Best 10 Cheap Kid Phones: Budget Models 2025

When it comes to finding affordable options that don’t compromise on quality and safety, delve into the realm of cheap phones for kids, exploring budget-friendly yet reliable devices tailored to their needs.

Are you looking for inexpensive kid phones that are a great choice for your kid’s first portable device? Our guide reviews the top ten models currently available at affordable prices. So, if you are wondering what is the cheapest phone for a kid, check out our suggestions and pick your favorite!

The guide has been updated—models that can be easily bought on the market are included, and current prices for the moment (2025) are presented.

Contents:

• Cheap Phones for Kids: Comparison Chart 2025
• Samsung Galaxy S21
• Xiaomi Redmi 14C
• Xiaomi Redmi 5A 16Gb
• Motorola Moto G04
• Gabb Phone 4 Pro
• Pinwheel Slim 5
• Google Pixel 6a
• Samsung Galaxy A32
• Motorola Moto G Pure
• Advice for Parents
• FAQs

Disclaimer: Our article promotes specific phones chosen by our expert writers, and we strongly believe each meets the required criteria. In the interest of trust and transparency, please note that the article might still contain affiliate links and/or sponsored content.

Cheap Phones for Kids: Comparison Chart 2025

Soloviova Liudmyla/Shutterstock.com

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Whichever model you choose, be sure to install the Findmykids app on the phone. With it, you will always know where the child is and what is happening around them. This is the #1 kids’ safety app!

Samsung Galaxy S21

Usage age: 10+

Rating: 4.8

Samsung smartphones have already become classics, so your child will be more than happy to become the owner of such a gadget from a well-known brand.

And the S21 is one of the best budget options in the famous Samsung Galaxy range.

It comes with some really impressive tech specs that should allow kids to do what they want, like playing games, downloading apps, using their internet browser for study and research, and more. It has a minimum of 128GB of storage space for photos and files, plus 8GB of RAM and a sizable 6.2″ display.

The battery is large and long-lasting on this device, also, and the display is really crisp and detailed, ideal for reading texts or watching videos.

There are some built-in parental features included with Android and Samsung phones like this one, but you may want to download a kid-friendly app like Findmykids to control your child’s internet browser usage and screen time, allowing them to get use and enjoyment out of the device, without needless risks.

Price: $189

Advantages

• Strong hardware and software components
• Can handle everyday tasks with ease
• Crisp and clear display for watching videos
• Great battery life
• Excellent value for money
• A good long-term investment
• Top-notch camera hardware

Disadvantages

• No microSD card slot for expandable memory

Owner feedback

Got an excellent refurbished Galaxy S21 and let me tell you, it’s probably the best 200 bucks you will ever spend. If you’re sick of overpriced new phones, the S21 offers basically the same performance and a really well-aged camera. Even though this phone is almost 4 years old at the time of writing this review, it still kicks crazy good. I would definitely recommend it to someone who isn’t trying to spend $250+ on a phone.

Xiaomi Redmi 14C

Usage age: 10+

Rating: 4.7

Xiaomi has emerged in recent years as one of the best Chinese smartphone brands, famed for providing high-end quality at mid to low-range prices. The 14C is a great example of what this brand can deliver, as it offers a top-quality experience for the user without a massive price tag.

In terms of tech specs, this device comes with 8GB of RAM for doing lots of tasks and running multiple apps at the same time, a large display for reading and watching content, and a massive 256GB of storage space.

You also get a powerful 3 MHz processor, which should help your child enjoy seamless, speedy usage, and it’s a dual SIM model, too, so you can insert two SIM cards if needed. The camera is also amazing on this device, with 50MP of power for the most detailed images and videos.

Price: $129

Advantages

• Beautiful design
• Really strong levels of performance
• Amazing camera for taking pics and recording videos
• Strong processing power to run games and apps
• Display is really crisp, clean, and beautiful
• Lots of advanced features

Disadvantages

• The camera struggles in dark conditions

Owner feedback

This phone ticks all the boxes for me and it’s just great value! I really like that for me, the battery lasts 4 days on a single charge. This for my use is the stand-out feature as I don’t really need a phone with all the bells and whistles you’d get with a flagship. The phone itself looks great, I love the design, feels refreshing!

Xiaomi Redmi 5A 16Gb

Usage age: 8+

Rating: 4.7

This electronic gadget is well-established in the market. A 4-core smartphone using Android 7.1.2 with MIUI 9.1, equipped with a 5-inch screen with 1280 x 720 pixels and IPS display technology and a QualcommSnapdragon425 processor (4xARMCortex-A53 up to 1.4 GHz).

