As streaming television became the standard mode of entertainment, Christian media organizations stepped up to offer faith-based alternatives to the popular secular options. If these faithful brothers and sisters did not endeavor to bring Christian, bible-based media to the mainstream, we’d all be left with garbage entertainment like Sponge Bob.

As much as we appreciate their work, we must all engage with them wisely.

Bible or Faith-based streaming services do not deserve blanket permission to consume. Our research revealed that none of the platforms offers any tools to limit usage. Therefore, all of these platforms risk becoming sanitized versions of the same problem: endless entertainment.

Christian parents must be intentional, discerning, and prudently restrictive of what kind AND how much media entertainment children consume.

We’ve created a summary of the basic features and potential concerns of the most popular Bible and Faith-based streaming services to help you in the process.

Minno

Minno’s website claims they are “the leading voice around the globe for using media to spark kids’ imaginations and curiosity around God and the Bible.” Their service allows you to “Instantly stream funny, delightful shows for kids that reflect your faith and values.”

Basics:

• Available through all major streaming services (AppleTV, iOS, Android, Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Chromecast)
• Content specifically for children 3-12.
• Feels very much like Netflix in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
• Long-form episodes and movies, as well as short-form videos 
• They claim, “All shows go through a rigorous 50+ point checkpoint system to ensure they meet high standards.”
• Subscription-based: 7-day trial, then $8.99/mo or $70/year

Potential Concerns:

• Some of the short-form videos feel like TikTok, running only 2-3 minutes.
• Some content is very biblically shallow
• No reference to any pastoral/theologically trained advisors who ensure biblical accuracy.
• Minno encourages parents to hit play and feel okay, trusting that kids are spending time with content that supports Christian values. This language undermines the responsibility of parents to co-view entertainment content with their children, helping them understand and apply what they are learning.
• Just because it’s Christian entertainment does not mean it doesn’t need limits or that it replaces the parents’ discipleship.

 

Yippee.tv

It has been said that if Minno is the Christian Netflix, then Yippee.tv is more like a Christian YouTube. In fact, their website boasts, “A wholesome alternative to YouTube: no algorithms, no ads, and no sassy attitudes. Just good shows your kids will actually want to watch, including hand-picked YouTubers reviewed and screened by parents like you.”

Basics:

• Available through all major streaming services (AppleTV, iOS, Android, Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Chromecast).
• Generalized audience of kids and families
• YouTube-style content like Minecraft Bible-builds, funny animal videos, and vlogs of every sort by both teenagers and adults.
• Not all content is original. Externally curated content is reviewed by the Yippee committee and “real Christian parents.”
• Not as much specific biblical content, but they claim that all of their content is vetted and approved by Christians and supports Christian values.
• Subscription-based: 7-day trial, then $7.99/mo or $50/year. 

Potential Concerns:

• AUTO-PLAYS next video.
• “Christian values” are not defined anywhere despite their repeated reference to them as their plumb line.
• They claim that content teaching the Bible is reviewed by a network pastor, but nowhere do they provide his name, denomination, or theological training.
• Collaborated and curated content from some of the leading churches and Christian organizations in the kids’ content space. One such church is Saddleback Church, which has moved increasingly progressive.
• Just because it’s Christian entertainment does not mean it doesn’t need limits or that it replaces the parents’ discipleship.

 

Brave Plus

A streaming platform by Brave Books that offers “the best collection of trusted and beloved content, curated by parents and handcrafted for kids.”

Basics:

• Available to stream on mobile devices (App Store, Google Play) and TV (AppleTV, FireTV, Roku).
• Content geared toward ages 3-12.
• They boast low stimulation and high engagement that builds your children’s character and supports healthy mental and emotional development.
• The anchor show, “Iggy and Mr. Kirk,” is a modern-day Mr. Rogers meets Sesame Street.
• Ad-free
• Subscription-based: No free trial, just $6.99/mo, or get the Brave Bundle, which includes one new Brave Book per month and access to interactive games, discussion questions, and more for $18.99/mo.

Potential Concerns:

• As a children’s book company, Brave Books transitions to screen media at a time when reading scores and literacy in American children are at an all-time low.
• They claim they are “safe without a second thought” and allow parents to let their kids explore a streaming platform where every story is screened by parents. There should always be second thoughts when allowing children access to media. Letting young kids explore Christian media without supervision sounds convenient for the parent until they leave the app and explore elsewhere without the parent’s knowledge. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child (Prov. 22:15), and no parent can assume the allure of the smart device won’t lead a child astray.
• They also claim they provide “Screen Time you can feel good about.” This language deceives parents into allowing Brave Plus’s content based on what FEELS good. Feelings are dictated by convenience rather than conviction. The truth of God’s word is that parents’ priority should be life-on-life discipleship and relationship, all of which are diminished and displaced by the mere presence of a screen. Parents need less convenience and more conviction in the digital age.

