Stokke YOYO vs Bugaboo Butterfly: Which Cabin Stroller in 2026?

If you've been shopping for a cabin stroller recently, you may have noticed the Babyzen YOYO² has quietly disappeared from some retailers and been replaced by something called the Stokke YOYO3. This isn't a new competitor. Stokke acquired the Babyzen brand and renamed the stroller as part of that move, so the Stokke YOYO3 is, mechanically and functionally, the same stroller as the Babyzen YOYO² with a new badge and a few small refinements. Plenty of parents are confused by the switch, which is fair enough given how little fanfare it got.

We covered the original matchup in detail in our Bugaboo Butterfly vs Babyzen YOYO comparison, and everything in that piece still applies. This page covers the same two strollers under their 2026 branding, so if you've already read that one, treat this as an update rather than a fresh verdict. If you're new to the debate, read on: the choice between these two comes down to fold size and accessories versus everyday practicality and basket space.

Specs at a Glance

Both fold small enough to satisfy most carriers, but "most" isn't "all." Run your exact airline through the stroller airline checker before you book, especially if you're flying with a budget carrier that enforces cabin size frames at the gate.

Stokke YOYO3

Best for: parents who want the smallest possible fold and are willing to build out a system with adapters and accessories over time. The rebrand hasn't changed what made the YOYO² popular: it's still one of the most compact strollers you can buy, and it still slots onto a carry-on trolley or over a shoulder like a bag.

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Bugaboo Butterfly

Best for: everyday use as well as travel. The 8kg basket is the best in this category, the recline is genuinely good for naps, and the self-standing fold means you're not hunting for a wall to lean it against at the airport gate.

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Also Consider: Cybex Coya and Joolz Aer+

If you want the Butterfly's near-flat recline but a narrower fold for strict airlines, the Cybex Coya is worth a look. It sits close in price to the Butterfly, typically around £399, and folds down to a more compact footprint, with some versions including a newborn inlay in the box. We've compared it directly against the YOYO in our Cybex Coya vs Babyzen YOYO guide.

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The Joolz Aer+ is another sensible middle ground. At around £349 it undercuts both the YOYO3 and the Butterfly by a decent margin, keeps a near-flat recline and a similar basket capacity, and is cabin-sized on most airlines. It doesn't fold quite as small as the YOYO3, but for parents who want good recline without paying Butterfly prices, it's a genuine contender.

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Fold Mechanism

The YOYO3 keeps the backpack-style fold that made the YOYO² famous: pull two straps and it collapses into a neat, self-contained bundle small enough to sling over one shoulder. It's the smallest folded footprint of any mainstream travel stroller and remains the benchmark other brands are measured against. The Butterfly folds in two steps, pull the handle then fold the seat down, and while it's not quite as compact, it stands upright on its own, which the YOYO3 does not reliably do.

Weight and Portability

At 6.2kg the YOYO3 is noticeably lighter than the Butterfly's 7.3kg, and that difference is more obvious than it sounds once you're carrying it up stairs at a train station with a baby on your other hip. It's also one of the entries on our lightest strollers in the UK guide if weight is your main concern above everything else. The Butterfly's extra weight buys you a sturdier frame and better ride quality, so it's a trade rather than a straightforward downside.

Recline and Nap-Friendliness

This is where the Butterfly pulls ahead clearly. Its near-flat recline is one of the best in the category and makes a real difference if your baby naps in the pushchair. The YOYO3's recline is only partial, carried over unchanged from the YOYO², so a baby who needs to lie flat to settle may struggle in it during longer outings. Neither is a substitute for a proper carrycot if flat, supervised newborn sleep is essential for you.

Basket and Storage

The Butterfly's 8kg basket is genuinely large for this category and can comfortably swallow a changing bag, a jacket, and a bit of shopping. The YOYO3's basket, largely unchanged from the YOYO², is small and shallow, rated around 5kg but awkward to load. If the stroller needs to double as your daily errand-runner, the basket gap is one of the first things you'll notice.

Build Quality and Ride

Both strollers feel well made, but they're built for slightly different jobs. The Butterfly rides better over kerbs, cobbles, and uneven pavements, which matters if it's going to be your main pushchair rather than a holiday-only piece of kit. The YOYO3 is built primarily to fold small and travel light, and it does that brilliantly, but the ride is a touch firmer and less forgiving on rough ground.

