Key facts
- Companies are creating child-focused smartphones and home phones to address parental safety concerns.
- These devices restrict access to web browsers, social media, and app stores.
- Parental control features include contact approval, location monitoring, and screen time limits.
- Bark Phone scans texts, emails, and photos for concerning content and allows gradual feature unlocking.
- Gabb phones exclude social media and browsers, offering calling, texting, and preloaded apps.
- Pinwheel allows parents to approve all apps and contacts, with customizable daily modes.
- Ooma MyPhone is a home phone service restricting calls to approved contacts.
- Tin Can is a Wi-Fi connected landline-style phone for approved contacts only.
Parents increasingly concerned about the risks of unrestricted smartphone access for children are driving demand for kid-focused devices. Several companies are responding by developing smartphones and home phones with heavily modified software designed to enhance safety and parental control.
These devices typically feature touchscreens, cameras, and communication capabilities but restrict or remove access to web browsers, social media, and app stores. Parents can usually manage these phones through companion apps, allowing them to approve contacts, monitor locations, set screen time limits, and select available apps. Some services also offer alerts for cyberbullying, explicit content, or online predators.
Bark Phone, built on Samsung hardware with Bark's monitoring software, allows calls and texts only with approved contacts and scans communications for potential concerns. It also offers GPS tracking and screen-time management, with the ability to gradually unlock features as children mature. Pricing starts at $240 for the phone, plus a $29/month wireless plan.
Gabb differentiates itself by focusing on eliminating online risks altogether, omitting social media, browsers, and app stores. Its phones offer calling, texting, and a curated selection of preloaded apps. Optional services like Gabb Guard help block spam calls. Phones start around $159.99 with cellular service around $24.99 per month.
Pinwheel allows parents to approve every app, control contacts, schedule screen time, and monitor location history. A standout feature is the ability to create different daily "modes." Pinwheel phones start around $119, with a Caregiver Portal subscription at $14.99 per month. The company also offers landline phones and a smartwatch.
Teracube Thrive, launched in 2022, uses Thrive OS to enable parents to approve app downloads, filter web browsing, set screen time limits, and monitor location. It is often recommended for older children due to its more traditional smartphone features. Thrive currently sells for $99 with plans starting at $35 per month.
Ooma MyPhone offers a different approach as a kid-focused home phone service. It restricts calls to an approved "Trusted Circle," provides scheduled Quiet Hours, and sends emergency alerts. There are no apps, internet browsing, or texting. The phone costs $99.99 with service starting at $7.99 per month.
Tin Can provides a distinctive tin can-designed landline-style phone that connects via Wi-Fi. It only allows calls to approved contacts, preventing spam. Parents manage contacts through an app. Tin Can offers a free plan for calls between Tin Can users and a $9.99 per month plan for calls to all approved contacts.