A parental control software lets parents have control over their children’s online activity in order to ensure their safety and healthy development. It can also can make sure your kid doesn’t suffer from any kind of cyberbullying. It can limit their screen time to help them develop a healthier relationship with portable gadgets.
Top 12 Parental Control Software
- Qustodio - For teenagers
- Norton Family Premier - YouTube video tracking
- KidLogger - Has a voice-activated sound recorder
- OpenDNS Family Shield - Powerful filtering & web blocking
- Kaspersky Safe Kids - For large families
- Spyrix Free Keylogger - Remote controlling
- Net Nanny - For younger kids
- Mobicip - Instant phone lock feature
- Circle Home Plus - Has a reward feature
- Bark iOS | Android - For social media monitoring
- Wondershare FamiSafe iOS | Android - Extensive geo-location and tracking options
- OurPact iOS | Android - Great for screen time restrictions
To make sure you’re choosing the most effective parental monitoring software, you need to consider your child’s age. The list below includes some great options for a variety of age groups as well as different operating systems so that a tablet your child is playing with and the computer he/she uses for studies can both be covered.
1. Qustodio – Our Choice
- Outstanding content filter
- Option for limiting the use time
- Cross-platform
- Can track device location
- Monitors calls and messages
- Not found
Verdict: The features include tracking of the device, app and Internet use, as well as setting time limits and content restrictions. This is the perfect option for those older and savvier kids, who can already use cunning tricks to get around the block and reach the prohibited content.
In addition to those more general features, you can also choose to see the contacts of your child, when they receive calls and messages from them. This parental software also allows you to block those. Since it tracks the location of your child, you will know where he/she is, but most importantly, your kid can hit the panic button to let you instantly know he/she needs help.
2. Norton Family Premier
- Immediate lock feature
- Scheduled reports
- Email alerts
- Time, search, and video monitoring
- Unlimited number of devices
- No version for Mac
- Poor social media tracking
Verdict: If you need the best parental control software to install on multiple devices, this program can fully satisfy you. It can provide you with information regarding the search requests as well as filter out inappropriate content. It also tracks YouTube behavior and lets you see snippets of what your kids have been watching.
If there is any concern, you can set the program to monitor behavior closely and report frequently. Should anything inappropriate happen, you can lock the device remotely in an instant. Alternatively, you can only get email notifications when kids go for a particular type of content.
3. KidLogger
- Keeps record of keystrokes
- Cross-platform
- Has a separate call log
- Monitors conversations in chats and messengers
- Collects data about folders and documents most frequently opened
- No audio recording without subscription
- Single-device profile
Verdict: There is a myriad of great features in this child monitoring software that are uncommon and useful. For instance, the program can record keystrokes, thus copying all messages and search requests.
If the kid prefers sending voice records instead, you’re also covered because the program has a voice-activated recording feature. Alternatively, you can simply track the frequency and length of their calls with friends, and even the time of the day those were taking place.
This parental Internet control program allows restricting the time spent on certain websites or apps and otherwise improving your child’s digital habits. It can also make copies of the pictures in the child’s gallery and store those in the online account that you can check personally.
4. OpenDNS FamilyShield
- Improves the speed
- Pre-compiled blocklists
- Runs at router level
- Quick configuring
- Doesn’t provide a timer or app blocker
Verdict: You can just run it on a PC or portable device, but using the control panel for changing the DNS server numbers allows you to program the router to filter the traffic for anything connected to it.
If your plan is to simply reduce exposure to inappropriate content, you can select the carefully compiled and frequently updated blocklists. In such a simple way you can stop worrying about the online dangers. As a bonus, you can get a noticeable increase in speed.
5. Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Sensible price
- Expert advice provided
- Geofencing
- Management of applications
- Notifications upon battery discharge
- Limited browser support
Verdict: Better known for its free antivirus software, this company also has a product for Internet parental controls. Covering up to 500 devices, the software can serve even for the largest families.
It allows blocking particular types of content, setting daily timeouts to reduce screen time, and controlling the usage of various apps in several ways. Alternatively, you can get notified when undesirable content is being viewed or searched for.
If the previous features were free, some things require a subscription. Those situations when your kids drained the battery and were left unable to contact you are in the past. Now the program reminds kids about low battery charge level with alerts.
