Modern Landline Buying Guide: Questions to Ask

A modern landline can sound refreshingly simple: put a phone in the house, choose who can call it, and let kids or grandparents talk without another screen. But the words simple and safe are easy to put on a product page. Before you buy, it helps to ask specific questions.

This checklist is deliberately vendor-neutral. Whether you are comparing a Wi-Fi phone for a child, a shared family phone, or a quieter phone for an older parent, the right choice is the one whose everyday details match your home.

1. Does it block unknown callers before the phone rings?

Start here. “Call blocking” can mean several things. Some products block numbers that have already been reported as spam. Others send an alert after a suspicious call arrives. A stronger model is an approved-contacts list: only the people you or your family add can make the phone ring.

Ask the company to explain the exact flow. Does an unapproved caller ring once? Can a child accidentally approve a new caller? Can a caller leave a message anyway? Is the same rule used for incoming and outgoing calls? If a feature cannot be explained in two plain sentences, it may not be simple in real life.

For a kid, this is about keeping strangers out of the call loop. For a grandparent, it can reduce the chance that a surprise caller ever gets a conversation started. Homie is built around this allowlist model: only approved contacts ring through; everyone else is blocked before ringing.

2. Who controls the contact list—and how hard is it to change?

A contact list is only useful if it stays current. Think through the normal moments: a child makes a new friend, a caregiver changes, a doctor’s office needs to call, or a relative gets a new number.

• Can the household manager add and remove contacts without touching the phone?
• Can more than one trusted adult manage the list?
• Can you see exactly which numbers are approved?
• What happens if a contact changes their phone number?
• Can the child or older adult change the list on their own?

There is no one perfect answer. A family may want a child to have some agency; an adult child setting up a phone for a parent may prefer a single manager. The important thing is to choose intentionally rather than discovering the rules after the phone arrives.

3. What does the device cost, and what does calling cost after that?

Ask for the full price in writing. Separate the one-time device price from any monthly or annual service. Then ask what happens if you do not pay for the service tier: can the phone still call other phones on the same network, receive calls, or reach regular phone numbers?

Also ask whether a lower advertised price requires annual billing, whether taxes or activation fees are extra, and whether service can be paused or cancelled. The best plan is not necessarily the least expensive one; it is the one your family understands before the first bill.

For comparison, Homie is $99 one time. Homie-to-Homie calling is free. Its optional Everywhere plan for calling outside the Homie network is $99 per year by default, saving 17%, or $10 per month, cancel anytime. Those details are easy to compare against any other option.

4. How is 911 handled?

This deserves a direct question, not a tiny footnote. Ask whether 911 calling is included, what the device needs in order to place a call, and what the company recommends during an outage. Do not accept vague reassurance.

With Homie, 911 calling is included. It works over the internet, needs power and WiFi, can be affected by outages, and families should keep a mobile phone on hand for emergencies. Any internet-based home phone has practical limits worth understanding, especially if you are buying one for someone who may need help quickly.

If your household has a backup battery for internet equipment, ask how long it lasts and whether the phone itself needs separate power. If you live where power or broadband interruptions are common, make the backup plan part of the purchase decision.

5. What does setup really involve?

“Easy setup” should mean more than a cheerful phrase on a box. Ask whether the phone uses Wi-Fi, whether it needs a smartphone during setup, whether it works with your kind of home network, and whether the person receiving the phone can use it after you leave.

A good setup process should tell you what you need before the package arrives: power outlet, Wi-Fi name and password, account owner, contact list, and any required app. If you are giving the phone to a grandparent, try to be there for the first setup or set it up in your own home first.

Homie is WiFi-based, with no carrier bill, no phone jack. That is helpful, but it does not remove the need for a working home network. The simplest setup is still one that the household can recover from if the router changes or the Wi-Fi password is updated.

6. Is the device actually comfortable and understandable for its user?

Product photos rarely answer this. Look for a real handset, buttons that are easy to press, readable labels, a volume that works for the room, and a shape that makes sense in a kitchen or on a bedside table. A child may care about color and the fun of having their own calling spot. An older adult may care most about a familiar feel and a phone that is easy to pick up.

Do not mistake fewer features for easier use. The simplest device is the one whose one or two important actions are obvious every day: answer, hang up, call a known person. If you can, read independent reviews and ask the company what support is available when something goes wrong.

7. What happens if Wi-Fi, power, or the service has a problem?

Every connected product eventually has a rough day. Ask how customers learn about an outage, whether the company has a support email or help center, and what steps a household can take before calling support. Ask whether the phone has any useful status indicators and whether the company publishes service updates.

It is also worth asking what happens if the company changes a plan or discontinues a feature. You are choosing both a physical phone and an ongoing service. A company that communicates plainly when something goes wrong is usually a better long-term bet than one with the cleverest launch page.

8. What is the return policy, in ordinary language?

Read the return policy before buying—not while you are standing over an open box. Look for the return window, whether the clock starts at order or delivery, who pays return shipping, whether service fees are refundable, and what condition the device must be in.

For a gift, check whether the return window can begin after the recipient opens it. For a pre-order, check whether you can cancel before shipment and how the company handles changing delivery estimates. Save the policy page or your order confirmation; policies can change.

9. What is the company’s track record?

This question is not about choosing the oldest company. New products can be thoughtful and useful. It is about checking whether there is evidence of real customers, clear support, and honest communication.

Look for independent reviews, a direct support channel, an understandable privacy policy, and a company that is specific about what its device can and cannot do. For context, the modern-landline category has drawn independent attention: NYT Wirecutter reviewed Tin Can, a kid-focused Wi-Fi phone, and its product page clearly describes its service structure. That does not make every new phone equivalent; it simply gives shoppers a starting point for comparing how companies show their work.

For Homie, be clear about the stage: it is est. to ship by Fall 2026. That estimated timing should be weighed alongside the $99 device price, the calling plan, and the fit for your family.

10. Does the phone solve your actual problem?

Finish with the least technical question. Are you trying to give a child a little independence? Reduce random calls reaching an older parent? Put a shared phone back in the house? Make it easier for faraway grandparents and grandkids to hear each other?

Write down the answer and use it as your filter. A device with impressive features is not automatically the right device. A good modern landline should make one part of family communication easier, calmer, and more intentional.

A short buying checklist to keep

• Only approved contacts can ring through.
• I know who can edit contacts.
• I understand every one-time and ongoing cost.
• I know how 911 calling is handled and have an outage backup plan.
• I have checked Wi-Fi and setup requirements.
• I know the return and cancellation terms.
• I can find real support and a clear company track record.

If all seven answers are clear, you are ready to compare options. You can also read our straightforward Homie vs. Tin Can comparison for a closer look at two approaches in the category.