini 4th Gen, Yoto Mini (2024), Yoto Player 4th Gen, Yoto Player 3rd Gen, Toniebox 2, Toniebox Lite and Toniebox 1. Two of them went through a full test at home:
- Yoto Mini 4th Gen, bought with our own money for our daughter’s fourth birthday and tested by Michaël, mainly in the car and around the house. Read the full Yoto Mini review.
- Toniebox 2, tested by Coralie with her four-year-old son, who had already used a Toniebox 1 every day for a year, so he could compare the two generations. Read the full Toniebox 2 review.
For the other five models we read the brands’ UK product pages, technical specifications and support pages, and compared them with what our two tests taught us. Prices below are the usual UK prices on the brands’ own sites, not sale prices.
What our testing taught us
Both systems pass the test that matters most: the child understands it straight away and does not need you.
“Children understand the principle straight away: put the card in, the story plays. There is nothing to explain: she was choosing and swapping her own cards straight away.”
Michaël, Yoto Mini 4th Gen
“For a year now the Toniebox has come everywhere with us: at home, in the car, on holiday and even at the breakfast table!”
Coralie, Toniebox 2
The differences show up after a few weeks, and they gave us the four criteria we used to judge the other models:
- The age of the child. The Toniebox 2 is certified from age 1, with a 1+ mode that stops it playing while it charges. Yoto rates all its players from age 3. Under three, this alone decides it.
- Where it will live. The Yoto Mini disappeared into a handbag and a car seat. The Toniebox 2, at 815g, lives on a bedside table and travels in a bag. Its sleep light and sunrise alarm earned their place in a bedtime routine; the Mini has no night light at all.
- What the content really costs. The player is the cheapest part. A Tonie usually costs £14.99, most Yoto cards £5.99 to £12.99, so after five or six stories the gap is bigger than the gap between the players.
- Recording your own audio. This was the Yoto’s best moment in our test: a card of grandparents’ voice messages from France. Yoto’s blank cards cost far less than a Creative Tonie (see the cost table below).
“Now my daughter puts that card in whenever she wants to hear grandma and grandpa. It warms her heart.”
Michaël, about Yoto’s Make Your Own cards
Yoto vs Toniebox: comparison table
| Model | Usual UK price | Age (brand) | Battery (brand figure) | Headphones | Bedtime light | Water resistance | Our test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toniebox 2 | £104.99 | 1+ | Up to 9 hours | Bluetooth (wired with USB-C adapter) | Sleep light and sunrise alarm | Not stated | 9/10 |
| Yoto Mini 4th Gen | £89.99 | 3+ | Up to 16 hours | 3.5mm and Bluetooth | No | IP67 | 8.5/10 |
| Yoto Player 4th Gen | £119.99 | 3+ | Up to 16 hours | 3.5mm and Bluetooth | Full-panel night light, okay-to-wake | No | Compared |
| Toniebox Lite | from £59.99 | 1 to 12+ | Up to 6 hours | Bluetooth | Sleep timer only | Not stated | Compared |
| Yoto Mini (2024) | £64.99 | 3+ | Up to 14 hours | 3.5mm | No | No | Compared |
| Yoto Player 3rd Gen | No longer sold by Yoto UK, retailer stock only | 3+ | Up to 24 hours | 3.5mm and Bluetooth | Light ring | No | Compared |
| Toniebox 1 | No longer sold by tonies UK | 3+ | Up to 7 hours | Wired | No | Not stated | Used daily for a year |
Sources: Yoto UK and tonies UK product and support pages, our two tests.
1. Toniebox 2: best for toddlers and bedtime
Who it’s for: children from age 1, families who want help with bedtime and wake-up, and children who love collecting characters.
The Toniebox 2 keeps the soft cube and the ears of the first version: squeeze an ear for volume, tap the box to skip, put a figure on top to play. What changes is everything around it: USB-C charging instead of a dock, Bluetooth headphones, 32GB of storage instead of 8GB, and a Sleep Timer with Light and Sunrise Alarm that Coralie used every day.
“I tested these features with my son and I really like them! They help us guide his bedtime and wake-up routine gently.”
