Buyer's guide · Updated 2026
An honest look at every real way to video call an aging parent, what each one gets right, where it falls apart, and how to choose based on your parent, not the marketing.
There's no single "best" device, there's the best fit for your parent. Someone who still texts and scrolls has different needs than someone with low vision, arthritis, or memory changes. Below are the four real options, sorted by how much they ask of the person receiving the call, because that's what decides whether the calls actually keep happening.
| Option | Best for | Auto-answer | Nothing to hold | Uses a familiar screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone | Independent, tech-comfortable seniors | No | No | No |
| Senior tablet | Some dexterity and vision, needs charging help | Some | No | No |
| Smart display | Comfortable with voice commands | Some | Yes | No |
| TV-based calling | Low vision, arthritis, or memory changes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Free to try. With big text, high contrast, and a one-tap shortcut, a phone can work, if your parent can reliably find, unlock, hold, and aim it. For many older adults, that's exactly the chain that breaks. Great as a first attempt; often not the lasting answer.
~$100–$300 plus upkeep. Bigger buttons, simplified menus, and auto-answer for approved callers make these friendlier than a regular tablet. The catch is real life: it has to be charged, kept in reach, and not wandered off with. Charging and "where did I put it" are where these usually stall.
~$100–$250. "Call Sarah" out loud and it dials, no holding required, which is a genuine step up. But the screen is small, the setup and Wi-Fi troubleshooting fall to you, and the always-listening microphone makes some families uneasy. Good for a voice-comfortable senior.
~$99/month, all-in. Instead of a new device to learn, it uses the television your parent already turns on every day. The call appears on the big screen and can answer on its own, so there's nothing to find, charge, unlock, or hold. It's the only option that asks essentially nothing of the person receiving the call, which is why the calls actually keep happening. HomeTogether works this way, with a physical privacy shutter over the camera between calls and wellness check-in features included.
HomeTogether turns the TV your parent already uses into a video phone, no smartphone, no holding, no lessons. $99/month, free shipping, 30-day money-back guarantee, cancel anytime.
See how HomeTogether works →For someone who struggles with handhelds, a TV-based option is usually best, because it removes the steps that make calls fail. Smartphones and tablets can suit more independent seniors. Match the tool to your parent's eyesight, dexterity, and memory.
Tablets and smart displays are often $100–$300 up front, with setup and upkeep on family. TV-based services like HomeTogether are about $99/month all-in, including the device and support, with no long contract.
A TV is usually easier for vision, dexterity, or memory challenges, it's large, familiar, and can answer automatically. A tablet can work for a more independent senior but must be charged, found, and operated each time.
This comparison is general guidance to help families choose. Prices are typical ranges and vary by product. Product details reflect HomeTogether at the time of writing.