Kiwico vs Crunch Labs vs Lovevery vs Science4you

A Comprehensive Review to STEM Subscription Boxes

In an increasingly technology-driven world, children are exposed to tablets and smartphones at a young age, making it highly competitive to capture their attention and provide engaging activities. One of the major challenges for parents is finding ways to entertain their children without resorting to screens, instead fostering enriching and interactive experiences.

One effective approach is to choose educational toys that offer hands-on experiences and adhere to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) methodology. This provides children with enjoyable playtime and helps them actively develop cognitive skills—such as focus, memory, reasoning, and critical thinking—as well as emotional skills.

Companies like KiwiCo, CrunchLabs, and Science4you create subscription kits specifically designed to encourage learning and development in children through STEM principles and hands-on activities. Lovevery sells Play Kits for children from 0 months to 4 years, each of which features toys and activities meant to help baby and toddler brains develop.

In this article, we will compare subscription kits designed specifically for children aged 4 to 12 years old.

KiwiCo Labs

Science4you

CrunchLabs

Lovevery

Price
Starting at $24/box
Starting at $17,99/box
Starting at $24,95/box
Starting at 120$/box
Age Range
6-8 years old
9-11 years old
4-8 years old
8-12 years old
8-13 years old
4 years old
Subjects covered
Science
Engineering
Chemistry,
Physics,
Science,
Cosmetics,
Arts and Crafts,
Geology,
Gastronomy,
and more
Engineering
Executive function skills
Number of activities
1 activity per kit
Average of 10+ activities per kit
1 activity per kit
6 activities per kit

How often do they arrive

1 box every month
1 box every month
1 box every month
1 box every 3 months
Shipping Cost
Free within US
Free within US
Free within US
Free within US
Made in
Asia
Europe
Asia
Asia
Years of Expertise
13 years
16 years
2 years
7 years

Number of Subjects Covered: Science4you Offers the Most Diverse Range

KiwiCo and CrunchLabs offer a more focused approach. KiwiCo centers on Science and Engineering, with kits designed to inspire creativity and problem-solving in specific STEM fields. CrunchLabs narrows its focus further by specializing in Engineering, providing hands-on projects that challenge children to think like engineers.

Each Lovevery kit teaches about different executive function skills such as visual spatial processing skills, practicing frustration management or understanding the concept of time.

Science4you leads with various topics, including Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Gastronomy, Arts and Crafts, Cosmetics and much more. This diverse curriculum ensures that children have opportunities to explore different STEAM areas, encouraging a multidisciplinary learning experience within each box. This range of subjects makes Science4you a unique choice for parents looking to expose their children to a broad spectrum of educational content.

Winner: Science4you

Number of Activities: Science4you Delivers the Most Engaging Experience

When it comes to the number of activities provided per kit, Science4you offers unparalleled value, with each box including an average of 10+ activities. This abundance of hands-on experiments and projects ensures that children remain engaged and continuously learn across various subjects, making each box a comprehensive and immersive educational experience.

In 2nd place, Lovevery, that includes 6 main activities per kit.

In contrast, both KiwiCo and CrunchLabs offer only one activity per box. While this may allow for more detailed exploration of a specific topic, it limits the range of engagement children receive each month. KiwiCo's activities span science and engineering, and CrunchLabs specializes in engineering-focused builds, but for families seeking diverse and abundant content, Science4you stands out as the better option for maximizing hands-on learning opportunities.

Winner: Science4you

Years of Expertise: Science4you is the company that has been developing toys the longest

There are big differences here. CrunchLabs is the most recent company, only created 2 years ago. The 2 companies with the longest time on the market are Kiwico (13 years) and Science4you (16 years). Both have several years of toy development behind them, helping to create toys that are more suitable for children.

Price Comparison: Science4you offers a more affordable subscription at $17.99 per box

In terms of price, Science4you stands out with a starting cost of $17.99 per box, significantly lower than both KiwiCo (starting at $24 per box), CrunchLabs (starting at $24.95 per box), and Lovevery (starting at $120 per box). All brands offer free shipping in the U.S.

Why is Science4you cheaper? Although the kits have more activities than the others, cover more subjects and are produced in Europe (while the others are in Asia), the price is still lower. Although Science4you has been in 45+ countries around the world for 16 years, it only launched in the USA in November 2024 with a very competitive price that makes it possible to democratize access to STEM kits, allowing more children to learn while they play.

Winner: Science4you
If you want to know more about Science4you STEM subscription kits click here.