Everyone wants to protect their children online, and parental control software seems like a straightforward solution. However, using a single app for online safety can be complicated. After all, installing invasive software to spy on kids can be counterproductive. Additionally, a curious child can often circumvent many restrictions imposed by parental controls. Finally, most third-party apps we’ve tested collect and store troubling amounts of data. For these reasons, we no longer assign ratings to third-party parental control products. Instead, we recommend checking out built-in options, like Apple’s Screen Time, Google’s Family Link, and Microsoft’s Family Safety, for comprehensive, free child-monitoring software. We also recommend enabling the parental control features within gaming and chat apps with your child’s consent. If you still prefer to use third-party parental control apps, we have details about popular ones below.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best for Total Surveillance
Bark
Bark’s products use AI to scan your child’s emails, social media profiles, texts, and media saved to their phone’s camera roll for content that parents may find harmful. If Bark finds content that you deem inappropriate, it will send alerts to you or another trusted adult.
Pricing and plans: Bark App starts at $14 per month and includes support for unlimited kids and unlimited devices. The company also offers the Bark Phone, a tamper-proof mobile device that Bark and the parent fully control. There’s also the Bark Watch ($169.99), which your child can wear and allows you to track them all day. Bark Home ($6 per month) filters web content for all devices connected to your home’s router.
Platforms: Bark offers comprehensive solutions, including the Bark Phone and Bark Watch, as well as apps and software compatible with Android, iOS, Amazon Fire devices, and Chromebooks.
Key features: Parents can set up customized content monitoring to determine which apps and websites their children can access. Parents can also set up screen time schedules and use the app’s geofencing capabilities to monitor their child’s location throughout the day. Adults can also monitor their child’s emails, text messages, saved photos and videos, web searches, and YouTube history.
Total surveillance: Bark works across multiple platforms and devices, making it ideal for parents who want to monitor their child’s online activities at all times.
Curious parents: Kids don’t come with a manual, so, naturally, parents may not know how to handle every situation. That goes for online safety issues like cyberbullying, grooming, or suicidal ideation, too. That’s why we appreciate that, in addition to surveillance and scheduling features, Bark offers advice from child psychologists who provide tips for navigating complex, internet-specific social topics when talking with your kids.
- Good app and device usage controls
- Useful web filters
- Supports geofencing
- Call and SMS supervision on Android
- Only monitors mobile devices
- Currently requires users to sideload Android app
- Single-device plan is expensive
- Limitations on iOS
Boomerang monitors your child’s web browsing history, device usage, and location on a mobile device. The catch? Most of the features are only for Android devices.
Pricing and plans: You can try the app for free for 14 days. After that, Boomerang is $19.99 per year for a single child’s device, or you can bundle ten devices in the Family Pack plan for $309.99 annually. Parents can use the app for free.
Platforms: Boomerang is available for Android and iOS.
Key features: Boomerang lets you construct geofences to track your child’s devices wherever they wander, set up a safe browser for your child to view filtered web content, and schedule device shutdown times to help your kids sleep through the night. The iOS version of the app is limited to the features mentioned above, but Android users receive a range of additional tools, including time limits for installed apps and the ability to block or allow specific apps. Android users can also monitor their child’s text messages and YouTube viewing history, and allow calls only from trusted contacts. Boomerang supports Samsung Knox, an enterprise-grade security platform that includes a password manager.
Android users: Guardians or parents of kids who use Android devices are the primary target audience for Boomerang, as most of the app’s best features are exclusive to this platform.
Device Limits
1/10
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Boomerang Review
- Easy install and setup.
- App Blocker.
- SOS and Pick Me Up options for child.
- Call and SMS logging on Android.
- Supports geofencing.
- Expensive.
- Cannot monitor Macs or PCs.
- No web content filtering.
- Easily uninstalled.
- Not all features work as expected.
- Inconsistent features across platforms.
FamilyTime is a comprehensive parental control app that tracks your kids’ location, the apps they use, and their contacts.
Pricing and plans: You can try a feature-limited version of the service for free for up to three days. When the trial ends, FamilyTime pricing starts at $29 per year for one device, with higher-priced plans available for three or five devices.
