We explore over a dozen options

Smartphones have become increasingly common even among grade schoolers, though the choice of whether to give a kid a phone or not varies from family to family. Every kid is different when it comes to personal responsibility, schedules, living arrangements, and more. If you’ve come to this guide, you’ve likely already decided that your kid is ready for a phone. Sound like you? Let’s jump right in and take a look at the best phone for kids.

Start by figuring out what kind of communication device you’re looking to get your kid

Before we can jump into the actual recommendation process, it’s important to note there are quite a few different routes a parent can take when buying their kids a mobile device. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself to figure out what path makes sense for you:

• Do you want built-in parental controls for your kid’s phone? This means your phone will ship with pre-installed software that makes it easy to restrict what your kids have access to. Be aware in most situations these phones will still be made by major brands like Samsung, just with custom software. This is perfect for those who want an out-of-the-box way to keep their kids safe online. If this sounds like the solution for you, you’ll want to head to our section discussing the best phones with built-in parental controls.
• Do you want a call-capable smartwatch instead of a full phone? If you have a younger kid, you might not be ready to give them a phone but still want a way to keep in touch. We discuss smartwatches and other gadgets designed as an alternative for younger kids in our best phone alternatives section.
• Want to keep apps and the internet off the table completely? A basic phone would be the best choice if you just want something basic where your kids can call and text you. Check out our section on the best feature phones for kids.
• Are your kids gentle with their electronics, or rough? If your kids have a history of being rough with their toys and tech, you’ll want to jump over to our section on the best durable phones for kids and teens. Just be aware, you’ll likely need to add your own parental control solution.
• Don’t mind setting up parental controls yourself? There are plenty of great parental control apps you can install easily yourself, which allows almost any phone to be a good phone for your kid. If you don’t mind setting up parental controls yourself, check out our sections discussing the best Android phones or best iPhones for kids and teens.
• How important is the phone’s brand? Don’t underestimate the importance of brand power to kids, especially older kids and teens. If you walk into most schools in the US the vast majority of the phones you’ll find are going to be iPhones. If this matters to you or your kid, you’ll want to skip to our discussion on iPhone-specific recommendations. For those who only care a little about brands, Samsung is easily the second most popular brand and there are plenty of the company’s phones available throughout the different categories of this guide.

Best phones with built-in parental controls

If you’re looking for a phone with built-in parental controls, you have two main paths: pick a device that has its own cellular plan tailored for kids, or pick a device that can be brought to any carrier.

For the former path, we highly recommend the Bark Phone as it has way more flexibility compared to similar devices like the Gabb Phone. The Gabb Phone is a good alternative to the Bark Phone if you want a more limited “first phone” experience for your kids, just be aware they’ll likely grow out of it by their pre-teen years. Another option would be to get a phone from Troomi, which offers more functionality than the Gabb Phone and uses a similar model where you buy the phone and get the service from the seller directly.

What if you want a device you can take anywhere? We recommend Pinwheel, which offers a few different phones to pick from. Our favorite is the Pinwheel Pixel, which is just a Pixel 7a rebranded with customized software and yet you can bring them to just about any carrier.

Suppose you’re looking for a phone with a built-in solution for parental controls. In that case, the Pinewheel Pixel features Pinwheel OS customizations running on top of a rebadged Pixel 7a.

As far as parental controls go, you can manage the contact safelist, monitor text and call history, use GPS location, manage screen time with schedules, and even great to-do lists that your kid can check off from their phone. There’s also a curated app store and more. As your kid gets older you can choose to loosen some of the controls, which makes Pinwheel a great transition phone that you can get for an older kid and it won’t be completely embarrassing by the time they reach their teenage years.

As for the hardware? You get a Tensor G2 processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. There’s also a great camera experience that is almost as good as many flagship phones and it has good enough battery life to make it through a whole day’s use but not with much extra to spare.

The Bark phone is a modified Galaxy A13 with a kid-friendly OS based on Android. There’s full parental control, its own app store, and much more. What makes Bark stand out is that while you can lock down the experience much tighter than a standard Android phone, you can also enable extras like the Google Play store. This makes the Bark Phone a good device for kids to grow with. Under the hood, the phone is what you’d expect from the A13: there’s an Exynos 850 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 32GB of storage with microSD for expansion, and a basic camera that has a 50MP main shooter.

As for the Bark phone service? The basic plan starts at $29 a month for unlimited talk and text, but it removes apps and the browser and has no data. To unlock the full experience, you’ll pay $49 a month for Wi-Fi-only access to apps, internet, and more. You can add 4GB of data to the mix for just $10 more a month. As you can see, it’s a bit pricey and you’ll definitely pay less in the long run if you buy a device like the Pinwheel Pixel, as you can use them with just about any carrier including some of the cheapest prepaid plans.

