How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Google Santa Tracker and NORAD Tracks Santa are the two free, trusted Santa trackers, and both go live on Christmas Eve.
- Portable North Pole is the best choice for personalised Santa videos, but parents should check paid options before a child uses it alone.
- Toca Hair Salon Christmas and Christmas Coloring for Kids suit quiet, creative play without scores, timers or competitive pressure.
- ReindeerCam and Flightradar24 Santa Tracker add gentle background fun, but neither replaces the main trackers on Christmas Eve.
- Keep purchases, personal photos and location sharing under adult control, and check age ratings and in-app purchases for every app.
Quick comparison
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The best christmas apps for kids
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Google Santa Tracker is a free website that opens in a browser and runs through December, with games, animations, videos and simple learning activities in Santa village. Children can play elf games, explore geography and language activities, and follow a countdown to Christmas. On December 24 the village changes into a live tracker that follows Santa journey through the day.
The main limit is timing. Live tracking is a Christmas Eve feature, so families who open it earlier in December will find games and countdowns rather than a moving sleigh. That makes it a good December companion rather than a single night app, and it works well on a shared family screen.
What we like- Free games, videos and learning activities all December
- Live tracking on December 24
- Works in a browser
Watch out for- Tracking only goes live on Christmas Eve
- Some games need a stable internet connection
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
NORAD Tracks Santa is the longest running Santa tracker, dating back to 1955, and it remains free for families. The site offers a countdown, games, holiday music and answers to common questions about Santa, reindeer and the sleigh, in several languages. On Christmas Eve it tracks Santa journey, and families can also call for updates where the phone service is offered.
Seasonal availability is the drawback. The full site launches in December rather than running all year, and live tracking only matters on the night itself. For families who want one trusted tracker to open on Christmas Eve, NORAD is the classic choice, and it pairs well with Google Santa Tracker for games earlier in December.
What we like- Long running free tracker
- Games, music and Santa facts
- Phone option on Christmas Eve
Watch out for- Website launches seasonally
- Live tracking is limited to Christmas Eve
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Portable North Pole creates personalised Santa videos that mention a child by name and can include a photo, which makes it feel special for younger children. A basic version is free, and families can watch the video together and share it with grandparents. For children who still believe in Santa, a personal message often lands better than a generic clip.
Parents should stay in control of the process. Uploading a child photo, choosing paid upgrades and sharing the finished video are adult jobs, not tasks for a child alone. Check the price of premium videos before starting, and keep the video within the family rather than posting it widely.
What we like- Personalised videos using a child name and photo
- Free basic videos
- Magical for younger children
Watch out for- Paid upgrades for premium videos
- Uses personal photos, so adult supervision is needed
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Toca Hair Salon Christmas lets children cut, colour and style Santa beard and hair, and give a Christmas tree a new look, with no right or wrong result. There are no timers, scores or competitive goals, which makes it a calm choice for younger children and for quiet play in December. Controls are simple enough for children who cannot yet read well.
The scope is narrow by design. After styling Santa and the tree a few times, older children may want more variety, and availability is mainly through the App Store. Treat it as a short, creative festive app rather than a full Christmas game collection.
What we like- Open-ended play with no scores or ads in the core experience
- Simple touch controls
- Fun Santa and tree styling
Watch out for- Available mainly on iOS
- Limited scope beyond styling play
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Christmas Coloring for Kids offers Christmas themed colouring pages covering Santa, reindeer, snowmen, trees and gifts, with brush and fill tools that suit toddlers and young children. No reading is required, because children tap a picture and paint, and finished pictures can be saved in a gallery. A picture of the day feature gives a simple reason to return during December.
Parents should check the version installed, because free colouring apps vary in ads and in-app purchases. Turn on purchase controls, and test the app first to confirm the free pages cover enough content for your child without constant upgrade prompts.
What we like- More than 100 Christmas pages
- Simple tap and paint controls
- Gallery to save finished pictures
Watch out for- Some features may require in-app purchases
- Ads or offers vary by version
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
ReindeerCam offers a live streamed look at Santa reindeer as they prepare for Christmas Eve, with quiet moments, feeding and occasional Santa appearances. It works well as a calm evening activity in December, especially for younger children who enjoy animals and simple routines. There is no game to win and no score to chase, which keeps the mood gentle.
The experience is passive. Children who want games or interaction will prefer Google Santa Tracker, and the stream is seasonal rather than year round. Use ReindeerCam as background festive viewing, not as the main Christmas app.
