WiFi Landline for Kids: A Parent's Complete Guide

A few years ago, "landline" meant a cord on the wall and a phone company bill. Today it means something different: a small WiFi-connected phone that only calls the people you approve, with no apps, no browser, and no strangers getting through. If you're new to the idea, here's the complete rundown.

What is a WiFi landline for kids?

A WiFi landline is a home phone that connects to the internet through your WiFi network instead of a traditional phone line. It looks and works like the phone you grew up with — pick it up, dial or press a button, talk — but instead of running through a phone company, it runs over the internet connection you already have at home.

The category took off after products like Tin Can proved there was real demand for this. NYT Wirecutter covered the trend directly, noting that parents are lining up to pay for a screenless, app-free "landline" that gives kids a way to talk to friends and family without handing them a smartphone.

What makes it feel different from a regular phone isn't really the technology — it's the constraints. There's no browser to open, no app store to download from, and no camera roll of someone else's photos to scroll through. It does one thing: it lets your kid talk to people you've approved, and it does that one thing well.

How it works

• It connects to your WiFi — no phone jack, no separate carrier bill.
• You build an approved-contacts list from an app on your own phone. Only those numbers can call in or be called.
• Everyone else is blocked — no robocalls, no scam calls, no strangers.
• 911 calling is included. Because Homie works over the internet, it can be affected by power or internet outages — see our 911 disclosure.
• There's no screen to unlock, no app store, and no browser — it's a phone for talking, not for scrolling.

Why parents are choosing a landline over a smartphone or smartwatch

The appeal isn't really about nostalgia (although that's part of it) — it's about giving a kid the specific thing they're asking for, which is usually "I want to call my friends," without giving them everything that comes bundled into a smartphone. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long encouraged families to be intentional about media and screen use at every age, offering guidance through resources like its HealthyChildren.org media guidance, which walks through age-appropriate questions for thinking about media at every stage of childhood. A WiFi landline sidesteps the screen-time question almost entirely: there's no feed to scroll and no app to get lost in.

Compared with a smartwatch or a hand-me-down smartphone, a landline has one job: calling people you've approved. That's a feature for a lot of families, not a limitation. It also means there's very little to "manage" day to day — no settings to double-check, no new app updates that quietly change what a kid can access.

How a WiFi landline compares to other first-phone options

	WiFi landline	Kids' smartwatch	Hand-me-down smartphone
Screen	None or minimal	Small touchscreen	Full screen
Internet/apps	No browser, no app store	Sometimes, depending on model	Yes, unless heavily restricted
Who can reach it	Approved contacts only	Varies by settings	Anyone, unless blocked manually
Carrier bill	No — runs on WiFi	Often yes for cellular models	Usually yes
Portable	No — stays home	Yes, worn on wrist	Yes

Setting one up

Setup generally takes a few minutes: connect the phone to your home WiFi, install the companion app on a parent's phone, and add the contacts you want approved — grandparents, close friends, other parents. From there, the phone only rings for those numbers, and it only calls those numbers back out. Most families set aside a few minutes on the day it arrives to do this together with their kid, which also doubles as a nice first conversation about who's on the list and why.

Is it the right first phone?

If your child's actual ask is "I want to be able to call my friends and grandma," a WiFi landline answers that directly, without the tradeoffs of a full smartphone. It's a great option for kids who aren't old enough (or don't need) to carry a device around, and it plays well alongside a family's broader plan to delay smartphones — something we go deeper on in our guide to what age a kid should get a phone.

It's also worth thinking about it as a first step rather than a permanent solution. Plenty of families use a home phone for a few years, let their kid build real comfort with phone calls and independence, and then make a more deliberate decision about a portable device later — on their own timeline, not because a birthday or a peer's purchase forced the question.

Frequently asked questions

Does it need a phone jack?

No. A WiFi landline connects over your home internet, not a traditional phone line.

Can strangers call it?

No — only numbers you've approved can get through. Everyone else is blocked automatically.

Does 911 still work?

Yes, 911 calling is included. Note that, unlike a copper landline, Homie works over the internet, so 911 can be affected by power or internet outages.

Is there a monthly bill?

Calling between two WiFi landlines of the same brand is typically free. Calling regular phone numbers usually requires a modest plan.

Can I change the approved-contacts list later?

Yes — most WiFi landlines let you add or remove approved contacts any time from the parent app, so the list can grow as your child does.

Where Homie fits

Homie is our take on the WiFi landline, built for kids, families, and grandparents alike. The device is $99 one time, Homie-to-Homie calling is always free, and calling outside numbers is $99/year or $10/month, cancel anytime — no carrier bill, no phone jack, approved contacts only, 911 calling included. Homie ships Fall 2026 — pre-order now to be first in line.