The best parental control apps for Android have become essential tools today for keeping an eye on kids’ online activities to ensure they’re safe and using the internet responsibly. These apps help parents with tasks like filtering content, managing screen time, tracking locations, and monitoring what children are doing on the internet.
In this guide, we’ll delve deeper into some of the best parental control apps for Android devices. We’ll explore their features and functionality and provide you with a better understanding of how they can empower parents to safeguard their children online.
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- 1. mSpy — Overall, the Best Parental Control App for Android
- 2. Eyezy — Intuitive Dashboard and Full Phone Monitoring Capabilities
- 3. uMobix — One of The Best for Android and iOS Monitoring
- 4. Cocospy — Top Choice with Easy Installation and Automatic Set Up
- 5. Spyic.pro — Parental Controls with a Powerful Keylogger
- 6. KidsGuard — Comprehensive Social Media Monitoring
- 7. Norton Family — Parental Control Bundled With Full Internet Protection
- 8. Qustodio — Best Free Parental Control App
- 9. Famisafe — Easily Monitor Your Child's Driving Habits
- 10. ESET Parental Control — Excellent Android App Monitoring and Management
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- 1. mSpy — Overall, the Best Parental Control App for Android
- 2. Eyezy — Intuitive Dashboard and Full Phone Monitoring Capabilities
- 3. uMobix — One of The Best for Android and iOS Monitoring
- 4. Cocospy — Top Choice with Easy Installation and Automatic Set Up
- 5. Spyic.pro — Parental Controls with a Powerful Keylogger
- 6. KidsGuard — Comprehensive Social Media Monitoring
- 7. Norton Family — Parental Control Bundled With Full Internet Protection
- 8. Qustodio — Best Free Parental Control App
- 9. Famisafe — Easily Monitor Your Child's Driving Habits
- 10. ESET Parental Control — Excellent Android App Monitoring and Management
Show Full Guide
The Top Android Parental Control Apps in 2023
Here, we’ve gathered a selection of the best-rated parental control apps for Android. These apps have earned their reputation for being highly effective in assisting parents in ensuring their children’s safety in the online world. Let’s take a closer look at them.
- mSpy — Overall, the best parental control app with in-depth GPS tracking features and the ability to switch to silent mode.
- Eyezy — A crowd favorite with an easy-to-navigate dashboard and full phone monitoring capabilities.
- uMobix — Equipped with a secondary parental app for easy monitoring without using a browser for access.
- Cocospy — A comprehensive parental monitoring app that’s easy to install and has an automatic setup process for the best remote monitoring on both Android and iOS.
- Spyic.pro — A top choice that offers powerful features like a robust keylogger for access to password-protected files.
- KidsGuard — One of the best for social media monitoring – and it comes with a completely free version.
- Norton Family — Parental control tools bundled with one of the best antivirus solutions for complete internet security.
- Qustodio — The best free parental monitoring solution on the market, which is capable of blocking over 9,000 iOS apps.
- Famisafe — An excellent choice to monitor habits, plus a reverse tracking feature for your child to find you in an emergency.
- ESET Parental Control — A top-rate parental control app for Android that comes with in-depth app monitoring capabilities.
How Do Parental Apps for Android Work?
A parental app for Android can serve as a virtual parenting sidekick. They give you tools to watch over and guide your kids in the digital world.
You can block or limit access to websites, set screen time rules, keep tabs on where your kids are, and even get alerts if something isn’t right. Some apps can even peek into messages and social media.
The Best Parental Control Apps for Android Phones and Tablets Reviewed in 2023
If you’re looking for the best parental control apps for Android, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our detailed reviews to get a better understanding of the apps’ features and performance.
1. mSpy — Overall, the Best Parental Control App for Android
mSpy is a popular parental control app that we rate as the overall best for a number of reasons. One of these is the sheer comprehensiveness of the tools on offer.
It takes about five minutes to install mSpy on your child’s device, and it works well on both Android devices and iOS. With it, you can monitor almost all messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Tinder, and Snapchat. This allows you to see who your child is speaking straight from the mSpy dashboard.
The same can be said for emails and phone calls. mSpy allows you to see all emails sent and received, and whenever the phone rings, you’ll get a detailed call log with information like timestamps, call duration, and, of course, who’s on the other side of the line.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
$48.99 | $11.66/month | 1 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
What’s nice is that all of this can be done silently by simply switching mSpy into Stealth Mode, which essentially turns it into a hidden parental control app for Android.
That’s not all, though, as mSpy allows you to see what photos and videos your child is being exposed to, with time and date stamps included, which is great for getting a better understanding of what they may be getting up to.
For those who have slightly older children, it’s always a good idea to see where they go. With mSpy, you can set up a GPS location tracker on your child’s device for greater peace of mind.
You can even go as far as to set up geofencing capabilities, which will send you a notification if your child leaves a certain designated area, like a school, for example.
