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Best parental control app: quick menu
The best parental control apps make it simple and easy for you to keep your family safe against unwanted content and security threats.
With it increasingly ordinary for children to be able to access the internet these days, especially through their phones, many parents will naturally be anxious about them accessing inappropriate content. This is especially when children don’t have to seek it out to be exposed to it, with many popular social media websites commonly abused by bots to spam users with private messages containing ads for adult content.
This is where the best parental control apps enter the picture to give adults peace of mind, to give their children the freedom to wander through the world wide web without stumbling across inappropriate content.
We believe that it would be appropriate to learn how your children use the internet and communicate with them before you decide to enforce any restrictions with the parental control apps. If children feel that you’re imposing your will without a proper reason, and they get frustrated enough, they will find ways to circumvent any restrictions you may impose, despite the fact that you have their best interest at heart.
Unlike hardware parental control options that control the websites you can access over your Wi-Fi, the parental control apps have a broader usage, regardless of whether your kids are using your Wi-Fi or are anywhere else, surfing the web. Namely, the apps often offer location tracking, alerts, calls, text monitoring, screen time management as well as website filtering. With that in mind, we’ve also tested and reviewed the best free parental control apps.
These solutions will keep your kids safe on whatever device they use, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet or laptop and regardless of whether they use the Android or iOS operating systems.
We’ve also featured the best identity management software.
Quick list
Aura includes a password manager, VPN, antivirus, password storage, ID protection and the parental control app. The app is easy to use and can be downloaded by scanning a QR code on the device you wish to use it on.
Even if you opt for the free version of Qustodio, you are still getting a great all-round parental control app available on a wide variety of platforms. But it can still be thwarted by VPNs.
Net Nanny has some great filtering options, with real-time content analysis to make sure a site is safe, as well as a social media focus and screen time monitoring. Apps can also be blocked or restricted.
4. Microsoft Family Safety
If you’re a Microsoft family, then this might be for you. It can be used to limit screen time on Windows machines and Xbox consoles, but filtering limited.
Norton Family works well for those with Android and Windows devices – but there is no iPhone app. It also has a School Time feature that restricts access to learning sites for certain durations of your choosing.
Bark emphasizes trust over snooping, providing alerts on potential cyberbullying and illicit messages with the help of AI, but it lacks some of the advanced tracking features of its competitors.
Mobicip scans websites in real-time, on popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and others. Setup is easy, with a great interface and good mobile apps. However, we did find that some restrictions could be evaded easily.
Google’s own solution is free and can be used on an unlimited amount of devices. However, web filtering isn’t here – only certain apps can be blocked. And if you use anything other than Google products, then you might want to look elsewhere.
Best package for a parental control app
Subscribe if
✅ You’re concerned about offensive content and cyberbullying: Aura alerts the parents if their child becomes a victim of cyberbullying, and it can also prevent kids from accessing unwelcome content.
✅ You want full protection: Aura has plenty of other features and uses. You’re not only getting a parental control app but also identity protection, antivirus, VPN, password manager, and more.
Don’t subscribe if
❌ You don’t want to pay for everything: Aura is one big digital security solution, so if you only need a parental control app and not all the other things Aura provides, you might not want to spend that extra money.
The bottom line
🔒 Aura is a powerful digital security software that does a huge number of things, and does them well. The parental control app that’s included in the Family plan has a bunch of features that every parent out there will be glad to have. ★★★★½
Aura is an all-in-one solution that has pretty much everything you need to protect yourself and your family from the dangers lurking on the internet. It includes a password manager, VPN, antivirus, password storage, ID protection, and of course the parental control app.
Setting up the parental control app is quick, while the app is simple to use. You’ll need to scan the QR code to download the app on the device you wish to use it on, and you’re ready to start. Do note that you’ll need to state the child’s age, as the app can’t be used by anyone older than 18.
Parents monitor and manage the device’s usage via the screen time analytics feature. This allows the parents to keep track and limit the amount of screen time. One of the things that makes this app great is the ability to send alerts to parents in case of cyberbullying. In addition, the app can prevent the children from accessing or seeing unwelcome and offensive content, as well as provide insights for parents which is something you won’t find often.
The parents can also restrict or block certain websites, apps, and games. They can also customize what their children can access. For instance, they can block certain channels on YouTube. If you don’t want to block something completely, you can set a timer that allows the kids to see that specific content, but when the timer expires, it will automatically block it.
Read our full Aura review.
