Kids just seem to love singing, for whatever reason, whether that be classic tunes or some of their favorite Nursery Rhymes. Even better, most karaoke machines let kids sing along with songs from their favorite shows, movies, and performers. I’ve personally watched my niece sing along with the Frozen rhymes for two hours straight, without interruption. If you have kids, you know how hard it can be to keep them entertained for 10 minutes let alone two hours. That right there is all the reason most people need to invest in an affordable karaoke machine for their kids!
After a ton of testing – by both myself and my nieces and nephews – we’ve come to a clear conclusion: The absolute best karaoke machine for kids is the Singing Machine STVG785.
The STVG785 has everything a kid could want from a karaoke machine: Bluetooth streaming and an auxiliary input so you can stream all the latest music, built-in disco lights to take your karaoke to the next level, and dual microphone inputs so you can sing along with friends. Those are just a few of the features that make this system the perfect karaoke machine for kids.
The 5 Best Karaoke Machines For Kids
1. The Best Overall - Singing Machine STVG785BTW
- Adults and kids karaoke machine with 7" LCD color monitor...
- Perfect for any party, plays CD/CD+G, MP3+G from USB, or...
- Includes 2 microphone jacks (only one microphone included)...
Like I said earlier, the Singing Machine STVG785 offers up everything you’d want to see in a kid-specific karaoke machine. On the outside, you can choose between a white model and a black model – perfect for kids of all ages, and both boys and girls. The karaoke machine itself is an all-in-one unit, which I think is an absolute must for kids. As soon as you start adding parts and peripherals, things get broken and lost – kids will always be kids. You can disconnect the microphone from the STVG785, but everything else is built-in.
The entire setup is very sturdy, which might just be the single most important quality of any kids’ karaoke machine. Kids can be rough on their toys without meaning to, but you have nothing to fear here. The STVG785 features a strong casing, well-built controls, and nothing that can easily break or snap off.
Moving on to the actual performance of the karaoke machine, you (and your kids!) will be very surprised by just how well this little thing holds up against bigger and more expensive karaoke setups. The built-in speaker is more than good enough for any kid out there, the disco light show is vibrant and fun, and the whole thing is very easy to use. Simply put, the Singing Machine STVG785 is the best karaoke machine for kids out there – I think so, and so do my nieces and nephews!
2. The Best Kids’ Karaoke Machine For Girls - Hello Kitty 68109
- Features detailed images of Hello Kitty on the face of the...
- Includes a dock to hold, connect, and play your favorite...
- Includes one microphone
Let me start this one by saying that I know it’s 2020, and I’m certainly not trying to shoehorn anyone into antiquated gender roles. That being said, every single one of my nieces (between the ages of 2 and 12) absolutely adored this Hello Kitty karaoke machine. I can see why – it’s very well-made, and I honestly haven’t come across a more blatantly kid-themed karaoke setup. It’s decked out in bubble gum pink from head to toe, with a big Hello Kitty decal right on the front of it. I have to admit, I did find the overall effect rather delightful. It’s just a fun looking setup!
You know as well as I do that these themed toys often end up being rather lackluster when it comes time to do anything other than look at them. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case with this Kello Kitty karaoke unit. It’s obviously not going to blow you away with its sound quality or performance levels, but it’s honestly miles ahead of what I expected right out of the box. It’s absolutely high-quality enough for even the most discerning child karaoke to start out there.
3. The Best Frozen Karaoke Machine - Disney’s Frozen Karaoke Machine
- Includes CD-G compatible so you can read the lyrics on your...
- Ultra cool LED light show around the karaoke player
- Can work of batteries or via electric
If you didn’t see this one coming, then you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years. In fact, I’d say that Disney’s Frozen is singularly responsible for turning an entire generation of small children on to karaoke! There are plenty of cheap manufacturers out there trying to make a quick buck off of Frozen’s huge success, but this is the only Frozen-themed karaoke machine I’ve come across that’s actually worth buying. We have a full review of this one coming soon, but you can check out Amazon reviews in the meantime!
It’s affordable, it’s adorable, it’s well-made, and it comes decked out in all things Frozen, with Elsa, Anna, and Olaf front and center on the unit. The microphone is leagues better than I expected it to be, and the built-in speaker is no slouch either. If your kid loves singing along to Frozen, do yourself a favor and pick up this Frozen karaoke machine today. Your kid will love you for doing so, and you won’t be sorry you did – until you’ve heard “Let It Go” for the thirty-fourth time in one day like I did last week when I was babysitting two of my nieces.
4. The Simplest Karaoke Machine For Kids - Singing Machine SML-283P
- Portable Verticle load CDG Player with Disco Light Effect
- 2 Digit LED Display
- 2 Microphone Jacks with Volume Control
If you’re looking for a kids’ karaoke machine that “just works,” the Singing Machine SML-283 is perfect for you. It’s simple but in the best way possible. You do need a TV or computer monitor to plug this one into for lyrics and all that, but once it’s plugged in you can leave your kids to it. It’s incredibly easy to use, and this thing will not break.
The built-in speakers are phenomenal for a children’s unit, and the built-in disco light isn’t half bad either. Perhaps the best thing about this SML-283 unit is that you can power it up with a normal wall outlet our with batteries – your kids can quite literally take this sturdy little karaoke machine with them wherever they go!
