If you've ever handed a child a phone and immediately regretted it, Pinwheel was built for you. Founded in 2019 by entrepreneur and dad Dane Witbeck, Pinwheel offers purpose-built smartphones, smartwatches, and now a screen-free home phone for kids ages 5–18 that give children the communication tools they want — calling, texting, camera, curated apps — while blocking social media, open internet browsing, and stranger contact entirely.^1
What sets Pinwheel apart is its Caregiver Portal, a parent dashboard (available on iOS and Android) that puts you firmly in control.^2 You approve every contact, enable only the apps you choose from a library of over 1,200 expert-vetted options, schedule when apps and contacts are available throughout the day, and remotely monitor text messages — all without taking the phone from your child's hands.^3 The system is designed to grow with your family: as your child demonstrates responsibility, you expand their digital freedom step by step.^1
Pinwheel partners with well-known hardware brands like Samsung, Motorola, and Google Pixel, so kids get a phone that looks and feels like a "real" phone — not a toy.^1 Their product lineup now includes a kid-safe smartwatch with GPS tracking, PinwheelGPT — a parent-monitored AI chat app powered by ChatGPT that lets kids ask homework and curiosity questions safely — and the brand-new Pinwheel Home, a Wi-Fi-connected, screen-free voice-only phone designed for younger children ages 5–10 who aren't ready for a smartphone.^4 Multiple Caregivers mode makes it the only kids' phone designed for co-parenting households where rules need to travel between homes.^5
Why Parents Love It"Having tried about 10 other programs (we have 6 kids) it was amazing to find Pinwheel. This phone finally gives the right amount of oversight and flexibility." — Brandon Monahan^1
"Pinwheel is an incredibly secure, customizable phone solution for families. It gave my kids exactly the tools I wanted them to have, and it has proven unhackable by teen and preteen peers." — Amy Graydon^1
"We've been using Pinwheel phones for our kids for the last three years and it's been going so well. We love the fact that they are flexible and we can change the settings, depending on the age of the kids." — App Store review^2
Notable- Named one of The New York Times Wirecutter's four best first phones for kids in 2026^3
- Featured in TechCrunch, ZDNet, and honored by SafeWise Kids Safety Awards^6
- Developed with guidance from a board of licensed therapists^7
- Recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of America's fastest-growing private companies^4
- Available in the US, Canada, and the UK^8
- Phone recycling program offers credit when parents trade in old devices^6
