Barnluren – the home phone that teaches kids how to have long, real conversations
We started testing Barnluren in June 2026 and were soon struck by this: even we adults would rather make long calls on Barnluren than on a mobile that gets hot against the ear. An unexpected bonus!
For the kids in early elementary school, it was a big help that we added not only us parents, but all the grandparents to the contact list straight away. We helped them remotely download the Barnluren app and get set up. Then everyone could call each other.
Next thing we knew, it was someone’s birthday 🥳 Guess who called to say happy birthday on Barnluren: everyone who couldn’t be there! Somehow it felt more exciting – and more personal – that they called on Barnluren than if they had called our mobiles and asked to speak to the birthday child.
After hearing a few of the children’s calls, it was clear that a little coaching was in order:
“Present yourself when you answer the phone, or when you call someone.”
“Think about why you are calling – before you call 🙂 Do you want to tell them something? Or do you just want to hear how their day has been?”
“Ask questions. You want to know how grandpa’s trip went. And what else can you ask? It is always nice to ask how someone is doing.”
“End the call in a kind way. Explain if you need to hang up because dinner is ready. And say, for example: Take care! Bye.”
The kids get it right away. And then the calls get longer simply because they become more interesting for everyone involved.
Barnluren In Short
Best for: Preschool and early elementary age, and up.
What sets it apart: A home phone is made for long conversations, so with a Barnluren kids of any age get to practise real phone calls – without a screen getting in the way.
How it works: Plug the adapter into a wall outlet. Download the Barnluren app (free) and connect the adapter to your home wifi. Surprisingly simple!
Open Feedback to Barnluren
Even in middle school and beyond, it is nice to have a Barnluren at home, especially for long calls with family and close friends.
But from middle school onwards, a phone of their own becomes more common. Kids take public transport, meet friends and get themselves to practice. If those friends have a Startphone-certified mobile or a watch with no apps, you cannot call those devices from Barnluren today, because they cannot run the Barnluren app.
We have spoken with Barnluren about this. They already have a theoretical way to call ordinary numbers from a Barnluren – this startup just needs time to build that too.
Core Features
Calls over wifi. To and from other Barnluren phones, and the free Barnluren app, with contacts parents have approved. (Up to 99 contacts per child.)
Voice calls. The child picks up the handset and talks. No screen, no emojis, no messages, no camera.
Stays at home. Barnluren does not come along outdoors. It is a home phone, not a mobile.
Closed network. No connection to the public phone network. No one can call in from outside. The child cannot call ordinary numbers (yet) and cannot call emergency services (112).
Parent-controlled. Contacts are added and removed in the app, even when the adult is not at home. Family and friends answer in a free app. Two children with Barnluren call each other directly.
Any analog phone. The adapter connects to any analog phone. An old phone from the attic will do. New colourful phones can also be bought through Barnluren.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Barnluren Specification |
| Communication | Voice calls to approved contacts |
| Safety | Closed network, parent-approved contacts, no way in from outside |
| Connectivity | Home wifi. No SIM |
| Screen | None |
| Battery | Endless? At least it stays plugged into the wall |
| Focus | No screen to look at during the call |
| Other | Free app for family and friends, unlimited calls for SEK 40 / month |
No Battery That Runs Out
After a week or so with Barnluren, one thing stands out: the battery does not die – unlike every other device. For the simple reason that the phone is plugged into a wall outlet.
We also like that you can use any old analog phone. Barnluren also lets you both donate old phones and buy second-hand.
Two Places That Both Feel Like Home
Barnluren became popular so quickly that we packed it for a long holiday.
A very good setup if you often move between two places, home and the summer house, or for separated parents with two homes, is two Barnluren phones, two adapters – but the same number and the same subscription.
For more on this setup, we refer you to Barnluren, who told us it can be arranged.
Availability & Market Expansion
Barnluren launched fully in Sweden in the summer of 2026. Other markets are next. First up are Denmark and Spain, coming soon.
“It’s the first thing I’ve built where the user is someone I tuck in at night, and that changes how you build.”
Greg Chrystall
Father and Co-Founder of Barnluren