5. The Most Premium Kids Karaoke Machine - Singtrix Party Bundle
- ULTIMATE FAMILY PARTY EXPERIENCE - MAKES BAD SINGERS SOUND...
- MOST ADVANCED KARAOKE – designed to sound like a...
- 4-PART HARMONIES - CHOIR OF VOICES - AT THE TOUCH OF A...
The Singtrix Karaoke Machine really does fit into any category of setup, and it works phenomenally as a karaoke machine for kids. I’ll keep this blurb short because you should really just read our full review of this stellar karaoke system if you’re considering a purchase.
From gender-switching voice effects to Rockstar-like voice enhancements at the touch of a button, your kids will never get bored when the Singtrix is around. It boasts over 300 unique voice effects to choose from and is the only karaoke machine out there that has this level of voice correction and voice enhancement software built into it. You’ll want to give it a try yourself when you hear what your kids are doing with it – that’s a promise!
Buying A Kid's Karaoke Machine
Kid’s karaoke machines are usually all-in-one machines. This means you don’t really have to buy any extras or accessories in order for the unit to work. They come with screens, sound effects, microphones, and controllers attached or built into the karaoke machine, so you can hand it right off to your kid and watch him/her start singing immediately.
It’s also worth noting that a lot of these karaoke machines for kids aren’t always the most durable setups you can find. They’re usually made with plastic parts instead of metal parts, and the screens, microphones, software, and controls are never going to be top of the line. That’s honestly for the better in many cases, because you probably don’t want to trust your kid with handling an expensive machine in the first place.
Most kid’s karaoke machines are fairly similar in terms of quality, cost, and entertainment. But, there are still a few key qualities you should keep in mind when shopping around:
Usability
You want to make sure the karaoke system is kid-friendly and easy to use. Kids tend to have shorter attention spans and will quickly lose interest in a karaoke machine that’s too complicated for them to figure out.
Your best bet is looking for a machine that’s completely self-integrated and allows your kid to quickly and easily select a song to sing along with. The more controls, options, and accessories involved, the more likely a child can get confused or frustrated while playing with the karaoke machine.
Keep in mind, if you have more than one child, you might want to look for a karaoke system that has two microphones. If your kids are anything like mine, they'll be fighting over the microphone as much they are singing!
Quality
It’s true that kids karaoke machines tend to be more cheaply made than home or professional karaoke setups, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy a cheap piece of crap for your kid. There are plenty of kids models out there that will last for years without issue. In general, karaoke machines with fewer moving parts and accessories will break less often.
That’s why, again, you probably want to look for an all-in-one karaoke machine that feels sturdy to the touch. Kids can be rough with their possessions, so anything that looks flimsy to you will probably break quickly when kids are throwing it around.
Audio format
You have to be aware of how the karaoke machine deals with songs. Many kids karaoke machines will come pre-loaded with a few hundred songs, but they might not have USB slots or CD drives that you can use to expand the audio catalog. These are fine for some kids, but if yours is a prolific singer you’ll probably want to invest in a machine that allows you to add more songs as needed.
Size and portability
Whatever karaoke machine you pick, it should be easy for kids to pack it up and carry it around. Most kid’s units are inherently light and portable, but there are plenty out there that will end up being too difficult for your kid to lug around.
Kids love showing stuff off to their friends, so it’s best to invest in a karaoke machine that’s easy to show off. For example, lots of units come equipped with a built-in handle that’s perfect for easy portability.
Our Testing Process
As you might guess, our testing process for kid-specific karaoke machines was a little more relaxed than the process we utilize for other setups like professional karaoke machines, or even your everyday home karaoke machines.
The number one question we tried to answer for all of our test machines was “will kids have fun using this karaoke machine?” If the answer was yes, we were in good shape to start with! We began our testing with 19 different kids’ karaoke machines and finally whittled our way down to these 5 top contenders.
Our testing method was really broken up into two parts – I was the quality assurance guy, and made sure that each machine was well-constructed, devoid of any manufacturing issues, capable of outputting high-quality sound, and well-suited to children.
The second half of our operation was a small army of willing kids, crowd-sourced from my many nieces and nephews, and all their many friends. We had kids as young as 2 playing with these things, going up to 14 years old on the other end. I like to think we got some very good feedback on each of these units from kids themselves, which really is all that matters in the end.
In the end, our testing really boiled down to a few simple things. If any karaoke machine broke easily, required more than 15 minutes of setting up from unboxing to singing, or was difficult to use, it was instantly dropped out of the running.
That criteria alone took us down to eight or nine final contestants. Of those remaining karaoke setups, we basically drew up a crude bracket and had a round-robin showdown that was judged entirely by the kids.
The whole thing worked out quite well – the kids all had a blast, and I’m absolutely positive that all of you readers are getting the best possible recommendations out there when it comes to deciding on the best karaoke machines for kids.
The Bottom Line
When it comes down to it, you know your kid best – will he or she appreciate a karaoke machine that has all the bells and whistles, or something that’s a bit simpler? Something that’s Frozen themed, or something that has a cool disco light show?
There are karaoke machines out there for every sort of kid – I’m sure that your son, daughter, niece, nephew, god-child, or friend’s kid(s) will be more than happy with any karaoke setup I’ve included on this list. But, if you really can’t decide which machine to go with, my nieces, nephews, and I heartily recommend the Singing Machine STVG785 as the best overall karaoke machine for kids that you’ll find out there.