As a parent, my priorities when buying a phone for my children include price, features, and durability (very, very important), but first and foremost is security and safety.
I recommend choosing an older premium model like the iPhone 11 or Samsung Galaxy S20 FE—depending on what type of phone you use. Both the Apple and Google ecosystems offer free family monitoring features that lock down a child’s device so they can’t get into too much trouble online. To completely avoid the temptation of online accessibility, choose the ZTE Cymbal 2—a basic feature phone with no internet connectivity at all. You may even find a newer model of our top picks on a great back-to-school sale. Read on to learn which is the best for your child.
Best cell phones for kids and teens in Canada
| Category | Phone | Features | Carriers | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone | Apple iPhone 11 | Full-screen display, secure software | Telus, Bell, Koodo, Fido, Virgin Plus | View plans |
| Android smartphone | Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | Average data users | Telus, Bell, Koodo, Fido, Virgin Plus | View plans |
| Basic feature phone | ZTE Cymbal 2 | No social media, long battery life | Telus, Bell, Koodo, Fido, Virgin Plus, Chatr | View plans |
Best iPhone
for Kids and Teens
Style is the name of the game for teens. Values will change as they grow up, but for now, they may not settle for anything but an iPhone. Get them what they want without breaking the bank.
Apple iPhone 11 | $679 MSRP | $14/month—Best budget iPhone for kids
The iPhone 11 is available and remains one of the cheapest ways to get a full-screen iPhone. It runs the latest version of Apple’s iOS and will continue receiving security and software updates for several more years. Add this phone to Apple’s Family Sharing to share subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade. You can share your iCloud storage with this phone too, which is great because the base model only comes with 64GB of storage.
Despite its age, the iPhone 11 still takes incredibly rich photos with its dual 12MP cameras on the back and a third 12MP shooter on the front for sharp selfies. Even with heavy use, the iPhone 11’s battery has no trouble lasting the whole day. Case colour selection may dwindle as Apple will discontinue this model by the end of the year, but there is no shortage of accessories to customize the look and feel of your child’s new iPhone.
- Pros: Flagship iPhone performance, high-quality photos, security features and updates, highly customizable
- Cons: Older model but still fast, low storage space on the base model (64GB)
What about the iPhone SE?
The new iPhone SE (2022) offers better performance than the iPhone 11 for about $100 less. Some features show their age—like a single 12MP camera on the back, 7MP shooter on the front, 4.7” LCD, and 64GB of storage—but the A15 Bionic CPU makes this model one of the fastest smartphones on the market. Even so, just because you grew up with a Home button on your iPhone doesn’t mean your kids want one. If your child doesn’t mind having a model with a retro look, the iPhone SE is a cheap alternative that will work for years.
Follow our guide to buying a used iPhone for tips on getting a great deal and avoiding scams.
Best Android Smartphone
for Kids and Teens
There are a lot of different brands that use Google’s Android ecosystem, and that’s good news for you. Afford smartphone models start around $5/month on two-year plans, but a few more bucks can get you a much better deal.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G | $589.99 MSRP | $15/month—Best Android for kids
The Samsung Galaxy S20 was Canada’s first 5G smartphone. In the last days of 2020, Samsung released the Fan Edition—or “FE” model—with a lower price tag but the same powerful performance. It started selling on two-year plans for around $10–$15 per month, but it won’t be around for long. For that price, you get fast performance, a big screen, and industry-leading photography.
Samsung might discontinue the older Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G soon. If you’re having trouble finding one, check out the newer Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G released earlier this year. It’s just as fast as the rest of the Galaxy S21 family, but at a lower cost. All Samsung phones work with Google’s Family Link to restrict access for children and keep an eye on what’s happening on their phones.
- Pros: Flagship performance, affordable on two-year plans, supports Google Family Link security
- Cons: Limited software updates, soon to be discontinued
Whether you go with a basic feature phone or an old smartphone, check out the cheapest cell phone plans in Canada and get your teen online for less than a dollar daily.
Best Basic Feature Phone
for Kids and Teens
There are a lot of names for this category—basic phone, dumbphone, feature phone, and even flip phone before smartphones gained that feature. These cheap devices offer several days of battery life, reliable connectivity, and no distracting apps or social media.
ZTE Cymbal 2 | $99 MSRP | $4/month—Best basic phone for kids
The ZTE Cymbal 2 is a great first phone for kids. It teaches them to take care of their things (and recharge regularly!) and doesn’t cost very much. You can buy it for under $100 at nearly every wireless carrier in Canada.
This model has two variations: the older ZTE Cymbal 2 and the newer 2022 version. The newer Cymbal 2 includes a faster CPU and 8GB storage instead of 4GB, but otherwise performs the same. Both models support expandable storage with a microSD card, which is great because there’s a built-in music player.
The phone uses a proprietary operating system (not iOS or Android), so there are no third-party apps or access to social media like Snapchat, TikTok, or Instagram. Removing access to these apps is great for parents worried about how much time their kids spend online. However, it also means there’s no support for preferred instant messaging (IM) apps like Kik and WhatsApp.
- Pros: Very cheap, several days of battery life, common micro-USB charging port, no online support, music player
- Cons: Low-quality camera, no support for IM apps
Save even more money by letting your kids reuse an old cell phone—so long as it supports modern 4G LTE networks. If it’s more than four years old, learn how to unlock it from your old wireless carrier for free.
Methodology: Picking phones for kids and teens
Our selections for the best cell phones for children came from comparing 113 models from 10 brands listed on WhistleOut.ca. We looked primarily at security and price but also considered features and availability among wireless providers when ranking phones. Carriers and device manufacturers are not required to advertise with WhistleOut Canada to have plans listed on our site or considered for “Best of” titles. Our experts regularly audit cell phone plans and costs buried in the fine print to provide the most accurate information. We will change these ratings as necessary.
Cell Phones for Kids and Teens: FAQs
Only a parent or guardian can determine if a child is ready for a cell phone. There is no shortage of studies regarding the effect of cell phones, tablets, and screen time on children. The consensus is to wait until their teen years before giving them a cell phone. By age 13, many children are ready to be responsible for their phone.
A good phone for a child is the ZTE Cymbal 2. It’s a basic feature phone that lacks access to social media but can still serve as a good way to keep your child connected. If you’re looking for a smartphone, we recommend buying an older flagship device like the iPhone 11 or Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G.
You should get your child the same type of smartphone you own. It’s easier to control security and access on phones with the same OS. Both Apple and Google have family-sharing features that give you control over phones, tablets, and other devices used by minors. While the two systems work well within their ecosystems (iOS or Android), there’s very little interoperability.
A cheap prepaid plan is often the best choice for kids and teens. Until you know how many minutes, texts, and gigs of data they’ll use regularly, a prepaid plan lets you add or remove features each month and never lose sleep about overage fees.
Alternatively, some premium carriers like Telus, Bell, and Rogers offer cheaper rates when you add family members to your monthly bill. In addition to simplifying your monthly bills, you can share and set limits on your child’s monthly data use.
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
Related Articles
Find Better Phones and Plans
Hundreds of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
