Atlas Crate vs Little Passports: Which is right for your family?

A while ago I subscribed to Little Passports. Last year my in-laws gifted the kids an Atlas Crate subscription. These two subscriptions seem to be the most popular options for families helping their kids learn more about the world. Though there are some similarities, there are a lot of differences worth mentioning. So which travel-themed subscription box is the best for your family? Read about Atlas Crate vs Little Passports below and see which one works for your kids!

Note: Affiliate links, but these are all my own thoughts.

The similarities between Little Passports and Atlas Crate subscription boxes

Both companies have more than one box available, so for the purpose of this review, I’m comparing Little Passport’s World Explorer subscription with Kiwi Crate’s Atlas Crate subscription.

Both subscription boxes offer monthly packages to help kids learn about the world. Each starts with an introduction box that showcases what to expect in the upcoming boxes. After that, monthly boxes feature specific countries with informative guides, activities, and a takeaway.

The differences between Little Passports and Atlas Crate subscription boxes

Both companies have been around for a while and have very positive reviews. I’ve personally had great customer service experiences with both. However, their beginnings and evolution are different.

What are Little Passports and Atlas Crate

Little Passports originally focused on teaching children about the world with subscription boxes. Their plans included a world edition and a U.S. edition. As they grew, they’ve branched out to create other products (such as books) and other subscription boxes (such as science). The World Edition is geared to kids between ages 6-10.

Atlas Crate is part of the Kiwi Crate subscription service for kids. Kiwi Crate started offering STEM activities through monthly boxes, with various options offered to different age groups. The Atlas Crate product is their global-themed STEM product. Atlas Crate is geared to kids between 6-11.

What comes in the box?

Little Passports includes…

Little Passports Egypt includes everything here, but the suitcase was sent in the first mailing.

After receiving the initial intro package from Little Passports, you can expect a padded envelope filled with the following types of items:

A letter from the travelers, Sofia and Sam, about their travels in the country of focus.
A colorful activity sheet with 2 or more activities (such as a word cross or language translation).
A postcard with a picture of Sofia and Sam in front of a national site and information about the place on the backside.
A sticker to decorate the cardboard box suitcase included in the intro box.
A luggage tag/boarding pass that attaches to that suitcase with a link to access a Little Passports page with more activities (unfortunately the secret code on my boarding pass no longer works since my subscription has expired, so I can’t see it to give more details on the activities allowed online – that said – I do reduce time for my kids online anyway, so I rarely used it)
A sticker of the country’s flag and a sticker pin to pinpoint the country on the map provided with the intro packet.
A souvenir that, in my experience, is frequently something that may have actually been purchased by friends traveling abroad.
They didn’t have this when I was a member, but for an added fee the premium package includes a book, too.

Atlas Crate includes…

After receiving the initial intro package from Atlas Crate, you can expect a box filled with the following types of items:

An envelope from the guides, Milo & Anya, with the word “hello” written in the language of the country and stamp images from the country.
Inside the envelope, there’s a sticker of the country and colorful cards filled with pictures and images. Attach the color cards to cards from other boxes via binder rings.
The cards: intro to the country with a map and facts, a travel journal entry from Milo and Anya with pictures, information about two separate things about the countries (geography, animals, and other things), a craft activity where supplies aren’t included, and a kid-friendly recipe.
Two instructional booklets and all of the supplies to create two country-related crafts, or sometimes a game and a craft.
Sometimes they’ll send a book, too.

My honest opinion about the Atlas Crate and Little Passports Subscription Boxes

I really don’t think families can go wrong with either option. They both do a great job of providing an introduction to kids around the 6-10 age range. That said, the Little Subscription box will hold a child’s interest longer on the younger side of that range, while I think the Atlas Crate box will be best suited for kids on the older side of that range.

Little Passports is at a lower price point. It’s under $18 with an additional $10 for the premium package that includes a book. The fewer, and flatter, items mean it’s more environmentally friendly. Instead of a big box, it’s just a padded envelope.

Atlas Crate is slightly more expensive at just under $20. However, they fill their boxes with activity supplies so it feels like a great value. (And I love upcycling those boxes in our home.)

Which travel-themed subscription box would we get?

Our family, who likes to be crafty, prefers the Atlas Crate Box. My kids fit just at the start and end of their age range, at 7 and 9. While the activities included are meant for that age, it requires a level of patience and time to complete them. Sometimes they need my assistance, sometimes they don’t. I appreciate that the activities are time-consuming because it helps me feel the value. They’re always very proud of the items they make. Plus, with two activities, the kids can share the box and each do one craft.

The Little Passports box is still great, though. It’s easier for them to go through it themselves. Instead of two crafts, Little Passports offers one souvenir. Sometimes the souvenir is a toy, sometimes it’s more crafty. It’s not as immediately shareable, but they don’t always need two of the same toys either. It’s a great jumping-off point to getting kids excited about learning about another country.

Quick Comparison Between the Atlas Crate and Little Passports Subscription Box

	Little Passports’ World Edition	Kiwi Crate’s Atlas Crate
Age Range	6-10	6-11
Price per month	$17.95 base + optional premium package for an additional $10. Prices can go down to $14.95 base with a longer subscription	$19.95, prices can go down to $16.95 with a longer subscription
Hand-on Activities	Sometimes	Yes
Online Activities	Yes	No
Sibling Options?	For siblings who don’t want to share a box, Little Passports offers other boxes for other age groups with global and science themes up to age 12.	The Atlas Crate can easily be shared with two kids, with each getting their own craft. If kids want their own boxes there are other STEAM-themed boxes available for ages up to 104 (yes, 104)
Will they love it?	Yes	Yes