Most unsafe kids apps do not look unsafe. They have a friendly cartoon icon, thousands of downloads, and a high star rating. The warning signs are in the details of the store listing and the first few minutes of play, and once you know what to look for, you can spot a bad app before your child ever opens it. Here are the nine red flags that matter most.
The 9 red flags
1. A "Contains ads" label
The single biggest one. A young child cannot tell an ad from the game and will tap it. If the Google Play listing says "Contains ads," treat it as a serious problem, not a minor one, our guide to checking a game is genuinely ad-free explains how.
2. Aggressive in-app purchases
"In-app purchases" plus reviews mentioning locked content or "my kid spent £40" means the app is designed to sell, not to play. Prefer apps with no in-app purchases at all.
3. It asks for permissions it does not need
A sticker game does not need your contacts, microphone, precise location, or camera. Unnecessary permission requests are a red flag about what the app really wants.
4. The "Data safety" section is alarming
Open it. If a children's app collects and shares data with third parties, walk away. For young children, "no data collected" is the standard to hold out for.
5. Social, chat, or sharing features
Any way for a young child to message strangers, post publicly, or upload content is a risk that outweighs almost any benefit. Look for apps that keep everything on the device.
6. A subscription hidden behind a "free" label
"Free" plus a three-day trial that rolls into a monthly charge is a trap, not a gift. Read the in-app purchase list before installing, not after.
7. Loud, manipulative reward loops
Spinning wheels, "come back daily or lose your streak," confetti after every tap. These borrow from gambling and slot machines to maximise time, not learning.
8. It needs the internet to do simple things
A basic puzzle that will not open in airplane mode is either streaming ads, sending data, or both. A genuinely offline app has nothing to hide.
9. Vague developer, no privacy policy, copycat name
A missing or nonsense privacy policy, a developer with no other apps, or a name that mimics a famous one ("Súper Toca Blocks") all suggest a low-effort or deceptive app.
The green flags of a genuinely safe app
The opposite list is short and clear: no ads, no in-app purchases, works fully offline, collects no data, has no social features, asks for no unnecessary permissions, and simply lets the child play. An app that clears all of those is rare, and worth keeping. Our guides to safe mobile games for kids and apps without subscriptions go deeper.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a kids app is safe before downloading?
Do a two-minute check on the Google Play listing: look for the “Contains ads” and “In-app purchases” labels, open the “Data safety” section to see what the app collects, and skim recent one-star reviews for words like “ads” and “scam.” After installing, play once in airplane mode. Those four quick looks catch almost every unsafe app before your child opens it.
What are the biggest red flags in a children's app?
The most serious are a “Contains ads” label, aggressive in-app purchases, requests for permissions the app does not need (contacts, microphone, location, camera), a Data safety section showing data shared with third parties, and any social, chat, or sharing feature. A subscription hidden behind a “free” label and manipulative daily-reward loops are close behind.
Is a high star rating enough to trust a kids app?
No. A high rating and many downloads say nothing about ads, data practices, purchases, or social features, and ratings can be inflated. Judge an app on its store-page details and its behaviour in the first few minutes, not on stars alone. A genuinely safe app is defined by what it does not do: no ads, no purchases, no data collection, no social features.
What does a genuinely safe kids app look like?
It has no ads, no in-app purchases, works fully offline, collects no data, has no social or sharing features, asks for no unnecessary permissions, and simply lets the child play. Apps that clear every one of those are uncommon, which is exactly why they are worth keeping once you find them, even if they cost a small one-time price.
What all-green flags look like
Sticker Builder is a useful reference for the green-flag list: no ads of any kind, no in-app purchases, no tracking, no social or sharing features, and full offline play. Children ages 2 to 8 simply drag stickers to complete cheerful scenes. It is COPPA compliant and a one-time $1 on Google Play, an example of an app that clears every red flag above and just lets the child play.
Get Sticker Builder on Google Play →