The pros and cons of getting a phone with built-in parental controls

The best advantage to a phone with built-in controls is that it’s much easier to set up, as you don’t have to research 3rd party apps or jump through a bunch of hoops. The other biggest positive is that many of these phones are very affordable, or even free with monthly plans. These plans often include full cellular coverage as well, which may be a pro or con, depending on your family.

Unfortunately, phones with built-in parental controls also have a few pitfalls of their own:

• There is a lot less flexibility with this path, as there are only a few models to pick from. All the phones tend to be lower-end and will stick out if the rest of your kid’s classmates are all rocking iPhones or newer Galaxy phones. The good news is that many of these phones are still made by brands like Google, and a few are good like the Pinwheel Pixel.
• Your kids may age out of these in just a few short years. If your kid is 11 now, they’ll likely want a ‘fuller’ phone experience than these phones can offer once they reach their teenage years.
• The phones that require custom plans, like the Gabb Phone, often have little to no data options and are mostly for calling, texting, and use over Wi-Fi. Phones with custom plans also can’t be unlocked and taken to a conventional carrier like AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile.

Best call-capable smartwatch for kids

Don’t want to give your child full access to a smartphone but want a way to contact them and ensure their safety? A smartwatch with calling capabilities is a great alternative. There are a lot of options out there with varying quality, though below we’ll highlight just two options.

Looking for even more options? Check out our guide to the best smartwatches for kids, just be aware that only a few of these options can work as full-fledged phone replacements.

Not only is the Apple Watch the most popular smartwatch brand, but it’s also a great way to keep track of your kids. The only catch is you need to have an iPhone yourself to set the watch up using Apple’s Family Setup feature. Once you set up the watch you can use it independently for calls and texts, as long as you buy the version with Cellular support. Your kid will be able to download watch apps, use fitness features, talk to Siri, and more. The good news is they won’t have full-blown access to the web and there are even Apple parental control features like a Schooltime mode that blocks certain distracting features during school hours.

The best thing about the Apple Watch is your kid won’t feel like they have a “baby watch”. Apple is a popular brand so it’ll look fashionable and won’t stick out like a sore thumb the way other options might. As they get older and get a full smartphone, they’ll also likely continue to use the watch as well. That makes this a better investment than our second smartwatch recommendation, as it will work well for both older kids and teens.

The GizmoWatch 2 isn’t nearly as powerful, feature heavy, or even as nice looking as the Apple Watch SE. Don’t let this fool you, it’s actually a great communication device for younger kids. It’s water resistant, durable, and has up to four days of battery life depending on how you use it. There are also basic health-tracking features and apps. As for parental control features? Parents can set up location alerts, to-do lists, step goals, “quiet times,” track their kids, and more.

The pros and cons of getting a smartwatch for your kids

The biggest advantage to a smartwatch is the device lets you track your kids and keep in touch, but it also has limitations such as a lack of a true browser, but still has advanced features like some apps, and fitness features. This makes it a better fit for younger kids who aren’t ready for a full smartphone experience. That’s not the only advantage, a smartwatch will also be harder for your kids to lose than a phone, as long as you can get them used to the idea of wearing a watch and only taking it off to put on a charger.

Unfortunately, using a smartwatch as a phone alternative has a few pitfalls too:

• Unless your kid has a Bluetooth headset they’ll be stuck taking all their calls on speakerphone. This not only can cause feedback that makes calls a bit harder to hear but there is also a lack of privacy. For really little kids, this probably won’t matter though.
• Older kids might feel a bit “left out” if you give them an Apple Watch SE while the rest of their friends have iPhones or Android phones that can watch YouTube and more. That makes watches a better option for pre-teens and younger, or those teens who have proven they aren’t ready to handle a real phone without getting into trouble.

Best feature phones for kids

A feature phone, also sometimes referred to as a dumb phone, can be a great way to stay in touch with your kids without giving them unrestricted access to the web, apps, and other features found on smartphones. Feature phones are also typically much cheaper, with even more expensive models running well under the $100 mark. While there are plenty of options, we’ll just recommend one option as we feel the Nokia 2780 Flip is probably the best balance of price, features, and reliability.

This is the spiritual successor to Nokia’s most successful phone, the Nokia 3310. Not only is this phone extremely durable, but it also has nearly a month-long battery life, FM radio access, and a few extras like a simple app store and basic web browser. While you won’t be able to add robust parental controls, the limited nature of the 2780 Flip makes it a much safer bet than a full smartphone for younger kids or those who haven’t proven responsible enough for a smartphone.

