A guide to cellphones built for kids

It's not easy being a parent, and tech hasn't really made it any easier. A clear example: Deciding whether or not your child needs their own phone.

While most experts suggest keeping kids offline and away from screens as much as possible, that's not always an option, with children increasingly using phones and tablets in school environments. Your child may be young and only need a quick way to communicate while out of the house, or you may have a teen looking for a bit more device freedom. There are phones with no internet access, or those with highly monitored wireless data. Parents can be hands-on, or even let AI monitor the device for them.  

Many caregivers, shopping for a phone that won't further endanger their child, face an intimidating marketplace dominated by the interests of Big Tech and social media algorithms. Parental controls aren't a perfect solution to the threat of an unfettered internet — and the risks it poses to youth mental health — either. 

But there are also companies trying to reduce harm, including those designing tech for kids explicitly, and for a wide range of ages and needs. Digital well-being and early childhood experts are trying to foster a better relationship between tech and young people. Big names in phones, like Apple, are also providing more options for parents seeking to monitor their kids' device use. In 2023, for example, Apple debuted Assistive Access mode, an iPhone setting that simplifies the phone's interface and reduces the number of features on screen. Designed for users with cognitive disabilities, it's also a good option for younger users. 

There's no single solution — but there are plenty of options to gauge what works best for your kids and family. Here's a slice of what's out there:

Bark Phone 

The buzzy device among TikTok's parenting community, the Bark phone is a sleek Samsung model pre-loaded with the company's built-in monitoring tool. The AI-enabled app, a highly-rated parental control option among reviewers, scans texts, images, emails, web browsers, and apps and flags potentially sensitive, explicit, or harmful content to supervising parents. 

Kids can't delete text messages without permission or change parental control settings. Parents can approve and deny contacts, monitor screen time and content browsing, and even set remote alarms or require location check-ins. 

Parents have to choose between several Bark subscriptions plans to use the Bark phone — plans that include internet access or mobile data are placed on the T-Mobile network. Starter subscriptions include basic contacts screening, content monitoring, and GPS tracking, and the phone remains talk and text only. Advanced plans allow more customizable settings, including controlling specific apps and web browsers, screen time controls, and the ability to block entire categories of content. 

Features:

• Built-in monitoring tools using the Bark app 

• Can use Bark subscription on other devices, including tablets

• Location tracking 

• Ability to lock down app marketplaces

• Talk and text only option

Cost:

• $240 per device, with the option of a 2-year, $10 per month leasing plan

• Monthly Bark subscription, ranging from $29 to $79

Gabb 

The Gabb phone was designed as a screen alternative for kids, with guardrails on social media and web browsing built around the company's in-house products and pre-selected app options. Running on the latest Android OS, kids can use basic apps like the camera, notes, and maps, all designed by Gabb, or download ones like Kindle, DuoLingo, or even mobile banking apps, with guardian permission. Parents can monitor their communications and contacts using a set of simplified parental controls — Gabb phones use smart filtration to automatically block "high-risk" content, including in texts and video calls.  

Gabb also makes other kid-safe tech, including "smart" watches and apps like Gabb Music, Gabb Messenger, and Gabb Guard, a spam call blocking software.

Features:

• No social media or internet browsing apps

• Location tracking 

• Limited app options

• Built-in music streaming platform 

• Unlimited talk and text

Cost:

• $199.99 for the Gabb 4 Pro

• Monthly phone plan, ranging from $24.99 to $34.99

Pinwheel 

Rather than a single model, Pinwheel offers a selection of phone manufacturer models (like Samsung, Google Pixel, and Motorola) all equipped with the company's "parent management system."

Parents make an account on the company's Caregiver Portal, which gives them access to a suite of parental control options built into the parent management system. Parents can approve contacts and customize communication preferences for each, including allowing image sharing. During set hours, such as the school day, Pinwheel phones can be limited to talk and text only. And parents can enable access to the app store or review app ratings at any time. 

Notably, Pinwheel phones can also be added to any mobile or family plan at no additional cost — parents will still need to pay a monthly fee for access to the Caregiver Portal. Parents can alternatively subscribe to a Pinwheel Wireless plan.

Features:

• No social media apps

• Customizable image sharing

• Screen time controls that adjusts access to phone features throughout the day 

• Can be added to any existing family plan

Cost:

• A range of device costs, with the lowest starting at $119

• Monthly subscription plan, starting at $17.99 for portal access only or $29.99 for Pinwheel Wireless 

Troomi 

The Troomi phone is a kid-safe version of a Samsung Galaxy A16, built without open browsers and with safe-listing options that fully lock down a device from outside contact.

Like Bark, Troomi's AI-powered monitoring system scans the device for explicit content, bullying, and inappropriate interactions. Kids can't download social media apps or what the company deems as "harmful" games. Parents can monitor texts, get alerts about their child's activity, and filter out harmful language and content, as well as approve contacts, websites, and already verified apps. 

In addition to an app usage dashboard for parents, Troomi has also designed what they call a "mental health dashboard," built from interactions with their optional AI "mental health coach" — the chatbot provides 24/7 emotional well-being support and can be monitored by parents. The company also provides digital wellness programs for parents and kids through the Troomi Parent Academy. 

Features:

• No social media apps

• Location tracking

• Anti-bullying monitoring and other parental controls

• Kid-safe web browser

• Optional "Kid-Safe" AI Chatbot

Cost: 

• Normally $199.95, or $99.97 with promotion

• Monthly subscription plan, ranging from $19.95 to $29.95

Aqua Phone 

The Aqua Phone, actually a Google Pixel 9, was designed by online monitoring software company Cyber Dive as the "first Pixel-based phone for kids that provides complete visibility into online activities." Rather than the traditional method of limiting access to apps and the internet, the phone is designed with an "instant replay" feature that lets parents view their child's entire screen and activity throughout the day, including on social media apps like TikTok and even Snapchat. 

The Aqua Phone uses an internal operating system that harnesses Google Family Link parental controls or can work alongside third-party monitoring apps. It also has a nude image prevention system that blocks and then locks down the phone if explicit images are flagged or even taken on the device. 

Features:

• Full access to app stores and internet, just like a regular phone

• Compatibility with third-party parental control apps 

• "Instant replay" device monitoring

• Add to existing phone plan

Cost:

• $999 for device, with one-time payment promotion

'Dumb' phones

Another option for families may be to skip the "smart" part of smartphones completely, and opt for a device that may not be built for kids explicitly, but still greatly limits their access to the world of apps and internet. Enter the "dumb phone," or a device that operates like the phones of yore with simple talk and text, and no extra features. 

Dumb phones come in a range of styles, including retro flip phones, tiny nanophones, and more futuristic designs like the cubist Light Phone. And despite the stereotype of being phone-addicted and algorithm-dependent, many teens are joining the anti-smartphone movement as more and more seek out ways to digitally detox.