2 GB of RAM, physical memory is 16 GB. It supports a micro SD card up to 128 GB and is equipped with a 3080 MAh battery and has a slot for two nano-SIM cards.

Price: $70

Advantages

• A good quality smartphone. For this price bracket, it’s the ideal phone
• Good memory, great performance, and lots of pleasing features
• A big bright screen
• A good camera
• A loudspeaker, and deep sound
• It has a very useful dual-screen function that allows you to watch YouTube and write on VK at the same time
• A convenient ‘second space’ function that allows you to have two home screens if this is needed, for example, for your work or hobby. There it’s possible to hide anything personal.

Disadvantages

• The camera makes images a bit blurry, but this is absolutely not a problem, photos are still clear and sharp
• The phone body is made of plastic meaning that it’s slippery. One day you could accidentally drop it. But this can be easily solved by a phone case, stopping it from sliding out of your hand.
• The phone can get hot (up to 41 degrees according to statistics) if you’re playing games, but with everyday use, even with thousands of apps open in the background, this is not a problem.
• The proximity button isn’t always activated when you make a call. You can easily accidentally hit the mute button or make a note button but this isn’t a frequent problem.

Owner feedback

I’ll finish by singing the praises of this smartphone! The value for money is fantastic. If you need a good quality phone for around £65 then the Redmi 5A is absolutely the winner. I’d recommend it to everyone who doesn’t want or cannot spend a lot of money on a smartphone. Believe me, this phone is worth it!

Motorola Moto G04

Usage age: 8+

Rating: 4.6

One of the most accessible smartphones from Motorola is the G04. Supported by the high-speed site LTE (4G), allowing fast data transfers.

This dual-SIM phone features a crisp and clear 6.5″ display for your kids to easily browse the net, engage with educational apps, or communicate with friends. It’s packed with storage space, too, and has a decent 16MP camera for snapping photos.

It’s not overly powerful, nor is it expensive, but it has decent hardware for a budget or entry-level device. It provides the ideal starting point for new phone users, and it won’t confuse or overwhelm younger owners.

Like other Motorola devices, this one also has a strong battery so can run for a long time without having to be charged up over and over again.

Price: $95

Advantages

• Fast internet
• Strong and durable design
• Great battery life
• Affordable price tag
• Solid entry-level hardware and software

Disadvantages

• The camera isn’t the best quality
• It can slow down a little when running certain apps
• Some users may want a more high-end device

Owner feedback

I bought this phone for my mother. She has a Mint mobile. It works great for her. It has plenty of memory and a decent camera. It’s 4G LTE.

Gabb Phone 4 Pro

Usage age: 8-13

Rating: 4.5

Gabb Phone Plus doesn’t focus on the price but rather on securing excellent value for the money. It also does a good job of providing superb Samsung quality in a cell phone with integrated parental controls.

Your child will appreciate the large 6.5-inch screen and a fairly fast processor. It makes this model one of the strongest devices among cheap phones for kids.

The generous 128GB storage will be enough to hold many photos made with the impressive 50MP back camera. The front 13MP camera is only a bonus, as well as the impressive 5,000mAh battery, which can last for a few days in between charges with light use, or a full day of heavy use.

Although it’s an Android phone, there’s no access to the app store. You get pre-installed software, such as a calculator, calendar, phone, and a specialized Gabb messenger. However, Gabb Phone 4 Pro comes without social media and internet access overall, so if you are looking for a smart investment into inexpensive kid phones focused on child security, this device is worth considering.

Price: $199.99

Advantages

• Integrated parental control features
• Lower price available with an annual or biannual contract
• A nice selection of safe apps is available
• Includes a reliable GPS locator
• Excellent camera quality

Disadvantages

• No access to the internet limits the kid’s phone functionality
• A bit pricier compared to other models

Owner feedback

This is a very nice solution to worries about your child getting into trouble on a phone. It is very basic: phone, text, music, weather, maps, and a decent camera. I love the GPS tracking so that I know where the phone and its owner are. Setup wasn’t overly difficult and what questions I had were helped through text communications. Responses were quick and thorough. I was able to port the old number from a previous provider all through the text chat, and everything was taken care of in a few hours. Time will tell, but I feel like this is a great option for my child.

Pinwheel Slim 5

Usage age: 8-18

Rating: 4.5

It’s hard to separate two cheap cell phones for kids that focus on maximum security, so we decided to give them the same rating. Pinwheel isn’t an iPhone or Android phone but uses an operating system developed for these devices exclusively. It has loads of useful features, starting from a curated app store that’s without addictive games or social media. However, you’ll find multiple music, finance and banking, and other useful software. The battery lasts long, the screen size is huge, and there is a 48MP camera.