The pros and cons of getting a feature phone for your kids

The biggest pro to a feature phone is its limitations, but let’s also not forget about battery life. While most smartphones need to be charged daily, the typical feature phone can last weeks if not a full month. If your kid isn’t good at remembering to charge up other electronics like tablets and game consoles, a feature phone could be a much better choice over a smartphone.

Of course, it’s not without its downsides:

• A feature phone might actually cause some bullying, especially if you have an older kid or teen. Why? Because feature phones are rare and will stand out as “baby phones”. This won’t be an issue for younger kids and even some pre-teens, but it’s just something to be aware of.
• Your kid is likely to outgrow a feature phone by the time they are an older kid or teen.
• Feature phones don’t have nearly as good of cameras for kids who love to take a lot of photos and videos.

A durable phone is a great option if your kids are a bit rough with their electronics. Not only are rugged phones built to last, but they often are designed for field use and therefore have great battery life too. Just be aware that most rugged phones will run you at least $300 or more, making this a much more expensive path than most of the other devices on this list. 

Be aware rugged name-brand phones don’t run cheap, with this particular model typically hovering around the $600 mark. The good news is the Galaxy Xcover6 Pro brings its A-game to durability with Gorilla Glass Victus Plus protection and the latest MIL-STD-810H rating, making it perfect for your accident-prone child. It’s also expensive though, so it’s probably better for an older kid or teen who might be rough, but at least will be better at ensuring it doesn’t end up lost or stolen.

There’s plenty of power here too, thanks to the Snapdragon 778G, 6GB of RAM. Other key specs include 128GB of storage with microSD for expansion, a 6.6-inch FHD+ display, and a decently sized removable 4,050mAh battery. You’ll also get Samsung’s great update policy, so you’ll get timely software updates for years to come. If you don’t mind spending a premium for a decent spec’d rugged phone with a reputation you can trust, you’ll want to consider this.

Unihertz tends to build unique, niche devices all while offering a fair balance of quality and affordability. The Unihertz Tank earns its name featuring IP68 and MIL-STD-810H certification. It has a MediaTek octa-core processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 6.81-inch Full HD+ display, a 108MP primary camera, and even a 20MP night vision shooter. You also don’t have to worry about charging this thing often, great for kids who are on the go or forget to plug it in. The phone’s crazy 22,000mAh battery can literally keep the phone running for several days without issue.

Of course, that big battery and rugged design also mean this is a giant eyesore and isn’t the lightest. If it’s just going to sit in your kid’s bag most of the time, this might not matter. For older kids or those who prioritize aesthetics, you might want to pass on this one. Of course, if your kid likes standing out and wants something different, they will almost certainly be the only one in class rocking one of these.

The pros and cons of getting a rugged phone for your kid

We already briefly discussed that the biggest advantage of a rugged phone is that it can handle a beating and that it has exceptional battery life, perfect for those who aren’t so great at regularly charging their devices. Of course, it’s not without its downsides:

• You’ll have to install your own parental control software unless you pick the Pinwheel Rugged 3, as this is really the only rugged phone with pre-installed kid-friendly software we found worth considering and even it has downsides like it will only work with T-Mobile 4G and MVNOs that run on its network. 
• You’ll pay more than most other phones on this list, and yet won’t necessarily get a more powerful phone, just a more durable one.
• Rugged phones are clunky and not nearly as attractive, so older kids and teens might be embarrassed to have them. 

While Google isn’t as popular a phone brand as Apple or Samsung, the Google Pixel 7a is a great phone for kids, especially for teenagers. What makes it a good choice? First, it’s relatively affordable yet has a higher-end experience that will easily best many of the phones on this list. It’s also excellent at taking photos and videos, including great selfies.

The Tensor G2 processor helps enable a lot of the phone’s great photography features, which help it deliver an experience that easily rivals many phones that cost almost double the price. The rest of the specs are quite decent too including a 6.1-inch Full HD+ display, 6GB of RAM, 128GB storage, and a 4,385mAh battery that can easily make it through a day’s use.

The Galaxy A14 5G is less than a year old and rocks a design that’s fairly reminiscent of Samsung’s flagships, which means it’s less likely to stick out and therefore will be more popular with older kids than some of the more generic options on the list. Best of all, it will cost you under $200 or even close to free through select carriers. 

In our tests, we found it had a two-day battery life, decent camera performance, and even support for 5G. There’s also Samsung’s great promise of two years of Android updates and four years of patches. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 or the Exynos 1330, depending on the region There’s also 4GB of RAM, 64-128GB storage, microSD expansion, and a big 6.6-inch LCD display. 

