Best mobile networks for kids and teens

How to choose the right mobile plan for your child

It all starts with picking the right mobile plan for your child. The correct one should give them enough data without costing too much. Here are some things to consider when making a decision.

SIM only vs contract – Which is better for kids?

One of the biggest decisions to make when buying a SIM card for kids is between SIM only and a contract. SIM only deals are cheaper as you’re only buying the SIM card itself – you then need to buy a phone on top of it. But if you already have a phone (maybe a hand-me-down), SIM only will work out cheaper.

Another advantage of SIM only is that you can switch tariffs easily. As long as you select a 30-day rolling deal, you can swap to a cheaper deal with just a month’s notice. This is handy if you find that your child isn’t using anywhere near their data allowance and you would rather pay less for less data. Or vice versa if they need more.

Contracts lock you in for a long time (usually between 12 and 24 months, but they can be longer), and usually include the cost of a new phone, which is spread over the duration of the contract. So they’re a good option if you want or need a new phone for your child, but don’t have the funds upfront. You will end up paying more in the long run though, so SIM only is usually cheaper overall.

At what age should you get your child a phone?

There’s no hard and fast rule – it’s really down to the parents’ personal judgement, and the child’s maturity, habits and any special needs they might have. Many social networking apps, like Facebook, are restricted to users aged 13 and over, which you could use as a guide.

If you want your child to be contactable but don’t want to expose them to all the potential dangers of the internet, you could always get them a ‘dumb phone’ – i.e. one that can make calls and send texts but doesn’t connect to the internet.

Whenever you decide it’s right for them to have a phone, it’s important to establish clear rules regarding usage (not in their rooms on their own, for example). Explain to them the dangers of oversharing and that people online may not be who they say they are. And create – and maintain – an open and transparent dialogue with them about it, so they feel comfortable telling you if they have seen something inappropriate for their age.

There are also parental controls you can activate, which we’ll explain below.

What to consider when choosing a SIM plan

■ Spending caps

Spending caps can stop your child from spending too much money. This could happen, for example, if they streamed a film using their data allowance rather than over Wi-Fi. Once you reach your spending cap, the mobile operator will stop you from spending any more.

■ Data limits and rollover

Similar to spending caps, a data limit will do just that – limit the amount of data your child can use in a given billing period (usually a month). Just like a spending cap, your child will receive a warning text message when they are approaching their data limit. And once they reach it, their phone won’t be able to use data, only wi-fi networks, to access the internet, stream and use social media apps. Some networks let you roll over unused data to the next month, so if you don’t use it all one month, it’s added on to your following month’s allowance.

■ Pay monthly vs pay-as-you-go

Pay-as-you-go can be helpful for keeping tabs on your spending, as you can only spend what you have preloaded onto your phone. This is true for data, texts and calls. But the danger is that your child gets stranded somewhere without enough credit to call you or a friend. Pay monthly is safer in this regard, but you should add a spending cap to avoid the danger of overspending.

■ Family plans

If everyone in the household is happy to be on the same network, a family plan can work out cheaper – though not always. Each additional number added to the main account has its own phone number and SIM card, and its own allowance of data, texts and calls. Some family plans also let you share data between family members. You get one bill for the whole family, and you only make one payment per month to cover everyone’s usage, so it can be easier to manage.

■ Parental controls

Mobile networks usually offer some parental controls, but it’s worth noting that these only work when your child is using their device on the mobile network itself, not a wi-fi network. For example, EE has three settings for parental controls: Strict (for kids under 13), Moderate (for those aged 13+) and Off (for adults over 18). All EE SIMs are automatically set to Moderate, unless you join its Protected Safer SIM plan, in which case your SIM card will be set to Strict. As well as settings like these, you should activate the parental controls on the device itself, so that they apply when it’s used over wi-fi as well through the mobile network. We’ll show you how for Android and Apple devices further down this page.

The Best SIM Cards for Kids & Teens (2025)