KiwiCo
Monthly STEAM project crates for babies through adults, from the Panda Crate for ages 0–36 months to Tinker and Eureka crates for older kids. Each crate ships with materials, an illustrated guide and online videos.
What is KiwiCo?
KiwiCo is a subscription service that mails kids a hands-on project every month. Engineer Sandra Oh Lin founded it in 2011 in Mountain View, California, and it now has eight crate lines sorted by age and interest. Each crate has the materials for one larger build or two smaller ones on a shared theme, plus an illustrated guide and online videos.
The idea is simple: kids learn science, engineering and art by making something real, like a motorized spin-art machine, a desktop pinball game or a radio-controlled robot.
How it works
You pick a crate line for each child, choose monthly billing or a prepaid 3-, 6- or 12-month plan, and a new crate arrives each month. A typical project takes an afternoon or two:
- Open the crate and read the illustrated booklet.
- Build the project, with help as needed for younger kids.
- Try the play ideas and extra challenges in the booklet.
- Watch the online videos to dig into the science behind it.
Kids 6 and up can often build with little help, and KiwiCo's own pages show parents saying kids work fairly independently. Younger crates are meant for a parent and child together. You can pause one month at a time, switch to every other month, or move to a different crate line.
What it covers
| Crate | Ages | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Panda | 0–36 months | Developmental play and parent guides |
| Koala | 3–6 | Play-based learning and fine motor skills |
| Kiwi | 6–9 | Science, art and building |
| Atlas | 6–12 | Geography and world cultures |
| Doodle | 6–12 | Art and craft |
| Tinker | 9–12 | Science and engineering |
| Eureka | 12+ | Engineering and design |
| Maker | 12+ | Art and design |
Science and engineering are strongest in Kiwi, Tinker Crate and Eureka.
Who it's best for
KiwiCo is a great fit for kids who love building, families who want a screen-free monthly project, and homeschoolers adding hands-on enrichment. It also makes an easy gift, since non-renewing gift plans stop on their own.
It is not a curriculum. If you need a full year of science, start with the homeschool science options and use KiwiCo as a monthly extra.
Pricing at a glance
KiwiCo bills monthly or in prepaid 3-, 6- and 12-month terms. Longer plans cost less per crate, and US shipping is free. As of October 2026, exact prices appear in checkout, and the official deal is 40% off the first crate for email sign-ups. Remember that prepaid plans cannot be canceled mid-term.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Maybe. Some education savings account programs cover educational kits and supplies, but others limit spending to curriculum or approved vendors, and subscription boxes are a gray area. Each program decides. Check the rules for your state, such as Arizona or Utah, and read how scholarships and ESAs for homeschool families work. You can save KiwiCo to your wishlist and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
MEL Science is the closest rival for older kids, with chemistry and physics kits plus VR lessons. Little Passports competes with KiwiCo's Atlas Crate on geography. Osmo offers hands-on play that connects to a tablet instead. For real science lessons to pair with crates, see Mystery Science.
For ranked picks, see the best science kits for kids and the best subscription boxes for kids.
Who KiwiCo is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Kids who love building things and following illustrated instructions
- Families who want a screen-free monthly project with all materials included
- Homeschoolers adding hands-on STEAM enrichment to a core science program
- Gift-givers; non-renewing gift subscriptions stop automatically
Look elsewhere if
- Families looking for a full science curriculum with lessons and assessments
- Tight budgets; monthly kits add up over a year
- Parents who want to cancel anytime on a prepaid plan
KiwiCo pros and cons
Pros
- Crate lines for every age from 0 to adult, so siblings can each get a fit
- Everything needed is in the box, so no supply runs
- Clear illustrated guides that many kids can follow fairly independently
- Free US shipping, and you can pause one month at a time or switch lines
- Lessons for schools align with the Next Generation Science Standards through KiwiCo Education
Cons
- Prepaid plans cannot be canceled mid-term, which catches some families off guard
- Prices are only shown in checkout, which makes comparison shopping harder
- One project a month is enrichment, not a full curriculum
- Some long-time customers say build quality has slipped
- No multi-child discount
What’s included
- Eight crate lines by age and interest, from Panda (0–36 months) to Eureka and Maker (12+)
- All materials included for one larger project or two smaller themed projects
- Illustrated instruction booklet with play ideas and extra challenges
- Online videos and activities to extend each project
- Free US shipping on subscriptions; pause or switch crate lines anytime
How much does KiwiCo cost?