Pinwheel Slim 5 comes with web access via Wi-Fi, but there’s no internet browser. The GPS locator shows the kid’s location, and you can adjust a contact safelist and monitor the history of calls and texts. Given this is a full-featured smart device, Pinwheel can be put among cheap phones for kids since its higher price is justified with integrated parental control options.

Price: $199.99

Advantages

• Specialized Pinwheel OS with upgrades and decent app selection
• Wi-Fi connection supported, but no social media available
• Contact safelist managed by parents
•  Screen time schedules are a helpful option

Disadvantages

• Some minor performance bugs
• This model isn’t compatible with Verizon and 5G

Owner feedback

It’s been two years since my teen has had this Android device, and it still works great. The camera is of excellent quality, and there’s generous memory storage. The app selection is impressive, and the phone has more apps than some competitors. The only downside is the price, but considering the value it delivers, it has strong value despite being in the category of not-that-cheap phones for kids.

Google Pixel 6a

Usage age: 12+

Rating: 4.4

The first thing you notice about this child’s phone is that it looks great. Users can pick from several different colors, so you’ll surely find one that your kid likes. The 6.1-inch OLED display is amazing and does a wonderful job of capturing impressive images with the integrated camera.
Google Pixel 6a has a battery that lasts approximately 24 hours, putting it among the best choices among cheap phones for kids in this category. It has fingerprint protection to prevent unauthorized use and an IP68 waterproof rating to allow submerging up to 4.5 feet.

The phone has Wi-Fi internet access, but you won’t find wireless charging or microSD card support.

Price: $169

Advantages

• A beautifully designed child’s phone
• Excellent camera quality and experience
• Compatible with all carriers and supports 5G
• Generous memory storage option

Disadvantages

• It’s not the most durable phone out there
• The fingerprint reader isn’t that reliable

Owner feedback

Google Pixel 6a is true progress compared to the previous versions and is one of the best phones in the series. It has excellent camera quality that can sharpen blurred faces and erase objects easily. The device works fast, and we haven’t noticed any glitches. The only thing that could be better is battery life, although 24 hours is still quite impressive.>/p>

Samsung Galaxy A32

Usage age: 10+

Rating: 4.3

The famous Galaxy series features something for everyone, and this Samsung phone is a great choice for kids whose parents believe they are ready for a high-quality device. It doesn’t belong among the most inexpensive kid phones, so it’s more for teens than for younger kids.

The large edge-to-edge display is a nice touch and features fantastic clarity and rich colors. The four-lens back camera ensures excellent image quality, while phone calls work flawlessly, and the phone also comes with Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth connectivity. As for parental controls, it’s worth noting that Samsung Galaxy A32 is compatible with the Findmykids app, which we strongly suggest installing on your device.

Price: $99

Advantages

• Durable display made of Gorilla Glass
• Compatible with all carriers
• Supported microSD card for additional memory storage
• A strong 5,000 mAh battery

Disadvantages

• Default memory storage isn’t that generous
• Speakers are of medium quality at best

Owner feedback

Samsung Galaxy A32 can go up to two days without the necessity to recharge it, and fast charging is a convenient feature. The device works great and has an amazing camera, while our kids love that they can play music and watch videos on the internet. The downside is that it’s not as fast as we had hoped, but it’s still good for the price.

Motorola Moto G Pure

Usage age: 10+

Rating: 4.1

If you are looking for cheap phones for kids with full smart device features, you can’t go wrong with Motorola Moto G Pure. After comparing several entry-level Android phones, this one turned out to be the fastest. It has a generous display size, while the camera is decent since the rear-facing one features 13MP.

The battery life is approximately 12 hours, and that’s when not using the device non-stop, and that’s less than what you get with other cheap phones for kids. You can count on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, which compensate for the lack of 5G. Motorola Moto G Pure is a decent choice for those looking for inexpensive kid phones, but there are things that could be improved in future versions.

Price: $79

Advantages

• Large display size, especially at this price range of phones for kids
• Easy to set up, making it an ideal starter phone
• RAM memory makes this phone impressive and fast

Disadvantages

• Battery life could be better, and recharging each day is necessary
• It lacks 5G support

Owner feedback

We were looking for cheap phones for kids and ended up getting two Moto G Pure devices for our boys. They loved the neat navy blue and indigo colors, but it’s the overall performance that turned out to be the most impressive. We installed parental controls to give us peace of mind about their whereabouts and other details since the phone doesn’t have a monitoring app by default.

