First Phone
Give your child a safer first phone
Canopy turns a regular smartphone into a safer first phone.
The safer middle ground for a child’s first smartphone
Many parents do not want to hand over a fully open smartphone, but they also do not want to buy a separate locked-down device. Canopy gives them an alternative option.
Dumb phone
- Simple, but restrictive
- Fewer useful apps and tools
- Can be costly depending on device and plan
Smartphone + Canopy
- Real-time content filtering
- Works on any phone, no requirement to buy a new one
- Flexible enough to grow with your child
Open smartphone
- Full access arrives too fast
- More pressure on parents to monitor everything manually
- Easy for kids to encounter content they are not ready for
Every form of protection you need in a first phone
Real-time content filtering
App and website controls
Decide which apps, chatbots and websites are allowed now, and keep tighter boundaries while your child is still learning how to use a phone responsibly.
School time and bedtime rules
Location alerts
Harder to remove
Protection that grows with them
Start with strong protections, and loosen them up as your child learns to navigate the digital world safely.
Canopy vs Kid Phones: Compare the Costs
| Compare | Kid's Phone | Canopy |
|---|---|---|
| Works on all devices | ✗Phones only | ✓Phones, computers, tablets |
| Hardware cost |
$150 – $240
new device required
|
$0
uses your existing phone
|
| Carrier plan | ✗New plan required | ✓Keep your existing plan |
| Year 1 total |
$450+
hardware + carrier
|
$96
/ year
|
What do parents think of Canopy?
First Phone FAQs
Can I make a smartphone feel more like a dumb phone?
Yes. Canopy lets you restrict apps, websites, and notifications so the phone functions more like a calling and texting device. Start by allowing only a handful of apps (messaging, phone, maps, a camera app) and build from there as your child proves they’re ready. The device still works as a smartphone, but the friction you create makes it feel intentionally limited without being physically crippled.
Can I start strict and relax the settings later?
Exactly. This is the parent-friendly approach. Lock things down tight on day one, then incrementally grant access to apps and websites as your child demonstrates they can handle them. You avoid the harder conversation of “we need to take this away because of a problem” and instead use expansion as a reward.
Will this work on an old iPhone or Android phone I pass down to my child?
Canopy works on both iOS and Android devices. An older phone, used or refurbished, works just as well as a new one. You can set up Canopy before handing it over, so the restrictions are in place from the moment they turn it on.
Can my child remove or turn off the protections?
No. Your child cannot disable them without you. This is a hard boundary, not a suggestion.
Can I allow only a few apps at first?
Yes. In Canopy, you set exactly which apps are allowed. Most parents start with 3 to 5: Phone, Messages, Maps, Camera, and one communication app like iMessage or a texting platform. Anything not explicitly allowed is blocked until you enable it.
Experience Canopy Right Now, For Free
Unlike a dedicated kid’s phone, you can try Canopy today, with no commitment – cancel any time.
Start your 7-day trial!