Best Parental Control App of 2024

With numerous parental control apps on the market, choosing the right one to protect your children and teens can be challenging. So, I’ll evaluate the best parental control app in today’s guide to ensure a safe online environment for your entire family.

Best parental control apps of 2024 – Shortlist

1. Aura parental control – The best bundle that covers everything you need
2. Qustodio – Top choice for multi-platform monitoring
3. Bark – Best for social media monitoring
4. Norton Family – Great for teens concentrating on their school tasks
5. mSpy – Best tracking and monitoring app

How to choose the best parental control app

Monitoring adolescents and younger children can be complex as they develop and assert more independence than younger children. Your teens and tweens likely don’t want you to oversee and control their online activities. This means there is a balance to strike between trust and control features.

Many apps will help you monitor your kids’ devices through their basic features, like screen-time limits and app blocker options. However, there are more advanced features, like geofencing and location tracking.

I’ll help you choose the best parental control app based on your children's ages and your preferences. So, let’s see how to select a parental control app that will provide your kid with a balance of safety and freedom:

• Range of parental controls. You must ensure the app covers all your areas of concern, such as content filtering, screen time restrictions, location monitoring, geofencing, and monitoring online activities.
• Filtering tools. Look for advanced filtering and content-blocking capabilities. This functionality will help prevent access to adult content, explicit lyrics, and communication with strangers or people you don't know.
• Ability to set time limits. Consider choosing an app that allows you to set intuitive and customizable time limits for device usage. This way, you can adapt the parental restrictions to your kid’s schedule.
• Ability to track location and monitor online activities. Features like geofencing and location tracking ensure your child’s safety and enable quick response to unexpected situations.
• Ease of use. Always select an app with an intuitive user interface, clear explanations of features, and a straightforward setup process.
• Cross-platform compatibility. Ideally, choose an app that works seamlessly across all devices you and your child use, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, gaming systems, and smart TVs.

Best parental control apps of 2024 – Detailed list

1. Aura Parental Control – an all-in-one parental control app

Price:	From $8.33/month
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	No

Visit Aura Parental Control

Aura Parental Control is one of the best parental control apps, allowing you to monitor and restrict your children’s usage of different apps and websites.

Features: Aura Parental Control offers mobile device management with content blocking, screen time, internet access limits, and customization options for each family member.

Platforms: This application is available for all Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices.

Ease of Use and Setup: Aura Parental Control also features a straightforward installation process.

1. First, you need to allow Aura to configure your device.
2. Enable the VPN so you can monitor network traffic.
3. Then, click on “Allow” so it can work in the background.
4. That’s it! The app will be up and running in no time.

Advanced Parental Control Features: Aura Parental Control offers 24/7 In-Game Voice & Text Monitoring, Cyberbullying & Predator Alerts, and Weekly Gaming Activity Report. It even comes with child identity theft tracking. Additionally, you can find Online & Device Security features with Antivirus, VPN, Safe Browsing, Password Manager, and Sensitive Files Vault.

Price: You can get Aura’s Parental Control plan for only $8.33/month. However, if you want to take advantage of these functionalities, plus identity and fraud protection, the subscription will cost you $32/month.

For more details, check out our comprehensive Aura review.

2. Qustodio – multi-platform monitoring app with a unique Panic Button feature

Price:	From $4.58/month
Platforms:	Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, and Kindle
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	Yes

Visit Qustodio

Qustodio is one of the most powerful parental control apps, providing numerous security features, including geofencing options.

Features: Qustodio has many robust features that help you monitor your kid’s online activities. You can set application and screen time limits, web and application use restrictions, web filtering and alerts, and even monitor particular apps, like YouTube.

Platforms: You can get a Qustodio plan for any Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, or Amazon Kindle Fire device and secure 1, 5, or unlimited devices.

Ease of Use and Setup: Qustodio won’t cause you any headaches. It has a well-organized interface with clearly categorized features.

As for the setup, here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. First, you need to add a child.
2. Then, they create their account by entering their name and age and choosing an avatar.
3. After that, you need to add your kid’s device.
4. There you have it! You now have in-depth insights into your children’s internet usage.

Advanced Parental Control Features: What I loved about Qustodio is that not only does it have GPS location tracking, but it also has fantastic geofencing features. You can create a boundary and receive an alert whenever your kid arrives or exits this area. There are also detailed phone calls and message tracking. Your kid can even use the panic button in case of an emergency.

