Raising Pou game: what parents of kids 4–7 should know
Pou game: Pou is a virtual pet app rated 4+ on Apple's App Store and Everyone on Google Play. Children feed, clean, and play with an alien pet, earning coins in mini-games. It shows ads and sells coins and potions for $0.99 to $24.99 on the App Store. Common Sense Media, an independent nonprofit, lists it for ages 6 and up and says players are encouraged to buy extras.
Pou at a glance
- –Official rating above age 7
App Store: 4+; Google Play: Everyone - ✓Contact with other players or strangers
Visits to friends' Pou; App Store: user content - ✓Purchases with real money
Coins and potions $0.99–$24.99 - –Paid random items
None listed - –Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
None in store ratings - –Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
None found
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count.
| Type | Virtual pet game by Zakeh: feed, clean, and play with an alien pet; out since 2012 source |
|---|---|
| App Store (iOS) | 4+ — contains advertising, user-generated content; $1.99, in-app purchases $0.99–$24.99 source |
| Google Play | Everyone — In-Game Purchases; free with ads source |
| Common Sense Media | 6+ (an independent nonprofit's age guidance) |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What is Pou?
Pou is a virtual pet game by Zakeh, on phones since 2012. Kids feed the pet, wash it, put it to bed, play mini-games in the Game Room for coins, and dress it up. The maker lists "Visit and play with your friends!" and "Talk to Pou and listen back!"
Pou age rating: what's in it
Short answer: It's rated for all ages, with ads and purchases.
- App Store: 4+; contains advertising and user-generated content. It costs $1.99 on iOS.
- Google Play: Everyone; free, with ads and in-game purchases.
- Common Sense Media: 6+.
Common Sense Media notes Pou gets dirty if it's neglected, it can starve if not fed, and it repeats what kids record, including iffy words.
Ads and purchases
On the App Store, Pou sells coins from $0.99 to $24.99, plus potions and colors. Common Sense Media says players are encouraged to buy extras for their pet.
The habit kids may copy: the pet that's always hungry
Pou's needs keep going down while the app is closed, so there's always a reason to check on it.
Try tonight: a real care routine
Pick one real thing your child takes care of: a plant, a pet's water bowl, or a stuffed animal's bedtime. Do it together once. Say: "Done. It's happy. We can let it rest now." In our program, this is the lesson "Enough": noticing what's already here.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
What age is Pou for?
Apple's App Store rates it 4+ and Google Play rates it Everyone. Common Sense Media lists it for ages 6 and up.
Is Pou free?
It's free on Google Play with ads, and $1.99 on Apple's App Store. Both sell in-app purchases; on iOS they range from $0.99 to $24.99.
Does Pou have ads?
Yes. Both app stores say it contains ads.
Can Pou die?
Common Sense Media says Pou can starve to death if it isn't fed.
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