The web can be a scary and unpredictable place, especially when you're a parent. Moreover, it can be unbelievably nerve-wracking when you are trying to protect young children from the underbelly of the internet, its sites, and social media apps. 

Thankfully, most parental control apps help you keep an eye on your children's activities so that you can rest easy and monitor what they can see and who they can talk to. 

Also:Best tablets for kids, according to parents

Many parental control apps are available online, making it much more difficult to decide which one is right for you. In any case, parental control apps should never be abused to intrude on someone's privacy and monitor them without consent, and so we urge users to only implement these controls for young children and with the intention of keeping them safe. 

If you want an app to help you monitor your children, we've vetted the best parental control apps for your family.

The best parental control app isQustodio for its comprehensive protection tools. From app blocking to screen limits, you are in control of your child's internet use. Plus, with wide compatibility, it is easy to download a version of Qustodio that works for your device. Read on for the rest of our top recommendations. 

Best parental control apps of 2023

Qustodio

Best parental control app overall

Qustodio/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Easy to use
• Screen time restrictions
• Mobile GPS locator

Cons

• Does not apply to social media
• Some users report inaccurate readings

More Details

Qustodio features:Freeversion: Yes  Device limits: Up to 5 (basic plan) or unlimited  Screen time limits: Yes  App Store rating: 4.3  Google Play rating: 4.0 App, game blocking

Qustodio is our pick for the best overall parental control app, offering a suite of features to help keep your children safe. Included are daily screen time limits that you can personally set and manage, controlling how much time your child uses the device. 

There is also app blocking to keep your child away from the wrong websites and the wrong apps. App monitoring includes the ever-popular YouTube, so your children do not risk accessing the wrong videos. 

The Control App is your gateway to different tools, including child tracking and advanced reporting. Simply download the app on your phone and the companion app on your child's phone, and the two will sync from there. 

Qustodio works on a variety of devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktop devices, and works with multiple platforms, including MacOS. With the free app, you get to supervise a single device, but you can upgrade for monitoring up to 5 devices or an unlimited number. 

Premium plans begin at$55 per year. At the time of writing, the company is offering a 10% discount with the code BTS10. 

View now at Qustodio View now at App Store View now at Google Play more buying choices

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Best budget parental control app

Kaspersky/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Geofencing capability
• Unlimited devices
• Affordable whole-family protection

Cons

• Limited social media monitoring

More Details

Kaspersky Safe Kids features: Free version: Yes  Device limits: Unlimited  Screen time limits: Yes  App Store rating: 3.5  Google Play rating: 3.4 GPS, Safe area features

Kaspersky Safe Kids offers many of the best features but without the cost. In addition to adult content and sites like YouTube, you can choose from several different ready-made categories to streamline parental controls.

You can also create your own premade list of sites and even games, giving you full control over which sites your child can access. It's possible to accept or reject requests for access in real-time. Determine how many hours per day your child can access a device, plus monitor your child's location via GPS for peace of mind when your child is out of sight, with the option to set 'safe' locations.

With Kaspersky, you can put all of your child's devices under one license, giving you hardly any restrictions and eliminating the decision of which machines to monitor. 

Premium plans begin at$22 for the first year. However, expect the annual cost to rise slightly after your introductory year.

View now at Kaspersky View now at App Store View now at Google Play more buying choices

Net Nanny

Best parental control app for social media

Net Nanny/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Simple interface
• Comprehensive reporting
• Detailed dashboard

Cons

• No call monitoring
• Expensive

More Details

Net Nanny features: Free version: No; plans start at$39.99/year  Device limits: 20  Screen time limits: Yes  App Store rating:  2.7  Google Play rating: 2.2

Net Nanny has a pronounced focus on social media with detailed screen time monitoring. It also allows you to track your child's activity in real-time, whether it is through an app or online. 

You can see what your children access with immediate alerts when your child ventures into unsavory types of sites. Special notifications are in place to immediately inform you when your child comes across specific sites or content relating to drugs, pornography, weapons, or suicide. 

