FAQ

Loup is fundamentally a closed-loop system. Unlike regular phones or "dumb phones," which are open systems that require a SIM card and can receive calls from anyone, Loup offers:

• App-less, voice-only interaction (dopamine loops).
• SIM-Free operation over Wi-Fi , meaning no monthly data plans or recurring fees needed.
• A Closed, Trusted Network where kids can only talk to contacts parents have approved. No strangers and no outside exposure.

Loup↔Loup + App→Loup always free. Parent app and unlimited approved contacts included — no forced subscription.

First 500: 1 year unlimited calls to external contacts · then $10/mo (cancel anytime). After year one, renew for $10/mo — or keep using Wi-Fi core for free. Price goes to $199 at launch.

Some, yes. Less than others. Here's the honest comparison:

Most kids phones in this category lock you into a carrier plan — $20–40/month on top of the device. LOUP runs on Wi-Fi. No SIM, no carrier, no monthly bill unless you want external calling (that's $10/month, cancel anytime). Over two years, LOUP typically costs less than the "cheaper" alternatives.

What you're also getting: aluminum construction built to last, a closed network we run ourselves (your family's data stays yours), and a device designed to look like something a kid actually wants to carry — not a plastic toy or a locked-down hand-me-down.

We built LOUP because we couldn't find anything we'd actually want our own kid to have. The price reflects that.

Parents control the Loup through a companion app. This allows parents to:

• Approve which contacts their child can communicate with
• Set communication windows (e.g., no calls after 9pm, no calls during school hours)
• Enable/disable the device as needed

It's designed to be Parent-Controlled, Not Surveillance-Oriented—focusing on guidance without tracking, spying, or overreach. Kids can only communicate with approved contacts who are part of the closed Loup system. This ensures no strangers or random calls.

A landline keeps kids connected to a wall. LOUP keeps them connected to you.

There's a reason kids stopped using landlines — they're tethered, fixed, and useless the moment they walk out the door. Creativity, independence, and real childhood happen outside. In the backyard. At a friend's house. At the park. A device that only works in the kitchen isn't a solution — it's a compromise.

LOUP goes where kids go. It fits in a pocket, clips to a backpack, and works on any Wi-Fi network — home, school, a grandparent's house. The freedom to roam is the whole point. We didn't build a smarter landline. We built the phone that comes before the smartphone.

Since Loup has no keyboard or browser, kids can't type in Wi-Fi passwords themselves. This keeps the device secure. Instead, parents use the Loup app to pre-save safe Wi-Fi networks — like school, grandparents' houses, or the local library.

If your child is going to a new friend's house, add that network from the parent app ahead of time (Settings → Wi-Fi), or they can connect to a trusted adult's mobile hotspot. Networks you save sync to Loup over Wi-Fi when the device is online.

Because the alternative is a printer.

Some devices in this space ask you to physically print out a sheet of numbers and tape it to the keypad so kids know who they're calling. We wish we were joking. That's not a product — that's a workaround.

Kids need a contact list they can actually navigate. LOUP's e-ink display is the size of a name tag and uses less power than a wall clock. It shows exactly who they're calling — a name, not a number — scrolled through with a single dial. No apps. No browser. No rabbit holes. Just a rolling list of the people they're allowed to reach.

We didn't add a screen. We added a rolodex.

Loup is designed for friendship, not monitoring.

It's built around spontaneous, peer-to-peer connections to help kids develop social confidence and form deeper emotional bonds.

There are so many well-crafted options that do provide monitoring, tracking, and oversight - which are worth checking out if that's what you think you need!

The device features a simple, clean, and intuitive design:

• E-Ink Display navigated via physical buttons and a tactile Scroll Wheel to select contacts.
• Microphone and Headphone Jack.
• Volume and Power buttons.
• USB-C Charging