The best first phone for kids in 2026 depends on age: a calling watch like the Gabb Watch 3e or TickTalk 6 for younger kids, a no-internet phone like the Gabb Phone 4 for tweens, and a locked-down smartphone like Pinwheel or the Bark Phone when they’re ready for apps. Shopping before the holidays? Here’s how all seven stack up.
By our editors · Facts checked October 7, 2026
Disclosure: Treehouse Learning Center, which runs childcare and therapy programs in Massachusetts, publishes KidBrief. Our directory lists every licensed program, and we always label ours. Some links may be affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
The short version
- Best no-internet phone: Gabb Phone 4 (ages 9–14).
- Best smartphone with training wheels: Pinwheel.
- Best for monitoring as kids grow: Bark Phone.
- Best watches: Gabb Watch 3e, TickTalk 6, Bark Watch, and Apple Watch for iPhone families.
- Every pick needs a monthly plan or subscription for full features. Budget for it before you wrap it.
Best first phones for kids, compared
Every detail below comes from the brand’s own product page, checked October 7, 2026.
| Option | Type | Calling and texting | Apps | GPS | Parental controls | Monthly plan required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabb Phone 4 | Phone, no internet | Unlimited talk and text | Preloaded basics; no browser, social media or app store | Yes, about every 15 min | MyGabb app: contacts, Safe Zones, Focus Mode | Yes (Gabb plan) |
| Pinwheel | Kid-safe smartphone | Only safelisted contacts | Curated library of 1,000+ therapist-approved apps; no browser by default | Yes, with arrival and departure alerts | Caregiver Portal: schedules, contacts, text monitoring | Yes (Caregiver Portal subscription; any carrier or Pinwheel Wireless) |
| Bark Phone | Android smartphone (Samsung) | Talk and text; parents control contacts | Starter plan: no internet, app store or games; Advanced adds app approvals | Yes, plus check-ins | Bark alerts, schedules, web filtering | Yes (Bark plan) |
| Gabb Watch 3e | Smartwatch | Up to 100 parent-approved contacts | A few essentials; no browser, social media or camera | Yes, about every 15 min | MyGabb app: Focus Mode, Safe Zones | Yes (Gabb plan) |
| TickTalk 6 | Smartwatch | Voice and video calls, texts | No games, social media or open internet | Yes, real time | Parent app: approved contacts, School Mode | Yes (TickTalk Wireless) |
| Bark Watch | Smartwatch | Talk and text; optional contact approval | Basic built-ins; no games, social media or browser | Yes | Bark scans texts, photos and videos | Yes (Bark service plan) |
| Apple Watch (set up for a kid) | Smartwatch run from a parent’s iPhone | Approved contacts only | App Store with parent approval | Yes, via Find My | Schooltime, Screen Time, Ask to Buy | Yes (carrier cellular plan) |
How we chose
We started with the AAP’s advice: its first-phone guide suggests a flip phone or a calling watch first, with more freedom as kids show responsibility. Then we looked for devices that:
- Block or limit the open internet and social media by default.
- Let parents control who can call and text.
- Share location with parents.
- Can grow with your child as trust builds.
We pulled every feature from brand pages and did not test devices hands-on. No brand paid to be included. Prices change constantly, so we don’t list them: check the price, and add up the monthly plan too.
Watch or phone? Start here
- Early elementary: a calling watch. They can reach you, you can see where they are, and nobody gets TikTok.
- Late elementary to middle school: a no-internet phone, or a watch if it still fits their life.
- Around 12 and up: a locked-down smartphone you can open up over time.
Not sure your kid is ready at all? Read what age a child should get a phone first. It includes a 10-point readiness checklist and a family phone contract.
The 7 best first phones and watches for kids
What we’d use
Gabb Phone 4
Best for: a first phone with no internet. It looks like a real phone and handles calls, texts and GPS, but has no internet browser, no social media and no app store. Contacts are kid-managed by default, so switch to parent-managed in the MyGabb app. Ages 9–14.
What we’d use
Pinwheel
Best for: a smartphone with training wheels. Choose from Samsung, Motorola or Google Pixel models running Pinwheel’s kid system. Only safelisted contacts get through, apps come from a curated library, and schedules can turn it into a basic phone during school and overnight. Pinwheel says you can use any cellular carrier, though compatibility varies by model. Made for tweens around 12.