The pros and cons of getting a regular Android phone for your kid

The biggest advantage of a regular Android phone will be a variety of options to pick from across all sorts of budgets. There will be no flashy designs or other “kiddie” elements either, which means your kid won’t be as embarrassed to use it as they reach pre-teen years and beyond. It also means a regular Android phone could conceivably last your kids years. For example, my daughter rocked the same Android phone from about teen years old to fourteen until I finally upgraded her to a more flagship-level experience. 

Of course, nothing is perfect:

• iPhones are more popular, which will matter to some older kids and many teens. Especially if they want to fit in with the cool kids. Whether that matters to you as a parent? That’s totally up to you.
• You’ll have to install your own parental control software. 

Best iPhones for kids and teens

An iPhone is a great choice for older kids and teens. Many teens will complain if you give them anything else as an option, as iPhones are perceived as the cooler option at least in the United States. The good news is you don’t necessarily need a brand-new iPhone.

My daughter is in high school and the vast majority of her schoolmates have either a several-year-old iPhone flagship or a more recent iPhone The rest rock mostly Samsung devices. You can go either Apple route and still end up paying well under $400, especially if you’re willing to get a refurbished unit. Even better, you may already have an iPhone lying around that you can hand down and install your own parental controls for.

An iPhone 12 is a great starting point, as you can find refurbished models for under $400, and yet you still get a modern iPhone design, a great camera, continued software support, and more. Even gaming and other tasks will work flawlessly on an iPhone 12 or newer. 

If you want to go all out, the latest iPhone 15 will last your kids for years, maybe even into early adulthood. The new model includes Dynamic Island even on base variants, as well as a new action button that replaces the mute button. By default, it’ll do the same as the old mute option, but you can also change it to control shortcuts to apps, the camera, the flashlight, and more. 

The iPhone SE is a bit of a weird mismatch between modern hardware and old-school design. You get a design that looks more like the earlier iPhones and yet it still has a powerful processor, great software support, and all the features you’d expect from a modern iPhone just in a smaller package with a relatively tiny 4.7-inch display. If you don’t mind the smaller size, the only other downsides are the relatively paltry 64GB of storage and a camera that’s nowhere near as good as even years-old iPhone flagships. 

The pros and cons of getting an iPhone for your kid

The biggest advantage to an iPhone is going to be its popularity, and the fact it’s the only way to use iMessage. This could be especially important for older kids and teens, so they don’t feel left out socially. As long as your kid doesn’t lose or break it, an iPhone also retains its value for longer and stays relevant for years and years even as newer models come along. 

Just like everything else on this list, nothing is perfect:

• iPhones are more expensive, and also more likely to be stolen by a jealous schoolmate. Yes, this happens! 
• You’ll have less control. While there are decent options out there for locking down an iPhone, you won’t get nearly as granular control as you could with an Android device. 
• You’ll have to install your parental control software. 

You’ve figured out what to get your kid for their new phone, but what about your phone plan? We highly recommend you don’t just rush out and add them to your family plan. For one, kids aren’t responsible. They are likely to do things that can drive up a traditional bill, and it’s almost inevitable they will break or lose at least one phone. In her earlier years with it, my daughter would lose her phone for weeks at a time, even though she never actually broke it. 

You might also find that your kid is doing stuff behind your back that proves they can’t handle a phone. If you are locked into a traditional plan, it’s not always easy to cancel. While there’s no right plan, I highly recommend using a prepaid option such as US Mobile, Google Fi, or one of the countless other options. These make for the best kids’ phone plans because they are typically very affordable. And you can usually customize the plan to meet your kids’ needs.

We started my daughter out with FreedomPop since it had a free base plan. Eventually, we did add her to a better prepaid plan and this year she graduated at fourteen to our family plan. An incremental approach like this is often the best.

The reality is almost any phone will work as a kid’s phone. With that in mind, one of the best phones for kids might be an older phone you no longer use. Ensure it’s still performing “well enough” and works with the carrier or MVNO you are interested in. Alternatively, you can check out our guide for buying a used phone if you don’t have one lying around.

Will your kid be happy with a regifted phone? Depends on how they felt about your previous phone in the first place. Many older kids will look down on Android, but they might not have any issues with getting your old iPhone as long as it’s not ancient. In most cases, we wouldn’t give them an iPhone earlier than the iPhone XR/XS family. 

My kid wants an iPhone, but do they really need one?

If you were to ask your kid right now, odds are they’ll say they want an iPhone, but do they really need one and should you give into social pressure? The answer to that is up to you as a parent, but beware it’s not just about the brand. Many teens have iMessage groups and will tease those who show up in the chat as a green box (indicating Android). This kind of pressure can be stressful for pre-teens and teenagers. 

Before you rush out and buy an iPhone, discuss with your kids why they want one in the first place. If you feel it’s too expensive than other options, maybe work out a deal with them to pay for part of it out of their allowance or birthday money.