SkieSkie versus Gabb, Pinwheel and other kids phones: what you get on a device you already own
Gabb, Pinwheel and similar kids phones are devices you buy with their own software. Skie is software only and manages an Android 12 or newer phone or tablet you already own. The choice is between a packaged phone and control of the device you have. Check each company's current pages for details.
Two different ideas
Kids phones such as Gabb Wireless and Pinwheel, and others such as Bark Phone, Troomi, Balance, Wisephone, Light Phone and Xplora, are products where the company supplies the hardware and the software, and often the plan. You buy the product and its rules come with it.
Skie is different in kind. It is Android device management software for parents, schools, hostels and organisations. It runs as the Android device owner and manages a phone or tablet you already own. Skie sells no phone.
What you choose with each
| Question | A dedicated kids phone | Skie on a device you own |
|---|---|---|
| Do you buy a device? | Yes, from the company | No, you use your own phone or tablet |
| Tablets | Depends on the company | Phones and tablets equally |
| Who sets the rules? | The company's design, plus your settings | You, from a parent dashboard |
| Plan or SIM | Often supplied or tied to the product | Your own carrier, or Wi-Fi only |
| Apps | Often a curated set | You choose from the Play Store, then hide it |
| Setup | Out of the box | Reset the device once and provision it |
Where a kids phone is a good fit
If you want a ready-made answer, with hardware, software and support from one company, and you do not mind buying a new device, a kids phone is simple. Some have no browser or app store at all, which is helpful for younger children. Check what the current version includes, because products change.
These are reasonable choices for families who value simplicity above flexibility.
Where Skie is a good fit
- You already own a suitable Android 12 or newer phone or tablet
- You want the same rules on phones and tablets
- You want to choose apps rather than accept a fixed set
- You want enforcement by Android itself as device owner
- You want adult-site blocking, schedules, location and lost mode in one dashboard
What Skie does not do yet
Contacts-only calling is not available yet in Skie. Dedicated kids phones may offer calling controls built into their own dialler, so if that is central to your decision, look carefully. Daily screen time limits and usage reports are also not available yet, and email alerts to parents are not available yet. The team is working on these, with no dates.
Skie does not include a mobile plan or SIM. You use your own carrier.
How to decide, fairly
Ask three questions. Do you already have a device? Do you want to pick the apps or accept a set? Do you want one product for phone and tablet? If the answers are yes, yes and yes, Skie is worth a look. If you want a single packaged device, check the kids phone options. Read what is a safe first phone and best parental control app for Android for more.
Skie pricing is on request, so ask for a quote and compare it with the total cost of any alternative you consider, including the device.
What we do not claim
This page does not give prices, battery figures or feature lists for other companies, because those change and are best read on each company's own site. We name the products so that you can compare, not to rank them. If you are looking at Gabb, Pinwheel or another kids phone, read their current pages and ask them what is included in the monthly cost.
What we can say about Skie is limited to what Skie is: software for a phone or tablet you already own, enforced by Android as device owner, with a parent dashboard. It is available worldwide, subject to local law, wherever the device has Google Play services.
A question that settles most cases
Ask yourself whether the device is the problem or the settings are. If you have no suitable device and want a packaged solution, a kids phone solves both. If you already have a device, or want tablets and phones treated alike, software is the better match.
Many parents also ask for a phone with no social media. Either route can give you that, with a fixed set in a kids phone or an allowed list that you choose with Skie.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skie an alternative to Gabb or Pinwheel?
In purpose, yes, since both help a child have a safe phone. In form they differ. Skie is software for a device you own, and Gabb and Pinwheel are devices you buy.
Does Skie sell a phone?
No. Skie is software only.
Is there a phone for kids with no internet?
Some kids phones are built that way. With Skie you can hide or restrict the browser on a phone you own. Contacts-only calling is not available yet.
Do I need a SIM with Skie?
No. Skie does not include a plan. Use your own carrier, or Wi-Fi only on a tablet.
Which is cheaper?
It depends on the device you already own and each company's current terms. Skie pricing is on request.