Modern communication apps provide us with great ways to make our parenting consistent and full of family talk times. We wanted to find an app that provides simple, reliable and fun ways for communicating with our kids when we’re away, that doesn’t leave them exposed to the security or privacy risks inherent in so many video and messaging apps.
There are plenty of messaging apps out there to help keep children in touch with members of their family, no matter where they live. Most of these apps offer additional features such as free text messaging, voice to video calling, photo and file-sharing options, and support for GIFs and fun photo-editing features. Choosing a safe texting app together can help you to stay connected to what your child is doing on their phone whilst giving them a little independence.
Apps that facilitate and allow for easy-to-manage communication and family-planning, can only be a win-win for parents and of course kids. Here are our best texting apps for kids to help effectively communicate with your family and kids.
- 1. TingMe Social
- 2. Messenger Kids
- 3. JusTalk Kids
- 4. Google Hangouts
- 5. Stars Messenger
- 6. Fennec Messenger
- 7. GeckoLife
TingMe has been built from the ground up to provide kids with a much safer social media experience than mainstream platforms like FaceBook and TikTok while replicating the key functionality.
TingMe has safety controls that ensure parents must be verified and approve their kids' use of the app. TingMe follows best practices in what data it collects and how it uses it. The app has powerful protection features to prevent content and posts parents wouldn't want to be featured in a kids' app.
The app has automatic blocks for swearing. It will also block images featuring nudity, weapons and other inappropriate images.
Ages: 11 and up
Devices: iOS, Android
Price: Free
If we missed any of the Best Texting Apps for Kids, tell us about them!
Messenger Kids is a free texting app for kids to connect with close friends and family from their tablet or smartphone. Kids can only connect with contacts that their parents have approved, providing for a controlled, safe environment. There are interactive masks, sound effects, and reactions to add a fun element to messaging sessions. With the all of the safety measures in place, parents can relax while kids laugh, explore, and have fun.
The app is compatible with regular Facebook Messenger, so your child can chat with approved adults, like family members.
Ages: 10 and up
Devices: iOS, Android
Price: Free
JusTalk Kids is a cute, fun texting app for kids that allows them to make video calls and send messages. It is a safe messaging app designed for kids to connect with family and close friends from their tablets or smartphones. All personal information of both children and parents (including calling and messaging data) is end-to-end encrypted. JusTalk Kids is a good app and has safe communication functions: live videos, voice calls, photos, messaging and entertainment like doodling and gaming during conversations.
Kids cannot receive friend requests, and they cannot receive messages or calls from strangers. All personal information of both children and parents (including calling and messaging data) is end-to-end encrypted.
Ages: 13 and up
Devices: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Google Hangouts are a way for kids and families to communicate online for free. You can video chat, instant message, and share photos. Hangouts is not specifically designed for children. You can, however, set up an account using Google Family Link for under 13's.
Google Hangouts are simply that: hangouts that occur online - through text or video - with friends, family, teachers, or anyone else in your network. Use Google Hangouts to create a family reunion of sorts; see if you can gather up to 10 family members for a five or ten-minute video chat. If it works, make it a monthly or weekly event.
Gmail doesn’t have the same kid-friendly interface that you find with Facebook Messenger Kids or JusTalk Kids, but the parental controls are just as strong.
Ages: 11 and up
Devices: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Stars is a safe and private texting app that is ideal for kids and families. It is easy to use for all ages, and it’s very well designed with color and font choices, and fun new emojis. Cute and kid-friendly, Stars allows you to set up a safe space for your child to talk to friends and family members.
Ages: 13 and up
Devices: iOS, Android
Price: Free
6. Fennec Messenger
(Android, iPhone, iPad)
Fennec Messenger is an instant messenger designed for kids, families and friends. Fennec Messenger provides plenty of parental controls to keep your child safe. You can manage their contacts on the Fennec Messenger on your phone whenever you need, and there are even more safety features that help your kids enjoy chatting in a safe and controlled environment.
Ages: 13 and up
Devices: iOS, Android
Price: Free
GeckoLife is a social network for families or small groups with privacy features designed with kids' safety in mind. Kids can learn how to use social media safely and wisely working alongside a parent. Though GeckoLife was not designed specifically with educational intent, parents can use it to model good social-networking manners and help kids develop smart social-networking skills in a safe environment. It'd be great to see a few videos or tutorials in the app to reinforce digital citizenship to kids. Overall, GeckoLife gives kids a safe platform to develop social media skills.
Ages: 13 and up
Devices: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a safe chat app for kids?
If you have children under the age of 13 years old, these are some safe chat apps that were created for kids to talk including Messenger Kids, JusTalk Kids, TingMe and so on.
Is there a free texting app for kids?
Messenger Kids is a cute, fun, free texting app for kids that allows them to make video calls and send messages. Parents approve every contact and can remove a contact at any time.
Why Should Parents Help Kids to Choose a Texting App?
As a parent, it's always important to know what your child is doing on their mobile device, and it's really important that you know which apps your child is using. Choosing a safe texting app together can help you to stay connected to what your child is doing on their phone whilst giving them a little independence. You can also find out which messaging apps your child's friends are using, which can help them to connect with their friends safely.
The above texting apps for kids can be downloaded to help improve the quality of the communication between the friends and family. Texting apps for kids are child-friendly apps that will protect your children from the dangers of online messaging.
You may also like:
Trending Topics