Best parental control app overall
Subscribe if
✅ You want something easy to use: Despite its wealth of features, the interface for Qustodio is intuitive, and the help center really is… helpful.
✅ You want a great free option: The free option for Qustodio is still quite comprehensive, and few of its rivals can match it on that front.
Don’t subscribe if
❌ Your child knows about VPNs: If your child is at all in the know about VPNs and how to use them, then Qustodio will be rendered useless, since it can’t legislate for their use.
❌ You’re on a budget: The free version of Qustodio protects just one device, and the premium tiers are expensive compared to the competition.
The bottom line
🔒 Qustodio is the best parental control app all things considered, offering great filtering functionality and many other features. Just hope that your child isn’t using a VPN. ★★★★½
One of the best parental control apps we’ve tested, Qustodio is a great all-rounder with a fantastic free offering that is available across Mac, Android, iOS, Kindle, and Chromebook platforms, supporting up to 15 devices in total.
If you don’t have the budget for the paid version, the free app remains one of the most comprehensive parental control tools around, enabling you to set rules and time schedules, as well as block pornography and other unsuitable content. However, the paid versions are pricey in our opinion, though they do offer a rich feature set. But if your children decide to use a VPN, you will be paying for naught, as the app will be rendered useless.
Qustodio’s interface was intuitive for us to use, making it easy for parents to gain some control over what their children are accessing online. As you explore the system, a slew of icons await you in the menu on the left-hand side: Your Family, Your Devices, Your Account, Help Center, and Logout.
The Help Center is a treasure trove of information adorned with user-friendly categories, readily accessible guides, and a search bar at your fingertips. Via this easy to use interface, you can easily limit your children’s activity and filter what type of content they are allowed to access.
Qustodio also offers excellent customer support in our view, including one-to-one help for customers paying for the Care Plus package. With Care Plus, you can book a call at any time and talk to a Qustodio expert to help you solve problems you encounter when using the app. In fact, you don’t even need a problem before you place a call. Qustodio’s experts are on hand to simply guide you through the installation process. With its great support and raft of features for a wide range of platforms, Qustodio is undoubtedly one of the best parental control solutions around.
Read our full Qustodio parental control software review.
Best parental control app for content filtering
Subscribe if
✅ You want custom content filtering: The filtering options for Net Nanny are plentiful, and it uses real-time analysis to determine the safety of sites.
✅ Your child uses YouTube: YouTube monitoring is built in, which is super handy given its popularity.
Don’t subscribe if
❌ You want a reliable app: Based on our testing, the app didn’t always perform well, even crashing on occasion.
❌ You want platform parity: Some of Net Nanny’s features only work on certain platforms: location tracking doesn’t work on Windows and Mac, for instance.
The bottom line
🔒 Net Nanny is another very capable parental control app, with intelligent content filtering and YouTube monitoring. We didn’t find the app that reliable, though, and desktop platforms have no location tracking. ★★★★
We love Net Nanny’s focus on social media and the customization it offers, especially for the screen time monitoring functions. Perhaps Net Nanny’s biggest strength is its intelligent content filtering, which doesn’t simply rely on blacklists or blocking by category. Instead, Net Nanny uses real-time content analysis to flag any issues with the sites your child is attempting to access.
Net Nanny also has all the essential features that we would expect from a parental control app. This includes the ability to block or restrict app usage, limit screen time and view a report on your child’s screen use. The app also comes with YouTube monitoring built in, which we think is essential given the popularity of the video streaming site – and the nature of some of the uploads there. Net Nanny also includes tracking tools that give you the ability to view the location (and location history) of all your children on a single map.
We found that all of this information is neatly presented through the app’s intuitive dashboard, where you can dig deeper into the reports the app offers. However, it is worth noting that when used the app during our review, it did crash a couple of times, letting us access any website we liked, so it seems it isn’t the most robust.
Net Nanny is available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and Kindle Fire platforms but it’s worth keeping in mind that the features you have access to vary depending on the platform being used. For example, Windows and Mac laptops don’t support location tracking.
In terms of price, Net Nanny offers three different plans. Protecting one desktop device, PC or Mac, will set you back $35.99 a year, a five-device family protection plan costs $54.99, while the 20-device option is priced at $89.99. These prices may not be the cheapest we came across but they compare well against other advanced parental control software – and, usually, these don’t come with real-time content filtering.
Read our full Net Nanny review.
Best parental control app for Microsoft Store users
Subscribe if
✅ You’re a Microsoft family: Do you all use Microsoft products? Then Microsoft Family Safety will limit screen time on Windows machines and even Xbox, as well as block content on Microsoft Edge and downloads from the Microsoft Store.
