The Best Kids Smartwatches: 6 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

Garmin Bounce 2

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The Garmin Bounce 2 pairs a clear plan requirement with a parent app that handles school mode, location requests and messaging. The Verizon Gizmo Watch 4 is the better fit when your family already uses Verizon and you want the plan to stay simple.

A kids smartwatch is a phone-light device that talks to your child's wrist and your own phone, and it sends your child's location and messages through a company's servers. That makes the plan, the parent app and the data rules as important as the hardware. We compared six watches that call, text and share location, from six different makers, and read each maker's own pages for plan requirements and what each feature does and does not do. For a general adult smartwatch, see our smartwatches review; for a cheaper way to find a backpack, see our Bluetooth trackers review.

RBE top pick

Garmin

Garmin Bounce 2

Buy it

An LTE kids watch with a full parent app, school mode, on-request location tracking and a clearly documented subscription.

Best for: Parents who want one app for school hours, location and messaging, and who are comfortable with a monthly subscription.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• The owner's manual spells out which features need the LTE subscription: voice calling, text and voice messaging, LiveTrack, assistance, and chores and rewards.
• School mode can silence the watch, or silence it and restrict games and messages, during hours the parent sets, and the child can still request assistance.
• Rated 5 ATM, with an estimated battery life of up to 2 days that Garmin says varies with connected features and LTE conditions.

Know before buying

• Calling, messaging and location all stop working without an active LTE subscription and network coverage, and the watch must be set up through the Garmin Jr. app.
• Assistance is not a path to emergency services: Garmin says the app does not contact emergency services on your behalf.
• Garmin's product pages and manual do not name the cellular carrier, so check the coverage page before buying, especially in rural areas.

Check price on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

Verizon

Verizon Gizmo Watch 4

Buy it

Verizon's own kids watch, with video calling, safe zones, school mode and a dedicated low-cost watch plan.

Best for: Families already on Verizon who want video calling and safe zones on a simple plan.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Verizon lists a 1.6 inch scratch-resistant screen, video calling, up to 40 trusted contacts and a distraction-free school mode.
• Watch removal alerts and custom safe zones are managed in the Verizon Family app, which Verizon says is included with a Gizmo watch service.
• Verizon's FAQ explains the location order: GPS first, then Wi-Fi, then cellular, with accuracy that varies from a few yards to up to a mile on cellular.

Know before buying

• It needs the Unlimited for Gizmo plan, and Verizon says data slows to up to 600 Kbps after 15 GB in a month.
• Verizon's FAQ states that Gizmo watches are not compatible with 911 or similar emergency numbers.
• It is tied to Verizon service, so families on another carrier add a new line just for the watch.

Find it on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

Bark

Bark Watch

Buy it

A Galaxy Watch8 based kids watch with LTE calls and texts, GPS, and Bark's message monitoring.

Best for: Parents who want message monitoring and a 911-capable SOS button, and accept the privacy trade-off.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Bark lists dual-frequency GPS (L1 + L5), a 1.34 inch display, 5ATM plus IP68 and MIL-STD-810H durability, and no camera.
• A SOS button can start a 911 call, which Bark's FAQ describes, unlike several rivals here.
• Bark scans texts, photos and videos for signs of bullying and other issues and alerts parents, and the plan includes the Bark App for the family.

Know before buying

• Bark's service plan is required to activate the watch, and the plan covers cell service and parental controls together.
• Content monitoring means a third party reads your child's messages and images, which some families will not want.
• Bark does not publish a battery life figure on its product page, only a 325 mAh battery size.

Check price on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

Pinwheel

Pinwheel Watch

It depends

A standalone kids watch built around an approved-contacts list, text review and an optional parent-monitored AI chat.

Best for: Parents who want strict control over who can reach their child and are fine with a camera-equipped watch.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Only approved numbers can call or text, and parents can review text messages and call history from the Caregiver Portal.
• Focus mode turns the watch into a plain watch for school and bedtime, and Pinwheel says emergency contacts stay reachable.
• The two cameras can be disabled, and games and the AI chat are optional extras you choose whether to install.

Know before buying

• Pinwheel's watch page does not publish battery life, water resistance or how often location updates.
• Pinwheel says the watch is not yet available in Alaska, and its watch page does not name the cellular carrier.
• It needs a Pinwheel subscription, which includes 2 GB of high-speed data according to the page.

Find it on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

Apple

Apple Watch SE 3 (cellular, Family Setup)

It depends

The cellular Apple Watch SE 3 set up through Family Setup, for children whose parents have an iPhone.

