KidzSearch
KidzSearch is a free, ad-supported safe search engine and child-focused content ecosystem — including filtered video, moderated social network, wiki, and Q&A forum — built on Google Custom Search and used by children, parents, teachers, and schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What KidzSearch does
KidzSearch is a privately held, Los Angeles-based company founded in 2005 by Dale Bock that operates a free, ad-supported safe search engine and surrounding content ecosystem aimed at children, parents, teachers, and K–12 schools. The core product applies content filtering on top of Google Custom Search Engine results, supplemented by parent and teacher controls for website blocking, keyword restrictions, and tiered YouTube filtering (Block YouTube, standard filtering, or YouTube Kids Only). The platform has been continuously operated since 2005, with a mobile app launched in 2016 across Android, iOS, Amazon Kindle Fire, and Windows Desktop.
The product surface extends well beyond search. KidzSearch operates an integrated ecosystem of sub-products: KidzTalk (a Q&A and homework-help forum), KidzTube (filtered YouTube video exploration), KidzNet (a moderated social network/magazine), KidzSearch Wiki (a student encyclopedia of 200,000+ articles), KidzNews, Kids Games, Music/Radio, Boolify (a boolean-search teaching tool), and a browser plugin for default search. Additional capabilities include voice search / speech-to-text and a business-facing API accessible at ai.kidzsearch.com for extended filtering and customization. Technology architecture is largely a third-party-dependent stack — Google's CSE for search results, browser-native speech APIs for voice, and app-store distribution via Google Play, Apple App Store, and Amazon App Store — with proprietary value concentrated in filtering curation, community moderation, and content aggregation rather than in fundamental ML or search technology.
The business model is freemium and advertising-led, with no paid tier. Monetization comes from on-site advertising, affiliate/referral links through the curated Top Sites directory, in-app advertising on mobile apps, and an emerging API business. The company has 1–10 employees, has not disclosed any external funding, and is a member of the American Library Association. It is a bootstrapped, micro-cap consumer internet property with stable but unmonetized-at-scale usage across schools and households.
KidzSearch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KidzSearch
- Legal name
- KidzSearch.com
- Website
- https://kidzsearch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- KidzSearch is a free, ad-supported safe search engine and child-focused content ecosystem — including filtered video, moderated social network, wiki, and Q&A forum — built on Google Custom Search and used by children, parents, teachers, and schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KidzSearch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Child-Safe Search Engine
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Web Content Filtering & Safe Search Controls (EDAFALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Parental Controls, Content Filtering & Family Digital Safety for Smart Homes (HSAHAJAG), Content Moderation, Safe Messaging & Classroom Communication Safety (EDAFALAE), Kids & Family Curated Content Platforms (MPACAKAL)
Keywords
Where KidzSearch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
KidzSearch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Advertising: KidzSearch monetizes through advertising on its platform. The website has an 'advertise' page indicating advertising is a revenue stream.
- Affiliate / Referral Revenue: The platform features curated 'Top Sites' which may generate affiliate or referral revenue when users click through to external websites.
- Mobile App Distribution: Apps distributed through Google Play, Apple App Store, and Amazon App Store with potential for in-app advertising revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Tier - All features available at no cost |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
KidzSearch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KidzSearch operates a free, child-safe search engine that filters inappropriate content from web, image, and video search results. The platform bundles a broader ecosystem of moderated child-facing products including a Q&A forum (KidzTalk), filtered video search (KidzTube), a safe social network (KidzNet), a student encyclopedia (Wiki) with over 200,000 articles, news, games, radio, and a Boolean search training tool (Boolify).
Product overview
KidzSearch is a safe search engine platform specifically designed for children, offering a unified product ecosystem with multiple integrated modules. The core product is the KidzSearch search engine with real-time filtering, supplemented by social/educational features including KidzTalk (Q&A forum), KidzTube (filtered video search), KidzNet (moderated social network magazine), KidzSearch Wiki (student encyclopedia), KidzNews (kids news community), KidzSearch Games, Music/Radio, Images, Facts, and Top Sites. Additional offerings include mobile apps for Android/iOS/Amazon/Windows, a browser plugin for default search, voice search functionality, and business API solutions. The platform emphasizes child safety through content filtering, parental controls, YouTube restrictions, and a comprehensive safety pledge program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KidzNet: A free safe social network and magazine for kids
- KidzTube
- KidzTalk
- Boolify
- KidzNews
- KidzSearch Wiki
Products and services
- KidzSearch Safe Search Engine A free child-safe search engine that filters inappropriate content from web, image, and video searches using Google's Custom Search Engine technology with proprietary content filtering overlays. Targets kids, parents, and teachers.
- KidzTalk A free Q&A forum where children can ask questions, get homework help, and engage with the KidzSearch community. Moderated for child safety.
- KidzTube A safe video search and exploration platform that allows children to search and view YouTube videos filtered for kid-appropriate content, with related content and comments removed.
- KidzNet A free, moderated safe social network and online magazine for kids that allows them to read, post, and share content in a supervised environment with community groups and walls.
- KidzSearch Wiki A free student encyclopedia containing over 200,000 student-written articles for research and learning purposes.
- KidzNews A kids news community where children can read about age-appropriate current topics and discuss them in categories like Educational, Science/Tech, Pets & Animals, Entertainment/Lifestyle, Sports, and Social Science.
- KidzSearch Games A collection of free learning and skill games for kids that combine fun gameplay with educational content.
