Tella vs Vivikids
Vivikids makes social stories that help kids get ready for one moment.
Tella makes your child the hero of every story: social stories for the big moments, and the adventures in between.
Updated · Eric Gustafson, founder of Tella
Tella and Vivikids, side by side
| Feature | Tella | Vivikids |
|---|---|---|
| Ready in a minute | Tella: Your child’s first page is ready in under a minute. | Vivikids: 5 to 7 minutes, by their own estimate. Fully animated takes about 10 more. |
| Social stories and adventures | Tella: Social stories for the dentist, a doctor visit, a new baby or the first day of school, plus bedtime stories and epic adventures, all starring your child. | Vivikids: Social stories for real moments, like the dentist or a haircut. |
| No photo needed | Tella: Describe your child or add a photo. | Vivikids: Describe your child or add a photo. |
| Animation included | Tella: An animated scene in every story, at no extra cost. | Vivikids: Animation costs extra: 10 credits on top of the story. |
| Read aloud | Tella: Every page narrated. | Vivikids: Every page narrated. |
| The next chapter | Tella: End the story, or continue it with the next chapter. | Vivikids: End the story, or continue it with the next chapter. |
| Kids make their own stories | Tella: Kid mode: hand over the device and your child makes their own story by tapping or talking. | Vivikids: Stories are made by the grown-up. |
| Friends join the story | Tella: Add friends, family, a teacher, pets or any character you want. | Vivikids: Add friends, family, a teacher, pets or a favorite toy. |
| Gift cards | Tella: Send $30, $50 or $100 in stories. The giver joins the family’s stories, with a recorded hello. | Vivikids: No gift cards. |
| A kids show on your TV | Tella: Watch your child’s story like their own show on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and Google TV, or on iPhone, iPad and Android. Read saved stories offline in the app. | Vivikids: Web browser only. No App Store, Google Play or TV app. |
| Price per story | Tella: From $1.75 a story, animation included. | Vivikids: From $2.20 a story. A fully animated story costs 10 credits more. |
Questions parents ask
What’s the difference between Tella and Vivikids?
Vivikids makes step-by-step social stories that help a child get ready for a specific moment. Tella makes your child the hero of every story: social stories for the big moments, plus bedtime stories and epic adventures. Every story is illustrated, read aloud and ready in under a minute.
Can Tella make a social story for my child?
Yes. Tell Tella what’s coming up, like a dentist visit, a doctor appointment, a new baby or the first day of school, and your child works through it as the hero of their own story, ready in under a minute.
Do I have to upload my child’s photo?
No. A photo is optional. Describing your child works just as well, and Tella draws them the same way on every page.
How fast is a Tella story?
Your child’s first page is ready in under a minute. The rest of the pictures arrive while you read.
Can we watch Tella on the TV?
Yes. Tella is on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV and Google TV, and on iPhone, iPad and Android.
Can I give Tella as a gift?
Yes. Send $30, $50 or $100 in stories from tella.kids/gift, no account needed. You join the family’s stories as a character, with a recorded hello.
Can my child’s friends be in their stories?
Yes. Add friends, family, a teacher, pets or any character you want. You can send a story with a friend in it to their family, and they can read it without signing up.
What’s a good Vivikids alternative?
Tella is a good fit if you want social stories and everyday adventures in one app, ready in under a minute, on phones, tablets and the TV. Your first story is free.
How do I try Tella?
Create your first story free at tella.kids. No credit card needed.
Stories that help your kid discover who they want to be
Vivikids is a trademark of Vivikids, Inc. Tella is not affiliated with Vivikids. Comparison reflects Vivikids’ published features and prices as of October 2026.
Made by parents for kids.
Learn more about us.Tella Stories: personalized stories for kids
©2026 Tella LLC. All rights reserved.