 

Great American PureFlix

Their website boasts, “We offer best in quality entertainment that celebrates faith, family, and country—all at a great value.” 

Basics:

• Assuming (because the website does not explicitly state), available through all major streaming services (AppleTV, iOS, Android, Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Chromecast)
• Offers a wide variety of movies, documentaries, and animated shows for all ages.
• No ads
• The content isn’t always specifically biblical, but it is “wholesome and family-friendly.”
• Some of the kids’ content teaches about Jesus and the Bible, but there are also cartoons like Bob the Builder and Inspector Gadget.
• Subscription-based: free 7-day trial, after which it is $9.99/mo or $14.99/mo for premium.

Potential Concerns:

• With a wide variety of content, there are no parental controls to limit children’s ability to watch a Christian romance movie after watching Veggie Tales.
• We had a lot of technical issues during our 7-day trial.
• The company promotes its premium membership (it claims it is “most popular”), which offers exclusive screenings, live events with the stars, and early access to extra footage—all of which promote more screen time.
• Just because it’s Christian entertainment does not mean Christians need MORE of it, especially when it comes to children. Christian entertainment is not the same as life-on-life discipleship.

 

TweenXstream

Our Google search for Christian entertainment delivered this website result. It is based in South Africa and boasts several international media awards on its homepage. Its tagline is: “Spoil your kids with top Christian entertainment.”

Basics:

• Available through any internet browser.
• Targeted at Tweens (8-12)
• No ads
• Offers access to “Family Club,” a free online community that encourages and equips parents to raise their kids in the faith. This club also provides free parenting resources, fun and engaging content to enjoy with your kids, weekly discussions to connect and grow together, and a safe, supportive space to ask questions and share experiences.
• Offers a free online TweenTalk Magazine
• Subscription-based: 7-day trial and $5.99/mo or $60/year.

Potential Concerns:

• Claims to be committed to entertainment based on the word of God; however, no process of review, theological soundness, or pastoral oversight details are offered on the website.
• One of their four webpage navigation links is: “Become a Shining Star.” This is where they recruit young talent to star in their videos and share their faith worldwide through performances, tv shows, and more. They ask: “Do you dream of ministering to kids all across the world?” This comes across as glorified fame more than glorifying God.
• They acknowledge that kids are on their phones constantly and say, “Instead of them watching videos on YouTube and TikTok the whole day, imagine they watch Christian content that builds their faith while having fun.” We believe it’s better to imagine your kids not watching any content the whole day! And, if we’re honest, parents are unlikely to completely take away YouTube and TikTok, leaving only TweenXstream. Inevitably, kids end up with multiple platforms to fill every second. And where is the evidence that Christian entertainment builds faith?
• The TweenTalk Magazine pushes readers to follow them on social media (FB, IG, YouTube, TikTok, & WhatsApp)
• Just because it’s Christian entertainment does not mean Christians need MORE of it, especially when it comes to children. Christian entertainment is not the same as life-on-life discipleship.

 

FaithLifeTV

This platform is powered by Logos Bible Software and has robust and rich content without the common gimmicks. Their mission states: “Logos develops and uses technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible. This is the mission behind everything we make.”

Basics:

• Available through all major streaming services (AppleTV, iOS, Android, Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Chromecast)
• All ages, but mostly adults. Kids shows are limited but good.
• Content is educational and edifying more than entertaining (i.e., documentaries, sermons, The Bible Project, etc.)
• A lot of the content is free; some are nominal ($0.99), while a series, such as The Heavens Declare, is $44.99 for 12, 45-minute videos, and The History of Christianity in the United States is $249 for 9 hours.
• Subscription required to access some of the “plus” content, which is $4.99/mo. Some of the Plus content, for example, includes Logos Bible classes that are an additional cost.

Potential Concerns:

• Someone might spend more time consuming rich biblical content and teaching than they can put into practice.

 

Faith Channel

According to their website, they are a new streaming media platform focused on bringing you entertaining, educational, and uplifting content from around the world. 