✅ You want it for free: There is a free tier for Microsoft Family Safety, only requiring you sign up for a Microsoft account, and it offers plenty of control.
Don’t subscribe if
❌ You don’t use Microsoft products much: It can only block web content on Microsoft Edge, not Google Chrome or any other browser. Also, Safe Search is only enforced on Bing, not Google. The iPhone app is also limited.
The bottom line
🔒 Microsoft Family Safety is a parental control app with precise tracking and control for Microsoft users, and it gives most of its features away for free. If you use anything other than the company’s products, though, its not very effective. ★★★
Microsoft Family Safety is a decent parental control app that we think really shines if you use a lot of other Microsoft platforms. We love that you can use it to limit screen time on Windows and Xbox devices and employs multiple filtering layers to block inappropriate web content in apps, games and Microsoft Edge. The major limitation we found with Microsoft Family Safety is its ineffectiveness where non-Microsoft operating systems and devices are concerned.
Microsoft Family Safety only offers web filtering through Edge, not Google Chrome or any other browser, and only enforces safe search for individuals using its own Bing search engine. The flip side of this is that Microsoft Family Safety has some additional functionality for users of the company’s Windows Store. Here, Microsoft Family Safety can prevent your child from installing new apps unless you approve them. The fact that it revolves around the Microsoft ecosystem, enables the app to have precise location tracking features, which are one of the best we’ve seen.
Another massive plus point for us is that all of its features are offered free of charge. Users will have to sign up for a Microsoft account but, after that, they’ll have access to time limit restrictions, app management and location-sharing features.
Another distinctive feature that sets Microsoft Family Safety apart from other parental control apps for us is its Driver Safety feature. A premium feature, Driver Safety analyses your driving, logs journeys, and keeps a two-week history. This is a nice addition – particularly for families with older children with access to the family car.
Read our full Microsoft Family Safety review.
Best parental control app for school work
Subscribe if
✅ You want to manage your child’s learning: Norton Family has a feature called School Time, which lets you restrict time spent away from educational sites, to prevent your child from being distracted while they learn.
✅ You want good location monitoring: The location tracking in Norton Family is precise and offers a history of where your child was at what time.
Don’t subscribe if
❌ You use iPhones: Although the apps work well for Windows and Android devices, iPhones miss out on some crucial features, such as app blocking, geofencing, location tracking, and time-scheduling.
❌ You want good app blocking: You can’t block apps by category, nor can you simply limit their use, and you can’t stop your child downloading Android apps from the Google Play Store, unless you block it entirely.
The bottom line
🔒 Norton Family has a good focus on education, along with some great location monitoring and geofencing functionality. However, it is very limited on iPhone, and app blocking on Android is poor. ★★★★
While known for its antivirus software, we think Norton also has a solid parental control app in Norton Family too. We believe that it’s a great option for households with numerous children whose devices are either Android or Windows. Through its powerful geofencing capabilities, you will be able to perform location tracking, and time-scheduling. However, if you want to do all of this on iOS, you should look elsewhere.
Another nice feature we think is School Time, which gives parents the power to instantly restrict web access to educational sites only for anything from 30 minutes to 8 hours. This is a handy reminder that parental control apps aren’t only for restricting access to inappropriate content – they can also serve as a way of managing a child’s screen time, ensuring that they focus on sites relevant to their learning.
Norton Family users can receive access to all the expected features – blocking inappropriate web content, restricting app use, and checking your child’s current device location – for $49.99 annually for an unlimited number of devices. This compares favorably against many other parental control apps, and if you would like to test it out, there is the 30-day trial option. If you’re shopping for other Norton software, keep in mind that Norton Family comes bundled with Norton 360 Deluxe and Norton 360 Premium.
Read our full Norton Family review.
Best parental control app for customization
Subscribe if
✅ You want a more nurturing approach: In addition to the usual content monitoring, Bark also gives recommendations on how to communicate issues with your child.
✅ You’re concerned about bullying: Bark has cyberbully alerts in place, designed to let you know when your child might be a victim to cyberbullying, predators, sexting, drug use, or suicidal thoughts.
Don’t subscribe if
❌ You want comprehensive tracking: Bark doesn’t offer quite the same level of tracking as its rivals, with a lack of detailed monitoring options.
❌ You want comprehensive monitoring across platforms: The iOS app for Bark can’t monitor TikTok, and the Windows app only supports Chrome and Edge browsers.