Price and Value

The two are close in price these days: the YOYO3 typically costs around £449, while the Butterfly is usually a little cheaper at around £435. Given the sheer size of Babyzen's (now Stokke's) accessory range, from car seat adapters to a sibling board, the YOYO3 can grow with your family without buying a new stroller, but those extras are sold separately and add to the real cost. The Butterfly's near-identical price already includes a bigger basket and a better recline that you'll use every single day. For a wider spread of prices and use cases, our best travel stroller review covers everything from budget picks to flagship strollers.

Airline Compatibility

Both strollers are cabin-sized on the vast majority of UK and European carriers, and both have long track records of clearing gate checks without issue. The YOYO3's smaller folded footprint gives it a slight edge on the very strictest budget airlines, but the difference rarely matters in practice. Always check your specific airline's current policy with the stroller airline checker before you fly, since rules do change and vary by carrier.

Choose the Stokke YOYO3 if…

• You want the smallest possible folded stroller for frequent flying or tight storage at home
• You're likely to add accessories over time, such as a car seat adapter, sibling board, or parasol
• You want the lighter stroller to carry, since the YOYO3 (6.2kg) is over a kilogram lighter than the Butterfly (7.3kg)
• Your baby doesn't rely on the pushchair for daytime naps
• You already own YOYO² accessories and want them to carry over

Choose the Bugaboo Butterfly if…

• This will also be your everyday pushchair, not just a holiday stroller
• Your baby naps in the pram and a near-flat recline matters to you
• You want a genuinely large basket for nappy bags, shopping, and everyday clutter
• You'd rather the stroller stand up on its own at the airport gate
• Ride quality on normal streets matters as much as the fold size

Our Verdict

Nothing about the fundamentals has changed with the rebrand. The Stokke YOYO3 is still the stroller to buy if the smallest fold, lightest weight, and a growing accessory system are what matter most to you. The Bugaboo Butterfly is still the better all-rounder if you want one stroller that works for daily life as well as travel, thanks to its basket, recline, and ride quality, and with the two now priced within about £15 of each other, price alone is no longer the deciding factor it used to be. Whichever you owned an opinion on before the name change, that opinion still holds. For a third option that splits the difference, see our top cabin-friendly strollers guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Stokke YOYO the same as the Babyzen YOYO?

Yes. Stokke acquired the Babyzen brand and renamed the YOYO² to the Stokke YOYO3 as part of that move. The stroller is functionally the same product with a new name and packaging, plus a few minor refinements. If you find content or reviews referring to the Babyzen YOYO², it's describing essentially the same stroller.

Is the Stokke YOYO better than the Bugaboo Butterfly?

It depends what you need. The YOYO3 folds smaller and weighs less, making it the stronger pick for pure travel and frequent flying. The Butterfly has a bigger basket, a better recline, and rides better on normal streets, making it the stronger pick if it's also your everyday pushchair, and it's now priced slightly lower too. Neither is objectively better; they're built for slightly different priorities.

Which is cheaper: YOYO3 or Butterfly?

The two are close in price. The Bugaboo Butterfly typically retails around £435, while the Stokke YOYO3 sits at around £449, so the Butterfly is now the slightly cheaper of the two. The gap can vary by retailer and colourway, and it's worth remembering the YOYO3's newborn pack and other accessories are sold separately, which can add to its real world cost.

Can both go in the overhead locker?

Both are cabin-sized on most major airlines and have long track records of fitting in overhead lockers or being accepted at the gate. The YOYO3's smaller folded footprint gives it a slight edge on airlines with the strictest cabin size enforcement. Always confirm current policy for your specific airline using the stroller airline checker before you travel.

Which should I buy in 2026?

If travel is the main use case and you want the lightest, smallest-folding stroller, choose the Stokke YOYO3, though be prepared to buy accessories separately as your baby grows. If the stroller needs to work equally well as your everyday pushchair and a travel companion, choose the Bugaboo Butterfly, which is now the slightly cheaper of the two as well as the better all-rounder. Families who fly often but also want strong daily usability sometimes end up looking at the Cybex Coya or Joolz Aer+ as a middle ground, both covered above.