Best walkie-talkies for kids
Buy the Retevis RT628 ($18.69 for three). It's a real license-free radio with a keypad lock. Skip the "video walkie-talkies": their FCC approval shows a low-power Wi-Fi-style link that the seller says reaches about 100 meters in a neighborhood.
Our picks
Best for most kids
Retevis RT628 kids (3-pack)
- A real license-free radio. FCC ID 2AAR8RETEVISRT628.
- A keypad lock, so small hands can't change the channel by accident. You turn it on from the menu (Retevis instructions).
- Three radios in the box.
Watch for
- Short range, like every kids' radio: plan on a backyard or a campsite, not a whole neighborhood.
Sold on Amazon by the maker's own store, Retevis Direct.
Best rechargeable set
Inspireyes GL-568 kids walkie talkies (3 pack)
- A real license-free radio. FCC ID 2A3ZQ-GL.
- Rechargeable, so no batteries to buy (Inspireyes listing).
Watch for
- Not water resistant, per its Amazon listing.
Sold on Amazon by the maker's own store, my-inspireyes.
Amazon prices as of October 14, 2026, 10:00 PM Pacific. Prices change; Amazon shows the current one.
Toy or real radio?
Many kids' sets are real FRS radios, the same license-free service grown-ups use. But video walkie-talkies, a big seller on Amazon, aren't. FCC ID 2BQNK-JK200: Approved only as a low-power Part 15 device. It isn't a walkie-talkie radio service, and it reaches a short distance. The seller says “a range of up to 100m in indoor/neighborhood conditions and 400m in open outdoor conditions”.
| Kids' set | What the FCC approved it for | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Retevis RT628 kids (3-pack) | License-free (FRS) FCC ID 2AAR8RETEVISRT628 | $18.69 |
| Inspireyes GL-568 kids walkie talkies (3 pack) | License-free (FRS) FCC ID 2A3ZQ-GL | $28.49 |
| SANJOIN T-388 kids walkie talkies (3 radios) | License-free (FRS) FCC ID 2AQJJ-T388 | $32.99 |
| MOICO 22-Channel FRS (2-pack) | License-free (FRS) FCC ID 2ASV6-T5A | $17.98 |
| YUSSBCU JK200 kids video walkie talkies (2 pack) | Low-power toy, not FRS FCC ID 2BQNK-JK200 | Not linked |
How far will they reach?
Not far. Kids' radios use about half a watt. Outdoor Life measured a similar $18 set at about 0.3 mile in a hilly neighborhood (Outdoor Life test). That's fine for a backyard, a campsite or a few houses down. For more, see real range.
What to check before you buy
- A keypad lock. Kids press buttons. A lock keeps everyone on the same channel.
- Batteries. Some sets need a lot of AAAs. The SANJOIN set needs 12 (per its listing).
- License-free. Make sure it's an FRS radio. Check any set.