Best parental control apps and software

The internet is a fantastic wealth of information, but connected kids are also at risk when it comes to getting online and staying in touch. That’s where parental controls apps and software step in. You can expect to pay between $39.95 to more than $100 a year for parental control apps, but there are also free versions.

Qustodio is our top pick because it ticks a lot of the right boxes. It can protect up to 15 devices on the major platforms, plus it has a long list of features to offer great versatility for parents. These include blocking and logging for calls and texts (Android only), geofencing and tracking, as well as a range of monitoring and scheduling tools.

Admittedly, this is limited to Android devices and only works for iOS when used with a Mac computer. Given the steep asking price for Apple products, we think you’re better off sticking with an Android phone for kids.

Outside of this, Qustodio is a feature-rich offering. Use it for GPS location tracking, geofencing, or tracking location history. Qustodio also offers web monitoring and filtering, as well as screen-time limits and scheduling.

What you can rely on it for, though, is most of the other important stuff. Location history may not be a feature, but track your little ones or set up geofences. Set screen time limits or schedules on devices. Plus, enable web filtering and monitoring tools to protect your kids while they’re online.

There are extensive reporting tools to use, too, if you’d like a more proactive approach. If you already use and trust Kaspersky antivirus software, Kaspersky Safe Kids is a budget-friendly parental control service that’s worth testing.

Google Family Link is compatible with unlimited devices, and all that’s required is to set up accounts. We like how easy Google Family Link is to use thanks to a straightforward user interface. It’s Google, after all. Despite its Android compatibility, you can’t use Google Family Link for call logging or blocking, nor text logging, blocking, or content monitoring.

Similarly, geofencing isn’t available but you can track your child’s location and view their location history. As for all the other expected features, Google Family Link has you covered. Use it for web monitoring and filtering. Set screen time limits and schedules. Google Family Link can also manage and block apps.

Where Net Nanny shines is when it comes to content filtering. There are three levels of web filtering, which offer straightforward control over categories like pornography, mature content, and drugs. We also like how good Net Nanny is at alerting parents to app downloads on Android devices (this is trickier across the board for iOS), which is boosted by potential benefits and risks via the Net Nanny’s App Advisor portal.

Speaking of the portal, it’s easy to use and intuitive, so you don’t feel like you need to do a lot of study to wrap your head around its features. Net Nanny allows monitoring of the more popular social media platforms, plus it also includes screen-time scheduling and time limits.

Bark supports an unlimited number of devices and apps, which covers popular platforms like Android, iOS, computers, Chrome OS, as well as Amazon Fire and Kindle. While Bark says it monitors 30+ platforms, that’s a conservative estimate: by our count, it was 40+, which ticks off all the major social media and other popular platforms.

We like that Bark takes a different approach to content filtering, applying AI learning to social media, text messages, and email monitoring. This can sometimes lead to an abundance of alerts, depending on what the algorithm determines may be of concern, but it’s good to see that Bark encourages parent-to-child conversations about these alerts rather than condemnation.

We like that there's a free version of Life360 which is surprisingly good. It has most of the same features, but location history and places are quite limited.

After a recent overhaul of its plans, Life360 is no longer as affordable as it once was. That said, some of its new paid plans include a bunch of new features like roadside assistance and stolen funds reimbursement.

To learn more, read our full Life360 review.

There are a dozen or so parental control apps out there that are worth considering, but we’ve narrowed it down to a handful of options based on meaningful categories. Qustodio may be a great all-rounder, but if you’re turned off by its annual fee, start with Google Family Link for free or buy a year of Kaspersky Safe Kids. For something more focused, consider Net Nanny for web filtering, Bark for social media monitoring, or Life360 for location monitoring.

We started our appraisals by reading up on the government advice found on the eSafety Commissioner website. It’s important to note that there are operating system-level parental controls on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android and popular gaming platforms. There are also WiFi routers that offer parental controls for devices on your home network.

In terms of determining our category winners, we read reviews on the SafeWise US website to find the right parental apps for our shortlist. We also appraised dozens of Australian reviews and looked into the specific features of contenders. Parental apps were then appraised in terms of price, including whether there are free versions or free trials available. The number of monitorable devices is important, especially for larger families, but it’s critical that parental control apps support major platforms.

Call and text logging, blocking, and SMS content monitoring are tricky features to find these days because of how iOS and Android handle privacy. That said, it’s typically easier to find parental control apps that offer geofencing, location tracking, and location history features. Content monitoring and filtering are also important, as is app management (including the option to block apps). Finally, we also favour parental control apps that are easy to use and offer limits to screen time.

You can learn more about how we review products by checking out our methodology.