How to give kids music without a smartphone
Your kid wants music. You don’t want to hand over a phone yet. Here are the options that work, from free to about a hundred dollars.
We sell one of these, the Bilby. The rest are fair game.
1. A smart speaker in their room
Cheapest if you already own one. Voice control and no screen. It only works at home, and they can ask it for anything the speaker can play.
2. A card or figurine player
Yoto and Toniebox are great for under-eights and for stories. Screen-free and simple. Each card or figurine costs extra, and neither plays Spotify. See Bilby vs Yoto vs Toniebox.
3. A basic MP3 player
Often under US$40. You load music from a computer. No streaming, nothing to lock down, and the battery lasts. See Bilby vs an old iPod vs a cheap MP3 player.
4. A screen-free Spotify player
Players like the Mighty Vibe sync Spotify or Amazon Music playlists for offline listening, with no screen. Headphones only, no speaker.
5. An Android music player
A small touchscreen player that runs the real streaming apps and plays your own files, with a headphone jack and speakers. You lock it to music with a free app. This is what the Bilby is.
6. A spare phone with the controls on
If you have one, Screen Time or Google Family Link can lock it down. It costs nothing, but it is still a phone, and the lock-down has a lot more to cover. See Bilby vs handing over a phone.
How to choose
Start with what they listen to. Stories and little kids: a card player. Their own songs from streaming: something that runs the app. A library on your computer: a basic MP3 player.
Then think about where they will use it. A speaker suits the bedroom. Headphones suit the car.
Rules that stick
Set it up together. Kids push back less on rules they helped make. Decide where it charges overnight, and what changes as they get older.
Questions parents ask
What is the cheapest way to give a kid music without a phone?
A smart speaker you already own, or a basic MP3 player for under US$40.
Can kids use Spotify without a phone?
Yes, on anything that runs the Spotify app or syncs Spotify playlists: a smart speaker, a tablet, an Android music player like the Bilby, or a player like the Mighty.
Is a music player a good step before a first phone?
For a lot of families, yes. It gives them something that is theirs, and you get to see how they handle it before a phone comes into it.
Does the Bilby need a phone plan?
No. It streams over WiFi and plays your own files offline.
Music first? Get the Bilby.
player, USB-C cable and case included. 90-day free returns.
More comparisons and guides: Bilby vs Yoto vs Toniebox · Bilby vs an old iPod vs a cheap MP3 player · Bilby vs handing over a phone · A first music player for an 8-year-old · Music without a smartphone · Setup guide