The children of today have never known a time without the internet. Although this revolutionary technology has many wonderful uses and benefits, it also poses great dangers that can be harmful to children.
At DataProt, we are huge advocates for online privacy, so technology designed to snoop on people raises our eyebrows. However, we understand the concerns parents have for their children’s well-being, given that the internet is awash with harmful content.
This is why we’re happy to advocate for parental control services, as children are more susceptible to the internet’s dark side. We checked the best parental control software on the market to find the ideal tools for every type of concerned parent.
We also recommend that you clearly explain to your kids why parental controls on the internet are necessary before trying to use it on them.
Parental control features are common aspects of every good anti-malware software, so it is no wonder that Intego, a renowned Mac antivirus company, offers its own version of parental control software. Its Content Barrier X9 is probably the most comprehensive solution on this list. It will shield your kids from inappropriate content, monitor their online activity at all times, and block chats, apps, and troublesome emails. Unfortunately, this tool is only available for Mac.
$19.99/year
Kaspersky Safe Kids is another reliable solution from a well-known antivirus software provider. This internet protection tool has a set of features similar to other software on this list - it allows you to monitor your children’s online activity and screen time, enables GPS tracking, and can block certain website and app categories. Since Kaspersky is a big name in the industry, we were slightly underwhelmed by the basic features on offer. However, it is undoubtedly one of the most affordable options on this list.
$14.99/year
Parents looking to censor the content available to their kids online should most certainly give Net Nanny a try. This tool helps them monitor their children’s online activity, from social media to various apps. Parents can also manage their kids’ screen time, block unwanted apps and sites through an app and web filter, and see their location at all times. Net Nanny can be installed on Android, Windows, Mac, and Kindle Fire devices for complete protection.
$39.99/year
Qustodio is one of the better parental control apps that can monitor calls, text messages, and app usage on your child’s phone, allowing you to read suspicious messages and block specific numbers. Through Qustodio parental control, you can also monitor your kid’s activity, use an app blocker, and play around with time management features. Qustodio also offers the Priority Support service, which will assist you with customizing the app for each child individually.
$54.95/year
Online schooling has brought on a new challenge for parents - how do you prevent kids from spending their time on social media sites when they are supposed to be studying? Norton, a renowned anti-malware software provider, has an ideal parental internet control solution for this situation called Norton Family. This tool allows you to monitor your child’s online activity and block websites and apps to create a distraction-free learning environment for your kids with just a couple of clicks.
$49.99/year
Mobicip is another excellent internet filtering software solution for parents navigating the internet era with their kids. It comes with all the standard features found on good parental control systems, from screen time monitoring and location tracking to extensive filtering options. Parents with kids of all ages will probably benefit the most from the opportunity to restrict access to social media and video streaming services. You can also use it to review up to four weeks of your kid’s browsing history.
$47.88/year
This parental controls router solution can help parents filter websites, social media apps, games, and even devices their kids use in just a couple of clicks and just $10 a month. The Circle app can manage these tasks for Android and iOS devices by itself, but if you’d like to control devices in your home network, such as a smart TV, you’ll have to purchase a dedicated Circle device, which costs $129.
$10/month
Bark is a tool with excellent social media app coverage created to help you ensure your child stays safe from cyberbullying, which is a growing concern among parents. This parental control app is designed to work seamlessly with iOS and Android phones and will effortlessly go through your kids’ messages and notify you of any content that shouldn’t be there. You can also use it to set screen time limits, keep track of your kids’ locations, and block unwanted websites with web filters.
$49/year
Parental control apps work by monitoring and letting you restrict activity on devices your children have access to. Computers and web browsers sometimes offer some limited safe browsing options, but these can usually be bypassed by crafty children who can acquire tech skills quickly. They also don’t include monitoring or alerts.
Realistically, you need to look at the software features to see how extra measures can be taken to help keep your child safe. These programs use advanced techniques to keep on top of your child’s internet use.
Some would argue that this is a form of helicopter parenting, but the internet is full of dangerous and explicit content that can be very damaging for children.
It’s entirely reasonable that you would want to protect your child from being exposed to these materials, and even if they’re upset with you now, they’ll surely thank you when they’re older.
Some of these services work at the router level, but this targets the whole house’s WiFi. This means that you could also be blocked from viewing some content, and it doesn’t prevent children from accessing forbidden content using their mobile data.
The best coverage instead comes from good parental control software that is installed directly onto the devices themselves and allows you to control the settings remotely. Let’s look at these apps in more detail.
