Pinwheel review

Pinwheel takes ordinary Android phones and wraps them in a parent system that starts strict and opens up in steps. Out of the box there is no social media, no web browser and no adult apps, and only numbers on the safelist can call or text. Parents can read texts remotely, set schedules that make the phone behave like a basic phone during school or at night, and add apps from a library of over 1,000 pre-vetted titles with safety ratings. When a child is ready, the Google Play Store can be switched on with social media and adult apps still blocked. The Genesis 4 costs $119 and the Slim 6 $199, which keeps the up-front cost low, and Pinwheel says it is the only kids' phone that lets you pick any cellular carrier. The trade-offs are the separate Caregiver Portal fee of $17.99 a month and the Genesis 4's lack of Verizon support.

Who it is for

Parents who want a real smartphone for a tween with tight limits they can loosen over time, on the carrier of their choice.

Price

Genesis 4 phone $119; Caregiver Portal from $17.99 a month ($174.99 a year) with your own carrier, or Pinwheel Wireless from $29.99 a month.

Genesis 4 $119
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Safelist that lets only approved numbers call or text, with image texting allowed per contact
• Remote text message monitoring from the Caregiver Portal
• Schedules that turn the phone into a basic phone at school and overnight
• App Library of over 1,000 pre-vetted apps with safety ratings, plus optional Google Play without social media or adult apps
• GPS location with alerts when a child leaves or arrives at a saved place

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Genesis 4 costs $119, the lowest device price on this list
• Strength: Works with any major carrier, or with Pinwheel Wireless
• Strength: Custom permissions for other caregivers, such as a second household
• Weakness: Genesis 4 does not work on Verizon or 5G
• Weakness: Caregiver Portal is a separate monthly or yearly charge
• Weakness: No web browser by default, which some older teens will outgrow

Key facts

• Cheapest phone: Genesis 4, $119
• Controls plan: $17.99 a month or $174.99 a year
• Pinwheel Wireless: $29.99 a month, unlimited talk and text, 5 GB data
• App Library: Over 1,000 pre-vetted apps
• Guarantee: 30-day money back

Where it ranks

Pinwheel is No. 1 in our Best Phones for Kids verdict.