Can my kid send text messages or voice notes?

No. Tin Can is strictly for live voice calls. There is no screen for texting and no asynchronous messaging feature. It's designed to encourage real-time conversation rather than the 'pinging' culture of texting.

Does it have GPS tracking?

No. Because it relies on Wi-Fi and lacks a cellular radio/GPS chip, it is not a reliable tool for tracking your child's physical location. It's a communication tool, not a tracker.

What happens if a stranger tries to call the number?

The call is blocked at the system level. The phone won't even ring unless the incoming number is already verified and added to the whitelist via the parent app.

Is the $10/month plan mandatory?

Yes, the service requires an active subscription to route calls over Wi-Fi and manage the parent-controlled whitelist. Without it, the 'Can' is just a very expensive paperweight.

Tin Can – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Tin Can

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2025

94%

WISE Score

The 'dumb phone' your kid actually wants, giving them a lifeline to friends and family without the TikTok-shaped baggage.

Tin Can

app

Everyone, 2025

94%

WISE Score

The 'dumb phone' your kid actually wants, giving them a lifeline to friends and family without the TikTok-shaped baggage.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Tin Can is a breath of fresh air in a market saturated with 'kid-safe' tablets that are really just ad-delivery systems in a rubber bumper. It does one thing—voice communication—and it does it with a focus on privacy and parental peace of mind that is rare in 2026.

It’s the perfect bridge for parents who want to give their child a sense of responsibility and connection without opening the Pandora’s box of social media and internet access. If you can stomach the monthly subscription, it’s a top-tier choice for domestic communication.

Age Fit

This is the 'Goldilocks' device for the 6-11 crowd—kids old enough to want autonomy but too young for the algorithmic chaos of a real smartphone. Parents will find the companion app intuitive and necessary for management.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It successfully replicates the low-stakes, high-connection vibe of a 90s landline. It prioritizes direct human voice over text, emojis, or algorithmic feeds, fostering genuine social bonds with family and friends.

Imaginative

While it's a utility, not a creative suite, it encourages kids to navigate social situations and storytelling through verbal play and independent planning without a screen doing the work for them.

Safe

The ultimate walled garden. Parents have total control over the whitelist. No strangers can get in, and the kid can't wander off into the open internet or app stores.

Enriching

Teaches essential life skills: phone etiquette, memorizing (or managing) a contact list, and the responsibility of maintaining a device without the addictive dopamine loops of a smartphone.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Screen-free sanity means your kid stays in the real world while staying reachable, effectively killing the 'first smartphone' argument before it starts.
The parent-managed whitelist is ironclad—if they aren't in your app, they aren't talking to your kid, period.
It fosters social independence by letting kids coordinate their own playdates or call Grandma without needing to borrow a parent's device.
The hardware is retro-inspired and tactile, making it feel like a cool gadget rather than a restrictive tracking device.

⚠

What to Watch For

The Wi-Fi requirement means this isn't a replacement for a GPS tracker or a cellular phone for kids who roam far from home base.
There is a $10 monthly subscription plan required for the service to function, which might feel steep for a device that only does one thing.
The 'screen-free' nature means no texting, which might be a dealbreaker for older kids (10+) who see their peers using iMessage or similar.

Conversation Starters

"Who are the top three people you want to be able to call whenever you want?"
"What are the 'house rules' for using the Tin Can after dinner or before school?"
"If you could call any relative right now to tell them one funny thing that happened today, who would it be?"
"How does it feel to have your own phone that doesn't have games on it?"

Deep Dive

The Return of the Landline (Sort Of)

Tin Can is leaning hard into the 'Slow Tech' movement, and honestly, it's about time. While other companies are trying to figure out how to put AI into a 7-year-old's backpack, Tin Can went the other way. By stripping the screen entirely, they've removed the primary friction point between parents and kids: the battle over screen time. You don't have to 'limit' a Tin Can because no kid is going to spend six hours staring at a plastic handset.

How the App Works

The companion app is where the heavy lifting happens. It’s remarkably clean—you just add names and numbers. According to recent reviews, the setup takes about five minutes. The 'Call Hours' feature is particularly slick; you can effectively 'unplug' the phone during homework time or after 8:00 PM without having to physically take the device away.

The Connectivity Catch

The biggest hurdle for some families will be the Wi-Fi tether. This is not a 'call me when the bus drops you off' phone unless your kid's bus stop has a strong signal. It’s designed for the home, the backyard, or a friend's house. It’s a modern landline, not a mobile powerhouse. If you're looking for a device for a kid who walks home alone through the city, you might still be looking at a Gizmo or a Gabb watch. But for everyone else, this is a much more intentional way to introduce tech.

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