5 Best Parental Control Apps - April 2025
From social media to gaming, monitor and manage your kids' online activity with a parental control app. Set healthy screen time limits & get alerts for cyberbullying, inappropriate content and more.
🔥 Save 60% On Annual Plan-Only $8.33/Month
- Protect Unlimited Kids & Devices
- Filter Content & Block Inappropriate Websites
- Receive Alerts for Online Predators & Cyberbullying
- 24/7 Monitoring of In-Game Voice & Text Chats
🔥 Save 42% on Annual Plan - Only $14/Month
- Monitor texts, email and 30+ apps & platforms
- Manage screen time & filter content
- Alerts for cyberbullying & online predators
- Keep up with kids with location alerts & check-ins
Get 50% Off Your First 3 Months
- Monitor & Manage Your Child’s Online Activity
- Block & Track Websites, Apps, and Screen Time
- View Social Media Chats, Texts, & Emails
- Track GPS Location & Get Geofencing Alerts
📲 FREE Bark Phone for Kids - Starts at $39/mo
- No contract, unlimited talk & text
- Text & social media monitoring built-in
- Approve apps & contacts
- GPS-powered location tracking
Norton Family Parental Controls
- Monitor social media, content & online activity
- Block online distractions with School Time
- Set healthy screen time limits
- Stay updated on your child’s location
- Block inappropriate apps, games & sites
- Monitor kids' texts & calls
- Receive alerts of cyberbullying & more
- Set healthy limits on screen time
What are the Best Parental Control Apps?
The best parental control apps offer a comprehensive set of features designed to help parents monitor and manage their children’s device usage. These apps typically include location tracking, app blocking, screen time limits, and web content filtering. Some apps also provide activity reports and real-time alerts for potentially harmful behavior, such as cyberbullying or inappropriate content. When choosing an app, it’s important to consider the ease of use, cross-device compatibility, and whether it offers customizable settings based on the child’s age.
Teen Phone Monitoring
Teen phone monitoring apps allow parents to track their teenagers’ online activities while respecting their privacy. These apps often provide tools to review messages, social media interactions, and search history, alongside setting time restrictions. Features like GPS tracking and geofencing can help ensure a teen's safety by notifying parents of their location. It's essential to strike a balance between monitoring and trust, as too much oversight can lead to conflict. Parents should ensure that they comply with local laws and maintain open communication with their teens about the purpose of monitoring for safety, not control.
Aura Parental Control App
Parental Control Features:
Aura’s Parental Control App offers robust features for monitoring and managing your children and/or teens' online activity. Real-time alerts notify parents of any risky behavior, such as cyberbullying or explicit content, and settings can be customized based on the child’s age. Highlight features include:
- Content Filtering: Allows you to choose a filter level for each member of your family and select the apps, websites, and streaming services that need limitations or restrictions.
- Screen Time Limits: Customize Screen Time Limits for each kid’s profile and set different limits for apps, categories of sites, and a Daily Time Limit.
- Set Bedtimes: When bedtime rolls around, all devices associated with your child’s profile will automatically disconnect from the Internet.
- Pause the Internet®: Pause the Internet at the press of a button. Hit unpause when you're ready to give back their internet access.
- Internet Usage: Get a complete picture of kids internet use across all devices so you can make informed decisions about the amount of screen time that’s right for your family. Track your kids' online habits to spot overuse on apps and websites.
- Bonus Online Time: Extend your kid’s daily time online with Bonus Time to reward good behavior or celebrate successes.
- Safe Gaming: Get alerted to threats with 24/7 in-game voice and text monitoring for over 200 of the most popular PC games.
Device Compatibility:
Aura is compatible with iOS, Android, and other devices, offering seamless synchronization across platforms.
Pricing:
Aura offers various subscription plans with premium features, and a free trial is available for parents to explore its capabilities before committing.
Bark Parental Controls
Parental Control Features:
Bark’s Parental Control App provides comprehensive tools to monitor and manage children’s online activity effectively. Parents receive automatic alerts for potential issues such as cyberbullying, explicit content, and more, with customizable settings suited for each child’s age. Highlight features include:
- Content Monitoring: Monitors texts, emails, and 30+ apps and platforms for potential risks, alerting parents only when concerning activity is detected.
- Web Filtering: Customizable web filters that block inappropriate content across browsers, offering a safe browsing experience.
- Screen Time Management: Parents can set screen time schedules, allowing tailored access to different sites and apps during specific parts of the day.
- Location Check-Ins: Enables parents to request check-ins for their child's location and see a mapped location history.
- 24/7 Alerts: Bark’s advanced algorithms scan for signs of risky behavior in real-time, providing alerts on issues like depression, violence, and predatory behavior.
Device Compatibility:
Bark is compatible with iOS, Android, and other devices, supporting various platforms and providing cross-device synchronization.
Pricing:
Bark Premium is $99/year or $14/month — their annual plan is the most popular and saves you 42%.
mSpy Parental Controls
Parental Control Features:
mSpy’s Parental Control App offers a robust suite of monitoring tools to help parents stay informed about their child’s digital activity. With real-time tracking and detailed insights, parents can ensure their child's safety across various online platforms. Highlight features include:
- Content Monitoring: Tracks messages, social media activity, and browsing history across multiple platforms, providing detailed reports and alerts on suspicious content.
- App and Website Blocking: Allows parents to block inappropriate websites and restrict access to specific apps to create a safe digital environment.
- Screen Time Control: Provides options to manage screen time limits and schedule device usage to encourage healthy online habits.
- GPS Location Tracking: Offers real-time location tracking and geofencing alerts, helping parents monitor their child’s whereabouts and receive notifications when they enter or leave designated areas.
- Call and Text Monitoring: Enables parents to view call logs, contact details, and text message content to identify potential risks.
Device Compatibility:
mSpy is compatible with iOS and Android devices, offering seamless monitoring with a user-friendly dashboard accessible from any web browser.
Pricing:
mSpy plans start at $16.65/month for the annual subscription, with options for shorter-term plans. The annual plan provides the best value with comprehensive monitoring features included.