Voxblock vs Toniebox · UK prices checked 11 October 2026
A Toniebox alternative with no wi-fi and no setup
Looking for a Tonies alternative? Voxblock is a screen-free audiobook player for children aged 3 and up. Each story lives inside a solid cardboard audiobook, so there is nothing to download and no account to make. The player is £49.99, £55 less than a Toniebox 2.
No wi-fi · 16-hour battery · 100-day money-back guarantee · British designed
Shop starter packs · from £69.99 See the full comparisonEasy setup … Straightforward to use.
Why families look for a Toniebox alternative
Price
A Toniebox 2 is £104.99 and each Tonie £14.99. Voxblock is £49.99, and audiobooks £9.99.
Setup
A Toniebox needs the app, an account and wi-fi. Voxblock needs nothing: put a book on and press play.
Headphones
The Toniebox 2 is Bluetooth only. Voxblock has a 3.5mm jack for the headphones you already own.
Growing up
Voxblock goes from picture books to unabridged novels for older children.
The player on its own
Voxblock vs Toniebox 2 and Toniebox Lite
The players side by side. There are pros and cons of each, but only one plays straight out of the box.
 Voxblock player£49.99Player, USB-C cable.Shop now
|  Toniebox 2£104.99Toniebox 2, USB-C cable. Tonies sold separately. |  Toniebox Lite Starter Set£59.99Toniebox Lite, Creative-Tonie. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price difference | Best value | £55 more | £10 more |
| Setting up | No setup | App, account and wi-fi | App, account and wi-fi |
| How stories arrive | Ready to play | Figures; each new Tonie downloads over wi-fi | Figures; each new Tonie downloads over wi-fi |
| Screen | None | None | None |
| Headphones | 3.5mm headphone jack | Bluetooth only | Bluetooth only |
| Bedtime | 20-minute bedtime mode | Sleep timer, night light, sunrise alarm | Sleep timer |
| Battery | Up to 16 hours | Up to 10 hours | Up to 7 hours |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Size and weight | 11 × 19 × 2 cm, 165 g | 13 × 13 × 13 cm, 815 g | About 10 cm each way, 290 g |
| Wi-fi needed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Online account needed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Add your own audio | Coming soon | With a Creative-Tonie (sold separately) | Creative-Tonie included |
With exactly the same stories
The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and The Smartest Giant in Town
Three Julia Donaldson favourites, and what each set-up costs all in.
Voxblock · one box
Gruffalo and Friends Starter Pack
- Voxblock player, bumper, cable
- included
- The Gruffalo
- included
- Room on the Broom
- included
- The Smartest Giant in Town
- included
Best value
Toniebox 2 · bought separately
Toniebox 2 + 3 Tonies
- Toniebox 2
- £104.99
- The Gruffalo Tonie
- £14.99
- Room on the Broom Tonie
- £14.99
- The Snail and the Whale & The Smartest Giant in Town Tonie
- £14.99
£79.97 more than Voxblock
Toniebox Lite · bought separately
Toniebox Lite Starter Set + 3 Tonies
- Toniebox Lite Starter Set
- £59.99
- The Gruffalo Tonie
- £14.99
- Room on the Broom Tonie
- £14.99
- The Snail and the Whale & The Smartest Giant in Town Tonie
- £14.99
£34.97 more than Voxblock
Tonies sells The Smartest Giant in Town on a figure shared with The Snail and the Whale, so that Tonie plays one extra story. Smyths also sells a Toniebox Lite Starter Set with three Tonies of your choice for £99.99.
Not just the price
Which one suits your family?
Choose Voxblock if…
- You want it working straight out of the box: no wi-fi, no account, no downloads
- You want them listening on their own: they pick a real audiobook they can hold, put it on and press play
- You want it to last beyond picture books, with unabridged novels for older children
- Price matters: £55 less than a Toniebox 2, and each story is £5 less
A Toniebox may suit you better if…
- Your child is under 3, or loves collecting and playing with the figures
- You want a night light and sunrise alarm in the same device (Toniebox 2)
- You'd like Tonieplay games (Toniebox 2, controller sold separately)
- You want Bluetooth headphones
What makes Voxblock different
Stories they can hold
Each audiobook is a solid block with the cover on the front, chosen by sight and kept on the shelf.
Simple enough at 3
No screens or menus. Put the book on and press play, so children use it on their own.
Grows with them
From picture books to unabridged novels, with stories for toddlers to teens.
Nothing to log into
No wi-fi, no account and nothing collected about your child.
Save when you bundle the player with audiobooks
Choose a starter pack
Just add a story and press play.
Free UK delivery on orders over £25 · 100-day money-back guarantee
Just add a story and press play.
Free UK delivery on orders over £25 · 100-day money-back guarantee
Questions about switching from Tonies
Is there a cheaper alternative to a Toniebox?
Yes. The Voxblock player is £49.99 against £104.99 for the Toniebox 2, and each audiobook is £9.99 against £14.99 for a Tonie.
Is Voxblock a Toniebox imitation?
No. Voxblock shares some of the same stories, such as The Gruffalo, but takes a simpler approach. There is no wi-fi, no account and nothing to download: a child picks an audiobook, puts it on the player and presses play. With fewer steps and no settings to manage, children can use it on their own from the start.
Does Voxblock need wi-fi?
No. There is no wi-fi, no account and no downloads. Each story is stored inside its audiobook: put it on the player and press play.
Can my child use wired headphones?
Yes, through the 3.5mm jack. The Toniebox 2 works with Bluetooth headphones only.
What age is Voxblock for?
From 3 years old, with stories through to unabridged novels for older children.
How long does the battery last?
Up to 16 hours, charged by USB-C.
Can I add my own recordings?
Not yet, but it's coming soon. Tonies offers this with a Creative-Tonie.
Comparing Yoto as well? Voxblock vs Yoto · Yoto vs Tonies: the full guide
How we compared
Tonies prices from tonies.com/en-gb, checked 11 October 2026: Toniebox 2 £104.99; Tonies £14.99 each. Toniebox Lite Starter Set £59.99 from smythstoys.com, checked the same day. Voxblock prices from voxblock.co.uk on the same day. Specifications are Tonies' own published figures. Prices can change; check the retailer before you buy.
Review quoted from “Best kids’ audio players”, IndyBest, The Independent (Abby Driver, 2025). Tonies, Toniebox and Creative-Tonie are trademarks of tonies SE. Voxblock is not affiliated with or endorsed by tonies.