Basics:

• Content for all ages
• Available on the web, for TV (AppleTV, AndroidTV, Roku, Firetv) and mobile devices (App Store, GooglePlay)
• All content is completely free, and you do not even need to set up an account or give them your email to start watching it.
• Ads appear before shows, but they are “skippable” after 10 seconds, and they are also Christian-based ads.
• The content ranges from movies, short films, stand-up comedy, Bible studies, preaching, and teachings to kids’ animated entertainment and education. 
• Offers Faith Channel “Shorts” (much like TikTok).

Potentially Concerning:

• Kid’s Content is categorized as Ages 0-8 and 9-13. Based on widely accepted screen media pediatric recommendations, no content should be viewed by children under two years old.
• No content controls to restrict children from accessing content rated 18+
• No vetting process for ensuring sound theological content is provided on the website.
• Just because it has Christian content – and it’s free – doesn’t mean it replaces discipleship or embodied relationships off of a screen.

 

RedeemTV

Their stated goal is to provide uplifting and Christ-centered content for all ages. According to their website, RedeemTV is the latest effort of Vision Video, which has been a leader in producing and distributing Christian media content for over five decades.

Basics:

• Available on the web, television (including Samsung SmartTV and LGwebOS), and mobile apps.
• Donor-supported, ad-free streaming service with no fees.
• Large library of over 1,500 quality dramas, documentaries, animated features, children’s favorites, episodic series, Bible studies, and more, with new titles added every week.
• Kid’s Corner has many great options, such as the modern adaptation of Pilgrim’s Progress. There is also a lot of cross-over content from Minno on this platform.
• Must create an account before you watch anything on RedeemTV.
• Live TV option. Essentially, like an “old-school” television station, it has streaming content always happening on its live TV that you can click on and watch (just like when you were a kid and you didn’t know what would be playing when you turned the TV on).

Potential Concerns:

• Many movies are rated G, which seems charitable, considering many appear to have adult themes. Several were unrated, and only a few had a PG-13 rating.
• No vetting process for ensuring sound theological content is provided on the website.
• Just because it has Christian content – and it’s free – doesn’t mean it replaces discipleship or embodied relationships off a screen.

 

UP Faith & Family

Their website states, “We curate a collection of heartwarming content that resonates with viewers seeking inspiration, faith, and family-friendly entertainment.” This platform is a subsidiary of UP Entertainment, under which Minno is also.

Basics:

• Available through all major streaming services (AppleTV, iOS, Android, Amazon FireTV, Roku, and Chromecast). Can also purchase through cable networks such as DirectTV and Dish.
• Exclusive home to Heartland; also streams The Chosen and other major motion pictures such as The Passion of the Christ.
• Kids’ content isn’t easily discoverable, and the library is limited.
• Offers many Christian romance movies (on par with Hallmark movies).
• Subscription-based: After a free, no-contract 7-day trial, choose between $5.99/mo or $53.99/year.

Potential Concerns:

• The Kids’ content title reads, “KIDS ONLY ZONE: NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED.” This establishes the wrong precedent for children who don’t want their parents to co-view content with them.
• One of the kid’s content shows is “Surviving Camp Analog.” Camp Analog is where high school YouTubers are shipped off after a prank goes wrong. This immediately represents analog activities in a negative light, yet they are desperately needed in many areas.
• Just because it has Christian content does not mean it replaces discipleship or embodied relationships with a screen.

 

SUMMARY OF CONCERNS

1.MORE THAN MORALITY AND VALUES. Even clean, moral content that represents Christian values can transform a child’s mind through the habits it builds of endless entertainment. Character is rarely built through consumption but through the quiet, mundane, and lived example of godliness. The goal of Christian parenting isn’t just moral children but Christ-like disciples who glorify God.

 

2. FALSE SENSE OF SAFETY. These services use persuasive language that lulls parents into passive parenting. Trusting content because it is labeled “Christian” deceives parents into allowing more and more. There is an unseen danger of “sanctified” binging here.

 

3. CONTENT-DRIVEN DISCIPLESHIP. If these streaming services truly wanted to establish godly values in viewers, they could implement auto-shutoff and time limits, episode limits, sabbath days, and weekly summary reports to help build patience, self-control, moderation, and delayed gratification. But they offer none of these. Instead, they rely on the content to drive the development of Christian character.

 

4. PARENTS DON’T NEED A REASON TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT SCREEN TIME. The number one competitor for a child’s heart is the screen. (Smart technology is not neutral!) Considering that most parents (80%) are concerned about excessive screen time, it is obvious that marketing to assuage their fears and weaknesses will drive their sales. The more parents feel good about “Christian-content screen time,” the more they’ll allow the device, which likely has more than that one app. Not to mention, the more screen time, the less life-on-life relational and discipleship time they receive.