It can be used outside the digital world too. The Geofencing tracks your child’s location and warns you when they roam too far off or leave the safe boundaries.
6. Spyrix Free Keylogger
- Keystrokes tracking
- Takes screenshots at certain intervals
- Keeps track of clipboard and printers
- User-friendly and easy to setup
- Cannot block content
- Compatible only with Windows
Verdict: Spyrix is parental monitoring software that keeps track of your child’s activity on a PC. It can also reveal the hidden passwords to social media networks, emails, etc. One of the most useful features this program has is the ability to take screenshots at certain time intervals allowing you to monitor your child’s behavior in a virtual world.
What is more, with Spyrix keylogger you can access online conversations protecting your son or daughter from potential bullying or other Internet hazards. The program is easy to use and configure, however, it cannot block content, so it is more useful for controlling older children and making sure that their use of PC won’t cause any harm.
7. Net Nanny
- Remote session time limit
- Comprehensive reports and logs
- Profound parental dashboard
- Can track the location
- Full-scale web filtering
- Complicated installation
- Cannot monitor social media activity
Verdict: Net Nanny is child monitoring software that is ideal for controlling younger children. It will prevent accidental run-ins with inappropriate material. By using this program, you can limit the time your child can spend online. You can establish a daily or weekly timetable setting the specific hours for browsing net or fulfilling other online activities.
No matter whether your children use a tablet for kids or mobile phone, Net Nanny will determine their location fast and accurately.
8. Mobicip
- 4 sensitivity settings
- Blocks access to apps, games, social media
- Tracks the location
- Easy to install
- Stylish dashboard
- Daily time limit feature is absent
Verdict: Mobicip parental Internet control software can be configured according to the age of your child, but other customizable features of this program are also worth your attention. Parents can choose from the list of thirty categories for blocking or allowing access to.
The software asks you whether it should block particular websites, phrases, or words. It divides the content into three main categories like social media, video, and apps, the access to which can be modified.
9. Circle Home Plus
- Filters content according to the age
- Can work on numerous devices
- Keeps usage history
- Limit the usage time and Internet browsing
- Geo-tracking
- Pricey subscription
Verdict: Circle Home Plus is parental software which can monitor each device connected to your network even without installation. You can use it for tracking any activities on SmartTVs, PCs, mobile phones or gaming consoles. The filters are easy to customize.
This child monitoring software tracks the time spent online and provides you with a full review of the websites visited during the day. Moreover, you can use the Internet Bedtime feature for eliminating late-night browsing. To encourage kids’ good behavior, the software offers extra online time.
10. Bark
- Around-the-clock detection
- Filters web content & limits screen time
- Keeps a check on text and emails
- Notifications for parents
- Support from psychologists
- High price
Verdict: It controls and also prevents potential problems that your child can face online. The program also detects possible harmful situations like online bullying, cyber predators, and even shootings at school.
You can use Bark parental Internet control software for keeping track of more than thirty apps or social media networks. It also monitors emails, messages for detecting some digital dangers.
Use the functions of filtering and setting limits for online activities to keep your family healthy and safe. If you are not sure how to behave in some difficult situations, seek help from the company’s psychologists.
11. Wondershare FamiSafe
- Keeping track of YouTube content
- Location detection with Geofencing
- Notifications for parents
- Smart scheduling
- No jailbreaking or rooting
- Lacks a desktop version
- It is visible unlike other spy apps
- Cannot monitor content on social media
Verdict: Famisafe parental software can work on thirty various devices per one registered account. Offering all the basic functions like blocking content for adults or setting time limits, this program can also recognize some inappropriate photos, videos, or games.
Its geolocation feature allows you to find your child and the geofence feature will send you a notification of when your child comes or leaves.
12. OurPact
- User-friendly design and navigation
- Allows blocking texts
- Can function on up to 20 devices
- Geo-tracking and geofencing
- Limited web filters
- High price
Verdict: OurPact is meant for controlling children who are 3-13 years old. It is fitted with many helpful features like setting time restrictions, blocking or allowing access to certain websites, etc. All these functions can be set up manually or automatically.
With the help of this program, you can monitor your child’s messaging to make sure that he/she doesn’t interact with potentially dangerous people.
You can also restrict the constant incoming messages so that your kid won’t distract while doing the homework, for example.
