Name: Pinwheel Caregiver
Rating: 4.69231 (13 reviews)

User Reviews for Pinwheel Caregiver

4.69 out of 5

13 Ratings

2 weeks ago, Taysoren

Bad design

I like that I can remotely manage the phone. But the methods are pretty terrible. It’s hard to discover how to block or unblock apps, and the main issue is that you have to make permanent changes (unless you remember to undo changes); i.e. no adding 5 minutes or anything. The schedule has been in beta forever, and for some reason doesn’t allow you a custom time limit; only presets, and no 0 mins/disable when setting times limits on individual days. Additionally it does not give enough information about app usage. No way to check individual app usage, no way to dig into app usage details. It’s a great idea, but poorly executed. Edit: The schedule is a bit more flexible as I have dug into it. It does allow for “override”; which I really like. There are also more options for scheduling. Still not super intuitive, but enough to bump my rating a star.

10 months ago, G5611

Easy to customize, grows with your child

I have recommended pinwheel to countless parents; 2 of our 4 children have a pinwheel so far! The app does have its bugs, but pinwheel responds very quickly to fix them. I love how easy it is to set restrictions or grant privileges with just a few clicks. I love how you can set schedules for any time of day for any length of time AND allow and disallow any/all apps PLUS set time restrictions within that. Toggling between different children is very smooth and easy. Parents can see ALL texts, even deleted ones!! There’s so many different options within the texting app-parent OR child approve contacts, image texting or not for individual contacts or all contacts, emergency contacts (contacts allowed during nothing mode), allow or disallow group texting and more!!!! The phone is so customizable that the restrictions can be released as the child demonstrates maturity. The customer support is unparalleled! I would love to be on the pinwheel team in app testing or customer service, that’s how much we have loved our experience!

2 years ago, WiLLdaB33st

app troubles

So far my son and I love the phone. The app however, has frozen at a white blank screen multiple times. This in turn causing me to delete and re-download the app. I wish Pinwheel is able to fix this bug soon

2 months ago, kellyrunsfar

Needs serious work

App not working. It works once and then crashes with a blank white screen. I’ve had to delete it and re-install every time I want to use it. The premise of this entire Pinwheel phone is to be able to manage your child’s phone. This is impossible with this app. You pay $15 a month for the pinwheel software so this needs to be addressed. Update: over a year later and it still has the same issues. The phone crashes all the time, text messages don’t go through and it took them a year to respond to my request to download our local library app on the phone only to be told no. Seriously?? They have banking apps to download and airline apps but the local library app is a no?? We got rid of the phone and pinwheel and just got a regular iPhone. There are so many ways to manage/lockdown the regular phones now and they work much better than this. Don’t waste your money.

6 months ago, pastorcarlkincaid

So inhibiting it’s useless

If your goal is to get your kid a phone that has the abilities of the old brick phones, you won’t be far off. The first 3-6 months of our ownership of these phones it couldn’t even do that! Frequently the phones would randomly enter into “nothing mode” by themselves! That’s just what you want when you’re kids are home alone, they won’t even have the ability to call their emergency contacts. I also can’t even get basic apps on their phones especially one that helps my daughter manage her diabetes. After several unanswered phone calls to pinwheel and app requests were no better off. So if you want a “phone” that can sometimes call/text and not much else. Here ya go.

1 year ago, Tinabean117

Options for oversight and freedom

My son enjoys having the freedom of having actual apps with a "real" phone (his is a Samsung), and I value having the ability to set limits and not having access to a web browser. I would like to be able to set time limits for various apps, and I may have this ability, but I haven't looked into it enough to know for sure as of yet.

7 months ago, Jobo5362

Service and app does not work half the time

The service doesn’t work half the time. Text messages I send as an emergency contact don’t go through to him half the time. It seems as if he has to text me first then my texts start working. Same with phone calls. Also the location history doesn’t always update. There can be a gap of 10hrs between location pings which is not very helpful if there is an emergency. The app doesn’t work half the time either. As I am typing this now the app has not worked in 2 days. Every time I click on the app it just opens a blank white background.

9 months ago, WesleyPomona

Outstanding product

The Pinwheel phone and companion software is the best family friendly phone available, hands down. Great features that bring sanity to the use of what has become an otherwise addictive feature of modern life… the smartphone. Worth every penny to help protect your children.

2 years ago, techacademic

Incredible for kids

The Pinwheel phone is incredible for kids, and this app is so helpful in managing their phone as a parent. The caregiver app lets me adjust their available apps and contacts pretty effortlessly, and I love that I can quickly check their location and text history!

