Best parental control apps for Android in 2025

Navigating the digital world as a parent can feel like a constant battle to protect your child while allowing them the freedom to explore and learn. Thankfully, numerous parental control apps for Android can help parents manage their kid’s online activity and protect them from harmful content.

As a Cybernews expert, my research team and I have thoroughly examined and reviewed the best parental control apps to help foster healthy digital habits while keeping kids safe. In this article, I review the top 7 providers on the market across different budgets, needs, and features.

Top parental control apps for Android – shortlist

1. Aura – best for all-in-one family protection
2. Qustodio – best for comprehensive content filtering
3. Norton Family – best for web supervision and screen time limits
4. Bark – best for social media and text monitoring
5. mSpy – best for in-depth phone tracking
6. Google Family Link – best for parental controls on Android devices
7. Microsoft Family Safety – best for managing screen time across devices

Key features to look for in a parental control app for Android

When choosing the best parental app for monitoring your child’s phone, it’s important to choose an app that provides essential tools for online safety. Here are the most important features a top-tier app should include:

• App blocking. The most important part of having a parental control app is using it to block other distracting apps. While it might seem extreme, app blocking enables kids to use the phone for only essential activities such as schoolwork or learning.
• Screen time management. Aside from app blocking, managing how much your child spends on the phone is also important. Excess screen time can have detrimental еffects on your child, so it’s important to limit its use as much as you can. This way, you can enforce healthy and balanced digital habits.
• Location tracking. Location tracking tools are another important feature to look for as they help parents get instant data on their child's location. Not only that, but they are extremely useful for creating specific zones where the child typically moves and sends notifications if the child exits them. This way, parents are sure about their child's whereabouts and are alerted instantly in case of danger.
• Content filtering. Apps also use AI-based filtering systems, which help restrict inappropriate websites and explicit content. Not only that, but it also provides personalized protection measures depending on your kid’s age.

Top parental control apps for Android compared

With so many tools on the market, it’s hard to decide which one is right for you. Each parent control app usually puts a heavy focus on just one feature: monitoring screen duration, social media activity, or mobile location tracking. In this review, I highlighted apps that provide both well-rounded features and a strong emphasis on one.

Provider	App blocking	Screen time limits	Location tracking	Content filtering	Social media monitoring	Geofencing alerts	Keystroke logging	Best for
Aura	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	All-in-one family protection
Qustodio	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Comprehensive content filtering
Norton Family	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Web supervision and screen time limits
Bark	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Social media and text monitoring
mSpy	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	In-depth phone tracking
Google Family Link	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Parental controls on Android devices
Microsoft Family Safety	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Managing screen time across devices

Best parental control apps for Android – detailed list

Now that you know what makes an excellent parental control app, let’s dive into the complete list of all providers I recommend. I have ranked apps based on their pricing, features, and pros and cons.

1. Aura Parental Control – best for all-in-one family protection

Starting price:	$13/month
Platforms:	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limit:	Yes
Location tracking:	No

Visit Aura

After reviewing the top solutions on the market, I found that Aura is the best security app for protecting children's internet activities. It brings together a powerful suite of features that aim to protect children online through content restrictions and time schedule management.

This app uses real-time alert notifications and informs parents about high-risk situations, such as cyberbullying incidents and inappropriate content discovery. Through its protective features, Aura prevents children from receiving dangerous content through browsers, apps, and social media platforms. Though Aura’s security features help parents monitor their children's safety through identity protection, it lacks geofencing capabilities.

2. Qustodio Parental Control – best for comprehensive content filtering

Starting price:	$4.58/month
Platforms:	Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	Yes

Visit Qustodio Parental Control

Qustodio is a flexible parental control app that provides leading-edge monitoring capabilities with an emphasis on screen usage and content limitations. Parents can use this app to create both daily restrictions for single apps and whole-device usage time limitations, which suits those who want to monitor the duration of their children's internet usage.

One thing I noted is that parents find the detailed activity reports in Qustodio helpful because they can monitor their children's web browsing, app usage, and social media activity. The tracking system provides complete visibility regarding how kids use their devices.

Qustodio's location tracking capability receives fewer positive reviews than other features. Although users appreciate its easy interface and customization options, the premium features are more expensive.

3. Norton Family Parental Control – best for web supervision and screen time limits

Starting price:	$49.99/year
Platforms:	Android, iOS, Windows
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	No

Visit Norton Family Parental Control

Norton Family is another app that ranks high on my review. It delivers highly advanced web filtering capabilities and performance-based online monitoring tools to help parents track their children's online activities. The app's web supervision detects unwanted websites by category and generates complete reports about your child's internet activities.

The parental dashboard in Norton Family stood out to me because it provides all monitored activity through a straightforward, easy-to-use interface. However, while using the app, I noticed it has possible bypass options, especially for web filtering.

Although it has certain downsides, Norton Family delivers dependable tools for kids to build healthy online habits. Its user-friendly dashboard and detailed activity reports make it a top choice for a reliable monitoring solution.

4. Bark – best for social media and text monitoring

Starting price:	$14/month
Platforms:	Android, iOS
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	No
Location tracking:	Yes

Visit Bark

Bark stands out for its advanced social media monitoring features on Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Bark analyzes social media content at various levels to detect cyberbullying, harmful content, and suspicious activities.

While I found Bark to deliver on most of its promises, I found it rather underwhelming, mainly due to some limitations. For example, it offers limited support options and lacks a money-back guarantee. I can see why some of these features might be a deterrent for parents.

Overall, I believe it is a good fit for parents who prioritize thorough social media supervision and want to build trust with their kids.