Coralie, Toniebox 2
It is also the only player here with games. Tonieplay turns the box into a game board with a disc on top and a small controller: Paw Patrol and Bluey games start at age 3, Monopoly Real Estate Rush at 7. Our son, at four, was too young for Monopoly, so check the age on each game.
Pros
- Certified from age 1, with a 1+ mode in the app
- Soft fabric shell that survives being dropped and squeezed
- Sleep Timer with Light and Sunrise Alarm
- Bluetooth headphones and USB-C charging
- Tonieplay games, a first for this kind of player
- Every Tonie from the Toniebox 1 still works
Cons
- Figures usually cost £14.99, more than a Yoto card
- No plug in the box and a 22cm cable (tonies says the short cable is a child safety requirement for ages 1 and over)
- Shorter battery life than a Yoto: up to 9 hours according to tonies
- Tonieplay controller and games sold separately
Price: £104.99 for the box on tonies.com; £109.99 for the Starter Set with a Bluey Tonie. Tonies usually £14.99, Creative Tonie £14.99, Tonieplay controller £12.99, most games £19.99.
See the Toniebox 2 on tonies.com
2. Yoto Mini 4th Gen: best for the car and travel
Who it’s for: children from about three, car journeys and holidays, families who limit screens, and families with relatives far away who want to record stories and messages.
At 7.5 × 7 × 5cm and 185g, the Mini fits in a child’s hand. The 4th Gen is the first Mini with IP67 water and dust resistance, it doubles the storage to 64GB, and it adds a green button that plays a child’s favourite titles without a card. Michaël was surprised by the sound: clear voices and plenty of volume for a car or a bedroom, though it is no music speaker.
The one learning curve is for adults. Two orange knobs and a green button that both turns and presses take a few minutes to decode.
“Lots of buttons that turn and press: on day one I found myself twisting everything to see what happened.”
Michaël, Yoto Mini 4th Gen
Pros
- Tiny, light and IP67 water and dust resistant
- Up to 16 hours of battery according to Yoto
- Excellent sound for its size
- Make Your Own cards to record family voices
- Free Yoto Daily podcast, Yoto Radio and sleep sounds in the app
- Works offline once a card has been played on Wi-Fi
Cons
- Controls confusing for adults at first
- No night light
- Rated from age 3 by Yoto
- Some interactive cards and the Bluetooth speaker mode were not available on 4th Gen players at launch
Price: £89.99 on the Yoto UK site. Cards mostly £5.99 to £12.99, Make Your Own cards £19.99 for 10, card case £24.99.
3. Yoto Player 4th Gen: best bedroom player
Who it’s for: a player that stays in the bedroom, children who need an okay-to-wake light, and families who play music as much as stories.
The Player shares the Mini’s brain: the same cards, the green button, 64GB of storage, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth headphones. It adds what the Mini lacks: a 5W stereo speaker, a full-panel night light, an okay-to-wake light and wireless charging. The trade-off is size and the lack of water resistance. Judged against our Mini test, it is the better Yoto for a bedside table; the Mini is the better one for everything else.
Pros: stereo sound, night light and okay-to-wake, wireless charging, same cards as the Mini.
Cons: the most expensive player here, bigger, not water resistant, rated from age 3.
Price: £119.99 on the Yoto UK site.
See the Yoto Player on Yoto UK
4. Toniebox Lite: best on a budget
Who it’s for: families who want the Tonies world for less, or a second, compact box for trips.
The Toniebox Lite went on sale in the UK in October 2026. It plays every Tonie, including Creative Tonies, has a sleep timer and works with Bluetooth headphones. Compared with the Toniebox 2 we tested, it gives up Tonieplay, the Sunrise Alarm and the soft fabric shell (it has a hard shell), and tonies quotes up to 6 hours of battery. No charging cable or cover comes in the box.
Pros: the cheapest way into Tonies, plays every figure, Bluetooth headphones.
Cons: no Tonieplay, no sunrise alarm, shorter battery life, cable sold separately.
Price: from £59.99 on tonies.com.