Price: Qustodio comes with a 3-day free version, but it also has premium plans. So, you can pick its basic plan for $54.95/year or go for the complete subscription that costs $99.95/year.

If you want even more information, you can also visit our in-depth review of Qustodio.

3. Bark – a parental control app for monitoring 30+ social media sites

Price:	From $5/month
Platforms:	Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, and Chromebooks
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	Yes

Visit Bark

Bark takes the fourth place on my detailed list. Let’s explore its features and capabilities.

Features: Bark features include geofencing and GPS location tracking, social media and messaging app monitoring, application and web use restrictions and monitoring, and email monitoring.

Platforms: Bark protects an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription, and you can use it on Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, and Chromebooks.

Ease of Use and Setup: Getting started with Bark is a piece of cake. All you have to do is create your account, add your kids, select which apps or social media to monitor or restrict, and choose the contacts who should receive the alerts.

Advanced Parental Control Features: Bark employs keyword triggers, which means the app analyzes content and conversations and alerts you for potential threats.

Price: You can get Bark Jr. for $5/month to monitor only one child. However, the premium version of the Bark app is $14/month.

If you want to examine Bark’s features in greater depth, check out our comprehensive Bark review.

4. Norton Family – best parental control app for teenagers

Price:	$49.99/year
Platforms:	Windows, Android, and iOS
Blocking:	Yes, on Android and Windows
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	Yes

Visit Norton Family

Norton is another reliable parental control app that you can use to track your children’s and teenagers' devices.

Features: Norton Family offers geofencing and GPS location tracking, web and app activity supervision, web search monitoring and restrictions, and YouTube and Hulu monitoring.

Platforms: You can download Norton Family and use it on Windows, Android, and iOS apps, but the blocking feature is available only on Android and Windows OS.

Ease of Use and Setup: One of the best things about Norton Family is that you can customize the restrictions according to your kid’s age. Here’s how the process goes:

1. First, you need to add a child to your account.
2. Then, in the Create Profile screen, type the child's name.
3. Select the restriction level based on your child's age and click on Create.

To install the app on your device, you just need to follow these steps:

1. Download the Norton Family app.
2. Enter the activation code in the Parent app and tap Activate.
3. Verify the personal data on the child's device and click on Confirm & Continue.

Advanced Parental Control Features: Norton Family lets you set restriction ranges that are appropriate for your child’s age. This makes the app suitable even for teenagers who may resist strict restrictions and tracking.

Price: Like Qustodio, the Norton Family parental control app has an annual subscription for $49.99/year.

If you want to dig deeper, visit our complete review of Norton Family and its features.

5. mSpy – Best multimedia monitoring app

Price:	From $29.99/month
Platforms:	Android and iOS
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	No
Location tracking:	Yes

Visit mSpy

mSpy is one of the most feature-rich parental control apps, allowing you to monitor your child's phone activity closely.

Features: The necessary mSpy features include phone call and message monitoring, social media and messaging app monitoring, geofencing and GPS location tracking, browser (history, bookmark) monitoring, application and web activity restrictions, and email tracking.

Platforms: One minor limitation is that you can only use it to track Android and iOS devices. Although you can access the mSpy Control Panel on a desktop or laptop computer, there’s no support for tracking Windows, MacOS, or Linux devices.

Ease of Use and Setup: mSpy has a neat interface and intuitive features. Also, you can set it up in a few easy steps:

1. Open Google Chrome on the device you want to monitor.
2. In the search bar, paste the installation link you’ll receive.
3. Click on “Download,” and if a prompt appears at the bottom of the screen, tap Open > Settings > Allow from This Source and go back. Then, press “Next.”
4. Click on “Allow” on all popups to grant access to the phone’s data (phone calls, contacts, location, messages, etc.).
5. Enter the Registration Code and click “Complete Installation.”

Advanced Parental Control Features: mSpy lets you activate multimedia file (photo and video) tracking, Screen Recorder, and Keylogger that monitors all of the keystrokes on the target device.

Price: You can get everything for only $29.99/month, which is relatively affordable.

For a full examination of mSpy’s entire feature set, click over to our detailed review of mSpy parental controls.

