The Best Phones for Kids

The best phones for kids give them freedom without putting them at risk. Check out our favorites.
Best overall
Bark Phone
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
  • pro
    No contract
  • pro
    Built-in web filter
  • pro
    Up to 32 GB
Most user friendly
Gabb Phone 3 Pro
4 out of 5 stars
4
Most phone options
""
Pinwheel
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
  • pro
    No contract
  • pro
    No internet access
  • pro
    Up to 128 GB
Best first phone
Troomi phone for kids
Troomi
  • pro
    No contract
  • pro
    KidSmart® OS
  • pro
    Up to 64 GB

*Fro, May 21 to June 3. $30 activation fee. New lines only. No contract required. Excludes Gabb Watch 3.

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review

We adults are obsessed with our smartphones, so it only makes sense that our kids want one, too. But with social media and open browsers comes a lot of inappropriate content and wider access to the world (which includes friendly and malicious users alike). 

Our favorite phones for kids strike a balance between features they love with age-appropriate guardrails set by parents. 

Of all the phones we looked at, Bark, Gabb, Pinwheel, and Troomi came out on top. But we found a wide selection of phones for kids as young as preschool. For those youngest ones, we recommend checking out our lineup of smartwatches for kids


icon of the safewise owl icon with a banner saying deals
Gabb Summer Sale

🔥 Gabb's summer sale is here!
From May 21 to June 3, get a free device with the purchase of a new line and only $30 activation.

*$30 activation fee. New lines only. No contract required. Excludes Gabb Watch 3.


Price comparison: best kids phones

Product
Best for
Lowest phone price
Lowest service price
Cost to add another line
Money-back period
Warranty
Learn more
Best overall $39.00/mo. Full price
Icon No  LightNone
Icon Yes  Light1 year
Most user friendly

$24.99/mo.

$1.75/mo. off starting with 3rd line
Icon Yes  Light15 days
Icon Yes  Light1 year
Most phone options $14.99/mo. $4.99/mo.
Icon Yes  Light30 days
Icon No  LightNone
Best first phone

$13.95/mo.

Full price
Icon Yes  Light30 days
Icon No  LightPaid warranty only

*No contract required. $30 activation. New lines only.
Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

Notepad
Most of these kids phones have their own cellular plans
  • Bark, Gabb and Troomi all have their own cellular plans.
  • PinWheel's phones work with most major carriers, so you can add on to your current family plan or get a separate one.

Best kids phone reviews

1. Bark Phone: Best kids smartphone overall

Best overall
Bark Phone
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Free lease

Bark has it all — smartphones, parental controls, and even guardrails for TV and home gaming consoles. The Bark phone itself is a repurposed Samsung phone with the software permanently installed so it maintains a "grownup phone" appearance with kid-friendly software inside. 

While you can add Bark to Android and iOS devices, the Bark Phone offers a few extras you can't get anywhere else. Contact management, spam call blocking, remote phone locking, and the app download approval are just a few perks to having everything in one device.

pro
Pros
pro Free phone lease
pro Free Bark Premium subscription
pro No contract
pro Unlimited talk and text
pro No hidden fees
pro Built-in web filter
pro Exceptional message monitoring
pro Spam call blocking
pro Large display (6.6 in.)
pro Location tracking and geofencing
pro Screen time schedules
pro Contact management
con
Cons
con No money-back period
con Must return phone when cancelling service
con No multi-line discount
con Just one service option
con Relatively low storage (32 GB)

Bark's unique approach

Bark approaches smartphones for kids differently than other brands. It gives your kids a long enough leash to explore technology and communication safely and privately. 

Parents still get a lot of say, but Bark doesn't let you snoop and control everything your child does. For example, you won't be able to view their browsing history or see their location without their knowledge. 

All of this makes Bark a great fit for older kids between middle and high school. They get to explore and use their cool new phone within a digital safe space with limited screen time and parent-approved apps. 

Bark's the best at message monitoring

Have a text-happy kid? Worried about cyber bullying? Did you agree to let your kid join Instagram and then instantly regret it? Bark's got your back. It's the best (and often the only) platform for monitoring messages of all kinds — whether it's texts, emails, or social media DMs.