5 months ago, Clear Stream

Overall Poor Experience

Each part of the product has been poor, especially for the price. I paid $300+ for the phone and 12 months of Pinwheel service. The phone, the app and the caregiver dashboard have each had problems and been buggy. Settings on the parent/caregiver dashboard don’t update the phone, apps wouldn’t load, the phone often crashes after unlocking the screen. Tech support and customer service aren’t helpful. I regret making this purchase.

4 months ago, stevenaroberts

Glitchy and Poor Customer Service

Pinwheel has a cool concept and competitive price, but the poor quality the of software, hardware, and customer service undermine it. When authorizing apps through the caregiver app, those apps would not always appear on the kid’s phone. The Pinwheel phone itself was glitchy with the camera often freezing and the home screen being blank. The process of trying to retun the glitchy phone after having it for only a few days was very painful. I had to send about a dozen photos proving It was still in good condition, had a lengthy thread trying to talk with a supervisor (never did), and then multiple email instructions of how to get the phone ready to ship back to them.

2 months ago, Bensonsmommy

Tons of issues with app and software

5 stars for concept 2 stars for execution and reliability 1 star for customer service The idea of pinwheel is great, but the execution is elementary. Constant issues with apps not downloading even though your app will say it’s downloaded. It doesn’t show up on phone. I’ve already had to hard reset and my child lost their text - no way of fixing that yet. constant update from pinwheel alert that will annoy your kid. Their solution is mute but it still pops up constantly. Customer service response has gone downhill. Nothing like taking hours to reply and you replying immediately to have them leave you on read when you really needed help and contact well within business hours. Incredibly disappointing for what was promised.

10 months ago, Satisfied Pinwheel Parent

Fantastic smart phone “training wheels” for teens.

We’ve been using Pinwheel to help our 16-year-old son learn responsible use of a smart phone for two years now. It is a fantastic tool for this training period! Highly recommended!

11 months ago, Kris1123

No access to what type of phone

I called to find out what type of Samsung device my daughter has- after a ton of unnecessary questions, including the last 4 digits of my credit card I used to purchase???? I was finally told its a Samsung a14- why isn’t this information easily accessed on the app or website.

1 year ago, Narrowminded and hypocritical

If you have an tech issue in your child’s phone- they cannot help

Pinwheel needs to do a much better job of advising users when things go wrong on the child’s phone. The phone just stopped sending or receiving messages and calls and it took an hour for them to tell me they couldn’t help. Thoroughly disappointed.

10 months ago, RustamJunagah

Good idea, Disappointing for the price.

So few apps actually work on this. Then I have to submit a request to get an App approved by pinwheel. I’m the parent, I approve it. Why do we need to gather votes on whether or not to approve Ascension Bible app on my kid’s phone?

11 months ago, EngKL

Do Not Work

Not all the text comes in on the app. The location service doesn’t work. It’s a good idea in theory, but the execution and the app need a lot of work.

3 years ago, Karhart

Not ready for prime time - I feel suckered

The idea behind this phone and it’s functionality is good. The execution is not. I just sent my son off to school, riding with a driver from a kid driving service (because the school is a half hour away). I only felt comfortable using that service, because I had bought the Pinwheel phone for him, allowing him to text me whenever he needed to, and allowing me to track his location. Well, I sent him numerous texts this morning, and 70% of them didn’t go through. In addition, the Location service did not work at all. It sits there saying “pinging… this takes 2-5 minutes.” First of all, if Uber and Lyft can show you where your driver is at all times, why can’t this device do the same thing? Why would it take 5 minutes? Second, it never even went through. What’s going on with this? If I can’t get tracking services to work (and I’m telling you, that is a function of this phone that should never be allowed to get switched off on the kid end), this phone is useless. The app is also clunky and confusing when trying to set controls on multiple kids. Fix these glitches, or we will need to switch to another device.

2 years ago, Anna M.H.

Caregiver App Doesn’t Function Properly

I had high hopes for this phone. However, it has proven to be quite a headache. I can’t access anything from the caregiver app, including even giving me access to *give him access.* I’m sitting here helpless, trying to Google how to make it work. I’m being told there are icons like a “lock” in the upper right hand corner will help me unlock certain features. But there is no lock icon in the upper right hand corner. So okay. I wouldn’t recommend this phone. The idea behind it is solid. The execution of it is not. Don’t make the same mistake we did and overpay for this silly phone. Just buy a standard phone and disable the browser or any other apps you need to. This is a waste.

2 years ago, BrittAubs128

Great idea, bad execution

The actual idea behind this phone service is great. The problem…. It only works about 30% of the time. Texts don’t show up in the caregiver portal at times, and the gps tracking almost never works. And I constantly have to delete the app from my phone and re download it because it is constantly messing up. I regret getting this service completely, wish I had gone a different route. The rugged version of the phone that’s almost $300 broke with in the first week as well. But like I said, it be great if it all worked properly.