Best for: iPhone families who want a watch that can also grow into a regular Apple Watch later.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Apple's support page lists Schooltime, shared contacts managed through Screen Time, and location sharing through Find My.
• Apple lists 50 m water resistance and up to 18 hours of normal use for the SE 3, and the cellular model supports 5G RedCap and LTE.
• A cellular plan is not required to set the watch up, so the watch can be set up before you choose a plan.

Know before buying

• Setup and management need a parent's iPhone, and the child needs their own Apple Account in a Family Sharing group.
• Apple says some features need a cellular plan, and your carrier must support the watch for kids.
• Apple lists features that are not available on a family-set-up watch, including ECG, sleep tracking and blood oxygen.

Check price on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

We'd skip it

Gabb

Gabb Watch 3e

Skip it

A simple calling and texting watch, held back by slow location updates and an SOS button that does not reach 911.

Best for: Younger children who mainly need to call parents, if you accept the slow location refresh.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Gabb lists parent-approved contacts, up to 100 of them, plus group texting and a Focus Mode set from the MyGabb app.
• IP68 water resistance and Gorilla Glass 3 are listed on Gabb's spec table.
• It works without a phone and has its own number, according to Gabb.

Know before buying

• Gabb states that GPS location updates about every 15 minutes and is not a real-time or continuous monitoring service.
• Gabb states the SOS button calls your designated parent or guardian only, not 911 or emergency services.
• Gabb gives expected battery life as 14 to 18 hours of normal use, and the watch joins only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks.
• A Gabb plan is required, and the device purchase carries contract terms with an early termination fee.

See our pick instead Find it on Amazon anyway Read our detailed assessment ↓

How we judged the field

Five things matter most in a child’s watch. First is the plan: which carrier or subscription it needs, what it covers, and whether the watch works at all without it. Second is the parent app, because that is where contacts, school hours and location live. Third is location, judged only by how the maker describes it, since update rates and accuracy claims vary and most are not published. Fourth is the emergency button, because makers differ on whether it reaches 911 or only a parent. Fifth is data: what the company can see, such as messages and photos, and what you can switch off.

The field splits into watches tied to one carrier, like Verizon’s Gizmo, watches sold with their own plan, like Garmin, Bark, Pinwheel and Gabb, and the Apple Watch, which depends on a parent’s iPhone. We picked six from six makers that call, text and share location, and left out watches whose maker pages we could not load. Prices are described only by tier.

The Garmin Bounce 2 is the most complete package here. The owner’s manual lists the features that need its LTE subscription: voice calling, text and voice messaging, LiveTrack, assistance, and chores and rewards. School mode silences the watch or restricts games and messages during hours you set, and your child can still request assistance. LiveTrack shows current and recent locations on request and ends after 30 minutes unless you extend it, which is a useful limit on constant tracking. Garmin rates it 5 ATM and estimates up to 2 days of battery, with the caveat that connected use and LTE conditions change that. The caution is plain: assistance does not contact emergency services, and the manual and announcement do not name the carrier. Check coverage first. It is for parents who want one app and a clear plan.

The Verizon Gizmo Watch 4 launched in July 2026 and is the practical choice for families on Verizon. Verizon lists a 1.6 inch scratch-resistant screen, video calling, up to 40 trusted contacts, safe zones, watch removal alerts and a distraction-free school mode, all managed in the Verizon Family app. The plan is the catch and the appeal: Verizon’s FAQ says a Gizmo watch needs the Unlimited for Gizmo plan, with data slowing to up to 600 Kbps after 15 GB in a month. Verizon also explains its location method, GPS then Wi-Fi then cellular, with cellular accuracy ranging from tens of yards to a mile. It states that Gizmo watches are not compatible with 911. It is the value pick for Verizon households, and a poor fit if you would need a new line.

The Bark Watch is built on a Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and runs Bark’s parental controls with LTE calls and texts. The product page lists a 1.34 inch display, dual-frequency GPS (L1 + L5), 5ATM plus IP68, MIL-STD-810H durability and no camera. Its main difference is content monitoring: Bark scans texts, photos and videos for signs of bullying and other issues, and alerts parents. Its FAQ also says the SOS button can bring up a call to 911. A Bark service plan, which bundles cell service and parental controls, is required to activate it. The trade-off is privacy, since a third party processes your child’s messages, and Bark does not publish battery life, only a 325 mAh battery size. For a standard adult watch with the same hardware family, see our smartwatches review. This is for parents who want monitoring.

