More apps available on the go, at a lower cost than Troomi

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Use apps anywhere using cellular, or on wifi

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No social media or adult apps

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Choose your own cellular carrier

Compare Pinwheel vs Troomi

Pinwheel combines peace of mind for you and a sleek, modern phone with cool features for your child.
Features
Pinwheel
Troomi
1,200+ popular apps with safety ratings, or enable Google Play Store for more
Apps available without a WiFi connection
Lock contacts or apps based on time of day
Your choice of phone models and cellular carrier
Read text messages remotely, even if child deletes text.

Choose your Pinwheel. Choose your carrier.

Pinwheel is the only phone designed for kids and teens that allows you to choose your cellular provider. You can add Pinwheel to your family plan, or choose an affordable one from our partners.
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See why thousands of parents are choosing Pinwheel over Troomi phones

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Why Pinwheel
Parents Mag endorse star
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Complete remote access to your child’s phone means complete peace of mind for you

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Safelist blocks 100% of strangers and spam

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Monitor text messages remotely

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See app safety ratings before installing

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No social media or adult apps

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Set schedules for contacts and apps

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Locate your child

More options than Troomi.
No required contracts.

Pinwheel offers starter and premium phones, plus you can choose your own cellular carrier.

Pinwheel
Troomi
Pinwheel Slim or Troomi Phone Read More
$199
$200

Pinwheel also offers starter phones as low as $99, and the premium Google Pixel. Slim is the most popular model, and is compatible with major cellular networks including Verizon.

Monthly charges Read More
$33
$30

Includes parent portal subscription, unlimited talk and text, 5GB high speed data with no contract, using a cellular plan from a Pinwheel partner.

Troomi requires you to use their cellular plan. The Troomi plan includes no data since apps can only be used on wifi.

 


Total 1-year cost Read More
$595
$560

Save more with Pinwheel's annual plan, for a total first year cost of $493.99

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We make switching easy!

Pinwheel doesn't require any contracts and you have a 30-day money back guarantee. You can keep your current phone number if you choose too. Just contact our Customer Care team.

Pinwheel vs. Troomi Frequently Asked Questions

What apps are available on Pinwheel that I can't get on Troomi?

Pinwheel's App Library contains more than 1,200 vetted apps with in-depth safety ratings, including popular apps like Duolingo, Google Classroom and Maps and Spotify.

No busy parent has the time or energy to evaluate every app, so Pinwheel's dedicated app team provides easy-to-understand ratings for each app in the library, along with what you need to know before adding an app to your child's phone.

Troomi includes a limited number of apps that require the highest monthly fee plan and only work on WiFi. You can't turn apps on or off based on the time of day, or limit time on a particular app.

How can I see my child's text messages and call history?

Parents and caregivers can remotely view a child's entire text and call history on Pinwheel's Caregiver Portal from their own device. Even if a child deletes a text message, it will still show up on the portal for the parent.

Does Pinwheel allow social media?

While parents can choose to download nearly any app, social media and adult apps are not allowed.

How can I manage who my child can communicate with?

With Pinwheel, nobody can call or text the phone who isn't on the Safelist of approved contacts. Parents can limit the phone to emergency contacts at school and at night, but enable friends, family, coaches, or neighbors during other modes. Once your child is ready, you can give them the ability to manage their own contacts.

What cellular carriers can I use?

Pinwheel is the only phone for kids that allows you to choose your own cellular carrier and plan. Troomi requires your child to get cellular service from Troomi, and doesn't include a data plan.

How can I manage my child's screen time?

For a Pinwheel, caregivers can schedule when their kids can use specific features. Modes like "school mode," "everything mode," and "family time mode" change every app, contact, and routine on the phone to lock or unlock features, contacts and apps depending on the time of day.

The only mode on the Troomi Phone is full access to everything on the phone. You can't turn off calls and texts during school or bedtime, change it to an "emergency contacts only" device, or turn on just the piano practice apps.