TextNow Introduces Yello!, a Mobile Phone Designed for Kids' First Steps Toward Independence and Parents' Peace of Mind

Yello! offers families a more thoughtful approach to the first-phone experience

SAN FRANCISCO and WATERLOO, ON, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TextNow introduced Yello!, a mobile phone designed specifically for one of the biggest milestones families navigate: a child's first phone. Designed to help parents feel more confident giving their kids greater independence, Yello! gives kids their own mobile phone and number, with the ability to make calls and send texts, offering families a more intentional way to stay connected with the people they choose, without the distractions and outside access they don't want.

Available beginning today at www.textnow.com/yello, Yello! is designed for children ages 5–12 and is priced at $149.99 for the device, with an all-inclusive monthly service price of $19.99 and no additional fees. No long-term contract is required, and families may cancel service at any time.

A first phone marks a new stage for kids and families, bringing more freedom and new ways to stay in touch. Yello! is designed to make that transition feel easier, keeping the people kids care about within reach. Whether it's coordinating pickup after practice, checking in on the way home or calling a grandparent, Yello! helps make mobile communication a natural part of these everyday family moments.

"As a parent of young kids, the first-phone decision isn't theoretical for me. I want my kids to be able to call a friend or let me know they're on their way home, but I also want to feel good about what I'm putting in their hands," said Derek Ting, CEO and Co-Founder of TextNow. "We built Yello! to rethink that experience entirely and create something that kids can genuinely be excited to call their own, while giving parents confidence in the transition."

To make the first-phone transition simpler for the whole family, Yello! pairs a mobile device with a designated portal where parents can set and update their child's circle of contacts from anywhere, with changes syncing directly to the device. Kids can only call and text the people in their circle, and only those people can reach them. Yello! is intentionally focused on the features families need most during this stage, without the distractions of social media, an app store or open web browsing.

That approach reflects parents' priorities when choosing a phone for their child. According to research commissioned by TextNow, 28% of parents ranked limiting calls and texts to parent-approved contacts as the single most important feature in a child's phone, surpassing calling and texting functionality.

"I've been the parent wrestling with when my child was ready for a phone and what that phone should actually allow them to do," said Lindsay Gibson, Chief Operating Officer of TextNow. "That experience has shaped how we've approached Yello!. We've listened closely to what families say they want from this milestone and, just as importantly, what they don't. Every decision is intentional, with the goal of giving kids meaningful independence without asking parents to compromise on their peace of mind."

For TextNow, the first generation of Yello! is also an invitation for families to help shape what comes next. Parents and kids will have opportunities to share feedback as they use the phone in their everyday lives, with those experiences informing how Yello! continues to evolve. It's an approach rooted in building with families, not simply for them, and creating a first-phone experience that grows alongside their needs.

About TextNow
Founded in Waterloo, Ontario in 2009, TextNow is the largest ad-supported free wireless service in the United States, built on the belief that phone service should be more flexible, accessible and affordable for everyone. TextNow delivers wireless service through an app, giving customers access to a new, free local phone number and nationwide talk and text. Those who need more can add wireless data on their own terms by the week or month, and change plans at any time. TextNow has offices in San Francisco and Waterloo, Ontario. For more information, visit textnow.com or find us free in the App Store and Google Play.

SOURCE TextNow