For kids, there’s no better night than Halloween. After all, what’s better than wandering the neighborhood in search of free candy? For parents, it’s more complicated: trick-or-treating is a fun activity, sure, but it’s also loaded with potential safety issues, especially when kids begin venturing out into the night on their own.
Luckily, there are plenty of safety apps that can help. We dug through the App and Google Play stores in search of safe apps for trick-or-treating on Halloween. Here are the three best. (You can also check out our round-up of the best Halloween apps for games, parties, and more!)
How we picked the best apps
-
Easy to use
We leaned towards simple and intuitive interfaces so you can download and use these tools on October 31st. -
Parent-focused
We want parents to keep their kids out of harm’s way, but don’t want to ask children to do anything other than enjoy the holiday. -
Free
While some of these selections may have paid versions, each also has a free version available.
Best trick-or-treating apps
| App | Price | Best for | Shop this app | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Find My | Free | iPhone users | Apple app store | |
| Life360 | Free | Android users | Google Play store | |
| Nextdoor | Free | Safe planning |
Apple App store Google Play store |
Best Trick-or-Treating Apps
Find My—Best for iPhone users
- Price: Free
- Devices: iOS
If you’ve ever left your phone in an Uber, you know this app can be a lifesaver. Find My allows you to track the devices attached to your Apple ID, which means it can also be used to protect the trick-or-treaters in your life.
We’re not suggesting you buy your child the latest iPhone–instead, you can attach AirTags to their costumes or candy bags. If you’re concerned about your little monster wandering into a dangerous area, you can also enable notifications for changes in location. Want to get even more granular? You can establish a radius for their trick-or-treating route and receive notifications if they venture outside it.
Life360—Best for Android users
- Price: Free
- Devices: Android
Life360 is a safety tracking app designed for families, offering a number of plans that include sophisticated services (like driver reports, roadside assistance, and stolen phone protection) for a monthly fee.
For a trick-or-treating app, though, we like the free version of Life360, which provides location tracking, including geofencing. Like Find My, you don’t need a smartphone to be found in Life360: you can link a Tile with Life360 by following a few basic steps.
Life360 can also recognize AirTags (and can be found in the Apple App Store) but we recommend using the Apple-native Find My if you’re an iOS user.
Nextdoor—Best for safe planning
Nextdoor is a social media app for your specific neighborhood. While we’re not crazy about the inane posts that tend to clog up the newsfeed, we love the Treat Map, a handy feature the app rolls out every year for Halloween.
The Halloween Treat Map acts as an interactive guide to the neighborhood. Users who plan on handing out candy can mark their accounts with a candy icon; those who have turned their homes into spooky sideshows will feature a haunted decor icon.
The best phones for kids
If you’re looking to take additional precautions to ensure your kids’ safety, you’re likely on the hunt for an age-appropriate cell phone. With a little research, you’ll quickly realize grabbing the latest iPhone or Pixel isn’t the answer. Access to such sophisticated smartphones increases screentime, something over 60% of Americans believe contributes to children’s anxiety and depression. A cell phone intended to keep your kid safe only needs basic functionality, one that keeps them connected without offering another attention-sucking screen.
We think feature phones, also known as “dumb phones,” are the best phones for kids. For one thing, a feature phone is relatively cheap, meaning you won’t have to take out a second mortgage to buy one. More importantly, they’re reliable and limited to talk and text. Your kid won’t be able to access TikTok, YouTube, or the latest battery-draining game. If they want to play a game, they can play Snake. It builds character!
We’re especially fond of the ZTE Cymbal 2, which offers a 2.8” display, a modest 2MP rear camera, and 4G LTE connectivity. The tiny flip phone will easily fit into your kid’s pocket or backpack.
ZTE Cymbal 2 (2022)
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 2.8" |
| Available On | 71 Plans from 2 carriers |
| Available From |
|
| Priced From | $5 per month + $94 upfront |
| View Full Details |
Basic flip device with 2.8" touchscreen display, 2MP camera, 1.1GHz Quad-core CPU, LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity
Another solid dumb phone (it’s a term of endearment!) is the TCL Flip. In many ways, the Flip is similar to the ZTE Cymbal: it’s got a 2.8” display, a 2MP rear camera, and 4G capability. But it’s a more recent phone and, as a result, features the universal USB-C connection, ensuring your kid will always be able to find a charger.
TCL Flip
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 2.8" |
| Available On | 411 Plans from 7 carriers |
| Available From |
|
| Priced From | $10 per month + $101 upfront |
| View Full Details |
Modern flip device with dual color displays, 2.8" internal display, 2MP camera, 1.3GHz Quad-core CPU, 4G LTE connectivity
Want to see other feature phones for kids? We’ve got the most popular dumb phones below.
Cymbal 2
- 2.8 inch display
- Rear Camera: 2MP
- 4GB int. memory (useable capacity will be less)
Flip
- 2.8 inch display
- Rear Camera: 2MP
- 8GB int. memory (useable capacity will be less)
Cymbal 2 (2022)
- 2.8 inch display
- Rear Camera: 2MP
- 8GB int. memory (useable capacity will be less)
XP3plus
- 2.8 inch display
- Front Camera: 8MP
- 16GB int. memory (useable capacity will be less)
GO FLIP 3
- 2.8 inch display
- Rear Camera: 2MP
- 4GB int. memory (useable capacity will be less)
Safe trick-or-treating: FAQs
Kevin Kearney
Kevin is an experienced journalist and writer whose musings on tech, education, and culture have appeared in Stereogum, InsideHook, The Millions, and elsewhere. As Deputy Editor for WhistleOut, he offers unique expertise on the inner workings of the mobile industry, and has a particular passion for emerging efficiencies within smartphone apps. When he’s not researching the telecom market, he enjoys reading, running, and playing music.
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