What we’d use
Bark Phone
Best for: older tweens and teens who need monitoring. A Samsung Android phone with Bark built in: it scans texts, social media and photos for potential problems and alerts you, and you approve apps, set schedules and filter websites. The Starter plan has no internet or app store; Advanced plans open things up. A Bark plan is required. For kids, tweens and teens.
What we’d use
Gabb Watch 3e
Best for: kids who just need to reach you. Calls and texts with up to 100 parent-approved contacts, location about every 15 minutes, a step counter, and no browser, social media or camera. Note: its SOS button contacts a parent, not 911. A Gabb plan is required. Ages 5–12.
What we’d use
TickTalk 6
Best for: younger kids and video calls with family. Voice and video calling, real texts that work with any phone, real-time GPS, School/Focus Mode, and an SOS button that can call 911 in the U.S. No games, social media or open internet. A TickTalk Wireless plan is required. Ages 3–12.
What we’d use
Bark Watch
Best for: families who want content alerts on a watch. Its own phone number, talk and text, location in the Bark app, and automatic scanning of texts, photos and videos for issues like bullying. Kids can reach any contact by default, so turn on contact approval. A Bark service plan is required. No minimum age listed.
What we’d use
Apple Watch, set up for your kid
Best for: iPhone families. Apple Watch For Your Kids runs from a parent’s iPhone, so your kid doesn’t need one. They call and text approved contacts, you see location in Find My, and Schooltime limits apps during class. It needs a GPS + Cellular model (Apple recommends SE 3) and a carrier plan. No minimum age is listed.
Before you buy: 4 questions to ask
- Who can contact my kid, and who decides? Defaults differ. Gabb’s comparison chart shows phone contacts are kid-managed unless you switch them, while watch contacts are always parent-managed.
- What happens when they’re ready for more? Pinwheel can enable the Google Play Store later, minus social media and adult apps. Bark’s Advanced plans add app access with your approval.
- Does it work with my carrier? Gabb, Bark and TickTalk run on their own plans. Pinwheel lets you pick your carrier, though compatibility varies by model. A kid’s Apple Watch needs your carrier’s plan plus your iPhone.
- What does the SOS button do? Bark Watch and TickTalk 6 can reach 911. Gabb Watch 3e’s SOS button contacts a parent instead.
Once it’s unwrapped, set up controls together and keep rules simple. If a younger sibling is also angling for screens, our screen time guide for babies, toddlers and preschoolers covers the little ones. Prefer a tablet first? See the best tablet for kids. More help is in our family guides.
For children who need extra support
Fewer buttons and a short contact list can make a watch easier for kids who get overwhelmed by choices. Video calling, like TickTalk’s, may suit kids who communicate better face to face.
If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, ask the team how a device fits the school day. Massachusetts’ Senate phone bill would allow device use written into those plans. Our Massachusetts school cell phone ban explainer tracks where it stands, and our IEP vs. 504 plan guide explains the difference.
Common questions
What is the safest first phone for a kid?
The safest setups block the open internet and social media and let parents approve contacts. Among our picks, the Gabb Phone 4 and Gabb Watch 3e have no browser or social media at all.
Is a smartwatch better than a phone for a 7-year-old?
For most 7-year-olds, a calling watch covers the basics: calls to approved contacts and location. TickTalk lists the TickTalk 6 for ages 3 to 12, and Gabb lists the Gabb Watch 3e for ages 5 to 12.
Can I just give my kid my old iPhone?
You can, if you lock it down. Apple’s Child Account is required for kids under 13 and lets you approve apps, contacts and new websites and set screen-time schedules. It takes more setup than a kid-safe phone, and you’ll still need a cell plan.
Do kids’ phones need a monthly plan?
Yes, for every device on this list. Gabb, Bark and TickTalk require their own plans, Pinwheel needs a Caregiver Portal subscription for its controls, and a kid’s Apple Watch needs a cellular plan from your carrier.
Get the weekly briefing · See our trusted picks
Sources
- Gabb: Gabb Phone 4
- Gabb: Gabb Watch 3e
- Gabb: Compare devices
- Pinwheel: Phones for 12-year-olds
- Bark: Bark Phone
- Bark: Bark Watch
- TickTalk: TickTalk 6
- Apple: Apple Watch For Your Kids
- Apple: Child safety and parental controls
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Your child’s first phone: Are they ready?
- malegislature.gov: Bill S.2581 text
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