Pinwheel Phones For Kids

What are Pinwheel phones?

Pinwheel offers 4 phone options that come loaded with Pinwheel’s custom operating system that gives parents the ability to give their child a phone without internet, as well as limit apps, set screen times, and more. The lack of a web browser, and a limited, pre-approved list of apps (no social media), make Pinwheel a good option for younger kids. The ability to use Pinwheel phones with a variety of carriers is nice, but older kids may desire more freedom than Pinwheel offers.

Pinwheel Phone Features

FEATURES:	Internet	App Store	GPS Tracking	Screen Time	Approve Contacts	Monitor Texts	Alerts
3/5	No Browser*	Pinwheel "app store"	Yes	Yes	Yes	No**	No

*No browser, but some apps have internet backdoors. **No active text monitoring, but parents can see texts.

Users purchase the phone at a set cost, and pay a monthly fee for Pinwheel’s operating system. Additional information on features and specs can be found below.

How does Pinwheel work?

Pinwheel’s phones come pre-loaded with Pinwheel’s Operating System, and through the Caregiver Portal, parents can set device restrictions, approve contacts, and more. Pinwheel doesn’t have its own cell service, but the phones can be used with many carriers (carrier rates may apply).

Parents purchase the device at a set cost and will be charged $14.99/ month for the Caregiver Portal parental control tools. More on pricing is below.

Is a Pinwheel phone good for my child?

Pinwheel take a few manufacture’s phone (like Samsung), and load their own Operating System. The parental controls offered through Pinwheel’s OS make this a good option for younger kids. The phones have no web browser, no social media, and a pre-selected list of apps.

No web browser or access to a full app store makes Pinwheel good for young children. The ability to add Pinwheel phones to a variety of carriers is also a plus.

But as with Gabb & Troomi, the limit of apps & web access make Pinwheel a tough choice for children in their teen years.

How much is a Pinwheel phone?

Pinwheel has 4 different phone options – Google Pixel, Slim 5 (made by BLU), Plus 3 (made by Samsung), and Rugged 3 (made by Ulefone). The phones can be used with different carries, but not all phones work for all carries. Slim doesn’t work with Verizon, and Rugged doesn’t work with Verizon or AT&T.

Pinwheel’s monthly subscription fee of $14.99 covers the parental control tools that come loaded on the phone.

3/5	FEATURES:
Phone Hardware	Slim 5 - Android BLU G91s Read about the phone's features & specs here. Android smartphone powered by Pinwheel's OS and used on most carriers (not Verizon or 5G). Plus 3 - Samsung A14 5G Read about the phone's features & specs here. Android smartphone powered by Pinwheel's OS and works with all carriers. Pixel - Google Read about the phone's features & specs here. Google smartphone powered by Pinwheel's OS and works with all carriers. Rugged 3 - UleFone Read about the phone's features & specs here. Android smartphone powered by Pinwheel's OS and used on some carriers (not AT&T, Verizon or 5G).
Internet	No. Pinwheel phones have no internet browser and no browser is available in their app store. Some pre-approved apps could have backdoors to the internet.
App Store	Yes. There is a Pinwheel App Store that has a pre-approved selection of over 500 apps. These apps are reviewed & rated based on therapists' recommendations.
GPS Tracking	Yes. The phone has real-time location tracking via GPS.
Screen Time	Yes. You can set screen time schedules for app & internet use.
Approve Contacts	Yes. Approve all contacts. Only approved contacts can text or call.
Monitor Texts	No, but you can. Pinwheel doesn't actively monitor your child's texts, but you can review text messages in your Pinwheel parent portal.
Monitor Apps & Accounts	No.
Alerts	No.