KiwiCo sells each crate line as a renewing subscription: billed monthly, or prepaid for 3, 6 or 12 months, with longer terms lowering the per-crate price. Exact prices depend on the crate line and plan and appear in KiwiCo's checkout flow rather than on its product pages, so confirm the total before you subscribe. Shipping is free for US subscribers. Single crates and past projects are also sold one at a time in the KiwiCo store.
Free trial: There is no free trial. KiwiCo describes a Free Trial subscription type in its help center when promotions run; it follows the same rules as a monthly plan.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
Public reviews are split. Most reviewers on Trustpilot give five stars and praise fun projects and quick replacement of missing parts, but a sizable minority give one star, mostly over prepaid plans that can't be canceled early, billing while paused, and duplicate or lost shipments. KiwiCo's own product pages show ratings around 4.7 out of 5 from thousands of reviewers.
Common praise
- Kids love the projects and stay engaged
- Customer service replaces broken or missing parts quickly
- Age-appropriate challenge; kids can work fairly independently
Common complaints
- 12-month prepaid plans can't be ended early
- Charges while paused or after canceling, per some reviewers
- Duplicate or lost crates
- Some feel crates are pricey for the materials
Sources: trustpilot.com · kiwico.com · kiwico.com · kiwi · kiwico.com · tinker
KiwiCo family reviews
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KiwiCo FAQs
How much does KiwiCo cost?
Prices depend on the crate line and plan length and are shown in KiwiCo's checkout as of October 2026. Prepaid 3-, 6- and 12-month plans cost less per crate than monthly billing, and US shipping is free.
Are there real KiwiCo coupon codes?
The official offer as of October 2026 is 40% off your first crate when you sign up for KiwiCo emails, with exclusions. Subscribers also get 10% off store orders. Be wary of code sites; KiwiCo says promo codes come through its newsletter.
How do I cancel KiwiCo?
Log in, open Subscriptions from the menu under your name, click Manage, then Cancel your subscription, by 11:59 PM Eastern the day before billing. Prepaid plans can't be canceled mid-term, but you can turn off auto-renewal so they end.
Can I skip a month of KiwiCo?
Yes. You can pause one month at a time from the Subscriptions page, as long as you do it before 11:59 PM Eastern the day before your billing date. To pause longer, contact customer care.
Which KiwiCo crate is best for my child's age?
Panda is for 0–36 months, Koala for 3–6, Kiwi for 6–9, Atlas and Doodle for 6–12, Tinker for 9–12, and Eureka and Maker for 12 and up. Kids can switch lines anytime as interests change.
Can siblings share one KiwiCo crate?
KiwiCo designs each crate for one child, though it says siblings often enjoy building together. Most crates have one larger project or two smaller ones, so two kids usually means two subscriptions.
Is KiwiCo a homeschool science curriculum?
No. It's a monthly enrichment project, not a sequenced course with lessons and tests. Many homeschool families pair it with a curriculum such as Mystery Science or Real Science Odyssey.
Can I use ESA money for KiwiCo?
It depends on your program. Some ESAs allow educational supplies and kits, while others restrict spending to curriculum or approved vendors. Check your program's handbook first.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- kiwico.com
- kiwico.com · kiwi
- kiwico.com · tinker
- support.kiwico.com · how do i cancel my subscription r1XehPeGv
- support.kiwico.com · can i skip a month Hkuk3vezD
- support.kiwico.com · how do subscriptions work for siblings can crates be shared
- support.kiwico.com · how do i order a non renewing termed subscription HkzJ3wgzP
- support.kiwico.com · what is a deluxe subscription BJX6sDeMw
- trustpilot.com · kiwico.com
- en.wikipedia.org · KiwiCo