Because this is such a rare feature among other parental controls — even those associated with kids smartphones — we can overlook Bark's high price.

Highest monthly service fee

The major disadvantage of a Bark Phone is its high service price. You're required to use a Bark Wireless plan, which costs $49/month for a zero-data plan. That means your child can only use their phone's internet features when connected to Wi-Fi. 

Adding data increases that monthly price, but you can choose their limit with different Bark plans. The 4GB data plan costs $59/month, 8GB of data costs $69/month, and unlimited talk, text, and data lands at $89/month. 

There's no discount for adding a second Bark Phone to your account, and since you can't switch to another service provider, you're not able to shop around for a better price if your circumstances change.

Here's the good news: Your Bark Phone purchase includes a Bark Premium subscription ($99 value), so you can put parental controls on every other device your child uses, like tablets and computers. And at least you don't have to shell out for the cost of the phone.

Learn more in our full Bark Phone Review.

2. Gabb Phone 3 Pro: Most user friendly

Most user friendly
Gabb phone 3 pro for kids
Gabb Phone 3 Pro
4 out of 5 stars
4
Starting from
$199.99

Gabb's newest release is the Phone 3 Pro. It comes with 32GB of storage, a 5MP camera, and all the trimmings of a "grown up" phone your kids may want. With flexible plans, it's a phone that can grow with your kids as they're ready to explore the wider digital space and communicate with more people. 

One of Gabb's qualities that makes it so user friendly is its pre-installed list of parent-approved apps. The Gabb Phone 3 Pro already comes with a batch of kid-friendly standards like a camera, maps, and messaging. Parents also can submit approval of apps their kids want or choose from the hundreds of apps other parents have green lit. 

pro
Pros
pro No-contract option available
pro Unlimited talk and text
pro 15-day money-back period
pro 1-year warranty
pro No internet access
pro Spam call blocking
pro Up to 32 GB storage
pro Cloud storage available (costs extra)
con
Cons
con Activation fee
con No text monitoring
con Not compatible with third-party carriers
con Not waterproof

Of those apps, social media is absent. So, if you have kids who are too young or not quite mature enough for Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat, for example, Gabb completely eliminates the risk. 

Parents won't be able to add Gabb to their family plan, though. Gabb phones and watches all run on their own network, but it's easy to set limits and check your kiddo's activity through the MyGabb app. Parents can set safe zones and limit contacts and apps that kids have access to. 

Check out our deep dive on other products from Gabb to learn more about the Gabb Z2 Phone and Gabb Phone Plus.

Thumbs Up
Gabb Music+ offers safe streaming

Love music but don't love explicit lyrics? Gabb Music+ is now available to Gabb users. Kids can stream top hits, create their own playlists, and share their favorite tunes from a clean curated library.

3. Pinwheel: Most phone options

Most phone options
""
Pinwheel
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Starting from
$199.00+

Pinwheel is all about options. Not only does the brand have five phones to choose from, it also offers the best multi-line discount of the bunch. 

The Pinwheel subscription starts at $14.99 for the first Pinwheel phone on your account and drops to $4.99 for every line thereafter, making it an affordable choice for families with kids close in age. 

Unlike Gabb and Bark, Pinwheel doesn't have its own cellular service plan. You can add a SIM card from your preferred carrier (as long as it's compatible with the phone). Other options include adding a US Mobile plan for about $10/month or Mint Mobile plan for around $15/month. 

pro
Pros
pro No contract
pro No internet access
pro Vetted third-party apps
pro Excellent multi-line discount
pro Unlimited talk and text
pro 30-day money-back period
pro Spam call blocking
pro Message management
pro Multiple carrier options
pro Up to 128 GB storage
pro Task list
con
Cons
con No warranty
con Not waterproof
con Expensive upfront
con Not all phones have 5G

Pinwheel phones grow with your child

We also like that Pinwheel makes it super easy to adjust the parental controls depending on your child's age. 

Let's say you have a 9-year-old, 11-year-old, and 14-year-old — you could get them each a Pinwheel phone and fully customize their settings for the right mix of guidance and independence.

For example, there are three ways to handle contact management: do it for your child, approve your child's additions, or give your child full control. Similar stages of control are available for apps, call and text monitoring, screen time schedules, and group or photo messages.