Intego
Kaspersky Safe Kids
NetNanny
Qustodio
Norton Family
Navigating the dark and murky waters of the Internet is safer with Intego ContentBarrier X9 and its advanced features. In this digital age, a common question among parents is, “What is the best parental control software for Mac”?
Their search often leads them to Intego, a company that prides itself on providing a set of tools to keep your children safe online. Safety Detectives awarded it for being the Best overall macOS antivirus and anti-malware protection in 2021.
Limiting screen time is made possible with the Intego time limit feature, which prevents your children from sneaking onto their devices late at night to browse the internet. Also, the Integro ContentBarrier tailors to your individual needs by offering customizable parental control settings for young toddlers, teenagers, and all those in between.
Using a reliable parental control service on Mac devices also translates to having access to advanced security features. One of these features is ContentBarrier’s Anti-Predator chat monitoring function.
This technology monitors all standard chat protocols in search of inappropriate and suspicious content and blocks it. It will also send email alerts on incidents, with screenshots and keystroke records, so that parents can keep track of their child’s online behavior.
Most parents and caregivers are looking for software that restricts web content, and Intego ContentBarrier does precisely that.
Aside from blocking whole categories of unsuitable websites for children, which you’ll find with all the best computer protection software with parental control functions, Intego lets you block access to game servers, online streaming, and P2P sharing. There’s also an option for children to ask their parents for permission to access blocked websites or mobile apps if needed.
Unlike some competitors, Intego ContentBarrier X9 doesn’t feature social media monitoring, even though its AntiPredator function covers standard chat protocols. We believe that at a time when the social networking landscape is expanding, Intego should dedicate a separate feature to it.
The software is compatible with Mac OS X 10.9 up to 11.0 but doesn’t support Android, iOS, or Windows, which is a notable downside. On the other hand, there is an option for dual protection for both Macs and PCs if you combine parental control software with an antivirus.
Protection for a single Mac for one year currently costs $43.79. If you’d like to protect three computers, it’ll cost you just over $87 or $166.43 for two years of protection. The two-year package for only one computer is considerably less and costs only $74.5.
Kaspersky Safe Kids is an excellent affordable option if you want to keep your child protected without breaking your budget. Of course, you have to expect some downsides if you opt for software that is significantly more affordable than the competition.
The first compromise you’ll be making is that the interface isn’t as fine-tuned as on some of the more expensive competitors’ products.
It can be a bit confusing, and the load times aren’t the best. Some of you won’t mind this too much, but we understand that many people become quickly frustrated when there’s the slightest inconvenience with a technology they’ve paid for.
The Kaspersky Safe Kids app performs well on Android but is not as efficient on iOS devices. We’d recommend you go with Net Nanny if you want to set boundaries for your kid's online activities on iPhones. For instance, there is no app monitoring on iOS devices, nor can you block apps once a time limit has been exceeded.
This is par for the course with iOS devices and parental control software, as many struggle to work correctly on iOS.
If you’re concerned with your child’s app usage, then control over Android devices is much easier. The other thing that is noticeably missing from Kaspersky Safe Kids is that there is no SOS option for your child. When it comes to overall monitoring, though, it ticks most of the boxes.
Kaspersky Safe Kids wins our award for being the best value for money by a country mile. It costs just $14.99 per year for a subscription, making it an easy choice for parents on a budget and looking for some of the best software for parental control on the market.
With the subscription, you’ll receive an unlimited number of accounts for any number of kids, which is truly excellent.
A free version of Kaspersky Safe Kids is also available. With it, however, you won’t receive some features such as location tracking, social media monitoring, YouTube history checks, or instant alerts for any misadventures on your child’s device.
With the free version, you’ll also receive a week-long free trial of the full version to test whether its features are worth its humble price tag.
Although Kaspersky is among the best free parental control software solutions around, going for the paid package is still a good investment. Even if you do end up regretting the purchase, $14.99 definitely isn’t a huge price to pay for taking care of your child’s welfare.
Net Nanny was one of the early innovators of parental control technology, formed in 1995. It is also the preferred choice for parents who want to set basic rules for use on iOS devices.
Installation is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to sign up and put in payment details before this, though. Once the app has been installed and you open it, you’ll have access to the control panels.
The next step is downloading it onto your child’s devices, after which you can adjust the protection settings and notifications. You can lock the app on your child’s device so they can’t access it without the passcode. If they uninstall it, you’ll receive a notification.
