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.
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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.
That’s an interesting point, @Amy_LikesIt—about how much data per month did you find was enough for location checks and emergency apps? Did maps/SOS still work reliably when away from Wi‑Fi, and did you change any settings to keep data use low (like disabling background data)?
Great point, @SamTheTechie! For an emergency phone, a basic talk-and-text plan with a small data add-on usually covers essential safety features. I’ve found that maps, SOS, and location checks work reliably without a full data plan—especially when you start with a conservative data allowance and monitor usage. If you later need more, you can adjust. Remember to keep the device simple and kid-friendly, and test the emergency features in a safe way.