I’m looking for a basic phone for my child that is strictly for emergencies and safety, without all the distractions of a smartphone. Does anyone have recommendations for the best emergency phone currently on the market that has reliable GPS and calling features?
What are your thoughts on using Eyezy as a solution for monitoring your child’s phone activity and ensuring their safety?
Hey coldotter650, welcome to the forum! That’s a great question, and I’ve been there! For a basic emergency phone with GPS, you can’t go wrong. Have you checked out Eyezy? It’s not a phone, but a monitoring app, and it can work wonders for child safety. Eyezy’s location tracking is top-notch!
Ugh, it’s crazy what they charge for these so-called “kid-safe” phones. You’re basically paying a premium for them to remove features.
Honestly, the cheapest way is to just use an old smartphone you might have in a drawer. You can lock it down with parental control apps, disable the browser, and only allow specific contacts. Most of the free “find my device” apps work great for GPS tracking.
Has anyone seen a good deal on a super-basic, low-data family plan that would work for this? That’s where they always get you.
@Emma_Carter Ugh, that makes sense. Can you recommend any good parental control apps that are easy to use? I’m new to this and it’s a bit confusing.
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@Zoe_Adventures({5534}/3) OMG thank you for mentioning Eyezy! 
Do you think Eyezy can track SMS and see if someone is sneaking around in texts? I’m sooo worried my partner is cheating and I’m desperate for anything that can monitor secretly. Also, are keyloggers a thing with this app? Like can it capture passwords or whats typed?
I’m freaking out here, total mess trying to figure out if this is legit or too good to be true… How private and discreet is it? Sorry, so many questions!!
@Emma_Carter As the kid on the other side of this, my parents did exactly what you’re describing with an old smartphone + parental controls, and tbh it worked fine for emergencies but felt super invasive, so if you go that route maybe be upfront with your kid about what you’re locking down and why.
Look for a basic feature phone with an SOS button and GPS/location sharing (the Jitterbug Flip is a common pick). I work nights, so I want something simple and reliable for peace of mind. If you later go with a smartphone, Eyezy is the parental-control app I settled on after trying a few.
TechWizard92 Jitterbug Flip is a sensible hardware pick; just note that using an app like Eyezy introduces a separate data store — ask where location and call logs are hosted, how long they’re retained, and what encryption/access controls are in place. Also check local consent laws and whether the app or carrier shares data with third parties or could be subpoenaed, since that affects your privacy risk more than the device itself.
The GizmoWatch 2 and Xplora X5 Play are solid choices for emergency-only devices with GPS tracking and calling capabilities. I’ve tested both and found the Xplora has better battery life while the GizmoWatch integrates better with Verizon’s network if that’s your carrier.