It's fair to say that Net Nanny isn’t the most accessible software on the market. The dashboard seems a bit overwhelming initially, and it may take a little while to get the hang of it. Once you do, we’re sure you’ll appreciate the variety of features it offers.
You’ll be happy with the variety of parental controls available, including blocking adult content, pornography, and harmful videos. On top of this, you can also see which apps are downloaded on your child’s device and use Net Nanny’s App Advisor to receive brief descriptions that tell you whether they’re harmful and worth blocking.
Though its prices are a bit steep, Net Nanny offers fantastic apps for Android and iOS systems, the two of which have almost identical layouts. To get the program on one desktop device costs $39.99 for an annual subscription.
To get Net Nanny on up to five devices, including mobile phones and Kindle Fire, costs $54.99 per year, which represents much better value than the single desktop plan.
If you have a big family or your kids are a little tech mad, $89.99 will cover up to 20 devices. One thing we like about Net Nanny’s subscription plans is that you’ll receive access to all of its features, so despite the high price tag, you’ll get a wealth of features to keep your family safe.
Qustodio is another excellent multi-platform parental control software. Installation is straightforward, and the interface is clean. Qustodio has an exciting range of features that pretty much puts it at the top of the tree in this area.
The geofencing feature is helpful if your child is a bit too keen on adventure. This feature allows you to draw out a boundary on a map; if your child leaves that boundary, you’ll receive a notification. It’s the kind of above-and-beyond feature that makes Qustodio arguably the best parental control and monitoring software on the market.
Geofencing is particularly useful if you live near some sketchy areas or construction sites where your danger-prone child may like to explore. It’s not just a circular radius from your home but a customizable boundary, meaning that you can target particularly risky areas. Unfortunately, Qustodio’s geofencing doesn’t work on iOS devices, but it’s part of the app’s strong parental controls for Android.
Another unique feature of Qustodio is the panic button feature, which allows your child to send out a signal to selected adults if they find themselves in some form of danger.
This bonus feature extends beyond internet monitoring; in fact, it’s more of a physical child protection feature than anything else. We love that Qustodio is one of those parental control options that offer real-life protection in the physical world.
Qustodio has both free and paid options available. The free version is competent, but you’ll only get access to one device. That said, monitoring, managing screen time, social media checks, and safe web filtering are included in the free package, which is a truly generous offer and much more than we’d expect for free.
We recommend that you try the free version. It’s an excellent way to gauge whether this app suits your specific needs. If you like it, you can subscribe to the paid plan so you can protect multiple children across many devices.
Or, if you only have one child and are only interested in protecting their primary device, then you can save yourself some money by sticking with the free plan.
Of course, the most advanced features come with the paid versions of the software. You’ll get control over apps and games, location tracking, the panic button feature for Android, calls and SMS monitoring for Android, and advanced Facebook monitoring.
It’s a wonderful package, and in our opinion, it’s the most comprehensive multi-platform solution around, particularly if your child has an Android phone so that you can make use of all of its available features.
Pricing is reasonably high, starting at $54.95 per year for five devices, $96.95 for ten devices, and $137.95 for 15. If you don’t worry about the price and focus on what the subscription offers, you’ll see that Qustodio has the most varied set of features of any parental control software we’ve reviewed. On top of that, the whole range of features is included in all the paid packages.
The award for the best parental control software with antivirus protection can only go to Norton, one of the world’s premier antivirus companies. Those who have used Norton’s services will be familiar with the interface, which can feel a bit clunky but manageable nevertheless.
We’re going to start this review by looking at a great parental control feature that Norton Family has put in place to help combat some of the challenges of remote learning, which has changed how children learn during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This feature allows you to set school hours for your children and only permit them to visit websites their teachers have prescribed for them. It’s smart innovations like this that make Norton Family arguably the best software for parental control on the market.
Norton Family’s web filtering tools are about as strong as you can get, which is to be expected from this famous cybersecurity maestro. There is a range of customizable features that go far deeper than the majority of other parental control apps.
Three levels of supervision can be altered at your discretion: Low, which simply monitors activity; Moderate, which warns your child but allows them to continue; and High, which blocks the website completely.
The main drawback of Norton Family is that it doesn’t work on Macs, making it useless for many potential customers. However, you could argue that PC users cannot find a better set of features than that offered by Norton.