The bottom line
🔒 Bark is a parental control app that takes a more considered approach to your child’s safety and wellbeing, at the expense of some more advanced monitoring and tracking capabilities. ★★★
What we like about Bark is that it sets itself apart from the crowd of parental control apps: it prioritizes communication and trust over snooping and spying. Rather than constantly monitoring your child’s online activity and location, Bark encourages open dialogue and provides alerts for potential issues.
While we found it doesn’t offer the same level of tracking as some competitors, it does monitor over 30 app platforms and has top-notch customer support. However, parents with younger children may find themselves wishing for more detailed monitoring options. But despite its limitations, Bark is a reliable and user-friendly choice for parents.
If Bark notices anything untoward, such as signs of cyberbullying, predators, sexting, drug use, or suicidal thoughts, the system sends alerts via email, SMS, or directly to the parent’s app. The great thing for us is that the app is relying on AI to monitor most of the aspects, which translates into real-time alerts and often better results than what you get with competing products.
In terms of the basics, Bark also performs well in our opinion, offering web content filtering, app and screen time management, some location monitoring, and ‘check-in alerts’ to let you know when your child arrives at an important destination.
An area where Bark falls short, though, is in its divergence between different platforms. For instance, the iOS version can’t monitor TikTok or Skype while the Windows app only supports two browsers: Chrome and Edge. Whichever operating system or device you use, however, the good news is that Bark was easy for us to set up, with a wizard walking us through the installation process.
In terms of pricing, Bark offers two plans, the Bark Jr. and Bark Premium, which cost $5 a month and $14 a month, respectively. These plans differ in the functionality you’re getting, but overall we think the pricing is decent compared to some of the competition.
Read our full Bark review.
Best parental control app for real-time alerts
Subscribe if
✅ You want up-to-the-minute alerts: The real-time alerts with Mobicip scan websites in popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Safari, to name a few.
✅ You want an easy setup: Mobicip is simple, letting you create a profile for each child with pre-defined control settings, ranging from strict to mere monitoring.
Don’t subscribe if
❌ You want the best app blocking: Some apps on Mobicip’s Social Apps list seemed a bit outdated when we reviewed it, and it also made some bizarre choices as to what to allow and prohibit.
The bottom line
🔒 Mobicip has good real-time alerts that are compatible with various browsers, and has an easy interface and setup. Some of the app blocking features left a little to be desired, though. ★★★
By not simply relying on blacklists, Mobicip promises users a more accurate way of protecting their children when online. Instead, this parental control app scans websites in real-time across all the popular browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and more), allowing only suitable websites to be accessed by each user.
We found setup straightforward, with Mobicip asking us to create profiles for each child we were looking to protect. This simply involves entering their name, age, and the default parental control setting you’d like to use (Strict, Moderate, Mature or just Monitor.) It’s then just a case of installing Mobicip’s iOS, Android, Windows, or Mac app on your child’s device, before scanning a QR code.
We like Mobicip’s interface, which boasts an elegant design with a serene color palette and its spacious layout makes navigation a breeze. Its main sections, Activity, Family, Devices, and Messages, greet you at the top of the page, while your account and subscription settings are tucked away in the upper-right corner. Unfortunately, two-factor authentication is not an option.
We found the activity section is a treasure trove of valuable information, offering a comprehensive overview of all your monitored devices. Most-used social apps, frequently visited websites, recent searches, recently installed apps, and recently watched videos are just a few of the categories we saw here.
To make things even easier, a handy QR code is available for speedy device setup. Thanks to intuitive charts and graphics, you can quickly absorb data and customize what you see. For example, the most-visited websites section leads you to a browsing history page, where you can filter by child, device, date range, website category, and web page rule (allowed or blocked).
Read our full Mobicip review here.
Best parental control app for Google users
Subscribe if
✅ You want parental controls for free: It’s completely free to use Google Family Link, no matter how many accounts and devices you have.
✅ Your family uses Google: As you might expect, Google Family Link works well for Google users, since it can restrict the use of YouTube, Chrome, the Google Play Store, and its ubiquitous search engine.
Don’t subscribe if
❌ You want advanced controls: As you might expect from a free app, Google Family Link lacks more premium features like in-depth app blocking and flexible time restrictions.
❌ You want geofencing: Another miss is the lack of geofencing, with no option to define zones or get alerts when your child arrives at or leaves a destination.