Platforms: FamilyTime is available as an app for both Android and iOS devices. There’s also a version of the app specifically for schools.
Key features: Each FamilyTime plan includes app and game blocking and time-limiting, web content blocking, image and video filters, location tracking, safe driving alerts, social media monitoring, and the ability to limit your child’s internet access on their device, plus you can monitor their calls and text messages. Parents can also establish screen time schedules for their kids, approve or deny requests to install new apps and games on devices, and even see if their child’s device battery is low.
Busy parents: An interesting feature of the product is PickMeUp Requests. These are real-time alerts from your child, so you won’t forget to pick them up from school or other activities.
Anxious children: FamilyTime features a built-in panic button that your child can use to let you know when they’re in danger.
Device Limits
1/3/5
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FamilyTime Premium Review
Best for Screen Time Management
Mobicip
- Diverse platform availability for multiple devices
- Geofencing capabilities
- Customizable screen time scheduling tools
- Limited social platform monitoring
Mobicip is an excellent option for parents who need features such as location tracking, social media monitoring, and assistance with managing their kids’ online time.
Pricing and plans: Mobicip’s plans start at $2.99 per month for the Lite plan, which includes support for up to five devices, app blocking, screen time limits, device locking, location tracking, uninstall protection, and website blocking. A Standard plan is $4.99 per month and includes support for up to 10 devices. A Premium plan is $7.99 per month and, in addition to the above features, provides support for up to 20 devices, app timers, social media monitoring, and access to expert tips for effective online parenting.
Platforms: Mobicip offers apps for the following platforms: Android, iOS devices, plus Chromebooks, Kindle Fire devices, and macOS and Windows computers.
Key features: Parents can track their child’s location, monitor their social media activity, and set screen time limits. Mobicip’s app filters web content and allows parents to create screen time schedules for their kids with just a few clicks. Other features include app blocking and device-wide blocking of pornography.
Big families: If you have a lot of kids, or your kid has a lot of devices, Mobicip has you covered. The Premium plan supports up to 20 devices, which is more than enough for most families.
Parents with young children: Mobicip allows parents to block a lot of online content, like apps and websites, and you can lock down your child’s devices, too. This is almost helpful when trying to prevent young children from accessing adult websites while monitoring a child’s video viewing habits.
Device Limits
20
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Mobicip Review
- Affordable
- Comprehensive web dashboard
- No limit on the number of monitored devices
- Easy setup and configuration
- Excellent geofencing tools
- House Rules encourage family dialogue about online safety
- Does not work on Macs
- Browser extensions can be disabled easily
- Cannot block individual apps and games on PCs
- Unlocking an iOS device breaks monitoring alerts
Norton Family’s approach to parental control emphasizes cooperation and open dialogue between parents and children by helping you establish house rules for online behavior, and letting your kids check in with you via the app.
Pricing and plans: Norton Family costs $49.99 annually. Each Norton Family subscription includes support for unlimited kids and unlimited devices.
Platforms: Norton Family has apps for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.
Key features: Norton Family allows trusted guardians to monitor a child’s online activity through a web dashboard or an option within Norton’s mobile app. The app features app blocking, web search monitoring, YouTube watch history reviews, screen-time limiting features, location tracking, and browser content blocking capabilities.
Schedule sticklers: Adults who want to help the kids in their lives establish healthy screen time habits will appreciate Norton Family’s easy-to-use screen time scheduling tools.
Location trackers: Norton Family includes geofencing tools, which can help you keep an eye on your kids’ device locations. That way, if your child’s phone is detected leaving school early or is in an unauthorized location, you can track down the device (and your child).
Device Limits
None
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Norton Family Review
- Well-designed web interface
- Comprehensive time restrictions
- App blocking on desktop and mobile platforms
- Cross-platform support
- Intuitive apps
- Expensive
- Child can evade web filter by using a VPN
- No social media tracking
- Sideloading required for Android calls and text monitoring
Qustodio has nearly every feature an anxious parent wants, including robust content-blocking options and a detailed activity log.
Pricing and plans: Plans start at $54.95 annually for the Basic package, which includes daily time limits, web filtering, location tracking, app and game blocking, and internet pausing. Upgrade to the Complete plan, which costs $99.95 per year, to add on extras like specialized, AI-generated alerts, social media monitoring, unlimited device monitoring, and the ability to review your child’s calls and texts.