Apple iPhone SE (4th Gen)

Usage age: 12+

Rating: 4.0

Apple isn’t exactly famous for affordable devices, but its iOS is incredibly secure, making it a good choice for your child. So, if you’ve got a little extra money to spend, the newest edition of the iPhone SE—the 4th Gen version—could be a good long-term investment and the perfect phone for your child.

Boasting a clean and sleek design that fits with the classic Apple aesthetic, the newest iPhone SE comes with a high-quality single-lens camera for snapping photos, plus top-of-the-line hardware components under the hood for running all the games and social media apps your child might need. It’s also got strong battery life, a crisp and bright display, and should last for years of happy use.

However, despite some built-in parental controls and location tracking features, the iPhone SE doesn’t have too much in the way of kid-friendly features. As such, it makes sense for moms and dads to install Findmykids or another app that shows the child’s location at all times, restricts their internet access, and allows them to manage their screen time while using this device.

Price: $499

Advantages

• Display resolution is impressive
• The rear-facing camera gives excellent images
• It’s equally fast as advanced iPhone models
• 5G support available
• Latest hardware should last for years of use

Disadvantages

• Display size isn’t as big as in some competitors
• The price could be a dealbreaker for some users

Owner feedback

It wasn’t the first mobile device that my teen got, but we felt this was the right phone for her age. She loves the pink color design and the excellent images produced by the camera. We saved some money by getting a refurbished version, which worked nearly as well as new, apart from the battery life not being that impressive.

Advice for Parents

In the end, if you have bought a suitable and cheap smartphone for your child then we advise you, as a loving parent, to install Findmykids on your phone which will allow you to not worry about where your child is.

The app allows you to always see the geolocation of your child and be sure that they are supervised and that all your worries are for nothing!

FAQs

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What is a good first phone for a kid?

It’s wise to select an inexpensive phone that will enable children to get used to how that type of device works before they move to a better model. Make sure to choose a smartphone where you can install child tracking apps like Findmykids since they reveal the child’s location at all times, allowing supervision and giving you peace of mind.

What phones are specifically designed for children?

These are phones that come with special features like blocked access to social media or the internet, no option to install new apps, or pre-set parental control software. You can install parental control tools on most smartphones to take advantage of those utilities and control screen time and internet access.

What is the right age for a child to have a mobile phone?

Many experts say that 10 is the minimum age for a child to have a phone, and many also cite the age range of 11–14 as the optimal time. This is because younger kids are more at risk of harmful effects of internet access and excessive screen time, and may not have the maturity needed to safely use a phone. Even in their early teens, kids need supervision and control when using phones to limit their screen time and exposure to harmful content, cyber-bullying, grooming, etc.

Related: What Age Should a Kid Get a Phone? The Ultimate Guide to Deciding.

What is a good first phone for a 10-year-old?

A good first smartphone for a 10-year-old could be the Xiaomi 14C or Samsung Galaxy S21, though there are several other great affordable phones, like the Motorola Moto G Pure. It’s important, when looking for a phone for a child, to invest in accessories like screen protectors to protect your investment and consider parental controls to manage their internet access and set time limits for screen time.

Should a 7-year-old have a cell phone?

There are arguments both in favor of this and against it, and it all depends on the parents and child in question. Some kids are quite mature at 7 and able to use a phone responsibly, with proper parental settings and supervision to limit their screen time and internet access, but there’s always a risk of them being exposed to content that isn’t suitable for them or being contacted by strangers. Many experts recommend waiting until a child is at least 10 before getting them a phone and opt for a simple phone rather than a complex one.

What is the phone for kids with no service?

There are basic phone models like the Pinwheel and Gabb Phone which are designed for kids and do not provide access to the internet. You can find a simple flip phone that will let your child make calls and send messages, but not access internet sites and apps. These are ideal for parents who are worried about kids having too much screen time or access to explicit content. Excessive screen time has been linked with various problems.

Are these phones compatible with all mobile carriers?

It depends on where you purchase a phone. If you buy the device at a specific carrier, it could only be available with that network unless you unblock it. But if you buy the phone at a general online or offline store, the odds are it’ll be compatible with all mobile carriers.

Can I set up parental controls on these phones?

Parental control features vary on the phone you select, but you can install monitoring apps like Findmykids on most portable devices. This app lets you control screen time, check who is in your child’s contact list, etc. The condition is that they run on iOS or Android operating systems, and most phones nowadays use one of those two.

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