How To Choose the Best Parental Control App

By Hannah Howard

You’re concerned about the safety of your kids online, and you know that no matter what they say, your kids can’t handle it all on their own. Parental control apps can monitor devices, from cell phones to tablets to laptops to desktops to gaming devices.

Let’s take a look at what apps do and how to select the solution that’s going to work best for you and your family right now. And if you already use parental controls, we’ve got some info on what’s new, in case you want to make a change.

How do parental control apps work?

Parental control apps are software programs. You install them on a parent’s phone (the master device) to track kids’ devices you want to monitor (target devices). You can even set them up on your smart home. Your internet provider may also offer security protection for your Wi-Fi that lets you set parental controls.

Most parental control apps can work alongside your password manager and antivirus software, with many offering all three features bundled together.

You’ll have a dashboard where you can view summaries of what your kids are up to online, and many apps can inform you about the safety of activities.

What to look for in a parental control app

Screen time limits – Time limits automatically shut down a device after a set amount of time has elapsed. Many also come with schedules, so phones cannot be used during school hours or after bedtime.

Location tracking – Always know where your child is when they are out of your home. Some apps include geofencing, or a notice if your kid’s device is detected in a specific spot you identify.

Filtering and blocking – Make sure specified sites, words or images are off-limits. Filtering and blocking includes letting parents deny access to content on websites and blocking email addresses on kids’ accounts.

Monitoring – Keep tabs on your child’s phone to monitor their texting and to prevent them from downloading potentially harmful apps. Apps may also be able to monitor keystrokes. To monitor social media, you’ll need your kid’s account information and passwords.

Start with native apps that work with your platform

Google, Apple and Microsoft come with their own free parental control apps. These include Google Family Link, Apple Screen Time and Microsoft Family Safety. Gaming and chat apps often feature built-in parental control options as well.

To find parental controls, head to the app’s settings menu. Depending on the platform, the control settings may be called “parental controls,” “privacy settings” or “family safety.”

Best parental control app for iPhone

Apple Screen Time lets you access real-time and weekly reports that detail how your child uses their phone, as well as limits access to specific apps. You can choose websites your kids can access, set “downtime” when the phone is off-limits and use family sharing to manage your child’s device from your phone. Importantly, your kid cannot delete it.

Best parental control app for Android

Google Family Link is intuitive to set up and navigate. Schedule your kid’s phone to be disabled at bedtime as well as track usage, set screen time limits, approve or block app downloads and check your child’s location. Your kid cannot delete this app. The downside is that kids age out of Google Family Link at 13—the age when they can set up their own Google account. For older teens, explore Aura or Qustodio below.

Take a look at third-party parental apps

A great resource for parental control software can come right from your internet service provider (ISP). Check to see whether you can sign up for a Wi-Fi security plan that offers parental controls on your Wi-Fi router to set time limits and block specific websites, for example.

The third-party apps below all include similar features, although each has unique strengths. They do come at a cost, and some offer a discount if you have more than one child or select a longer time commitment.

Aura allows parents to filter, block and monitor websites and apps, plus set screen time limits. It also provides dark web monitoring, VPN and antivirus protection.

What’s new: Financial security features, including banking transaction monitoring with spending alerts and limits. Also new is a more detailed history, with a complete list of all apps and sites that have  been accessed, not just the blocked ones.

Bark is an excellent choice for older kids, as it uses AI to flag certain keywords to monitor for potential issues like bullying on social media and messaging apps.

What’s new: Updated location tracking is more specific in real time. If you have more than one child, a map shows all of their locations on one screen.

Net Nanny is great for YouTube monitoring and custom content monitoring. You can restrict app access, set screen time limits and get usage reports.

What’s new: Some apps can be heavy handed, blocking, say, helpful information on puberty because it deems the term “breast” explicit. Net Nanny’s new AI-powered dynamic filtering distinguishes between different contexts for the same word.

Life360, primarily a location-tracking app, is a valuable tool for letting your kid navigate their independence.

What’s new: If your kid is learning to drive, a summary gives updates on your new driver’s top speed, hard braking and phone usage.

Qustodio lets parents set time limits with multiple schedules, block calls and view searches and text messages.

What’s new: See sites your kid has visited in “incognito mode.” There’s also a new feature for daily routines to designate times like homework hours or family meals.

Apps are not a “set it and forget it” solution

When it comes to keeping your kids “connected life” healthy, parental control apps are a single tool in your parenting toolkit. They work best when they’re accompanied by conversations between parents and kids about creating good habits with devices and online. Ultimately, you want to foster these good habits based on trust.

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Product features may have changed and are subject to change.