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Where Gabb and Pinwheel agree

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No web browser

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No social media

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No addictive games
No ad-driven apps

Get more insight into your child's digital life

Start with just talk and text monitored in your Caregiver Portal, then add more apps and freedoms as your child grows in responsibility.

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Contact safelist allows calls and text with approved contacts only

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Read text messages and monitor call history remotely, from your device

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GPS locator shows you were they are and have been recently

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600+ vetted apps with easy ratings to understand areas of concern

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Workarounds and app loopholes closed

Choose your own cell phone plan

Pinwheel works with most carriers so you can add a line to your current plan, or try one of our affordable no contract options

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Why give your kid a phone?

 

  • Keep your child safe, informed, and in-touch with you
  • Having a personal device is nearly universal for adults. As with other life skills, it takes time to learn how to use a phone responsibly

 

Where do I start?

First, identify what you want your child to do with a phone and what you think should be off-limits for now. Then talk with them to find out how they want to use a phone. Use the handy chart below to check off the activities you want your child to be able to do with their phone and star the most important ones

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What else should I know?

Now that you know why you want your kid to have a phone, and what they will use their phone to do, let's look at potential concerns and review how to handle each one.

Spending too much time on the phone

How Pinwheel Helps: Pinwheel phones allow you to manage screen time with schedules. Determine which apps and contacts are available, and when. For example, when your child takes the phone to school or even to bed, you can limit functionality for these times to just an alarm clock, for example.

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Inappropriate or problematic content

How Pinwheel Helps: Pinwheel phones are highly customizable. We’ve done research on over 1,200 apps and assigned in-depth safety ratings to each based on child development expert recommendations, making it easy to decide which to add to your child’s device and when. No social media or adult apps, and no web browser by default.

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Inappropriate or problematic communication

How Pinwheel Helps: With Pinwheel, you can create a Contact Safelist. Only contacts on your Safelist can make or receive calls and text messages, meaning no spam or stranger communication. Move to a child-managed Safelist as they gain experience with their phone. You will also be able to read texts and monitor calls as your child learns appropriate communication – without having to ask them to hand over their phone. Even deleted texts still show up and you can limit sending or receiving images in text messages.

Affordability and care

How Pinwheel Helps: Phones for kids can get pricey, and some companies have stringent/high-commitment contracts, which is why Pinwheel offers flexible payment options (pay monthly or one-time only), no contractual obligations, and insurance that covers breakage. Pinwheel phones are also compatible with most major service providers so that you can choose the carrier that’s right for your family.

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Compare Pinwheel to Gabb

We offer best options for your child to use their phone unsupervised, without worrying you.

FEATURES
PINWHEEL
GABB WIRELESS
Pay monthly or one-time only
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Read text messages remotely
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Child can't delete texts
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Parent-managed contact safelist
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700+ vetted apps with safety ratings
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Multiple music streaming apps
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Lock contacts or apps based on time of day
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Multiple cellular carriers
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No social media or web browser
GPS Locator

See why thousands of parents prefer Pinwheel

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I love that I can modify the phone as my child grows!

"To me, as a parent, the key difference is this: Pinwheel has built a unique OS where the phone can be modified and updated based on your growing child, their daily schedule, and the cream-of-the-crop best apps in the app boutique. Gabb phones can only run their standard configuration of 14(?) apps. Gabb phones block useful apps that parents use and trust, yet they don't block outside callers." 

Sara W.