Other features on offer include a web browser history tracker, an app viewer, and an app blocker so you can prevent your child from accessing apps you don’t approve of. It’s also easy to use, and all the data received is kept safe on encrypted servers that only you have access to.
Pricing
For the fullest insight into what your child gets up to on their mobile device, we recommend opting for the premium package.
The longer you subscribe, the cheaper it becomes. The 12-month plan offers the best value for money as well as peace of mind for an entire year.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Simple to access the dashboard
- Great location tracking features
- Stealth Mode
Cons
- No free plan and can only track one device at a time
2. Eyezy — Intuitive Dashboard and Full Phone Monitoring Capabilities
Eyezy is a popular favorite when it comes to Android monitoring apps, and it works just as well on iOS. Unlocking all the features on iOS does require a jailbreak, however, but the silver lining is Eyezy’s easy-to-navigate dashboard. It makes managing the data it tracks a breeze, keeping you well-informed and in control.
The app is equipped with a top-notch keylogger that allows you to see everything that is typed, including messages and search terms – but it only shows one side of the conversation. For deeper insights into what your children could be getting up to, you can use a feature called Social Spotlight.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
$47.99 | $9.99/month | 1 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
This feature allows you to monitor social media activity, which includes everything from emails, SMS – even deleted messages – and other apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Viber, Telegram, and a whole lot more.
This is a great way of seeing who your kids are talking to, and if they are engaging in anything inappropriate or being bullied.
We liked the fact you can block apps from working altogether. For example, if you have a young child, you can restrict apps like Tinder or Grindr, which are dating sites for adults. One minor drawback to note is that to block apps from working on an Android device, you do need to root it – much like jailbreaking an iOS device.
Another standout feature offered by Eyezy is its Web Magnifier. With it, you can view the device’s browser history and bookmarks.
This is a good way of gauging what hobbies your child is interested in. It’s also a good way of ensuring your child doesn’t frequent adult websites, which could be detrimental to their development.
Like its app blocker, Eyezy’s connection blocker gives you the ability to completely block certain websites. It’s a preventative measure rather than a monitoring feature, but it’s nice to see you can be proactive with your child’s safety.
Pricing
Like mSpy, Eyezy offers an easy-to-follow pricing scheme, with three plans to choose from. It also comes in at a similar price – though it’s very slightly cheaper, with slightly fewer features.
If you want to try Eyezy, there’s a demo that lets you see how the application works. Then, if you’re satisfied with the service, we recommend opting for the annual subscription, as it’s much cheaper than the month-to-month subscription.
Pros
- Intuitive dashboard
- In-depth insights with Social Spotlight
- Ability to view deleted messages
- Connection blocker
Cons
- Requires jailbreaking and rooting for advanced features to work
- iCloud sync delay
3. uMobix — One of The Best for Android and iOS Monitoring
uMobix is a relatively new product and was first released in 2019. That said, it’s already recognized as one of the best parental control apps for iPhone and Android, and it’s packed with all the features you’d ever need to successfully monitor your child’s online activity.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
$49.99 | $12.49/month | 1 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
With uMobix, you can monitor over 30 popular social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and Skype. The platform can track both incoming and outgoing calls with timestamps included. You’ll also get notified of the duration of the call as well as the caller information itself, with a name and cell phone number.
We liked the fact you can remotely access the camera and microphone in real-time. This gives you the ability to see and hear everything around your child. That’s not all, though.
You can also pull all the media files from the target device so you can see if your child is being exposed to inappropriate content, which is important when children are starting to use secret apps like LINE to hide images and videos.
Many solutions require you to log in online using a computer. With uMobix, you can access to a secondary parental app that allows you to monitor your child’s device directly from your own. This offers greater convenience, and it’s really easy to use.
Once you’ve created a uMobix account and linked the target device to it, you’ll be prompted to download the secondary app. It works the same way as the dashboard, and you’ll know it’s running once you start receiving notifications on your phone.
Pricing
uMobix keeps things simple by providing three paid plans. There’s also a comprehensive demo available for those who would like to play with the app before making a purchase.
Pros
- No jailbreaking or rooting required
- Monitor 41 popular social media apps
- View deleted information
- Secondary parental app for more control
Cons
- More expensive than competitors
4. Cocospy — Top Choice with Easy Installation and Automatic Set Up
Cocospy is a well-equipped monitoring app that gives you the ability to monitor things like SMSs, browser history, call logs, and social media activity, among other things.
There’s also no need to root or jailbreak any device, which makes Cocospy one of the best parental control applications for Android phones as well as iOS devices. A bonus is its automatic setup, which makes installing really easy.
We would like to see some minor improvement in a few places. For example, the color scheme is light blue with grey text, which makes reading incoming data difficult to read for long periods of time. That being said, navigation is broken into four categories, which makes navigation around the dashboard easy.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
$49.99 | $12.49/month | 1 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
The first category is General, which is where you will find tools to monitor the different built-in features like calls, SMSs, and the contact list. With this tool, you can see who your child communicates with by tracking the target phone’s call logs, remotely viewing the contact list, and viewing all sent and received messages.
