Choosing a new mobile phone plan for your child is simpler than ever, and switching them to a SIM only plan could even save you a considerable amount each month.
To make sure you find the right network for the whole household, this guide outlines what sort of parental controls each one offers to keep your kids safe online and keep your child’s usage under control. And we’ll flag any family-friendly sweeteners and money-saving family plans, too.
Which network offers the best protection? How can you save money with a family plan? And what perks are available for you and your youngster? Read on, and we’ll cover everything.
To help you find well-priced phones that won’t break the bank, we’ve compiled our pick of the best handsets for children in our one-stop guide on phones for kids and teens.
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O2
1. Partnered with online safety charities
O2 was the first mobile network to work on tackling children’s safety. It once had a successful partnership with the NSPCC and now works with Internet Matters and the UK Safer Internet Centre to help parents keep their kids safe when using their phones.
O2 has an online safety hub filled with articles covering all aspects of mobile phone safety for children, from tackling online bullying to the apps your kids are using. Each guide explains the potential threats and suggests some ground rules to help avoid them.
The hub also features valuable videos that show how to block inappropriate content on your child’s phone. And if you have any problems or questions, you can always call the O2 NSPCC helpline, which is open seven days a week.
2. O2 Multisave
O2 offers a 20% airtime discount on mobile numbers added to its 'Multisave' service.
The deal applies to either Pay Monthly O2 Refresh or SIM only plans, and is eligible to all new O2 phone numbers that are in the the first 28 days.
The discount doesn't apply to the 'main' account, but switching your kids to an O2 tariff will help you get some money back on their monthly bills.
3. O2 Priority
O2 has long had a reputation as one of the best networks for perks and discounts. As any parent will know, these can be really useful when you’ve got kids.
So, whether it’s getting a discount on an experience or buying concert tickets for your favourite musician the day before they go on sale, these perks could really help you out.
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Tesco Mobile
1. Default child-friendly settings
With its family-friendly reputation, it should come as no surprise that Tesco’s mobile network automatically blocks content that is rated as unsuitable for people under 18. The content can only be viewed if the account holder verifies the age of the person who owns the device as being over 18.
This means you can give your child a phone with a Tesco Mobile SIM straight out of the box without having to fuss about in the settings.
2. Capped contracts
Although most parents opt for a pay-as-you-go SIM, a Tesco Mobile capped contract could be the perfect solution if your child is clamouring for the latest device.
Once you’ve chosen your monthly tariff, you can select a maximum you’d be happy to exceed your bill by. This can be as little as £2.50. Tesco Mobile will then ensure your bill is never higher than your tariff and safety buffer combined.
3. Great perks for families
If you’re a Tesco Mobile pay monthly customer and add more than one contract to your account, you can choose a free monthly perk for each contract.
Each contract-holder on the account can choose between extra data, additional minutes, Clubcard points and money off your bill, which is pretty handy, especially when you’ve got kids.
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Vodafone
1. Digital Parenting
Vodafone’s website has loads of tools, tips, lesson plans and even a monthly magazine to help parents teach their kids about online safety.
It covers everything from online gaming and peer pressure to selfies and social media. It also includes tips from industry experts and how-to guides for setting up parental controls.
2. Controlling inappropriate content
Vodafone works with multiple online safety organisations, including the NSPCC, to protect children from inappropriate online content.
If your child accesses any harmful content on Vodafone’s network, you can contact their customer care team, who will take it down within six hours. They will also report illegal content to the police and the Internet Watch Foundation.
3. Vodafone Entertainment plans
You can choose from various entertainment services to add onto a Vodafone plan to enjoy discounted access to family-friendly content on apps like Amazon Prime Video or YouTube Premium.
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Three
1. Content filters
Like most networks, Three allows you to apply filters to your child’s phone, which will block any content deemed unsuitable for under 18s.
2. Limited data allowance
Some of Three’s new tariffs include limited data usage, so you can’t go over your monthly allowance without choosing to pay for extra data. This should help your child avoid running up a huge bill without realising it.
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EE
1. Multiple safety settings
EE offers three different safety settings. You can choose no security, which gives you full access to the internet, the Moderate setting, which blocks any content unsuitable for under-18s, or the Strict setting, which blocks all content rated higher than PG. This includes blocking access to dating apps, chat sites, and social media.
The Strict setting also features Google SafeSearch, which prevents websites that contain unsecured, adult content from being included in search results.
2. EE family account
You can put all of your family's mobile lines together for a seamless discounted experience. The service also lets you gift data to other numbers in the account, in case you have some spare allowance to share with the kids.
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