The bottom line
🔒 Considering it’s completely free, Google Family Link is a good offering for certain scenarios. However, if you’re in need of versatile controls and more than the basics, then this probably isn’t for you. ★★★½
In our view, one of the biggest strengths of Google Family Link is the price – it’s completely free for an unlimited number of accounts and devices. But, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for and Google Family Link is lacking some of the more advanced features that we’ve seen in rival parental control apps.
For instance, while Google Family Link provides easy access to content filtering settings in Google apps, it doesn’t try to block unsuitable web content. Its app management functionality is more extensive, with options to manually disable unapproved apps, block new installs until you’ve approved them, and (probably the highlight for us) manage in-app purchases. However, there’s no customizable app-blocking based on rating or category, and you can’t limit the use of specific apps by time in the way you can with other parental control apps.
We found Google Family Link’s screen time scheduling and device locator functionality to both be pretty basic too. Screen time scheduling is largely focused on setting daily time limits and a bedtime. The device locator, meanwhile, lets you see the most recently logged location on a map, but there’s no geofencing support, no option to define zones, and no alerts when your child arrives or leaves.
It’s difficult for us to complain too much about a free app and Google Family Link does a good job of restricting the use of Chrome, YouTube, Google Play Store, and Search. Still, if you want more advanced functionality – or generally steer clear of Google’s suite of tools – we think you might be better off going with another parental control app.
Read our full Google Family Link review.
Read how to keep your kids safe in the digital age.
How to choose the best parental control app
When deciding which parental control app is right for you, it’s important to first consider what your needs are. The tools listed above are available at various price points, so while budget software may deliver basic functionality, if you need more advanced features, you might be more likely to consider apps that demand a fee. In addition, higher-priced solutions usually cater to every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require from your parental control app.
The age of your children, for instance, is likely to represent a significant factor in how you select the right parental control app. You might want to be more restrictive with kids under 12, for example, but more lenient with teenagers who may need, or want, to access slightly more questionable content – whether it’s for study or to share funny memes with their friends.
Often, the best parental control app is one that gives you control. Do you want to block certain websites, limit screentime or simply monitor your child’s browsing habits? Deciding what you are looking for from a parental control app will go a long way to determining the one that’s right for you and your family.
How easy each app is to use will also need to be considered. Are you tech-savvy or a bit of a Luddite? If it’s the latter, you’ll probably want to research for the most intuitive parental control app or you may find younger online users in your household still find ways around whatever measures you put in place.
Ultimately, the best parental control app varies from person to person. Think carefully about your budget, the features you require, and how your technical skills compare to those of your little ones. Fortunately, there is a wide range of parental control solutions on the market, so there’s bound to be one to suit your needs.
How we test the best parental control apps
To test for the best parental control app we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, then we tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. The aim was to push each app to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.
Our testing always begins with research. We canvass online opinions, read other reviews, consider parent concerns, and come up with a list of the best parental control apps on the market. After we’ve come up with a list of software solutions, it’s time for the testing to begin.
We tested the above parental control apps with the browsing behaviors of both children and parents in mind. We conducted around 10 hours of testing in total, evaluating the software against several different metrics, including price, setup and installation, features, design, and performance.
Where possible, we tested the apps on the same platforms to ensure we came up with a fair comparison but we also looked at how the performance of certain apps varied from platform to platform. That way, we hope to have crafted a buying guide that is relevant for a broad audience.
Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar
Best parental control app FAQs
Will parental control software block all inappropriate content?
To determine if your parental control app of choice blocks all forms of inappropriate content, that will ultimately depend on what you class as “inappropriate.” It’s worth remembering that the types of websites and apps you want to block or limit access to probably depend on the type of user you are targeting. What is appropriate for an 8-year-old, for instance, is unlikely to be the same as what is appropriate for a 14-year-old. You may want some parental control in both cases, but it may not be exactly the same.
The main factor for many users of parental control apps is control. So, it should ultimately be up to you what you consider to be inappropriate. You might want to block all chat room sites for your children, for example, or you may be more selective so members of your household can communicate with friends.
There’s also always the possibility that your children will find a way around any parental controls you put in place. You should ensure your software is always up-to-date and you should still maintain an interest in your kids’ browsing habits to ensure they haven’t created online accounts outside the visibility of your parental control software. That’s the only real way of keeping inappropriate content off their screens.
What are the best practices to keep your children safe online?
As parents, keeping children safe online is a priority. Even if you are a younger parent – a digital native – the online world changes rapidly and the web today is not the same as the one you grew up with. As such, it’s important to talk to your children about their online activity frequently and openly. Teach them about online responsibility and the need to be cautious when sharing or accessing anything online.
