As digital technology continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever for parents to have reliable tools to keep their children safe online. With an increasing number of apps and platforms, choosing the right parental control app can be overwhelming. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the top parental control apps for 2024, covering both free and paid options to suit a variety of family needs. From managing screen time to monitoring social media interactions, these apps offer essential features to help parents guide and protect their children in the digital world.
Top-Rated Parental Control Apps
1. Qustodio
Qustodio is a comprehensive parental control and digital well-being solution designed to help parents monitor and manage their children’s online activities across various devices. It offers a range of features to ensure a safe and balanced digital experience for families.
Key Features:
- Web and App Filtering: Qustodio allows parents to block inappropriate websites and applications, creating a safer online environment for children. It supports filtering across multiple categories, including games, social networks, and adult content.
- Screen Time Management: Parents can set daily time limits and device usage schedules, helping prevent screen addiction and encourage healthy digital habits. The “Pause the Internet” feature enables immediate suspension of Internet access when needed.
- Activity Monitoring: Qustodio provides real-time insights into a child’s online activities, including browsing history, app usage, and YouTube views. This information is accessible through a user-friendly dashboard that is available on both web and mobile platforms.
- Location Tracking: The Family Locator feature allows parents to track their child’s location and receive alerts when they arrive at or leave designated places, offering peace of mind regarding their whereabouts.
- Calls and Messages Monitoring: On Android devices, Qustodio enables monitoring of calls and SMS messages, allowing parents to see who their child is communicating with and read message content. This feature helps in detecting potential issues like cyberbullying or contact with strangers.
- YouTube Monitoring: Parents can monitor their child’s YouTube activity, including viewed videos and search history, to ensure exposure to appropriate content.
Qustodio offers both free and premium plans. The Free Plan Includes basic features such as web filtering and screen time management for one device. and the Premium Plans Provide advanced features like app blocking, location tracking, and monitoring of multiple devices.
Visit Qustodio’s website to learn more and sign up.
2. Bark
Bark is a comprehensive parental control application designed to help parents monitor and manage their children’s online activities, ensuring a safer digital environment. It offers a suite of features that address various aspects of digital safety and well-being.
Key Features:
- Content Monitoring: Bark utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to monitor texts, emails, YouTube, and over 30 social media platforms for potential issues such as cyberbullying, sexual content, online predators, and signs of depression or suicidal ideation. Parents receive alerts only when something potentially problematic occurs, allowing children to maintain privacy.
- Screen Time Management: The app enables parents to set healthy time limits and create schedules for when their children’s devices can connect to the internet, helping to balance online and offline activities.
- Web Filtering: Bark’s web filter allows parents to select which websites their child can access, blocking specific sites or entire categories such as streaming services, online gaming, and adult content.
- Location Tracking: The app provides location-sharing features, notifying parents when their child arrives at or leaves a set location, offering peace of mind regarding their child’s whereabouts.
Bark is compatible with a wide range of devices, including iPhones, iPads, Android phones, Android tablets, laptops, computers, Chromebooks, and Amazon Fire tablets. This broad compatibility ensures that families can protect their children across multiple devices and platforms. To begin using Bark, parents can sign up on the Bark website or download the parent app available for iOS and Android
Visit Bark’s website to learn more and sign up.
3. Google Family Link
Google Family Link is a free parental control service developed by Google to help parents manage and monitor their children’s digital activities across Android and Chrome OS devices. It is a versatile and free option for parents with children under 13, providing essential controls on Android devices. It offers a suite of features designed to promote healthy digital habits and ensure a safer online environment for children.
Key Features:
- Screen Time Management: Family Link allows parents to set daily screen time limits and establish device bedtimes, helping children develop balanced digital habits. Parents can also view activity reports to understand how their child spends time on their device.
- App Management: Parents can approve or block app downloads from the Google Play Store and manage in-app purchases. This control ensures that children access age-appropriate content and prevents unauthorized spending.
- Content Filtering: Family Link provides options to filter websites on Google Chrome and enable SafeSearch on Google Search, reducing the likelihood of children encountering inappropriate content online.
- Location Tracking: Parents can locate their child’s Android device, provided it is powered on, recently active, and connected to the internet. This feature offers peace of mind by allowing parents to know their child’s whereabouts.
- Account Management: Family Link enables parents to manage their child’s Google Account settings, including resetting passwords and editing personal information. This control helps maintain the security and privacy of the child’s account
To begin using Family Link start by Downloading the App andInstall the Family Link app on your device from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store and Set Up Your Child’s Account by following the in-app instructions to create a Google Account for your child or add supervision to an existing account.
Visit the Website here at FamilyTime
4. Apple Screen TimeÂ
Apple Screen Time is a built-in parental control solution for iOS devices, giving parents insight into how much time their kids spend on their devices and what they’re accessing. This feature is particularly valuable for families already using Apple devices, as it integrates seamlessly with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Through Screen Time, parents can set specific app limits, restrict content, and encourage healthy device habits without needing additional apps.
Key Features:
- App and Website Limits: Set daily time limits on specific apps or websites to manage how much time children can spend on social media, games, or other online activities.
- Content & Privacy Restrictions: Parents can restrict access to explicit content, restrict apps based on age ratings, and control purchases or downloads from the App Store. This helps in managing the exposure to inappropriate content and ensures kids access only age-appropriate materials.