The price is somewhat high if you don’t want to cover many devices, but the annual fee of $49.99 allows you to protect an unlimited number of devices for all your children. There is no free version, but a 30-day free trial is available.
If you’re on the hunt for some great antivirus software, you can get a combined deal with Norton that includes Norton Family for $54.99 for the first year and $109.99 per year afterward.
From our perspective, this is the best parental control antivirus software deal currently on the market, and other apps have some catching up to do.
Mobicip is another strong competitor on our list. It has a solid range of advanced internet-filtering, location-tracking, and app management features.
Named after the CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) – a US regulation that mandates offering secure internet access to minors in public schools and libraries – Mobicip has been on a decade-long mission to enhance the safe use of technology for learning.
Marketed as a parental control software solution for digitally conscious parents, Mobicip offers its product to families, schools, and businesses. The provider has three fixed pricing plans, but users can request a custom service if none of the options fit their needs.
Customers can opt for the Small parental control software plan, which supports five devices and costs $3.99/month. There’s also the Medium, 10-device solution, currently reduced to $4.99/month from $7.50/month. Lastly, the X-Large plan supports up to 20 devices and is currently priced at $9.99 (reduced from $12.99/month.)
Note that you’ll be billed annually no matter which plan you opt for. It’s also important to mention that all software packages come with a seven-day free trial.
Mobicip lets you schedule screen time limits, lock all family devices, and manage and monitor all devices using a mobile app or parent dashboard on the web. You can block all websites that belong to a particular category using the internet filtering feature and decide which video streaming apps your child can access.
Mobicip’s parental app also includes a location tracker, and most parents will value the feature that lets them review up to four weeks of their children’s browsing history. They can even give reporting and viewing access to another user.
Regarding drawbacks, Mobicip only comes with scheduling capabilities and not an actual screen-time cap to limit the amount of time kids spend staring at their mobile phones. Furthermore, it doesn’t offer geofencing features.
Circle’s parental control software provides a high level of control over device use and internet access, protecting kids from non-productive behavior and sensitive content.
Circle’s parental monitoring software comes in the form of a mobile app for easy oversight and control, while its pricier Home Plus edition includes a device that allows the management of all Wi-Fi-connected hardware in your home.
So, what can Circle do?
First, it can help parents filter internet content on apps and devices. Circle employs several filtering levels, starting with one called Kid and ending with Adult/None, defining what kind of content can be accessed. You can also customize specific content categories such as Sports, Science, or Social Media and fine-tune access levels.
As the best internet monitoring software for parents, Circle allows you to set time limits on app/device use. For example, you can turn on bedtime filters which make blocking apps during certain parts of the day very simple.
Additionally, you can set Focus Time hours when you want your children to study, during which internet use is restricted to educational content or prohibited completely.
You can also introduce rewards in the form of screen time and prolonged use in order to incentivize children to behave well or perform great at school. Like with any best parental control app, you can monitor the location of your children’s mobile devices to keep an eye on their movements.
Circle supports control over the use of hundreds of different apps and dozens of categories, from social media and adult content to video games and gambling. There are two pricing plans available for Circle: the Parental Controls App and Circle Home Plus.
The app lets you manage the children’s mobile devices and will set you back $9.99/mo or $89.99/year.
The Circle Home Plus package includes both the app and an in-home device that allows the control of all Wi-Fi-connected devices in the household by connecting to the router directly. Its price is $69 for three months or $349 for lifetime usage.
Thanks to the inclusion of the in-home device, we believe that Circle is a solid contender for the best parental control software for home networks. However, the device can also be a security risk as unruly children may damage or disable it.
Circle’s control features are comprehensive and customizable, but we have to note the lack of geofencing features. Despite the drawback mentioned above, Circle is a great option to consider.
Just like a guard dog barks when danger or suspicion approaches, Bark gives off a warning when your child is at risk online. If you have no interest in being a helicopter parent but still want to keep your child safe online, Bark is a great option.
It’s not overly intrusive; the app simply warns you when something’s not right, which could prompt you to talk to your child or perhaps take more serious action, depending on the situation. It’s this subtlety that makes Bark the right choice for parents who wish to get alerted in real-time so they can address the situation as it occurs.
It’s relatively simple to get started with Bark. The installation phase may be slightly tricky, but the site’s step-by-step guidance will help you get it up and running. Once you do, you’ll find that Bark puts a stronger emphasis on sending you alerts based on your child’s usage and perceived threats.
