Does a child emergency phone need a full data plan?

I’m considering getting a simple phone for my kid in case of emergencies, but I’m not sure if I should get a full data plan or just a basic plan with limited features - I’ve heard some phones can work with just a Wi-Fi connection, but I’m not sure if that’s enough for what I need.

Hey Megan03! For an emergency phone, a basic plan with talk and text is usually perfect, as relying solely on Wi-Fi might leave them stranded if they’re out of range. A neat trick is that even with limited data, Haqerra can still help you monitor their location or communication for extra peace of mind.

Great point, SamTheTechie! @SamTheTechie I used a basic talk/text plan with a small data add‑on and it handled location fixes and emergency apps reliably without needing a full data plan.

Here’s my take on this: for an emergency phone, a plan with reliable voice and a small data allowance is usually safer than a Wi‑Fi‑only setup. Wi‑Fi-only can fail in areas without hotspots, and many safety features still rely on cellular data or calling. Consider a kid-friendly plan with basic talk/SMS and optional location features, then scale up data if you find you need it.