The first WiFi home phone built for Australian families.
Join the WaitlistTwo very different approaches to giving kids a phone. One stays home with zero internet. The other goes everywhere with basic browsing. Here is how they compare.
The Basics
Plugs into your home WiFi network. Makes voice calls only. No screen, no mobile capability, no SIM card. Stays at home on the kitchen bench or in your child's room. Your child picks it up, calls an approved contact, and hangs up.
Examples: Yaps, Tin Can
A mobile device with a SIM card. Makes calls and sends texts. Most models include a small screen and a basic internet browser. Goes everywhere your child goes — school bag, pocket, sleepovers.
Examples: Nokia 3210, KidComms
They are both "phones for kids" but they solve fundamentally different problems.A WiFi phone keeps your child connected at home. A dumb phone keeps your child connected outside the house.
Side by Side
| Feature | WiFi Home Phone (Yaps) | Dumb Phone (Nokia/KidComms) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Home only | Anywhere |
| Screen | None | Small screen |
| Internet | None whatsoever | Basic (most have browsers) |
| SIM card needed | ✕ No | Yes |
| Monthly cost | Free (Yaps-to-Yaps) | $10–30/mo SIM plan |
| Approved contacts | ✓ Yes — parent-controlled | Some models, not all |
| Quiet hours | ✓ Yes — parent portal | Manual only |
| Texting | ✕ No | ✓ Yes |
| Camera | ✕ No | Some models |
| Best for ages | 5–10 | 10–14 |
| Best for | First phone, home independence | Out-of-home independence |
For children under 10 whose calls happen at home, a WiFi phone is the safer and cheaper option with zero internet risk. For older kids who need mobile connectivity outside the house, a dumb phone fills that gap. Many families will use both at different stages. Start with the safest option and step up when your child genuinely needs it.
Join WaitlistWiFi Phone
Your child is under 10 and you are looking for their very first phone experience.
You want zero screen time risk — no browser, no apps, no games, no camera.
Your child mainly needs to call from home (after school, weekends, while you are in another room).
You want the absolute simplest, safest option available with no room for misuse.
You do not want another monthly bill — no SIM plan, no subscription fees for device-to-device calls.
Dumb Phone
Your child needs to make calls from outside the house — walking to school, at sport, visiting friends.
Your child is 10 or older and is already spending time out independently.
You need texting capability for quick messages between parent and child.
Your child has already used a WiFi phone at home and is ready for the next step.
Dumb phones have a legitimate place in the progression. For older children who are out of the house regularly, a basic mobile device with a SIM provides a level of connectivity that a home-based WiFi phone cannot. The question is whether your child is at that stage yet, or whether a WiFi phone covers everything they actually need right now.
The Bigger Picture
Most families do not need to choose one device category forever. The research on children and technology consistently points toward gradual exposure — introducing more capability as your child develops the maturity to handle it.
Voice calls only, at home, with approved contacts. Your child learns how to have phone conversations, leave messages, and call someone when they need help — without any exposure to screens or the internet.
Basic mobile for out-of-home independence. Calls and texts, limited internet, no social media. Your child carries a phone to school or sport and learns the responsibility of having a device.
Parental controls in place, gradually loosened as trust is established. Full connectivity with guardrails.
Each stage builds on the one before it. Skipping to a smartphone at age 8 misses the foundational steps where children learn to use communication tools responsibly. Starting with a WiFi phone gives your child the experience of phone calls without any of the risks that come with mobile internet access.
Common Questions
A WiFi phone plugs into your home WiFi network and stays in one place — no screen, no SIM card, no internet access for your child. A dumb phone is a mobile device with a SIM card that your child carries with them. Most dumb phones include a basic internet browser, a small screen, and texting capability. They solve different problems: WiFi phones provide safe home-based communication for younger children, while dumb phones provide out-of-home connectivity for older kids.
Most do, yes. The Nokia 3210 reboot, KidComms, and similar devices marketed as "basic phones" typically include a web browser and basic internet access through their SIM card connection. Some parents are surprised to discover this. If zero internet exposure is your priority, a WiFi home phone like Yaps is the only category that guarantees it — there is physically no way to access the internet on the device.
A WiFi home phone like Yaps costs $149 AUD as a one-time purchase, with no mandatory monthly fees. Yaps-to-Yaps calls are free. A dumb phone typically costs $79–$150 for the device, plus a SIM plan of $10–$30 per month. Over two years, a dumb phone with SIM plan costs between $319 and $870 AUD. The WiFi phone is significantly cheaper over time.
No. WiFi home phones like Yaps are voice-only devices with no screen. There is no way to send or receive text messages. This is a deliberate design choice — the phone exists for one purpose: voice calls with parent-approved contacts. If your child needs texting capability, a dumb phone or managed smartphone is more appropriate, typically for children aged 10 and above.
Keep Reading
Yaps is a WiFi home phone for kids. No screen. No SIM. No internet. Just phone calls with the people you approve.
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