- Boolify A free Boolean search teaching tool designed to help children learn how to construct effective search queries using search operators.
- KidzSearch Mobile App Free native mobile applications for Android, iOS, Amazon Kindle Fire, and Windows Desktop that deliver all KidzSearch web features with additional tablet/phone optimization including safety checking, YouTube filtering levels, search history monitoring, and parental controls.
- KidzSearch Browser Plugin A browser extension that allows users to set KidzSearch as their default search engine across web browsers.
- KidzSearch API Solutions Business and developer API solutions that power extended safe-search filtering and customization features, accessible via ai.kidzsearch.com subdomain for third-party integration.
- KidzSearch Music / Radio Free live streaming kid-friendly radio stations that provide streaming music appropriate for children.
- KidzSearch Images A safe image search product that allows children to browse and search for pictures in a filtered, age-appropriate environment powered by Google Safe Image Search.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 200,000 student articles available in the encyclopedia
Companies that use KidzSearch
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KidzSearch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
KidzSearch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GooglecoreGoogle powers KidzSearch's safe image and website search results. The partnership involves using Google's Custom Search Engine (CSE) technology. Specific domains whitelisted include www.google.com/cse/cse.js, cse.google.com, and www.googleapis.com.
- Google PlaycoreKidzSearch app is distributed through Google Play Store for all Android devices. The app is available for free download.
- Apple App StorecoreKidzSearch app is distributed through Apple App Store for iPads and iPhones. The app is available for free download.
- Amazon App StorecoreKidzSearch app is distributed through Amazon App Store for Kindle Fire devices. The app is available for free download.
- American Library AssociationminorKidzSearch is a Proud Member of the American Library Association, indicating alignment with library standards for children's educational content.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KidzSearch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Common Sense Media: Common Sense Media provides reviews, ratings, and guidance for parents on kids' media including safe search and educational tools. Comparable as a complementary parent-trust ecosystem and a potential content/curation partner for KidzSearch.
Direct peers
- Swiggle: Swiggle is a free child-safe search portal developed in the UK for primary school children, with curated web results and a moderated learning environment - directly comparable to KidzSearch's school-targeted proposition.
- KidRex: KidRex is a kid-safe search engine using Google SafeSearch and a custom filter to block inappropriate sites. Operates in the same niche as KidzSearch for parents and teachers seeking a safe default search experience.
- Kiddle: Kiddle is a visual kid-safe search engine powered by Google Custom Search with safe image filtering and an encyclopedia of Kiddlepedia articles. It is the closest direct competitor to KidzSearch in the kids-safe search portal category.
Emerging players
- Qustodio: Qustodio is a parental control and digital safety platform offering content filtering, screen time management, and monitoring across devices. Overlaps with KidzSearch's parent-facing safety controls and is an emerging player in the family digital safety category.
Regional players
- ABCmouse: ABCmouse (Age of Learning) is a subscription-based early learning platform widely used in US public libraries and schools. Overlaps with KidzSearch's educational content and school distribution, though it operates in a different niche (curriculum vs. search).
- National Geographic Kids: National Geographic Kids is a curated kids content platform with articles, videos, and games. Comparable to KidzSearch Wiki and KidzNews as a kids-safe content destination, with stronger brand and editorial depth.
Broad incumbents
- PBS Kids: PBS Kids is a major children's educational content platform with games, videos, and a safe browsing environment. Comparable to KidzSearch's content-aggregation and game/video ecosystem for kids, though more established and ad-supported.
- YouTube Kids: YouTube Kids is Google's dedicated kids video product with parental controls and curated content. Overlaps directly with KidzTube and benefits from pre-installation on Android devices and Google's brand and content library.
- Google SafeSearch: Google SafeSearch is a built-in filter across Google Search that blocks explicit results. As a one-click toggle on the dominant search engine, it is the largest free safe-search alternative and competes with KidzSearch at the default-search level.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KidzSearch social profiles
Digital presenceKidzSearch compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
KidzSearch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KidzSearch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
KidzSearch subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
KidzSearch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KidzSearch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KidzSearch
What does KidzSearch do?
KidzSearch operates a free, child-safe search engine that filters inappropriate content from web, image, and video search results. The platform bundles a broader ecosystem of moderated child-facing products including a Q&A forum (KidzTalk), filtered video search (KidzTube), a safe social network (KidzNet), a student encyclopedia (Wiki) with over 200,000 articles, news, games, radio, and a Boolean search training tool (Boolify).
Is KidzSearch a public or private company?
KidzSearch is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was KidzSearch founded?
KidzSearch was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is KidzSearch based?
KidzSearch is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does KidzSearch make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are affiliate / Referral Revenue and mobile App Distribution.
Who are KidzSearch's main competitors?
Common Sense Media is listed as an others. Direct peers are Swiggle, KidRex and Kiddle. Qustodio is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are ABCmouse and National Geographic Kids. Broad incumbents are PBS Kids, YouTube Kids and Google SafeSearch.
Does KidzSearch have an API?
Yes. KidzSearch offers an API for business and developer solutions. The API powers features such as extended filtering and customization for their app. The API is accessible via ai.kidzsearch.com subdomain. Developer documentation is at www.KidzSearch.com/api.html.
What industry is KidzSearch in?
KidzSearch's product category is Child-Safe Search Engine. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFALAK, Web Content Filtering & Safe Search Controls, with a secondary code of HSAHAJAG, Parental Controls, Content Filtering & Family Digital Safety for Smart Homes. Its NAICS code is 51929 and its SIC code is 7370.