- Downtime Scheduling: With Downtime, parents can set a specific period (like during bedtime) when only essential apps and calls are allowed. This feature encourages breaks from screen time, especially at night or during study periods.
- Family Sharing Integration: Apple Screen Time works seamlessly with Family Sharing, enabling parents to manage settings across multiple devices from their own phone. This makes it easy to monitor and control screen time across all Apple devices in the family.
- App Exemptions: Parents can select apps (such as educational tools) that remain accessible even during Downtime or after daily limits have been reached, ensuring children can still use essential resources.
- Screen Time Reports: Detailed weekly reports offer insights into how much time kids spend on specific apps, categories, and websites. This transparency allows parents to understand usage patterns and discuss them with their children.
Apple Screen Time is an ideal solution for iOS households. It provides a balanced approach to digital habits and ensures that children can develop healthy screen time practices. Learn more about Apple Screen Time here.
Other Noteworthy Options
5. Aura
Aura combines identity protection with parental controls, offering a full-featured security suite for families.
Key Features:
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- Website and app filtering
- Dark web monitoring
- VPN protection
- All-in-one security solution
Visit the Website here at AuraÂ
6. Net Nanny
Known for its advanced web filtering, Net Nanny is a trusted choice with real-time alerts and customizable filters.
Key Features:
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- Advanced content filtering
- Screen time scheduling
- Effective app blocking
Visit the Website here at Net Nanny
7. Norton Family
Norton Family provides extensive web monitoring and time supervision, which is especially valuable when bundled with Norton’s antivirus features.
Key Features:
- Web and location tracking
- Unlimited devices with a single price
- Strong web-blocking capabilities
As at the time of this post, there are limited features on iOS devices
Visit the Website here at Norton Family
8. Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky Safe Kids is an affordable, effective option with essential features like GPS tracking and content filtering.
Key Features:
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Social network monitoring
- Strong filtering and blocking features
Visit the Website at Kaspersky Safe Kids to learn more and sign upÂ
9. Mobicip
Mobicip offers multi-platform support with essential features for managing online activity, designed to simplify parental controls.
Key Features:
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- Multi-platform support
- Robust app blocking
- Flexible filtering and monitoring options
Visit the Website at Mobicip to learn more and sign up
10. MMGuardian
MMGuardian is tailored for mobile device monitoring, with extensive controls over SMS, calls, and apps.
Key Features:
- SMS and call monitoring
- App usage control
- Location tracking
At the time of this post, there is limited social media monitoring. Visit the Website at MMGuardian
11. OurPact
OurPact focuses on simple screen time management and app blocking, ideal for families looking for straightforward controls.
Key Features:
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- Screen time management
- App blocking and scheduling
- Affordable pricing
Website:Â OurPact
FAQs
1. What is a parental control app? A parental control app is software designed to help parents monitor and manage their child’s online activities. These apps provide features like content filtering, screen time management, and location tracking to ensure children’s safety online.
2. Do I need a parental control app? If your child uses the internet, a parental control app can be beneficial in monitoring and limiting exposure to inappropriate content, managing screen time, and ensuring their overall safety online.
3. Are parental control apps safe to use? Yes, reputable parental control apps are designed with security in mind. They allow parents to monitor activities without compromising the child’s safety or privacy.
4. Can parental control apps monitor social media? Yes, many parental control apps can monitor social media activity, including messages and posts, to alert parents of potential issues like cyberbullying or inappropriate content.
5. How much do parental control apps cost? The cost of parental control apps varies. Some offer basic free versions, while premium versions with more advanced features can range from $20 to $100 per year.
6. Can I use a parental control app on multiple devices? Most parental control apps support multiple devices, allowing you to monitor and manage all of your children’s devices from a single account.
7. Are there free parental control apps? Yes, some parental control apps offer free versions with basic features, but premium versions are often recommended for more comprehensive protection. Examples of free options are Google Family Link and Apple.
8. How do I choose the right parental control app? Consider your specific needs, such as the types of devices your child uses, the level of monitoring you require, and your budget. Reading reviews and comparing features can help you make an informed decision.
9. How do parental control apps handle social media monitoring? Parental control apps handle social media monitoring by providing parents with tools to oversee and manage their children’s interactions on various social media platforms.  For example, when it comes to Monitoring Social Media Activity, Apps like Bark and Qustodio allow parents to see which social media platforms their child uses. Parents can monitor text messages, images, photos posted, email content, YouTube videos, and more. Bark, for instance, monitors over 30 social media platforms and uses artificial intelligence to flag potential issues such as cyberbullying, violence, or suicidal ideation
10. Which parental control apps offer the most comprehensive social media monitoring? According to research, as of the time of this article (2024), Bark and Qustodio offer the most comprehensive social media monitoring capabilities.
11. Does TikTok Allow Parents to Monitor Their Children’s TikTok? Through its Family Pairing feature, TikTok’s Built-in Parental Controls allow parents to Control who can see their child’s content, Manage comments and direct messages, Set daily screen time limits, and Enable Restricted Mode to limit exposure to inappropriate content.
Choosing the right parental control app is crucial for safeguarding your child’s online experience and with various options you can find a solution that fits your family’s needs. Take the time to explore these apps, consider your specific requirements, and find the best fit for your parenting style and your child’s online habits.
It’s worth noting that monitoring capabilities can be limited on certain platforms due to privacy restrictions, especially on iOS devices. Additionally, encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal often fall outside the scope of these monitoring tools.