What we like- Gentle live look at reindeer before Christmas
- Good for evening family viewing
- No game pressure
Watch out for- Stream availability is seasonal
- Viewing is passive rather than interactive
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Flightradar24, a well known flight tracking service, also tracks Santa during the festive season, showing his journey on a map that older children may enjoy. It suits families with children who like planes, maps and geography, and it adds a different view from the main Santa trackers. The map format can spark simple questions about countries, time zones and distance.
It is not a child first app. The main Flightradar24 service is built for flight tracking, so parents should open the Santa feature directly and supervise browsing. For younger children, NORAD or Google Santa Tracker remain easier and more festive.
What we like- Familiar flight tracking map
- Fun for children interested in planes and geography
- Free seasonal feature
Watch out for- Santa tracking is seasonal and secondary to flight tracking
- Less child focused than NORAD or Google
How we chose
We compared vendor pages, app store listings and family guides, and kept only apps that are still available, are age appropriate, and offer a clear festive purpose for children. Personalised video apps were kept only with a note about adult supervision and photo use, and apps with heavy advertising, gambling style mechanics or mature content were excluded. Prices are marked as See website where app store pricing, premium upgrades or regional offers vary. Verification note: Google Santa Tracker returned no extractable content in this check and is kept on its established official URL, not retried. Christmas Coloring for Kids has no clear vendor homepage, so its website field uses an app store listing. Toca Hair Salon Christmas is listed through the Toca Boca vendor homepage, and Flightradar24 is counted on domain and title because its map page needs WebGL2 support.
How to set up Christmas apps safely
Start by deciding who holds the device. Santa trackers work best on a shared family screen, where an adult controls the map and gives updates, rather than on a child phone alone. That also makes it easier to set a bedtime rule on Christmas Eve, such as one final check before bed.
Check purchases and privacy next. Turn on purchase controls, avoid uploading a child photo without thinking about where it goes, and keep location sharing off. For personalised videos, create the video yourself and share it only with family. Finally, balance screen time with offline traditions, such as reading, baking or decorating, so apps add to December rather than replacing it.
Age fit is worth a second look, because Christmas apps span a wide range. Colouring and styling apps suit toddlers and early primary children, who need simple touch controls and no reading. Map based trackers suit older primary children, who can follow a journey across countries and ask questions about time zones and distance. If siblings share one device, choose apps that work for the youngest child first, then add a tracker for the older child on a shared screen, so nobody is left out or exposed to content meant for older users.
Timing also helps keep December fun rather than frantic. Open games and colouring apps through December as a treat, save the live trackers for Christmas Eve, and agree in advance how many checks you will make that night. A simple plan, shared with children early in December, avoids late-night negotiations and keeps the focus on family time, stories and sleep before Christmas morning. Children enjoy anticipation more when it has a clear rhythm, and a calm final check before bed works better than repeated checking late into the evening.
Frequently asked questions
Which Santa tracker should families use on Christmas Eve?
NORAD Tracks Santa and Google Santa Tracker are the two trusted free options, and both go live on December 24. NORAD is the longest running tracker, while Google offers more games and activities through December. Many families open one for tracking and use the other for games earlier in the month.
Are Christmas apps for kids free?
Many are free, including both main Santa trackers, ReindeerCam and the basic version of Portable North Pole. Some apps offer paid upgrades, premium videos or extra content, so check in-app purchases and turn on purchase controls before a child uses an app alone.
What age are these Christmas apps suitable for?
Most suit ages three to eight, with colouring and styling apps working for the youngest children and map based trackers suiting older children who enjoy geography. Always check the app store age rating and try the app yourself first, since ratings and content vary by version.
Is Portable North Pole safe for children?
The videos themselves are family friendly, but the app uses a child name and can use a photo, so an adult should create and share the video. Keep the finished video within the family, check premium prices before upgrading, and do not let a child enter personal details alone.
Do Santa trackers work outside the US?
Yes, both main trackers are available online in many countries, though language options, phone services and exact features vary by region. Google Santa Tracker works in a browser worldwide, while NORAD phone support and local features depend on the country.
Sources we checked (7)
- https://santatracker.google.com
- https://www.noradsanta.org
- https://www.portablenorthpole.com
- https://www.tocaboca.com
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kidgames.coloring.christmas
- https://www.reindeercam.com
- https://www.flightradar24.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
NORAD Tracks Santa
Portable North Pole
Toca Hair Salon Christmas
Christmas Coloring for Kids
ReindeerCam
Flightradar24 Santa Tracker