Parents also need to remain personally aware of their children’s online habits too. Parental control apps are no substitution for parental vigilance. So, where possible, keep device usage where you can see it, take an interest in your child’s online habits, be aware of who they are talking with online, and keep track of the amount of time they’re spending on the internet.
And, of course, make sure you deploy your parental control software effectively too. This means being aware of your parental control settings and using them to monitor your child’s activity. Don’t simply install your software and think the job is done. Keep it updated and review its setting regularly to keep your children safe online.
What features should I look for in a parental control app?
Given the variety of different parental control apps available today, it stands to reason that the features on offer differ too. Having said that, there are a few core functionalities to look for. The first is the ability to limit screen time. Many parental control solutions allow parents to set time limits on using particular apps or devices. Then, once that time limit is reached, the app automatically kicks in. There are no arguments or pleading. The device or app simply shuts down. The best parental control software gives you the flexibility to set your own time limits or keep devices locked down during particular times of the day, say, dinner or bedtime.
Another important feature to look for in a parental control app is app blocking. This could be a shopping app, a chat room, or even just a game that they’re spending too much time on. The ability to set up streamlined family accounts is also a handy inclusion with some parental control software. This allows you to manage all the devices in your household from a single account – particularly handy for larger families. As always, flexibility is key as this lets you adjust controls as and when you need to.
| Feature | Qustodio | Net Nanny | Microsoft family safety | Norton Family | Bark | Mobicip | Google family link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $54.99 – $99-95 | $39.99 – $54.99 – $89.99 | Free | $49.99 | $5 – $14 | $2.99 – $4.99 – $7.99 | Free |
| Number of devices | 1 to 15 | 1 to 20 | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 – 20 | Unlimited |
| Platforms | Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, Windows, Mac, Chrome OS | Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, Windows | PC, macOS, Android, iOS, and Chromebook | Android, iOS, Windows | Android, iOS, Windows | PC, macOS, Android, iOS, Amazon, and Chromebook | Android |
| Web portal for parents | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Call logging | Android only | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Text logging | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Text content | Android only | None | None | None | Yes | None | None |
| Call blocking | Android only | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Text blocking | Android only | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Geofencing | Yes | None | None | Yes | Yes | Yes | None |
| Location tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Location history | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web filter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Time limits | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| App management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| App blocker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Android only | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Are there any negatives to using a parental control app?
As with most digital software, parental control apps are not always an unequivocal positive. Unfortunately, some third-party apps that promise to keep your children from viewing inappropriate content store or sell your child’s data. This is why it’s important to read the terms and conditions of any app before installation. Not all parental control apps sell the user’s data but make sure you carry out the necessary due diligence before you decide on a particular piece of software.
Furthermore, it’s important to recognize that parental control software can affect the relationship you have with your children – particularly older ones. By blocking or limiting access to certain sites, parents can come across as annoying, controlling, or distrustful. Before you set up parental controls, it might be a good idea to discuss them with your children, explaining your position and justifying the restrictions you’ve put in place.
Just like any other piece of software, whether it’s a cloud storage solution or a productivity tool, the efficacy of your parental control app is ultimately determined by how you use it. Take time to fully understand the software before you roll out restrictions to your entire household. Focus on the benefits that the software will provide in terms of online safety and you are more likely to keep your children on your side.
What other parental control apps have we reviewed?
As well as the solutions listed in the above parental control app buying guide, we’ve also reviewed several other tools. This includes our Screen Time review, which is not to be confused with similarly named Apple Screen Time, which is accessible on all devices by visiting the Setting page.
Other parental control apps that we’ve evaluated include MMGuardian and SentryPC. We’ve also reviewed KidLogger, Spyrix Free Keylogger, and several others. In fact, if you want to focus your search on free solutions, we’ve identified the best free parental control apps here. And just because they won’t cost you a penny, doesn’t mean they are inferior. They are certainly worth considering – particularly if you are on a budget.
In fact, we’ve assessed more than 30 parental control apps, some of which we believe are worthy of a fully-fledged review and others that weren’t. As mentioned previously, we’ve assessed all the apps on the same criteria, including price, user interface, and features. Over numerous hours, we’ve formulated a short list of the best parental control apps around. Having said that, new additions are always appearing on the market, and updates – both good and bad – always need to be considered. That’s why we remain committed to periodically re-reviewing parental control apps to ensure our ranking remains up-to-date.
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