Platforms: Qustodio is available on macOS, Windows computers, as well as ChromeOS and Kindle devices. The company also offers apps for Android and iOS.
Key features: The plans include app and game blocking, screen time-limiting options, web content filtering, geofencing, and the ability to temporarily shut off access to the internet for your child’s device, custom alerts and routines, time limits for games and apps, unlimited device monitoring, and call and message monitoring.
Customizers: Tech-savvy parents will appreciate Qustodio’s extensive range of monitoring customizations, including viewing your child’s browsing history, device location, screen time, and YouTube viewing history. Complete plan members can also monitor a child’s calls, texts, and messages on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, and X.
Location trackers: The lowest-priced plan includes location monitoring for your child’s devices, so you can keep tabs on their whereabouts. If your child needs your help, they can use the Panic button to send an alert right to your phone.
Device Limits
5/unlimited
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Qustodio Review
Best for Big Families
Net Nanny
- Simple setup
- Capable screen time options
- App blocking
- Custom web filters
- Expensive
- Web filters defeated by Tor
- Relatively few preset web filters
- Limited geofencing features
Net Nanny offers screen time management tools, location tracking, and monitoring for YouTube and social media platforms.
Pricing and plans: Net Nanny offers three pricing tiers. If you only need coverage for one desktop device, the annual price is $39.99. For $54.99 per year, Net Nanny offers a Family Protection Pass, which provides coverage for up to five devices. For $89.99 per year, coverage extends to 20 devices.
Platforms: Net Nanny is available for PC, Mac, and iOS devices. Net Nanny is not available on Android devices.
Key features: From the Parent dashboard, adults can manage their child’s screen time, block apps and websites, filter internet content, and locate their child’s devices. People who have a lot of children (or a few kids with a lot of devices) will appreciate Net Nanny’s coverage for up to 20 devices.
Big families: People who have a lot of children (or a few kids with a lot of devices) will appreciate Net Nanny’s coverage for up to 20 devices. Here’s a tip: Keep tabs on what all those kids are doing online with the comprehensive Net Nanny Family Feed, which shows their activity as it happens.
Privacy protectors: Unlike some of the other options on this list, Net Nanny does not log your child’s calls or text messages, and it also does not monitor your child’s social media activity. This makes Net Nanny a less invasive parental control app, which is beneficial from a privacy standpoint.
Device Limits
1/5/20
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Net Nanny Review
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The Best Parental Control Software for 2026
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Buying Guide: The Best Parental Control Software for 2026
How to Monitor Your Child’s Devices
Children who feel they have some agency in using parental control apps are less likely to attempt to disable the software or circumvent restrictions. If you aren’t looking forward to difficult talks with your kids, take a moment before the chat to learn how your child uses technology.
Check that any product you choose doesn’t restrict the number of child profiles or devices your subscription covers. Large families, for example, will appreciate an app that works on an unlimited number of devices. Most parental control software operates as a subscription service, so pricing tiers tend to align with device limits. However, some offer free versions for basic protection on a limited number of devices.
Some parental control utilities use VPN technology, running internet connections through a local app to enable content filtering. You’ll see the VPN icon when such a utility is active, but it doesn’t mean a full-scale VPN secures the child’s connection, nor that the device’s IP address is masked.
Many kids spend more time on gaming consoles than on any other device. The parental control services in this roundup don’t cover this situation, but we show you how to enable parental controls on gaming consoles elsewhere.
Web Filters, Time Limits, and Apps
Parental control tools usually offer content filtering, which is the ability to block access to websites matching categories such as hate, violence, and porn. This type of filtering only works if it’s browser-independent and works with secure (HTTPS) sites. With no HTTPS filtering, a savvy teenager could bypass the system using a secure anonymizing proxy website or even an uncommon web browser in some cases. Using a VPN or the Tor browser can often break even the strongest protections.
Most apps also offer the option to permanently enable SafeSearch, although these settings are typically limited to Google, Bing, and occasionally YouTube. Your child can thwart most SafeSearch restrictions by using a lesser-known search engine such as Ecosia.
