TextNow’s Yello! kids phone costs $19.99/month, and it’s cheaper than Bark or Gabb

Edited by

Max McCaskill - Sr. Staff Writer

Updated 20 October 2026

Yello! by TextNow device box.
Image: TextNow

Yello! offers built-in parental controls with TextNow wireless service for $19.99 a month

TextNow just launched Yello!, a phone and plan bundle specifically designed for kids ages 6 to 10.
The Yello! phone costs a one-time payment of $149.99, then $19.99/month for the parental controls and a phone plan.
Kids can only call and text a parent-approved circle, and there's no browser, app store, or social media on the device.
Parents can manage contacts and check live location from a Parent Portal on their own phone that's included in the monthly price.

Parents usually consider getting their kids a phone when they start spending time away from them, like at soccer practice, after-school tutoring, or a friend's house. But a full smartphone can feel like a lot to hand a 7-year-old, no matter how many parental controls you set up.

TextNow's new Yello! kids phone is built for that first-phone stage, with calls and texts limited to people you approve and TextNow service for $19.99/month. It doesn't include data, social media, or even access to an app store.

You pick your kid's number and approved contacts online, and the phone shows up ready to use.

How the Yello! kids phone works

Motorola Moto G Play from Yello! by TextNow.
Image: TextNow

Yello! is a Motorola Moto G Play that's been pre-configured so it only does what a younger kid needs, such as making phone calls and texting. Your child gets their own real phone number with TextNow service on AT&T's network, and you get a suite of parental controls to monitor how your child uses the device.

The main feature is the circle, a list of contacts you approve. Your kid can only call or text people in the circle, and only those people can reach them.

What kids can do: Call, text, send group texts, check voicemail, and take photos. Parents can also turn a few simple games on or off.
What's blocked: No web browser, app store, social media, ads, or in-app purchases. Kids also can't send photos or videos to anyone except their parents.
What parents control: The Parent Portal lets you add or remove contacts from anywhere, with changes syncing straight to the phone. It also shows your kid's live location, battery life, and signal strength.

Yello! phone price: How much does TextNow's kids phone cost?

The Yello! phone itself costs $149.99. TextNow service and access to the Yello! parental controls are $19.99/month with no long-term contract.

The phone plan covers unlimited calls and texts to approved contacts, live location, 911 calling, and full Parent Portal access. Including buying the new Yello! phone, your first year of service comes to $389.87 before taxes and fees.

Yello! limitations: What parents should know before buying

Yello! Parent Portal interface with controls and location tracking.
Image: TextNow

Yello! is bare-bones on purpose, and it's a first-generation product.

No data for apps or browsing. Kids can't use music, maps or school apps, and TextNow isn't adding additional features yet. Future updates will be based on feedback from early families, so it's unclear whether the device can be updated if your child outgrows it.
Coverage depends on AT&T. Check AT&T's coverage at home, school, and any other places where your child spends a lot of time before you buy. A weak signal means missed calls and texts.
Location has limits. Live location only works when the phone is on and connected, and TextNow notes accuracy may vary. Yello! also doesn't support international roaming.

How Yello! compares to other phone plans for kids

Yello!'s first-year $389.87 price tag covers the device itself, parental controls, and wireless service, making it one of the cheapest all-inclusive options. In general, most parents will only find a better deal if they bring their own phone and enable parental controls through on-device options and third-party apps.

Using an old phone with a cheap plan and a parental control app

If you have an old phone sitting in a drawer, pairing it with one of our favorite phone plans for kids is probably the cheapest route overall.

Tello 2GB ($10/month): Tello is the cheapest pick and includes Web Guard and Safe Search to filter harmful content. Those tools filter the internet, though, and don't limit who can call or text your kid.
Visible and US Mobile ($25/month): Both include unlimited data, which makes them better fits for older kids. Neither has built-in parental controls.

You'll also need a parental control app. Our favorite parental control apps range from Google Family Link's free app to OurPact Premium for $6.99/month. These apps include things like screen time management features, GPS tracking, web filters, and contact blocking.

To put all this together in an example, providing your own phone with Tello's 2GB plan and the OurPact Premium app would cost you $16.99/month ($203.88/year).

Buying a new phone for your child: Yello! vs. Bark Phone and Gabb Phone

If you need a new device, the Bark Phone and Gabb Phone are the closest matches to Yello!, since both are built for kids and come with their own plans.

Including the initial cost of the phone, here's how much each kids' device and service would cost over the course of the first year:

Yello!: $149.99 for the phone plus $19.99/month comes to $389.87 for the first year.
Bark Phone: The talk-and-text Starter plan is $29/month, plus $15/month for 24 months for the phone. That's $528 for the first year, but remember you'll pay $1,056 in total over the two years it takes to pay off the device.
Gabb Phone 4: $249.99 for the phone plus $29.99/month with a 2-year contract on Gabb's Starter plan comes to $609.87 for the first year and $969.75 over the whole contract.

Remember that after each device is fully paid off, you'll only pay the monthly plan cost going forward. Yello! saves you over $100 in the first year. However, Bark and Gabb cost more but give you more room to grow, with options to add apps or data as your kid gets older.

Is Yello! the right first phone for your kid?

If your kid is in the 6-to-10 range and the goal is "can reach me, but can't reach the internet," Yello! is worth a look. You get contact controls and live location for $19.99/month, without paying for data your kid doesn't need.

Most kids will outgrow it by middle school, but there's no contract, and TextNow says your kid can keep their number if you decide to switch carriers later.

TextNow Yello!: FAQs

How much does the Yello! kids phone cost?

The Yello! phone is $149.99, and the plan for parental controls and service is $19.99/month with no contract.

Can kids browse the internet or download apps on Yello!?

No. Yello! has no web browser, app store, social media, or in-app purchases. Kids can call, text, take photos, use a few built-in tools, and play simple games that parents can turn on or off.

Can my child keep their Yello! phone number?

Yes. TextNow says the number you pick is a real, portable number your child can keep, whether they stay with TextNow or move to another carrier later.

Subscribe to get the best news and deals

All the latest cell phone news and deals, delivered every Thursday.

I have read the Whistleout Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and I understand that I can unsubscribe if I want.

Max McCaskill

Sr. Staff Writer

Max is a Senior Staff Writer at WhistleOut, specializing in mobile plans, operating systems, and carrier news. He regularly tests and reviews dozens of phone plans firsthand, evaluating real-world data speeds, coverage reliability, and plan features. He's been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, AARP, AP News, and GoBankingRates.

Read full bio

Find a better phone plan

Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.