2 years ago, Jen081912

Glitchy and not user friendly

As others have said, the idea behind this is great but the execution is terrible. The time locks for different phone uses don’t work, you have to enable all or lock all. If a certain lock is on for apps or whatever, the phone wont receive calls or texts. And it’s 15/month on top of adding it to your phone service. The platform is clunky and glitchy. I wish I would’ve just gotten my son an iPhone at this point.

2 years ago, Earl gray Zoe Bot Bot

App crashes almost daily on my iPhone SE

We like the phone. No idea why the app on the parent phone crashes. I’ve updated my phone. Hard to rate this app highly when I can barely use it on my phone. Even before crashing, on a daily basis the app screen will , for lack of better words, mess up. The controls at the bottom of the app move to the middle of my screen and I can only see 1/10 of what I would need to see to effectively use the app.

2 years ago, AudreyAnnCooper

Don’t buy

This phone is the worst. The tracking never seems to work, and isn't that the primary use of a kid phone? My son says it’s buggy and so he never uses it. He would rather use his school computer. I wish we had never bought it. Half the time I have to forcibly close the app bc it won’t update. The thing that really irks me if they obviously paid off all the mommy bloggers who recommended it.

2 years ago, WO76

Love phone! App is buggy!

I really love the phone and the idea of the all when it’s working. When I try to open the app, it often gets stuck on the Pinwheel screen. When I close it and reopen it, the app gets stuck on a white screen and nothing loads. Then I close and reopen a couple of more time before it finally works.

2 years ago, NHotel

Blank screen always have to delete app

This is really poor execution of what could be a great app. I’ve had to delete and reload this app at least 5 times and I’ve only had it a week. When you try to open it the screen is white, so I have to delete and start over. Why can’t you fix this? Your product is by no means cheap, we should not have to tolerate a terrible app.

2 years ago, HamIam10

Buggy

I like the features but it will not auto refresh. If I want to see new texts or new contacts to approve I have to hard close and restart the app every single time.

2 years ago, chloe K Randee

App works 2 out 10 times

Pinwheel needs to fix the APP ASAP. The pinwheel phone is fine, but you… as a parent, will need to reset your phone 1-2 times a day just to get the pinwheel app to work. It’s beyond awful for such an important feature of the phone. We’ve been faithful to pinwheel and hoping they would fix the app, but it’s been months and months.

2 years ago, Smashley4251

Terrible

This app is just terrible. The gps rarely works and any time I really needed to know my daughter’s location it would not pull up. There’s practically no apps you can download even with parent approval. There’s several more reasons and I can go on and on but I wish I would of gotten her something different. Currently switching now.

2 years ago, FoManCompressor

Great solution, execution needs investment

This is a great solution for parents wanting a phone for their kids that can be fully managed and supervised... But the app needs a lot of work. It's fairly user friendly but it's quite unstable.

2 years ago, RandiGomez520

Great idea, app doesn’t work well

The app is constantly just leaving me on a blank screen. It doesn’t load properly and freezes up a lot too.

2 years ago, Belchadon

Phone is great, app is terrible

I can’t believe how bad this app is and the bugs seem to never get addressed. I wish I could give zero stars. Most of the time I can’t even get the app to launch, let alone run effectively. So sick of it. It’s 2023 and Pinwheel should be able to do much better for their customers.

2 years ago, Bdupont21

Better than Alternatives

While the program can be buggy, this phone and app give priceless peace of mind. I have not had the crashing issue other reviewers talk about, but the questions I have had are answered by an incredibly quick and helpful support team. I’ve used the chat feature on the laptop and gotten immediate help. Every time. Whenever I get an issue why something isn’t working or where something is buried in settings, they walk me through. The alternative of guessing and researching on an Apple or Android all on my own is daunting! Plus, there’s about a thousand loopholes and workarounds kids can find on phones built for adults. When other phones update, they don’t have kids in mind and they don’t notify parents, whereas Pinwheel is FOR KIDS. Even if this app crashed all the time - it works fine for me, but even if it didn’t - it would STILL be worth it. It’s still better than the loopholes, workarounds Apple and Android offer. Go Pinwheel!!

3 years ago, Jake Burgett

Good phone, lousy app

The pinwheel phone for our 13 year old son is working out great. The app for the caregiver portal is not. I have to keep powering my phone down and restarting it about 3/4 of the time I need the app. Something needs to be worked on, it seems. Thanks!

2 years ago, tmulanax

Crashes frequently

Requires me to restart my phone at least once a day.

