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LOOKING FOR TIN CAN IN AUSTRALIA?

Tin Can Phone is the closest US equivalent to Yaps — a WiFi home phone for kids with no internet access. But Tin Can does not ship to Australia. Yaps is built specifically for the Australian market: NBN-compatible, no SIM card, parent-approved contacts, and ships domestically.

Tin Can = US Only Yaps = Australian-Designed $149 AUD One-Time AEST Support

Background

WHAT IS TIN CAN?

Tin Can Phone is a WiFi-based home phone designed for children, built by a US company based in Seattle. Founded by Chet Kittleson, the product gives kids a way to make and receive phone calls without handing them a screen, an internet browser, or a social media account.

The device connects to home WiFi and only allows calls to and from parent-approved contacts. There are no apps, no games, no notifications. It has attracted significant attention in the United States — a waitlist reported at over 100,000 families, $15.5 million in venture funding from Greylock Partners, and widespread media coverage.

The hardware itself is priced at $75 USD, with a mandatory monthly subscription of $9.99 USD for the calling service.

Tin Can proved something important: parents want a real phone for their kids that isn't a smartphone.
The demand is not niche — it is enormous, and it is growing in every English-speaking market.

Availability

DOES TIN CAN SHIP
TO AUSTRALIA?

No. As of 2026, Tin Can Phone is available only in the United States. They have indicated plans for international expansion, but have not announced an Australian launch date, an Australian distributor, or any specific timeline for entering this market.

This means Australian parents who have seen Tin Can on social media or through US parenting communities have had no way to actually buy one. International shipping workarounds introduce warranty issues, incompatible power adapters, and no local customer support.

Australian parents searching for Tin Can have been stuck without a local option — until now.

The Alternative

MEET YAPS — AUSTRALIA'S
ANSWER TO TIN CAN

Yaps is a WiFi home phone for kids, designed on the Gold Coast and built specifically for Australian families. It follows the same core philosophy as Tin Can: give children a way to call home, call their grandparents, and talk to approved friends — without giving them a device that opens the door to the internet, social media, or addictive apps.

The device connects to your home WiFi. Parents manage an approved contact list through a browser-based portal (no app download required). There is no screen, no internet access, and no way for a child to use it for anything other than phone calls.

Yaps is priced at $149 AUD as a one-time purchase. There is no mandatory monthly subscription — Yaps-to-Yaps calls are free, and external calling to mobiles and landlines is available as an optional add-on for a small monthly fee.

Customer support operates in AEST. The product is designed for Australian WiFi standards. Pricing is in Australian dollars, with no currency conversion or international shipping fees.

Head to Head

YAPS VS TIN CAN —
SIDE BY SIDE

Feature Yaps Tin Can
Available in Australia ✓ Yes ✕ No
Price $149 AUD (one-time) $75 USD (~$115 AUD)
Monthly subscription Optional (external calls) $9.99 USD/month (mandatory)
WiFi calling ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Screen None None
Internet access None None
Parent portal Browser-based App-based
Approved contacts only ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Device-to-device free calls Yaps-to-Yaps free Can-to-Can free
Quiet hours ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Designed in Gold Coast, Australia Seattle, USA
Support timezone AEST PST

The Verdict

If you are an Australian parent looking for the Tin Can Phone experience, Yaps is the local alternative that actually ships to your door. Same philosophy — no screen, no internet, parent-approved contacts — but designed on the Gold Coast, priced in AUD, and supported in AEST. No need to wait for Tin Can to launch internationally.

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Common Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Can I buy Tin Can Phone in Australia?

No. As of 2026, Tin Can Phone only ships within the United States. There is no Australian retailer or distributor. Yaps is the Australian-designed alternative — a WiFi home phone for kids built on the Gold Coast, priced at $149 AUD, with local AEST support.

Is Yaps the same as Tin Can?

Similar concept, different companies. Both are WiFi home phones designed for kids — no screen, no internet, parent-approved contacts only. Tin Can is a US company based in Seattle. Yaps is an Australian company based on the Gold Coast. The core philosophy is the same: give kids a real phone without giving them a smartphone.

How much does Tin Can cost in Australian dollars?

Tin Can costs $75 USD (approximately $115 AUD) for the device, plus a mandatory $9.99 USD per month subscription for the calling service. Over two years, that totals roughly $355 AUD. Yaps is $149 AUD as a one-time purchase with no mandatory monthly subscription. Yaps-to-Yaps calls are included free.

Is there an Australian version of Tin Can?

Yes — Yaps. Designed on the Gold Coast, Yaps is a WiFi home phone for kids that follows the same philosophy as Tin Can: no screen, no internet, parent-managed contacts. It is built specifically for Australian families and Australian WiFi networks, with customer support available in AEST.

When will Tin Can launch in Australia?

Tin Can has not announced a launch date for Australia. Their current focus is fulfilling demand in the US market, where they have a waitlist of over 100,000 families. Yaps is available for pre-order now and is shipping to Australian families in 2026.

What's better — Yaps or waiting for Tin Can?

Yaps is designed specifically for Australian families. That means local customer support in AEST, a product built for Australian WiFi standards, pricing in AUD with no currency conversion, and no international shipping delays or warranty complications. If Tin Can does eventually launch in Australia, it will be entering a market where Yaps already exists and already understands the local context — Australian school hours, Australian family routines, and what Australian parents actually need.

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