Best Phone Plans for Teens' First Smartphone

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For most families, the cheapest and simplest way to give a teen a smartphone is to add a line to the family plan you already have. But that isn't the only option. Prepaid plans cap spending automatically, kid-focused carriers build in guardrails, and MVNOs can cost far less than a big-carrier line. The right choice depends on your budget, how much oversight you want, and how old your teen is.

We don't rank specific plans by price, since carrier pricing changes constantly. This guide lays out the options, the parental control tools each approach offers, and the phones and cases that stand up to teenage life. For younger kids who aren't ready for a full smartphone, see Gabb vs Bark vs Pinwheel and kids' smartwatch plans.

Option 1: add a line to your family plan

Adding a line to an existing plan is usually the lowest cost per line, especially on plans with multi-line discounts. You manage everything in one account, and carriers offer family controls and location sharing apps. The downside: on unlimited plans your teen gets the same data as you, so you'll want to set limits with parental controls or the carrier's family app. See family plan vs individual plans and best family cell phone plans.

Option 2: a separate prepaid plan

A prepaid plan on its own line keeps your teen's costs fixed. There's no overage risk, and when the data runs out, it runs out. It's a good way to teach budgeting, and a natural fit for teens who contribute to the bill. Prepaid lines are easy to cancel or change. See best prepaid plans and prepaid vs postpaid.

Option 3: kid-focused carriers and phones

Services like Gabb, Bark and Troomi pair phones or plans with built-in restrictions: approved contacts, filtered or no web access, app approvals and monitoring. They're popular for younger teens and first phones, with more features unlocked over time. The trade-off is less flexibility and, sometimes, a higher cost than a basic MVNO line. Compare them in Gabb vs Bark vs Pinwheel.

Parental controls that actually work

• Built-in phone controls: Apple's Screen Time and Google Family Link let you set app limits, downtime, content ratings and purchase approvals. They're free and very capable.
• Carrier family apps add data limits, usage alerts, location sharing and content filters on many plans. See parental controls by carrier.
• Location sharing through Find My, Google Family Link or carrier apps. See how family location sharing works.
• Home Wi-Fi controls on your router, for schedules and filtering at home. See router parental controls.

Talk with your teen about the rules and why. Controls work best as part of an agreement, not a surprise.

Choosing the phone

For a first smartphone, durability and long software support matter more than flagship features. Look for a phone with several years of guaranteed updates (both Apple and Google offer long support), a good case and a screen protector from day one. If you're in an Apple family, an iPhone makes Screen Time and Family Sharing simple. If you're on Android, a Pixel or Samsung works seamlessly with Family Link. A hand-me-down phone is fine too. Just check it still gets security updates (see how long phones stay supported).

Setting up the phone together

1. Set up the teen's own Apple Account or Google account under your family group.
2. Turn on content restrictions, app approval ("Ask to Buy" on Apple) and downtime.
3. Enable location sharing, and explain how it will be used.
4. Add emergency contacts and medical ID.
5. Set a data limit or usage alert in the carrier app.
6. Put on a case and screen protector before the phone leaves the house.

Protecting the phone (and your wallet)

Teens drop phones. A protective case and screen protector prevent most damage for very little money. Decide whether insurance or an extended warranty makes sense by comparing the cost with the likely repair bills. Our case vs insurance math and AppleCare vs carrier insurance guides help. Turn on Find My or Find My Device in case it's lost.

Teaching responsibility

Many families tie phone privileges to responsibilities, such as contributing to the bill, keeping the phone charged and protected, or following screen-time rules. A simple written family agreement covering when phones are used, what's off-limits and what happens if rules are broken helps avoid arguments and gives teens clear expectations.

The best phones and protection for teens