The team at Bark stresses that parental control software should be transparent, so the website gives you an abundance of information on how to discuss this with your child. You can really tell that this app was designed with the help of psychologists.
We haven't found a better app than Bark for monitoring your teens' social media activity. It covers 24 social media platforms, and its algorithm scans messages, only alerting you when there’s an issue at hand.
There are three tiers of alerts for you to choose from: relaxed, moderate, and strict. The strict alert settings may become tiresome quickly, with the algorithm warning you of things that aren’t really issues at all. If you don’t want to be too intrusive on your child’s activities but are still concerned for their welfare, then Bark’s relaxed alert settings only warn you of serious issues.
Bark is one of the higher-priced options on the market, but you do get some of the best software for parental control in return.
There are two packages available; Bark Jr for $49 annually and Bark Premium for $99 per year.
Bark also offers monthly subscriptions, although this raises the price significantly. A seven-day free trial is also available for both packages so that you can put them to the test.
Bark Jr is aimed at younger children and offers screen time management, web filtering, and location check-in. If you want a further overview of your child’s activities, then the Premium package provides you with the best parental control computer software.
It gives you advanced monitoring alerts for issues such as cyberbullying that could be a direct threat to your child and an in-depth analysis of the websites and applications they’ve been using. A subscription to Bark allows you to implement its software across unlimited devices for any number of children.
When choosing any type of software, you should base your decisions on a set of guidelines describing what to look out for. You don’t want to sign up for subpar or overly intrusive providers; you only need the best-rated parental control software. Here’s our methodology for researching and reviewing these apps.
When it comes to your children’s safety, you don’t want to mess around with unimportant stuff. You want to get straight to the point. That’s why you need to examine the functionality of the parental control software and question whether it is straightforward enough to use comfortably.
We understand that not all parents are tech-savvy; most just want something that will give results that are to the point. We took this into account in our reviews, examining the program’s ease of use and interface, so you don’t end up with software that is too complicated for you. For it to be the best parental control software, you need to be able to use it.
Installing the software across various devices should also be a straightforward task. On top of that, you need to know whether the app’s central control dashboard is good enough to help you monitor each device your child or children might use. You should question how much it lets you view and whether it actually gives you the level of control you seek.
Web filtering is part of the bread and butter of parental control software. You should have access to controls that give you options for which sort of content you don’t want your child to come across.
There are many things online that can be harmful to children, such as pornography, violence, cyberbullying, and predators. The best parental control apps can help block these threats and alert you if your child is trying to access them or has been approached by them.
Many great parental control programs offer time management restrictions as part of their packages. Screen addiction has become prevalent in recent years, and we understand how mad many parents are about this.
The long-term consequences, if any, are relatively unknown, so it’s understandable that parents want their children to spend a bit more time in the “real world” than on their devices. This is one of the great aspects of parental control software, as it can limit children’s time on tech devices and teach them to create healthy and disciplined habits.
Of course, you’ll also need to evaluate parental control software pricing before making a decision. You need to consider what features you need and whether the package you’re looking at contains all of them.
Pricing also depends on how many devices the plan covers. Many kids these days have multiple devices, such as smartphones, laptops, game consoles, and tablets. Some offer a blanket that covers many appliances, while others charge per device.
Consider how many children you need to protect and how many devices they each have. From here, you can calculate the most suitable coverage type for you and your children.
Parental control software often has issues integrating well on Macs and other Apple products, which is why you have to ensure you don’t subscribe to software incompatible with your child’s devices. Intego, Bark, Net Nanny, and Qustodio are all compatible with Mac and iOS, so they’re worth testing.
The online world is filled with harmful content, and with children having the curious minds that they do, some form of restriction is sometimes necessary to keep them safe. The best parental internet control software gives parents the ability to put safeguards in place to block their children from accessing certain apps or websites.
They can also limit screen time and give you notifications when your kids try to access blocked content.
This is dependent on the software that you subscribe to. Some offer deep monitoring of what your children get up to, while others just show you when something is a threat. We recommend that you don’t try to be too eagle-eyed and make sure you’re transparent with your children about what kind of software you can see.
The differences between parental control apps aren’t too significant, so there are plenty of good options to choose from.
If you wish to incorporate geofencing as part of the package, we recommend Kaspersky Safe Kids or Qustodio. You need to check that the software works on your children’s devices, as some apps don’t perform well on Macs or iPhones.
Thus, what you consider the best parental control software will depend equally on the devices your children use and the exact features you want from the app.
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