There are also time limits that you can assign; Family Feed serves as your main summary, allowing access to the latest reporting so you can see exactly which apps your child has visited. And the Family Map lets you check your child's location anytime for extra reassurance. Keep in mind, however, that users report that the mobile apps can be glitchy.

Plans begin at$40 per year for one desktop. The family plan, currently on offer with a 30% discount ($55/yearly), protects up to five devices.

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Norton Family Premier

Best parental control app for antivirus protection

Norton/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Antivirus protection included
• Helpful geofencing tools
• Unlimited devices

Cons

• No free version
• Limited compatibility

More Details

Norton Family Premier features: Free version: No; plans start at$49.99/year  Device limits: Unlimited  Screen time limits: Yes  App Store rating: 3.9  Google Play rating: 3.2

Norton is known for its fantastic antivirus protection, so it makes sense that it would have great parental controls, too. Norton Family Premier helps you monitor the sites and apps your child visits while allowing you to block specific sites. 

Also: The 5 best antivirus software and apps

You can see exactly which videos your child views, as well as any search terms that give cause for worry. If your child needs the Internet for school (which, let's face it, most kids do these days), turn on School Time mode so your child can access topics relevant to assigned homework. 

You can also set limits based on your preferred schedules for your children, allowing them access when you see fit. Geo-location tracking features help you stay informed on where your children are. You can also access weekly and monthly reports via email or the Parent Portal. 

There is no free plan, and subscriptions start at$40 per year. A 30-day free trial is available.

View now at Norton Family View now at App Store View now at Google Play more buying choices

Apple Parental Controls

Best parental control app for iOS devices

Apple/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Free
• Wide range of features

Cons

• Some users dislike the user interface

More Details

Apple Parental Controls Features:Free Device limits:UnlimitedScreen time limits:Yes Purchase protection Gaming restrictions

A free option for iOS device users is Apple's native parental control system.

Apple's parental controls, available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, include content and privacy controls alongside Screen Time, which allows parents to set screen time limits. Furthermore, you can restrict and ban specific apps and features, including purchasing and accessing game services. 

It's easy to set up, too. You need to access the Settings tab and enable the device by selecting "This is My Child's [Device]," then you can decide on screen and other feature restrictions. 

While it isn't perfect -- with a recent bypass bug in Screen Time causing frustration for some users -- it's worth considering if you want a free monitoring solution.

View now at Apple

Google Family Link

Best parental control app for Android users

Google/ Pros & Cons Pros

• iOS compatibility
• Easy setup

Cons

• Limited features

More Details

Google Family Link features:Free Device limits: UnlimitedScreen time limits: YesApp Store rating:4.6 Google Play rating:4.6 GPS monitoring  

Google Family Link, available on Android and iOS devices, is a fair option for parental control, although it does lack some advanced features. 

Once you've set up a family on your Google account, you can set up screen time limits, approve or reject apps your child wants to download, and you can restrict YouTube access if you desire. You will receive alerts related to web and app usage. 

A feature that parents might find valuable, specifically, is the option to enable GPS for location tracking. Regarding younger children, this feature can give you peace of mind by alerting you when your child arrives home from school.

View now at Google View now at App Store View now at Google Play more buying choices

What is the best parental control app?

The best parental control app is Qustodio for its comprehensive protection tools. From app blocking to screen limits, you are in control of your child's Internet use. Plus, with wide compatibility, it is easy to download a version of Qustodio that works for your device. Here is a look at how the best parental control apps compare on free version offerings, operating system compatibility, and device limits:

Best parental control app	Free version?	Compatibility	Device limits
Qustodio	Yes, or$55/year	Android, iOS	5, unlimited
Kaspersky Safe Kids	Yes, or$22/year	Android, iOS, Mac, Windows	Unlimited
Net Nanny	No; plans start at$40/year	Android, iOS	20
Norton Family Premier	No; plans start at$50/year	Android, iOS, Mac, Windows	Unlimited
Apple parental controls	Yes	iOS	Unlimited
Google Family Link	Yes	Android, iOS	Unlimited

Which is the right parental control app for you?

has compiled a diverse offering of the top parental control apps, designed to help you stay one step ahead of your tech-savvy child, while also keeping them from accessing harmful content. To find the best parental control app for you, these are our expert recommendations. 

