The best story generators for kids in 2026

Some story makers write a book for your child. Others help your child write it. Here’s how six popular choices compare, and which one fits your family.

We make CreateStories.app, so we’ve put it first. Everything about the other apps comes from their own websites, checked on 23 October 2026. Prices change, so check before you buy.

Our picks

CreateStories.app:Kids aged 7–13 who want to write their own story, with their family as the characters
KlugStory:Parents who want a low-cost AI picture book to print at home
Genie in a Book:A printed paperback or hardcover gift
Lumora:Narrated bedtime stories for young children, with a hardcover option
StoryMine:A narrated digital story for a young child, checked by a person
Storybird:Kids who want to write over professional illustrations, without AI pictures

Side by side

	CreateStories.app	KlugStory	Genie in a Book	Lumora	StoryMine	Storybird
Who writes the story	The child. They plan the characters, world and plot; Story Helper (AI) turns the plan into a draft, and the child edits it. Or pick a ready-made story and choose who plays each part.	The parent picks a topic and the AI writes the story.	The parent uploads photos and a prompt; AI writes a 12-page story.	The parent gives details; AI writes the story.	StoryMine writes it; a person checks each story.	The child writes, choosing artwork from Storybird's artist gallery.
Family photos	Yes: family, friends and pets, or invented characters	Yes: a hero plus up to 4 more people or pets	Yes: up to 6 people and pets	Yes: the child, from a single photo	Yes: the child, and a pet if you like	No: artwork comes from its gallery
Ages	7–13, younger with a grown-up	Not stated	The parent chooses an age range	1–12	Younger children (sample books are for ages 3–7)	Older kids (sample shows 9+)
Price	First story free, then $2.99 a story or $9.99 for 5. No subscription.	50 free credits on sign-up. A 12-page book is 73 credits (about $0.73), a 32-page book 133 credits (about $1.33).	Characters, cover and first pages free. Colouring book $15, paperback $35, hardcover $50.	First story free. $9.99 for a narrated digital book with PDF, or $14.99 a month / $99 a year.	3 illustrated pages free. $9.90 for a digital book with PDF and audio.	Free Basic plan for reading. Individual plan $4.99 a month.
Printing	No print service. Printable PDF, a gift card with a QR code, and a share link.	No print service. PDF to print at home or at a print shop.	Yes. Each book is checked by a real person before printing.	Yes. Hardcover $49.99 plus shipping.	No printed books.	PDF download on the paid plan.
Photo privacy	Uploaded photos are never shown on shared stories. CreateStories.app doesn't train AI on your photos or stories. Deleting your account deletes them.	Says photos are visible only to your account and never used to train AI. Account holders must be 18 or over.	Only a parent or guardian may upload a child's photo. Its privacy policy says deletion may not be immediate or complete.	Says photos never train AI and are deleted on request.	Says photos are removed within 24 hours of making the book and never used to train AI.	Public stories and comments are reviewed by moderators.

CreateStories.app

Best for: Kids aged 7–13 who want to write their own story, with their family as the characters

Who writes the story: The child. They plan the characters, world and plot; Story Helper (AI) turns the plan into a draft, and the child edits it. Or pick a ready-made story and choose who plays each part.
Family photos: Yes: family, friends and pets, or invented characters
Ages: 7–13, younger with a grown-up
Price: First story free, then $2.99 a story or $9.99 for 5. No subscription.
Printing: No print service. Printable PDF, a gift card with a QR code, and a share link.
Photo privacy: Uploaded photos are never shown on shared stories. CreateStories.app doesn't train AI on your photos or stories. Deleting your account deletes them.

Make your first story free

KlugStory

Best for: Parents who want a low-cost AI picture book to print at home

Who writes the story: The parent picks a topic and the AI writes the story.
Family photos: Yes: a hero plus up to 4 more people or pets
Ages: Not stated
Price: 50 free credits on sign-up. A 12-page book is 73 credits (about $0.73), a 32-page book 133 credits (about $1.33).
Printing: No print service. PDF to print at home or at a print shop.
Photo privacy: Says photos are visible only to your account and never used to train AI. Account holders must be 18 or over.

Source: klugstory.com, klugstory.com (checked 23 October 2026)

Genie in a Book

Best for: A printed paperback or hardcover gift

Who writes the story: The parent uploads photos and a prompt; AI writes a 12-page story.
Family photos: Yes: up to 6 people and pets
Ages: The parent chooses an age range
Price: Characters, cover and first pages free. Colouring book $15, paperback $35, hardcover $50.
Printing: Yes. Each book is checked by a real person before printing.
Photo privacy: Only a parent or guardian may upload a child's photo. Its privacy policy says deletion may not be immediate or complete.

Source: genieinabook.com, genieinabook.com (checked 23 October 2026)

Lumora

Best for: Narrated bedtime stories for young children, with a hardcover option

Who writes the story: The parent gives details; AI writes the story.
Family photos: Yes: the child, from a single photo
Ages: 1–12
Price: First story free. $9.99 for a narrated digital book with PDF, or $14.99 a month / $99 a year.
Printing: Yes. Hardcover $49.99 plus shipping.
Photo privacy: Says photos never train AI and are deleted on request.

Source: lumora.kids (checked 23 October 2026)

StoryMine

Best for: A narrated digital story for a young child, checked by a person

Who writes the story: StoryMine writes it; a person checks each story.
Family photos: Yes: the child, and a pet if you like
Ages: Younger children (sample books are for ages 3–7)
Price: 3 illustrated pages free. $9.90 for a digital book with PDF and audio.
Printing: No printed books.
Photo privacy: Says photos are removed within 24 hours of making the book and never used to train AI.

Source: storymine.app, storymine.app (checked 23 October 2026)

Storybird

Best for: Kids who want to write over professional illustrations, without AI pictures

Who writes the story: The child writes, choosing artwork from Storybird's artist gallery.
Family photos: No: artwork comes from its gallery
Ages: Older kids (sample shows 9+)
Price: Free Basic plan for reading. Individual plan $4.99 a month.
Printing: PDF download on the paid plan.
Photo privacy: Public stories and comments are reviewed by moderators.

Source: storybird.com (checked 23 October 2026)

Questions from parents

What is the best story generator for kids?

It depends on who you want to make the story. If your child aged 7–13 wants to write it, CreateStories.app guides them through planning and editing their own book. If a parent wants a finished book for a young child, KlugStory, Lumora, StoryMine and Genie in a Book write it for you.

Can kids write their own story with AI?

Yes. In CreateStories.app the child plans the characters, world and plot, AI turns that plan into a first draft, and the child edits it until it sounds like them. Storybird is a good choice for kids who want to write every word themselves, over professional artwork.

Is it safe to upload my child's photo?

Read each app's privacy policy first. Look for whether photos are used to train AI, whether other people can see them, and whether deleting your account deletes them. CreateStories.app never shows uploaded photos on shared stories and doesn't train AI on them.

Which kids' story apps print real books?

Genie in a Book prints paperbacks and hardcovers, and Lumora prints hardcovers. CreateStories.app and KlugStory give you a PDF to print at home or at a print shop.