See the Toniebox Lite on tonies.com
5. Older models: Yoto Mini (2024), Yoto Player 3rd Gen and Toniebox 1
- Yoto Mini (2024), £64.99 and still sold by Yoto: no green button, 32GB, a 3W mono speaker, up to 14 hours of battery and no IP rating, but it supports interactive cards and the Bluetooth speaker mode. A good buy while stocks last if budget matters more than water resistance.
- Yoto Player 3rd Gen: no longer sold on the Yoto UK site, but some retailers are clearing their stock. A proven bedroom player with a light ring, a Bluetooth speaker mode and the same cards. No green button and older hardware.
- Toniebox 1: no longer sold in tonies’ UK store. If you already own one and your child is over three, Coralie’s advice is that there is no rush to upgrade: every figure keeps working.
Yoto vs Toniebox: the differences that matter
| Yoto | Toniebox | |
|---|---|---|
| Youngest age (brand) | 3 | 1 (Toniebox 2 and Lite) |
| Content | Flat NFC cards | Collectable figures |
| Usual price of a story | Mostly £5.99 to £12.99 a card | £14.99 a Tonie |
| Record your own | Make Your Own cards, £19.99 for 10 | Creative Tonie, £14.99 |
| Free content | Yoto Daily, Yoto Radio, sleep sounds | Some free content in the tonies app |
| Subscription | Optional Yoto Club, from £3.99 a month | None |
| Games | Interactive cards (not yet on all 4th Gen players) | Tonieplay (Toniebox 2 only) |
| Most portable | Yoto Mini: 185g, IP67 | Toniebox Lite: hard shell |
| Best at bedtime | Yoto Player: night light, okay-to-wake | Toniebox 2: sleep light, sunrise alarm |
| Storage | Cards in a flat case | Figures on a shelf |
Our two testers reached the same conclusion from opposite sides. Michaël chose the Mini for a four-year-old who listens in the car; he would think harder about a Toniebox for a toddler. Coralie calls the Toniebox 2 the only one designed from age 1 and the only one with games, but notes that every new story means buying another figure.
What does a Yoto or a Toniebox really cost?
The player is the cheapest part of the habit. Here is a like-for-like first-year budget: the player plus five stories, at the brands’ usual UK prices.
| Player | Player price | 5 stories | First year | Extras worth budgeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoto Mini 4th Gen | £89.99 | about £40 (five cards at around £8) | about £130 | Card case £24.99, Adventure Jacket |
| Yoto Player 4th Gen | £119.99 | about £40 (five cards at around £8) | about £160 | Card case £24.99 |
| Toniebox 2 | £104.99 | £74.95 (5 × £14.99) | about £180 | USB plug if you have none (£12.99 for the tonies charger), Tonieplay |
| Toniebox Lite | from £59.99 | £74.95 (5 × £14.99) | about £135 | USB-C cable and plug |
Two things change the maths. First, recording your own audio: ten blank Yoto cards cost £19.99 for 10, while each Creative Tonie costs £14.99. Second, free content: the Yoto app’s daily podcast and radio stations fill the gaps between new cards. Over a few years, a Yoto library usually costs less; a Tonies shelf is more of a collection, and children love it for that.
Tips before you buy
- Play everything once at home. Both players download the audio the first time a card or Tonie is used. Do it on Wi-Fi before a long journey and the content plays offline in the car or on a plane.
- Set limits in the app. Both apps let you cap the volume. Yoto adds separate day and night settings; tonies adds a 1+ mode for toddlers.
- Check the plug. Neither the Yoto Mini nor the Toniebox 2 comes with a wall plug. tonies asks for a certified Class II 5V charger.
- Check the age on each piece of content. The Toniebox 2 is certified from age 1, but many Tonies carry a “not suitable for children under 36 months” warning and some Tonieplay games are rated 5+ or 7+. For toddlers, choose figures marked 1+, such as My First Tonies.
- Budget for storage. A card case kept our Yoto cards together; Tonies tend to end up on a shelf.
- Buying second-hand? In 2024 Yoto recalled Yoto Minis made between 2021 and 2023 because the battery could overheat while charging. Check the serial number on Yoto’s recall page. The 4th Gen is not concerned.
Frequently asked questions
Yoto vs Toniebox: your questions answered
Which is better, Yoto or Toniebox?