Choose this parental control app...	If you want...
Qustodio	A multi-featured tool for parental control featuring a mobile GPS locator and screen time restrictions that you intend to use for at least a year.
Kaspersky Safe Kids	A budget-friendly parental control app with Geofencing capabilities and one that provides protection for all of your kids' devices under one license.
Net Nanny	A parental control app for social networking sites delivering immediate alerts if your child attempts to access content they shouldn't or they are unaware that they are going down restricted content rabbit holes.
Norton Family Premier	To combine parental control with extra antivirus protection, geofencing tools, and unlimited device monitoring.
Apple parental controls	A free option to protect iOS devices. Apple's native parental control system won't be to everyone's taste, but it will help you monitor iOS devices.
Google Family Link	A free option for Android and iOS devices. While limited, this option provides parents with screen time monitoring and location tracking.

How did we choose these parental control apps?

There are numerous factors we considered when we selected the best parental control apps:

• Tools: Each app has different features to help you monitor your child's activity, whether it is screen time limits or content monitoring. 
• Compatibility: We look at device compatibility to ensure that there is an app that will work with your device, including smartphones and tablets.   
• Location tracking: Many of the best parental control apps offer GPS capability, so you can locate your children anytime as long as they have their devices to hand.
• Cost: Affordability is a large concern to ensure that parents on a tight budget still have a solution for parental control.

Be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions to ensure they work for you. And again, parental control apps are intended for safety, and their capabilities should not be abused. 

What is a parental control app, and how does it work?

A parental control app is an app that allows parents to monitor their children's virtual activity for potentially harmful or inappropriate content. For many programs, you'll be able to set online time restrictions, set preventions so your child cannot access certain websites and content, and provide immediate alerts if your kid tries to bypass the content filter. 

Parental control apps are a wise way to help keep your child safe online. They also give you the opportunity to speak with your children about implementing best practices for online use. 

How much are parental control apps?

The cost depends on the manufacturer and how many devices you want to have monitored. Some parental control apps are free, whereas others will charge users monthly or annually depending on the services they require and the number of devices they want under their plan.

What is the best parental control app for gaming?

There are several parental control apps specific to gaming. Among the best parental control apps are Family on PSN for PlayStation, Nintendo Switch Parental Controls, and Microsoft Family Safety for Xbox.

You can access the parental controls through your console settings. To demonstrate, PlayStation allows you to set up family management, where you can impose restrictions for each specific user. With this in mind, you can have a sub-account under your family umbrella for each child and set restrictions that coincide with their age level. Not only does this affect the kind of content they'll be able to access, but it also limits their ability to message or voice chat within the game, share content they created, and more. 

How do parental control apps work?

Typically, parental control apps installed on devices such as smartphones and tablets will require permission for monitoring purposes. This may include access to accessibility features, GPS, call logs, and website logs, with activity data made remotely available to primary users.

However, some parental control apps can go 'too far' in what permissions they require and cross the line between monitoring for safety purposes and privacy violations. Indeed, vendors, including Apple, have implemented their own native parental control options as an alternative to third-party parental control apps.

Are there alternative parental control apps worth considering?

Our recommendations above represent the best parental control apps on the market today. However, if you want to consider a few more worthwhile options, we have found a number of alternatives, as listed below: 

Best budget alternative

Canopy

With Canopy, you can set which content each device can access, making it perfect for families with multiple kids. There are a few different subscription tiers, with the most inexpensive starting at$8 per month. 

View at Canopy/

Best online management supervisory alternative

OurPact

OurPact allows you to set restrictions on apps, text messages, and other digital tools to keep your kids safe. Monthly subscriptions begin at$7, and there is a 14-day trial. 

View at Ourpact

Before you can monitor your child's activity, you need the right devices. Check out our expert picks for the best smartphones, the best computers, and the best laptops!

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