FAQ
What is Loup?
Loup is a voice-first family communications device for kids — e-ink display, no feeds, no social media, no open browsing. Built for simple, safe connection with parent-approved contacts over Wi-Fi.
Does Loup support 911 / E911?
It depends on the model. LOUP WiFi does not support E911 — it operates over saved WiFi networks and parent hotspot only. LOUP WiFi + LTE does support 911 via the LTE cellular connection. Keep a phone available when your child has the WiFi model.
Does Loup require a SIM card or a carrier plan?
LOUP WiFi does not — it runs on saved WiFi and hotspots. LOUP WiFi + LTE includes an eSIM handled by LOUP. No separate carrier contract on either model.
Does LOUP now come with LTE?
Yes — as an option. LOUP WiFi ($149 pre-order) works at home, school, saved networks, and parent hotspot. LOUP WiFi + LTE ($199 pre-order) adds cellular so kids are reachable anywhere. The closed contact network is identical on both.
What does LTE cost per month?
LOUP WiFi + LTE is $20/month total: $10/month for external contacts plus $10/month for LTE connectivity. LOUP↔LOUP calls are free on both models. LTE is handled through LOUP — no separate carrier contract.
Do I need a separate carrier plan for LTE?
No. LTE is included through LOUP directly on the WiFi + LTE model. No new contract, no carrier signup.
Does LTE mean my kid can browse the internet?
No. LTE gives connectivity, not access. The device has no browser, no app store, no open network. Calls go to approved contacts only — same as WiFi. The connection changed. The rules didn't.
Does LTE enable location tracking?
LOUP is not a tracking device. Adding LTE doesn't change that. We don't track or share location data.
How is Loup different from a regular phone or a "dumb phone"?
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).
- Closed network over WiFi, with optional LTE — connectivity, not an open internet.
- A Closed, Trusted Network where kids can only talk to contacts parents have approved. No strangers and no outside exposure.
Are there monthly fees or subscriptions?
Loup↔Loup + App→Loup always free. Parent app and unlimited approved contacts included — no forced subscription.
LOUP↔LOUP always free. WiFi: $10/mo external. WiFi + LTE: $20/mo total (external + LTE). Pre-order $149 WiFi / $199 LTE; $199 / $249 at launch.
Is LOUP more expensive than other kids phones?
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 WiFi has no carrier bill. LOUP WiFi + LTE includes LTE through LOUP — no extra contract. External calling is $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 kids actually want 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.
How do parents control the device? Who can they talk to?
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.
How is LOUP different from just getting a landline?
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.
How does my child connect to a new Wi-Fi network if they aren't at home?
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.
If it's screenless, why does it have any interface at all?
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.
Can my child customize their Loup?
Yes — the back plate is removable and customizable. Patterns and customs are coming after launch; Silver ships first.
Can I monitor my child's conversations or location?
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!
What are the main physical features?
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
Where will Loup be available?
We are shipping to USA, EU, UK and Canada.
You misspelled Loop
The name Loup (French for wolf) was chosen because wolves howl to stay in touch with their pack, reflecting the product's goal of safe, private connection. It also connects to the initial concept of a "closed LOOP" — a safe, trusted circle of friends.
Still stuck? Browse the help center or get in touch.
We get it. You've thought of this.
Why not just get a watch?
A watch is built for tracking, not talking. There's a reason nobody naturally holds their wrist to their ear — the calling experience is awkward, the screen is tiny, and you're still one app download away from the internet.
Connectivity without the chemistry.
Why not just lock down a smartphone?
A restricted smartphone is still a smartphone. The app store is still there. The browser is still there. And trust us — they always find a way around.
Parental controls are a patch, not a solution. And the apps, the storage, the carrier plan? You're paying for all of it.
You're managing restrictions forever instead of starting with the right device.
Why not stick with a landline?
A landline stays in one room. Kids still have to remember which button is grandma — and they can't take it with them.
LOUP travels. Home, friends' house, grandparents' — saved WiFi, or LTE if you choose that model. Same contacts. Same controls.
A fixed landline isn't independence.