The Best Cell Phones for Kids at Every Age, According to Experts

Cell phones can have a lot of benefits for children and families — they offer a way for kids to get in touch with parents quickly (and vice versa) and many have a GPS capability that allows parents to monitor their kids’ location. The question remains: at what age should a child get a cell phone?

A 2016 survey reports that the average kid gets their first phone at age 10, but opinions about the timing of device use vary widely. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and father of three children, has said that he didn’t allow his kids to get phones until age 14. Other tech titans have similar rules.

In 2017, Brooke Shannon, an Austin mom concerned about screen time for young kids, founded Wait Until 8th, a nonprofit organization that encourages parents to pledge to wait until kids are at least in the 8th grade (age 13 or 14) to get them a phone. The pledge, which has been signed by more than 20,000 parents, sites various reasons for the delay, including smart phones’ penchant for distraction and possible addiction.

Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that supports digital well-being for kids, suggests parents think about their child’s maturity level rather than his or her age. Questions to consider include the following: Do your kids show a sense of responsibility? Can they adhere to the rules you set? Once parents are satisfied with the answers, the time could be right for their kids.

Good Housekeeping's Chief Technologist, Rachel Rothman, says that regardless of a child’s age, his or her first phone should have simple, limited features. Consider starting with a hand-me-down device or one without a contract or data plan.

Read on for Rothman's picks for the best cell phones for kids at every age, including the cell phone with the best parental controls and a bonus pick for parents looking for a GPS-only device.