TextNow unveils Yello!, a budget kids phone that only parent-approved contacts can reach

TextNow's Yello! was announced today (October 20) as the first TextNow phone made for kids, accompanied by a plan that lets kids get their own number: only parent-approved contacts can call or text it, and the kids can only reach those same contacts.

The plan costs $19.99 a month with no contract, plus $149.99 for the phone ($119.99 pre-owned), which appears to be a pre-configured Moto G Play (2024). That's the same price as the Gabb Phone 4.

What Yello! does and won't let kids do

Yello!'s concept is simple: a plan with a phone for kids that is managed by the parent. The phone allows calls, texts, group texts and 911 calls. Yello! doesn't support voicemails, but rather it has a voice note feature that is available for the user and their approved contacts. It is also equipped with apps such as camera, gallery, calculator, weather, clock and a few games that parents can opt to turn on or off.



What it is lacking is a browser, an app store, social media apps and the ability to make in-app purchases.  However, as per TextNow, this is intentional and was designed this way to ensure the parents that there would be nothing on the phone that could distract the kids. When unapproved callers try to call or text the number, the call or text simply doesn't go through, and photos and videos taken with the phone can only be sent to parents. 

Parents will have access to a portal where they can add or remove approved contacts. This portal is available from anywhere and the changes done in it will sync back to the phone. The portal also shows live location, battery and signal, plus any pertinent billing info.

TextNow states in its announcement that Yello! will go on sale beginning today at textnow.com/yello. However, its own web page states that the first run of these devices already sold out fast, but reservations are open and TextNow will email when the device is ready. Devices are expected to ship in 1-2 business days.

The 2024 phone in the box

TextNow doesn't disclose it, but a look at the included phone's specs reveals that it is likely a Moto G Play (2024). These are the specifications listed:

• Snapdragon 680.
• 4GB of RAM.
• 64GB of storage.
• 6.5-inch 720p 90Hz display.
• 50MP camera.
• 5,000mAh battery.

These specs match the 2024 model of the Moto G Play to a tee, since the 2023 model used a MediaTek chip. Should this be the case, we are looking at a phone that launched in January of 2024 at $149.99, the same price that TextNow is charging now. It should also be noted that the phone is 4G LTE only with no 5G.



The Moto G Play (2024) also shipped with Android 13, although TextNow lists it as "upgradable to Android 14". Android 17 is the latest version of Android, so it is already several versions behind. The phone itself is still getting security patches, as the Verizon version is currently on the July 2026 patch, but TextNow doesn't mention anything on how long its version of the phone will get updates.

The Gabb Phone 4 is the closest rival to this phone at the same $149.99 price point. The cheapest Gabb plan is $29.99 a month with no contract and $24.99 if you opt for a two-year contract instead. Breaking it down, first year on the Gabb Phone with no contract costs you about $510 vs. about $390 for Yello!.

Another close rival is Bark Phone, with a starter plan at $29 a month for calls and texts only to and from approved contacts. The phone itself, which is a Samsung Galaxy A16, costs $10 a month for 24 months, which puts the first year on that plan at about $468. Bark also monitors texts for signs of danger, which TextNow doesn't mention doing for Yello!.

Gabb and Bark phone owners likely won't have a reason to switch, but Yello! now technically offers the lower monthly bill. Switching, for Bark owners specifically, means giving up a newer phone and text monitoring.

Who Yello! makes sense for as a first phone

Yello! will cost your family about $390 ($149.99 for the phone + $19.99 x 12 for the service) for the first year before taxes. If you opt for a pre-owned phone instead, this number drops to $359.87. You will have no contract, though, so you will have the option to cancel when your kid outgrows the plan.



This plan is more suitable for younger kids who only need to call and text family and friends, not to mention parents who want full control of their kids' contact list.

A fair price with outdated hardware

Personally, I think the approved-contacts setup is what is most attractive about this plan, and the $19.99 a month price is not bad at all. However, paying $149.99 for a budget Motorola that appears to be from 2024 is a tough sell.

TextNow calls this the "first generation" of this plan and welcomes feedback to shape what comes next. My hope is that for the next iteration of this plan, TextNow considers putting a newer device in the box at this same price.

More on TextNow and the Moto G Play:

• What's new in the Moto G Play (2024)
• Read our TextNow review
• Motorola Moto G Play (2024)

• Follow me on X and Threads

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