While other kids phones offer customizations, Pinwheel impressed us the most in this category. With so many adjustments at your fingertips, you don't have to worry about getting a totally new phone for your kid if you need more or fewer restrictions in the future.

Pinwheel works with Bark

Pinwheel phones are compatible with the Bark parental control app. This is excellent news since Bark's message monitoring is the best in the biz. That said, you can read the full content of your child's text messages in the Pinwheel parent portal. Bark gives extra protection for messages that may be sent on other platforms. 

It costs about $5/month to add Bark monitoring to each Pinwheel phone. Just select that option at checkout. We hope this partnership continues even though Bark just launched its own phone. 

Best Pinwheel phone costs over $300

The only bummer here is the Pinwheel phones themselves can be pricey, but you do get a discount if you order them in groups of two.

Your child will get the best experience with the $329 Pinwheel Plus 2, since it's the only one compatible with 5G. They'll be stuck with Wi-Fi-only access with the Pinwheel Slim 5 ($199) or the Pinwheel Rugged 3 ($249).

Pay attention to carrier compatibility — you're welcome to use your own SIM card, but only the Pinwheel Plus 2 works with all major carriers. Double-check compatibility if you're a Verizon or AT&T customer. 

Learn more in our full Pinwheel review.

4. Troomi: Best first phone

Best first phone
Troomi phone for kids
Troomi
4.3 out of 5 stars
4.25
Starting from
$149.95

Troomi sells several Samsung phones equipped with its KidSmart OS. Your child enjoys a safe digital experience, plus the speed, storage, battery life, and camera quality usually reserved for grown-up phones. 

Troomi phones cost between about $190 and $400 with financing available, and service plans range between $20 and $30/month.

pro
Pros
pro No contract
pro Unlimited talk and text
pro 30-day money-back period
pro Optional internet
pro Text monitoring
pro Vetted third-party apps
pro Spam call blocking
pro Storage expandable up to 1 TB
pro Waterproof option
pro Remote phone lock
pro App time limits
pro Contact management
con
Cons
con Expensive upfront
con Paid warranty only
con No multi-line discount

Get to know the Troomi kids phones

Troomi has three options for kids tech. There's the Samsung A13 LTE (around $150) and the Samsung A14 5G (around $200). For the youngest kids, Troomi has the XG03 smartwatch in several colors. 

Those Samsung phones both come with screen protectors (very necessary for kids), up to 1TB of expandable memory, GPS location services, and advanced cameras to snap pics. The more expensive A14 is the only 5G compatible one of the bunch, extending your child's reach to internet-connected apps and usage. 

Both phones work with all four of Troomi's family plans that range between $14 to $30/ month and add on features like text monitoring, picture and group texting, and the KidSafe browser and apps. 

Troomi's KidSmart OS

Like Pinwheel, Troomi's KidSmart OS is designed to grow with your child. It has no internet browser by default, but with the Discover plan (about $30/month) you can add the KidSmart Safe Browser if you feel like your child is ready for a little more online freedom.  

You can also manage their contacts in the beginning and then ease up your involvement as they get older. We like that you can limit the Troomi phone to text-only messaging or allow group chats and photo messages. You get to read the full content of all texts, too.

There's no app store on a Troomi phone, but you can add some kid-friendly apps to your child's phone through the parental portal. There aren't as many apps to choose from compared to Pinwheel, but you can view a full list on the Troomi website before you buy. This feature requires the Discover plan, too.

More brands we considered

5. Palm Phone: Pocket-friendly option

The Palm Phone is a tiny smartphone with powerful features. Just like an iPhone or Android phone, the Palm has apps, social media, and internet-browsing capabilities. 

You'll need to pair the Palm Phone with a parental control app to protect your child, but it's one of the few options they'll be able to fit in their pockets or hands. 

Learn more in our full Palm Phone review.

6. Wisephone: Ultra-minimalist design

The Wisephone caters to adults who need to cut down on their screen time. It calls, texts, takes pictures, and includes only the bare-minimum apps necessary for modern life: maps, a clock, and a calculator. 

There's also a family portal that lets parents monitor their child's call history, texts, and location. But we hesitate to recommend the Wisephone as a kids phone. Kids need guidance, and the Wisephone simply restricts all access.