6. Google Family Link – best parental control app for free

Price:	Free
Platforms:	Android and ChromeOS
Blocking:	No
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	No

While praised for being cost-effective and allowing control over apps and Google services, Google Family Link lacks some advanced features. So, it’s a suitable alternative for basic parental control needs, not comprehensive monitoring.

Features: Google Family Link offers screen time restrictions and schedules, reviewing and approving or blocking installed apps, and content filtering and restrictions.

Platforms: Google Family Link works only on Android and ChromeOS devices.

Ease of Use and Setup: Another perk of Google Family Link is that it’s very user-friendly, and you’ll be able to set it on your kid’s device in no time. You just need to:

1. Open the Family Link app. If you don't have the Family Link app, visit the setup page to get started.
2. At the top left, tap Menu, and then Add Child.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions, and that’s it.

Advanced Parental Control Features: One unique feature is the App permission management for installed apps. You'll get a notification if your kid wants to install an app. You can then either allow or deny the installation.

Price: Google Family Link is an entirely free app that will let you protect your kid from different online threats and harmful content.

7. Microsoft Family Safety – monitoring app with an app and game purchase controls

Price:	Free
Platforms:	Windows, Xbox, Android, and iOS
Blocking:	Yes, on Microsoft Edge and Bing
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	Yes

Last on my list is the Microsoft Family Safety. As the name implies, this parental control app is suitable for all Microsoft users. Overall, it makes a reliable choice for managing screen time and downloads, especially for families already engaged in the Microsoft ecosystem, and it is free.

Features: Microsoft Family Safety has robust security features, such as screen time management, high-quality location tracking, and custom schedule management. Also, its web content filtering works only with Microsoft Edge and Bing.

Platforms: You can use Microsoft Family Safety on all Windows, Android, iOS, and Xbox devices, which is a significant range.

Ease of Use and Setup: To set up Microsoft Family Safety, you just need to complete a few steps, such as:

Download the Microsoft Family Safety app in the Google Play or Apple app store.

1. Tap Get Started to sign in.
2. From the “Your Family view” tab, select List.
3. Scroll down to select “Add a family member.”
4. Enter their email address.
5. Select their family group role: Member or Organizer.
6. Click on “Next.”

Advanced Parental Control Features: Microsoft Family Safety utilizes the App and game purchase controls, allowing you to control which apps and games your kids want to access.

Price: The best part about this parental control app is that it’s free. Therefore, you can get ultimate safety without paying a dime.

Parental control app feature comparison table

Feature	Aura Parental Control	Qustodio	Norton Family	Bark	mSpy	Google Family Link	Microsoft Family Safety
Screen Time Management	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
App Blocking and Management	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Limited	Limited
Web Filtering	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Activity Monitoring	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Limited	Limited
Location Tracking and Geofencing	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Communication Controls	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Limited	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Limited	Limited
Family Account Management	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Customizable Settings	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Remote Management	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Cross-Platform Support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Privacy and Security	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
User-Friendly Interface	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Cost and Subscription Plans	Basic Plan: $6.99/month (1 device); Family Plan: $8.33/month (up to 5 devices)	Basic Plan: $54.95/year; Complete plan: $99.95/year	Basic Plan: $49.99/year (covers up to 5 devices)	Basic Plan: $5/month (1 child); Premium Plan: $14/month (up to 3 children); Family Plan: $19/month (up to 10 children)	Basic Plan: $29.99/month; Premium Plan: $69.99/3 months; Family Plan: $99.99/12 months	Free	Free

Parental involvement over apps: strategies for raising kids safe and responsible

There are many other ways to help your children navigate the digital world safely, such as communication, modeling the expected behavior, and encouraging a balanced approach. But let’s learn more about this:

• Open Communication. First and foremost, engaging in frequent, compassionate conversations with your children about online safety is crucial. This approach also plays a significant role, as it helps them make responsible choices.
• Balanced Approach. Relying solely on parental control apps can create a false sense of security. Due to this, I recommend combining technology with parental guidance as a more effective strategy for raising your kids safely in the digitalized era.
• Modeling Behavior. Last but not least, it’s essential to model the digital behavior you expect from your children. The easiest way to do this is to set clear family rules for device usage that your kids will follow.

Be mindful of potential issues when using parental control apps with Apple products

If you use iPhones and iPads, you might face challenges when attempting to implement parental control apps. More precisely, the introduction of iOS12 back in 2018, with its built-in Screen Time feature, led to removing many third-party parental control apps from the App Store.