2 years ago, Briar517

Maddening

I have to reinstall app or restart my phone 1-2 times a day. When I open the app I get the white screen of death. When I search “All Apps” with the parameters I’ve chosen- clicking on the app for a preview also gives me a white screen. I don’t think this deserves a support ticket as these problems have been mentioned in other reviews. Phone fine/app disaster.

2 years ago, jbtarheel10

Glitchy

So so glitchy. Completely unusable half of the time.

2 years ago, Bill bobnm

Glitchy, works 60 percent of the time

App needs significant improvement

3 years ago, Desireevlnzl

Finally

I have been looking forward to this app. Pinwheel has made my decision if I should give my daughter (9) a phone. My biggest concerns where Social Media, YouTube and Contacts. Pinwheel allows me to deny/approve contacts my daughter puts in her phone. The apps they have available I have to approve them and download and there is no access to Social Media, YouTube.

2 years ago, OliveFurb

Software Support/Maintenance is not 24/7

We have been using Pinwheel for about 7 months now; the phone is a great concept. However maintenance/support is seriously lacking. Today, Google Maps started giving an error on boot that the app needs to be reinstalled. We tried several times and contacted support, who told us that the team doesn’t work on weekends. So our child, who depends on Google Maps for navigation, is now unable to safely navigate until their software support team comes into the office on Monday to begin working on this. For an add-on phone service that maintains an entire phone OS, not having 24/7 software support team for critical applications such as maps, is a huge gap - especially in the communications/mobile device industry. This could become a safety issue for children who use the phone if a critical application becomes unusable without support for days on end. Could emergency calls or disappear if android pushes an update that Pinwheel is incompatible with? Could the phone brick on a weekend? Pinwheel should behave like other companies in this industry by providing 24/7 support and treating the service they provide as critical infrastructure, especially if access to apps can become suddenly blocked.

Description

Solve the kid / phone problem with Pinwheel. No need to figure out which parental controls manage which device best! Pinwheel's custom-built system gives you the proper tool to teach your child healthy tech habits from day one. This Pinwheel app provides access to our Caregiver Portal. The Caregiver Portal give you the power to configure and control a Pinwheel smartphone for your child. The phone and the app work hand-in-hand to let your kid establish a healthy relationship with technology. In this app, you can: - **Safelist contacts.** You approve every contact the Pinwheel phone can call or text, and you can schedule when those contacts are available each day. No strangers, no spam calls, no texting friends all night. - **Enable apps.** No app store on the Pinwheel phone **keeps app choices in your hands**, not your child's. The curated app boutique makes it easy to choose useful, healthy apps for your child. No social media, no addictive games, not internet browsing, no mindless consumption. - **Schedule Permissions.** Our Days/Modes calendar lets you choose which contacts and apps are available at what times of day. No texting friends during school, no staying up late using apps. You choose what they can do during different times of day. No need to constantly remind them what is and isn't ok. **Pinwheel helps them develop healthy boundaries around technology use, without the drama**. - **Create Routines.** Help your child learn to be more independent and responsible with Pinwheel's fully-customizable checklists. A morning routine to make sure they're ready for school on time, with teeth brushed and backpack in hand. A bedtime routine for evening peace. Routines for chores, for music practice, for anything you'd like your kid to do without you telling them for the millionth time. Gold stars and confetti help them celebrate their daily wins and nurture good habits as they *ask* to stay on track. - **Parent Them Well.** Live Status shows you the location of the phone. Text history and a Bark subscription allow you to monitor and coach them on appropriate communication. "Waiting as long as possible" for a phone isn't a plan. Giving them a phone designed for adults and hoping you set up all the controls correctly is a recipe for stress. Pinwheel solves the kid phone problem, with a phone designed to work for both of you. You get a tool to teach them how to use technology well. They get a phone that helps them live their best life. Download the Caregiver Portal app today to explore the parental controls for free! Visit our website to purchase a phone for your child, and put the controls to use. ———— **Pinwheel Subscription Pricing** This Pinwheel Caregiver Portal app is a companion app to Pinwheel phones. It does not work with other phones. You are welcome to explore the app for free! To use with a Pinwheel phone, the app is $14.99 per month for the first paired device, and $5 per month for each additional device. See more information and purchase Pinwheel phones on our website: http://pinwheel.com **Cellular Plans** Pinwheel phones are unlocked devices, which allow you to choose your cellular plan from many major networks and providers. Pinwheel does not provide cellular service. The cost for cellular service depends on which carrier and plan you choose. Our website has recommendations and information on those. For your convenience, we can even help you set up service. ———— **Need Help?** If you have any questions, need help with Pinwheel, or want to provide feedback, please contact our Customer Care Team: [email protected]