7. Lightphone: Basically an iPod that calls and texts

We also considered the Lightphone for our lineup of kids phones. Like the Wisephone, the Lightphone is mainly for adults to avoid endless scrolling. There are no parent-friendly features, so your child could end up texting and calling anyone and everyone.

But that's the only real mischief they could get into. It does play music and podcasts, so it's not totally boring. But there's no internet, games, or camera on board. 

But for $300 upfront and at least $30/month, you don't get much bang for your buck.

8. Teracube Thrive: App management and little else

Teracube's claim to fame is its environmentally-friendly smartphone. We tested the Teracube Thrive — which is just the normal Teracube 2e paired with Teracube's parental control app — and weren't impressed.

It has excellent app management, but the SPIN browser did nothing to curb our mature searches. Worse yet, none of our web activity showed up on the parental dashboard. There was a frustrating lack of customization options or reports.

At this point, the Teracube Thrive is just getting a participation trophy. Steer clear.

9. VTech KiddiBuzz 3: Best for preschoolers

The VTech KidiBuzz 3 isn't really a cell phone, but your youngster won't know the difference. Designed for kids age 4 and up, the VTech KidiBuzz 3 has a touchscreen, camera, educational and just-for-fun games, and a secure messaging app that works over Wi-Fi.

The VTech KidiBuzz 3 doesn't make phone calls or track your child's location, but it gives your kid a smartphone-like device to use just like their older siblings. Because it doesn't connect to a cellular network, you don't have to worry about paying a monthly fee.

You can set daily screen time limits and download music or videos to the device if you need to keep your kid extra entertained. There's even a headphone jack to give you some peace. 

Final word

While phones for kids aren't especially common, the few models that exist are all high quality. We like the Bark Phone best thanks to its laundry list of parental controls and message monitoring, but it's admittedly expensive — especially for more than one kid.

Thankfully, budget-friendly options like Pinwheel and Gabb also shield children from the uglier side of the internet while teaching them responsible device usage. And Troomi introduces some incredible cameras with a kid-friendly operating system. 

FAQ

Sure you can. iPhones have built-in parental control settings that help you block inappropriate websites, restrict app downloads, and limit screen time.

But if you want to install a third-party parental control app for extra protection, you'll have a tough time finding one that works well with iOS. Apple's privacy rules limit what parental control apps can and can't do. Android phones are more generous in allowing parental control apps to monitor the device.

That's one of the reasons why kids smartphones are so popular—developers can make their own operating systems and make the parental controls completely tamperproof. 

Learn more: iOS vs. Android Security: Which One Keeps Your Child Safer Online?

The Pinwheel Pixel and Plus 3 are compatible with Verizon. 

Yes and no. Many wireless carriers have contract-free plans that are customizable, but they're usually open to anyone, not just kids.

These plans are often more budget-friendly for families and they can grow with your child.

For example, if your child's phone is for emergency purposes only, then you'll probably need only a bare-bones plan with minimal minutes each month.

As they grow, you may want to add additional minutes and data.

How we reviewed the best kids phones

Testing a Gabb Phone. Image: SafeWise

Parental controls and content filters took center stage as we evaluated the best kids phones. We preferred to see as many options as possible so that parents can tailor the settings to their parenting style and to their child’s age and maturity. While we ultimately decided to favor the grow-with-you phones, we understand the popularity of bare-bones kids phones. Both types of phones appear on our list so that parents can choose what works best for them.

We also compared the phones’ technical specifications, such as storage capacity, camera quality, battery life, and mobile carrier options. 

Next, we looked at costs and policies. We preferred phones with no-contract options, no activation fees, and lengthy warranties. More affordable phones earned bonus points, as did those with a discount for multiple lines.  

Finally, we tested the Bark Phone, Pinwheel Phone, Gabb Phone, and Terracube Thrive for ourselves. We considered ease of setup, possible workarounds, and dashboard reports. We also tried to trigger the parental control alerts to make sure they work as expected.

To learn more about how we rank and review products, visit the SafeWise methodology page.

Related articles on SafeWise


Disclaimers

*Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Katie McEntire
Written by
Katie McEntire
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.

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