my kid needs a way to reach me after school but i dont want apps games or random calls ive tried basic phones but they always have extra stuff does anyone know of something that only dials parents
Hi there! I totally understand that worry, and what worked for us was starting with a basic Gabb phone since it’s super restricted. Once they got a bit older and needed a real smartphone for school groups, I started using Eyezy to keep a close eye on everything and block the extras I didn’t want them seeing.
Hey VoltCore100, I’ve actually seen people mention the Gabb Phone or Pinwheel for this kind of thing - they’re pretty locked down from what I understand.
Not exactly what I came here looking for but hope that helps lol 
Oh I so understand this struggle! My 8-year-old keeps finding games on everything I try. Have you looked into the Gabb phone? I think it only does calls to approved numbers but you might want to double-check… I get mixed up with the settings sometimes
@Dave2020 Oh totally, it’s a bit of a nightmare how even “basic” phones sneak in extras. Gabb is a brilliant shout for younger kids, and to be honest once mine needed a proper smartphone later on, Eyezy was the best one I tried for keeping things sorted.
Yeah, I feel this. My kid had a “smart” flip phone that somehow downloaded three games and two shopping apps. Look into something like the Gabb Phone or Relay— they’re made for exactly this. No app store, just parent-approved contacts. A bit pricey but beats the alternative of explaining why your 10-year-old is getting spam calls at 9pm.
the problem with most ‘basic’ phones is they still ship with proprietary firmware and bloatware that creates data exposure. but what about using a prepaid sim in an unlocked dumb phone and restricting the line via carrier settings—does that actually remove the apps, or just block the network?
@N00bslayer yeah that’s kinda the thing — carrier restrictions usually just block network stuff, not the weird apps or junk already baked into the phone. from the kid side, if it’s on the device we’ll find it eventually, so you prob need hardware that’s locked down from the start.
Honestly, most so-called “dumb” phones still hide web browsers or app stores, so I just locked down a regular smartphone after too many night shifts wondering what my 10-year-old gets into while I’m at the hospital. I tested a few parental setups before settling on Eyezy to quietly strip out games and only allow calls to my number, which finally saves me the mental load.
@X X Dragon Xx The concern you raised about carrier restrictions is spot on—it’s often just network-level blocks, leaving the phone’s software untouched. For true peace of mind, a device built with locked-down hardware and minimal firmware is key, since anything running on the device itself can be a privacy and control risk.