5. mSpy – best for in-depth phone tracking

Starting price:	$11.66/month
Platforms:	Android, iOS
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	Yes

Visit mSpy

mSpy delivers complete monitoring functionalities, including GPS tracking capabilities, message monitoring and calls, and social media activity observation.

What I like about mSpy is that it provides complete monitoring across all device functionalities, including SMS and phone interactions, and app inspection of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Snapchat. Using its geofencing function and precise location tracking, the app ensures you remain fully informed about your child's current position. Despite its powerful capabilities, I found mSpy challenging for beginners. Its premium price increases when users want full access to all features.

6. Google Family Link – best for parental controls on Android devices

Starting price:	Free
Platforms:	Android, iOS
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	Yes

Google Family Link is a free parental control application that gives parents essential functionalities, including screen time control, app restriction functions, and device location.

The app stands out to parents using Google products because it operates smoothly across their Android devices and is free of charge. Aside from being Android-only, Google Family Link lacks geofencing tools, unlike other parental control apps. While I find it to be a good app for essential features, the absence of geolocation and phone call monitoring pushes it significantly down the list.

7. Microsoft Family Safety – best for managing screen time across devices

Starting price:	Free
Platforms:	Android, iOS, Windows
Blocking:	Yes
Screen time limiting:	Yes
Location tracking:	Yes

Microsoft Family Safety integrates well with the Microsoft ecosystem, offering features like location tracking, screen time limiting, and driving reports. This app is especially useful for families that use Microsoft devices and services.

While it has a sufficient location tracking system, Microsoft Family Safety is an easily bypassable option, which I disliked. Also, there is no social media monitoring, which is crucial for online safety.

If your main goal is to use it for location tracking and limiting screen time, it’s still a viable option. However, if you’re looking for more extensive functionality, you’ll find this tool lacking in many areas.

How I tested and selected these parental control apps

To find the best parental control apps on the market, the Cybernews team and I focus on rigorous research with set criteria. The reviewing process includes essential aspects of usability and security alongside effectiveness, which provides you with a complete review picture:

1. Core feature effectiveness (35%). My evaluation focused on testing primary functionality, which included content restrictions and location tracking alongside time restrictions and activity logs. The top apps succeeded in blocking inappropriate content while correctly managing usage time limits through their well-designed monitoring interfaces.
2. Real-world usability testing (30%). I used real-life scenarios to evaluate how each app functions when set up and used regularly. I also assessed how efficiently parents could monitor and manage their children’s online activities.
3. Resistance to bypassing methods (20%). I researched how easy it is to bypass parental controls through multiple methods, including VPNs, DNS modifications, browser workarounds, and application deletions. The highest-rated apps provided protection against complex workarounds used to bypass limitations.
4. Device and OS compatibility (15%). The assessment focused on the apps’ compatibility with Android devices.

How to choose the right parental control app

Protecting your child’s digital experience requires the right parental control app. Here’s how to select one that suits your family’s needs.

1. Consider family needs. Before selecting a parental control app, determine which aspects you need the most. Basic parental control apps are okay for younger children because they offer essential content safety and time management features. Parents of older children should select apps that provide more complex tools, including application tracking, geolocation features, and social media monitoring. Parents with multiple children should pick an app with age-based or maturity-level customization options, as well as multiple devices.
2. Evaluate kids' age and tech savviness. Children, especially teenagers in 2025, have enough tech skills to bypass almost any basic parental control app with VPNs and other manipulations. When picking an app for your family, factor in your children’s age and skill level. For older kids, avoid surface-level tools that are easily spotted and bypassed. For younger kids, simpler apps will be sufficient.
3. Ease of use. All parental control systems should feature a user-friendly interface. This intuitive dashboard allows parents to configure settings and oversee activities easily. In contrast, poorly designed apps can increase the workload, result in incorrect setups, and may even discourage parents from monitoring their children's activities altogether.
4. Customer support. Make sure to select a parental control system that provides round-the-clock support available through chat, email, or phone. Should any issues with the software arise, customer support must be easily reachable.

Step-by-step guide to setting up a parental control app on Android

Now that I have reviewed how to choose the right app, let’s explore how to get started. Many parental control apps have a similar setup process. Qustodio, for example, offers a free version, making it a great option to try before committing to a paid plan. Here’s a basic setup process to help you get started.

1. Set up the app

Before setting up any control settings on your app, you must also download the Qustodio Kids app and set up a kid’s account to monitor.

Open the Qustodio app and connect your child’s phone.

2. Enable reporting

Go to Android settings and find a list of downloaded apps. Locate Qustodio Kids. Once you click on the app details, turn the switch to enable notifications.

3. Activate the phone admin

After you’ve enabled notifications, simply reopen the Qustodio Kids app and click on the pop-up screens to turn on all the phone access settings. Once you’ve enabled everything, the final screen on the Qustodio Kids app will ask you to activate device admin. This step is essential as it prevents kids from deleting the app.

4. Set up monitoring rules

By clicking on the green icon on the bottom right, you can find all Qustodio’s monitoring features, which you can customize.

The free version allows you to set up web filtering, daily limits, and social monitoring. Although upgrading to the premium version unlocks extra advanced features like the panic button and location tracking, there are still some great features available with the free trial.

Conclusion

In the digital era, parental control applications are essential security measures that protect kids from harm. After reviewing multiple parental control apps, I found Aura to be the best choice for Android users.

It’s fast, reliable, and easy to use, even for novice tech users. If you haven’t installed a parental control app yet, now is the time to take action and protect your child’s digital safety. The right app can make all the difference in ensuring a secure and balanced online experience for your family.

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