However, even though Screen Time offers some control, it might not be sufficient if you’re seeking stricter restrictions.

Consider combining Screen Time with a compatible third-party app to address these limitations. Taking advantage of free trial periods will help you evaluate the features of various apps and find the combination that best meets your specific needs.

Will parental control software block all inappropriate content?

Parental control apps are highly efficient at imposing monitoring and content restrictions. However, the effectiveness and appropriateness of a parental control app’s restrictions for your children are more complex. What may be considered inappropriate for a young child might be perfectly acceptable for a teenager.

The primary concern for many users is having control over what their children can access online. However, even the most advanced tools cannot guarantee complete protection.

For example, your children may find a way to bypass controls, especially as they become more tech-savvy and learn about VPNs or similar tools. Additionally, the expansion of the internet and the loads of data make it difficult to monitor all potential sources of inappropriate content.

Therefore, parental control apps are valuable tools but not an all-powerful solution. You should use them with other strategies, such as open communication and education about online safety.

How I tested the best parental control apps

I examined proactive features, such as filters and restrictions. To provide you with the best solution, I worked with my colleagues in the Cybernews research team to simulate and test as many scenarios as possible.

First, I mimic real-world use cases to test the effectiveness of parental controls. In this case, I must use the parent’s and child’s devices (mobile or desktop).

I use the parent’s device to monitor the child’s online activities, restrict screen time, filter out content, and check for alerts. Meanwhile, the child’s device must have parental controls installed and simulate regular internet browsing.

Then, I always check several core features necessary to track a child’s online activities, which is a must for a robust parental control service. These include:

• GPS/Location tracking
• Restrict inappropriate content
• Monitor web searches and app activity
• Limit screen time and internet access

Additionally, I evaluate the supported devices and operating systems and check if all of the features are available on all of the supported systems.

Once I identify the features, I evaluate their effectiveness in the following way:

• GPS/Location tracking - Open the parental control dashboard and check whether the target device’s location is displayed correctly.
• Restrict inappropriate content - I open a browser on the child’s device and try to access the websites that fall into the blocked categories.
• Monitor web searches and app activity - To test this feature, I open the parental control dashboard and check if the child's browsing history and accessed apps are visible.
• Limit screen time and internet access - I test this feature by enabling the screen time limits or blocking the internet access and using the child’s device to check if I can still access the internet.

The last step of the process refers to testing whether children can bypass the parental control apps. A decent parental control app should ensure that a child will not be able to bypass the restrictions that are in place. So, I always try to circumvent the limits by:

• Uninstalling the app - A well-built parental control app should require the parent’s password before uninstalling the application.
• VPN connection - A reliable parental control app should block VPN connections.
• Using different browsers - Some parental control services can only work when using a particular browser.
• Restarting the device - If the parental control app must constantly run in the background, restarting the device might shut down the application.
• Accessing websites using proxy-like tools - Proxy search engines, such as Google Translate or ProxySite, may be able to bypass parental control filters.
• GPS Spoofing - GPS spoofing software, such as Surfshark or Fake GPS, might trick the parental control app into displaying the wrong location.
• Change DNS addresses - I check if changing the DNS addresses affects the content filtering.
• Disable the internet and GPS on a child’s device - I monitor whether such changes affect the monitoring capabilities on the parental control dashboard.

Why should you trust us?

Our reviews are free from external influence and based on empirical evidence. This means you don’t have to question our motives or worry about our reliability. I also update each review regularly to ensure accuracy and relevance.

Bottom line

It should be clear by this point that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for all parents or children. This means you must tailor your parental control app and monitoring plans to your individual needs and concerns. My overall preference is Aura, but my specific situation doesn’t demand location tracking. If you consider location tracking a critical feature, that would probably move Qustodio up on your list.More objectively and in relation to age ranges, Aura and Qustodio have the feature set you'd want for your young children. If you've got a teenager to worry about, then Norton Family offers a happy medium. If you are on a budget, there are always free alternatives–such as Google Family Link and Microsoft Family Safety–which may be enough for some users.

Remember, the best safety strategy uses technology alongside open discussion, parental teaching, and modeling good internet safety practices. Remember to revisit your established solution as your children develop and mature.

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