The Toniebox is a soft cube: put a figurine on top and it plays a story or songs. It is robust, intuitive and loved by toddlers. Ted is a teddy bear your child can talk with. They are built for different moments, and often for different ages.
Side by side
| Toniebox 2 | Ted | |
|---|---|---|
| What the child does | Places a figurine and listens | Talks, asks questions, co-creates stories |
| Recommended age | From 1 year | From 3 years |
| Content | Figurines sold separately (around $19.99 each in the US) | Invented live, nothing to buy |
| Subscription | None | None |
| Screen or camera | No | No |
| Internet | Needed for setup, plays offline afterwards | Wi-Fi needed |
| Languages | Depends on the figurines | More than 60, set by the parent in the app |
| Listening mode | Not applicable, it does not listen | Automatic listening or push to talk |
Toniebox figures from US retail pricing and independent reviews, September 2026. A cheaper Toniebox Lite launched in August 2026.
When the Toniebox is the right choice
For a one or two year old, the Toniebox is hard to beat: nothing to say, nothing to set up once registered, and it plays offline. If your child is under 3, we would point you there first.
When Ted is the right choice
- Your child is 3 or older and full of questions. Ted answers them, within the guardrails you set.
- You want them to speak, not only listen. Telling a story out loud, choosing words, explaining an idea: that is language practice.
- The figurine budget keeps growing. With Ted, the stories are made up on the spot, so there is nothing to collect.
- Your home is bilingual. Ted speaks over 60 languages. You change the language in the parent app.
Privacy and control
Parents stay in control through a mobile app: language, volume, listening mode and guardrails. With push to talk, Ted only listens when your child decides. Ted has no camera, does not store your child's voice and does not recognise voices. Data is hosted in Frankfurt. See our safety page.
Questions parents ask
Can Ted play my child's favourite songs like a Toniebox?
Ted is built for conversation and stories invented with your child, not for playing a music library. For that, a Toniebox or a speaker does the job.
Is Ted durable enough for a young child?
Ted is a soft 24 cm teddy bear, certified to the EN71 toy safety standard, and built to be hugged every day.
Meet Ted, and let your child tell the story.