The Pinwheel Watch is a standalone kids watch that works without a phone, and its pitch is control over contacts. Pinwheel says only approved numbers can call or text, and parents can review text messages and call history in the Caregiver Portal. Focus mode turns the watch into a plain watch for school and bedtime, and Pinwheel says emergency contacts stay reachable. There are front and rear cameras that can be disabled, and an optional parent-monitored AI chat called PinwheelAsk that you choose whether to install. A Pinwheel subscription is needed, and the page mentions 2 GB of high-speed data. Pinwheel’s watch page does not publish battery life, water resistance, location update rate or the carrier, and the watch is not yet available in Alaska. Pick it if contact control is your top concern.

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a kids watch only through Family Setup. Apple’s support page says you need a cellular Apple Watch SE or later, an iPhone for the initial setup, an Apple Account for the child, and a Family Sharing group. A cellular plan is not required to set it up but is needed for some features, and your carrier must support the watch for kids. Parents manage shared contacts in Screen Time, turn on Schooltime to limit the watch during school hours, and share location through Find My. Apple lists 50 m water resistance and up to 18 hours of normal use for the SE 3, and lists features unavailable on a family-set-up watch, including ECG and sleep tracking. It is for households that already use iPhones, and it makes little sense otherwise.

The Gabb Watch 3e is the one to skip. It offers parent-approved contacts, up to 100 of them, group texting, Focus Mode and IP68 water resistance, and it works without a phone. The weaknesses are in Gabb’s own footnotes. It states that GPS location updates about every 15 minutes, that accuracy depends on signal and battery, and that it is not a real-time or continuous monitoring service. Safe Zone alerts are based on the latest update, and parents are notified within 15 minutes. The SOS button contacts the designated parent or guardian and does not call 911. Gabb lists 14 to 18 hours of expected battery life and says the watch joins only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. A Gabb plan is required, and the device comes with contract terms. A different watch is a better fit.

Garmin Bounce 2 vs Verizon Gizmo Watch 4: which should you buy?

The Garmin Bounce 2 and the Verizon Gizmo Watch 4 are the two watches to start with, and the choice mostly comes down to your phone plan and how you want the plan billed. Garmin works as its own subscription and gives you a polished app with school mode and on-request location. Verizon asks you to add a watch line and to live inside Verizon’s network, but it adds video calling and safe zones on a plan built for watches.

If you are on Verizon, get the Gizmo. If you are not, get the Garmin. Check the coverage map where your child actually spends time, since neither maker will guarantee coverage in a given place.

Who should buy which

• Parents who want the most complete app: the Garmin Bounce 2. One app covers school mode, location requests and messaging, with the LTE subscription requirements stated plainly.
• Families already on Verizon: the Verizon Gizmo Watch 4. It runs on Verizon’s own watch plan and adds video calling, safe zones and school mode.
• Parents who want message monitoring and a 911-capable SOS: the Bark Watch. Bark scans texts and images for concerns and says its SOS button can start a 911 call.
• Parents who want tight control over contacts: the Pinwheel Watch. Only approved numbers can call or text, and texts can be reviewed in the Caregiver Portal.
• iPhone households: the Apple Watch SE 3 (cellular, Family Setup). Family Setup uses a parent’s iPhone, Screen Time, Schooltime and Find My.

What to look for

• The plan, in writing: Find the maker’s plan page and confirm what happens if you stop paying, since most features stop without an active subscription.
• Carrier named or not: Some makers name the network, such as Verizon, and some do not, so check coverage where your child lives and goes to school.
• Location wording: Read how the maker describes updates. A watch that updates about every 15 minutes is a different product from one that shows live location on request.
• What the SOS button does: Some call 911, some call a parent only, and some alert contacts by text, so read this line before the first day of school.
• School hours controls: Look for a mode you can schedule from the parent app, and check whether emergency contacts still work during it.
• Data and privacy: Find out whether messages or photos are scanned, who can see them, and whether you can turn off optional features like cameras or AI chat.

Our final take

For most families, the Garmin Bounce 2 is the safest first pick, because its plan, app and limits are laid out clearly in Garmin’s own manual. If you are already on Verizon, the Gizmo Watch 4 is the better value and adds video calling. Choose the Bark Watch for message monitoring, the Pinwheel Watch for tight contact control, and the Apple Watch SE 3 only if you already own an iPhone. Skip the Gabb Watch 3e unless a roughly 15 minute location refresh and no 911 button are fine for your child’s age. Whatever you buy, read the plan page first, and set up school mode and contact lists before the watch leaves the house.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Garmin Bounce 2 vs Verizon Gizmo Watch 4.

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