Access scheduling is another very common feature. Some services let parents set a daily or weekly schedule for device usage. Others specifically restrict the amount of time your kid spends on the internet. This is particularly useful for children who have a habit of playing games or using social media apps when they should be doing homework. The most helpful time-based settings apply to all your kids’ devices so they can’t switch between them to evade limits.
As kids get older, content filtering alone may start to seem pointless. At some point, you start to worry more about their interaction with the wider world. Sure, if their friends come over in person, you can at least meet them, but what about friends on social media and other people your child never mentions? Who are they, really, and what are your kids discussing with them?
Some services allow you to monitor contacts and messages, and look out for potentially dangerous or unauthorized situations. You can even block new contacts or view message content with some parental control software. Keep in mind that this primarily applies to SMS texts; popular messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Signal do not fall under the same scope.
It’s also important to remember that, although some supervision is acceptable, you should avoid snooping on your kids. Using parental control software as spyware is not an effective way to teach your child how to combat online threats, such as bullying or cybercrime. Instead, consider talking to your kids about their online lives and helping them form healthy online security habits.
Kids and AI Interactions
Like them or not, AI chatbots appear to be here to stay. Sometimes, the chatbots interact with children in inappropriate ways, and sometimes, the conversations children have with AI have tragic endings. That’s why, if you want your child to interact with LLMs, it’s a good idea to put up some guardrails via the chatbot’s parental control settings.
If you don’t want your child to interact with popular chatbots, you can use parental control software to block all of the popular chatbot apps on your child’s devices. You should also use the browser content filtering settings to block the related websites. For example, if you don’t want your child to use ChatGPT, block the app, and then block https://chatgpt.com/ using the web filter.
Parental Controls and Video Streaming
You can use parental control software to block access to video streaming apps and sites, and limit the time your child spends using them. However, if you want to restrict what your child can watch on Netflix, Disney+, and other video streaming platforms, none of these parental control tools provides that capability. Instead, you need to dive into the settings of each service.
The parental control capabilities of video streaming services vary widely. Some do not offer any options to restrict content, while others may simply offer a kid-friendly mode that broadly limits the streaming library to content appropriate for young children. The best services allow you to set rating restrictions on individual profiles and prevent your kid from simply switching to an unmonitored profile without a password or PIN.
Recommended by Our Editors
Parental Controls Notification and Management
Most kids are on mobile devices at least some of the time, and many are almost exclusively accessing the internet on their phones. Fortunately, many parental control services offer a companion app that allows you to view your child’s activity, set basic rules, and receive notifications as they arrive. This type of companion app is particularly useful for responding to access or time extension requests on the go. Otherwise, you manage everything online or locally on the PC, where you have fine control over activity reports and restrictions. Any changes you make should propagate to your children’s devices when they connect to the internet.
When your child tries to visit a blocked site, makes a post using questionable language, or otherwise breaks the rules, the best parental control services send you a notification to your preferred channel, such as via the app, web, email, text, or a combination of those options.
Additional Parental Control Features
Some parental control systems have advanced features to help them stand out from the crowd. These include YouTube monitoring, geofencing, and remote device locking, among others. Microsoft’s Family Safety app even tracks your teens while they’re driving to encourage better driving habits.
You’ll also find advanced versions of standard features with paid parental control apps. For example, the best content filters don’t just use a database of categories. They analyze page content, filter profanity, and allow you to add custom keywords and categories you want to block. We also like those services that support multi-factor authentication for account logins. Generally speaking, the more advanced features you want, the higher the price you can expect to pay.
What Is the Best Parental Control App?
At PCMag, we believe parental control apps are only effective when installed with a child’s consent. Otherwise, the child will simply find ways to circumvent the restrictions you’re paying to put in place. That’s why we recommend free parental control apps from Apple, Google, and Microsoft, rather than paid third-party solutions.
Talk to your kids about online safety and why some of the behavior, content, or relationships they encounter on the internet should be off-limits for now. The internet wasn’t created with kids’ safety in mind. Help create a safer online space for your family through open, compassionate, and engaged communication with your kids. If you could use some family time away from the screens, read our guide to kicking your kids off of the home wi-fi.