Neither wins on every point. The Toniebox 2 is better for children under three and for bedtime routines, with figures toddlers love to handle. A Yoto is better from age three for portability, cheaper content and recording your own audio. We scored the Toniebox 2 9/10 and the Yoto Mini 4th Gen 8.5/10.
Is Yoto cheaper than Tonies?
The players cost about the same, but the content does not. Most Yoto cards cost £5.99 to £12.99 and a Tonie usually £14.99. With five stories, a Yoto Mini comes to about £130 in the first year and a Toniebox 2 to about £180.
Is Yoto or Toniebox better for a 2 year old?
The Toniebox 2. It is certified from age 1 and has a 1+ mode, while Yoto recommends its players from age 3, with an adult handling the device for younger children.
Is 8 too old for a Toniebox?
Not necessarily: tonies says the Toniebox suits children up to 12 and over, and Tonieplay board games such as Monopoly are rated 7+. Older children often prefer a Yoto, though, for longer audiobooks, podcasts and music.
What’s best, Yoto or Yoto Mini?
The Yoto Mini for the car, travel and a child who carries it around: it is small and IP67 water resistant. The Yoto Player for a bedroom: stereo sound, a night light and an okay-to-wake light. Both play the same cards.
What’s the difference between the Toniebox 1 and the Toniebox 2?
The Toniebox 2 charges over USB-C, works with Bluetooth headphones, has a sleep light and sunrise alarm, plays Tonieplay games, has 32GB of storage instead of 8GB and is certified from age 1 instead of 3. Every Tonie works on both.
Do Tonies work on a Yoto, or Yoto cards on a Toniebox?
No. Tonies only play on Tonieboxes and Yoto cards only on Yoto players. Within each brand, content works across models, apart from Tonieplay games (Toniebox 2 only) and some interactive cards on 4th Gen Yoto players.
Do Yoto and Toniebox work without Wi-Fi?
Yes, once the content has been downloaded. Each card or Tonie needs Wi-Fi the first time it is played; after that it plays offline. Radio stations and some podcasts on Yoto need a connection.
Can you record your own stories?
Yes, on both. Yoto Make Your Own cards hold up to 100 tracks each and cost £19.99 for 10. A Creative Tonie holds up to 90 minutes and costs £14.99.
Do you need a subscription?
No. Yoto Club is optional, from £3.99 a month, and renews automatically. tonies has no subscription: you buy figures one by one.
Which has the better battery life?
Yoto. Yoto quotes up to 16 hours for the Mini 4th Gen and the Player 4th Gen. tonies quotes up to 9 hours for the Toniebox 2 and up to 6 hours for the Toniebox Lite.
Can you use headphones with a Yoto or a Toniebox?
Yes. Yoto 4th Gen players take wired 3.5mm and Bluetooth headphones. The Toniebox 2 and Lite take Bluetooth headphones; wired ones need a USB-C to AUX adapter on the Toniebox 2.
Is the Yoto Mini safe after the recall?
The 2024 recall concerned Yoto Minis made between 2021 and 2023, whose battery could overheat while charging. Yoto offered a fix and a free battery replacement kit. The 4th Gen Mini is not concerned. If you buy second-hand, check the serial number on Yoto’s recall page.
Our verdict
Choose by the child, not by the brand. For a one or two-year-old, or a child who will treasure a shelf of characters, the Toniebox 2 is the easiest and gentlest first player, and its sleep features help at bedtime. From three, if the player will go in the car, on holiday or in a coat pocket, the Yoto Mini 4th Gen is the one we would buy again: tough, tiny, with cheaper cards and the best way to bring faraway family into a child’s day. If it will stay by the bed, the Yoto Player 4th Gen does the job of a night light and an okay-to-wake clock too.
Looking for more ideas for children? Browse our pick of kids subscription boxes, book subscription boxes and our page on Yoto Club.
Update log and sources
- 12 November 2026: guide published. Prices checked on the Yoto UK and tonies UK websites.
Sources: our Yoto Mini 4th Gen review and Toniebox 2 review; Yoto UK product pages and technical specifications; tonies UK product, accessory and support pages; Yoto’s recall notice and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Questions & reviews
Have a question about this box?
Share a question, opinion or experience. Our team reads every message and will reply.