Nearly 50% of the children in the US have experienced some form of cyberbullying. This is a big reason why you might want to monitor your child’s device.
Cocospy can help with monitoring. It can monitor a range of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, TikTok, and a whole lot more. It does this by randomly taking screenshots so you can get a sneak peek into your child’s social media activity.
The third category is Media, which gives you access to a target device’s media storage. You can even control the device’s media-capturing features, like remotely capturing photos, which can be great in an emergency situation.
Other than that, you can view and download photos that have been stored on a target device, which is essential as children also share intimate photos, which can be a doorway for predators.
And finally, the last category is Internet monitoring. This is a pretty straightforward feature that allows you to monitor your child’s internet activity.
With it, you can track incoming and outgoing emails, view browsing history as well as any bookmarked websites. The list of browsers that Cocospy monitors include Google Chrome, Firefox, Dolphin, Opera Mini, and Samsung Internet Browser.
Pricing
Cocospy’s pricing matches uMobix, and similarly, you can only track one device with an account. If you want to track more, you’ll need to create another account, which means purchasing another plan.
Pros
- Easy to navigate dashboard
- Automatic setup process for easy install
- No jailbreaking or rooting required
- Remote installation
Cons
- Can only monitor one device at a time
5. Spyic.pro — Parental Controls with a Powerful Keylogger
Spyic is another fantastic monitoring app that’s been specifically designed for parental control. Spyic has a great family pack, which gives you the ability to track up to three devices with a single account. This costs around $16.66/month, which is a pretty good deal.
Spyic shines when it comes to ease of use. Its dashboard is well organized, and not to mention, it looks good as well. Something we wish could be said for Cocospy’s dashboard. More than that, it’s filled with powerful features like a built-in keylogger, social media tracking, and the ability to monitor incoming and outgoing calls.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
$49.99 | $12.49/month | 1-3 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
It has GPS tracking capabilities, however, if you want to track an Android device, you will need to install the app directly on the phone. In contrast, iOS devices don’t require an install.
You can simply use Spyic’s web-based platform and register an account using your child’s iCloud credentials. That being said, it remains undetectable on Android as it works quietly in the background.
The platform is equipped with one of the best keyloggers, which works perfectly for tracking text input. With it, you can see exactly what your child searches for on the internet, have a quick look at messages, and even access password-protected files for more peace of mind.
Another great feature is called Spyic Block, which gives you the ability to outright block certain apps from being accessed. Spyic Block also gives you the ability to block websites, WiFi networks, and even certain people. This is a pretty proactive way of ensuring your little angels remain little angels.
Other features include trackers for WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and Snapchat. It’s easy to see why Spyic is among the best when it comes to parental control for Android and iOS phones.
Pricing
Spyic offers a total of three plans for Android and iOS devices.
The best is the 12-month plan, as it works out to be a lot more affordable.
Pros
- Track up to three devices with one account
- No root or jailbreak required
- Very easy to use
- Robust keylogger
Cons
- Can get expensive to track more than three devices
KidsGuard is part of a larger platform which is called ClevGuard. Under ClevGuard, there are four applications specific to parental control, which are KidsGuard, KidsGuard Pro, KidsGuard for WhatsApp, and KidsGuard for LINE.
And while we would like to see all of these apps put under one subscription – you have to purchase each individually – each app works really well.
The main app is, of course, KidsGuard, and it’s pretty comprehensive. With it, you can filter out inappropriate apps and websites to ensure your child is not exposed to anything harmful or dangerous.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
$9.99 | $4.17/month | 3 | Android & iOS | Demo | 30-day money-back guarantee |
It’s also equipped with location-tracking features as well as geofencing capabilities and is easily one of the best GPS trackers around.
These features are often standout features in many parental control apps as they allow you to keep an eye on where your child is in real-time while the geofencing feature will notify you if they have left a designated safe zone. All this data can be viewed with an interactive map directly in your dashboard.
Other than that, you can get access to activity reports, which include information like screen time and the most frequented apps and websites. What’s nice is you can remotely lock your child’s screen, which is a feature that could be used to control just how much time is actually spent on a device.
If you want more advanced features, we suggest taking a look at KidGuard Pro, which starts at $9.16/month. With it, you can monitor calls and SMS.
You can even record phone conversations, which isn’t something we see every day. The Pro version also gives you the ability to monitor social media activity which is where a large amount of cyberbullying takes place.
When it comes to monitoring apps like TikTok and YouTube, KidsGuard stands out and even tops some of its competitors.
This feature allows you to view your child’s search history on these platforms as well as see exactly what videos have been watched. You’ll also get information like the amount of videos watched and the total time spent on that app.
Pricing
The pricing of KidsGuard is rather complex as they have separate plans for different use cases. The pricing you see below is for the basic KidGuard plan.
If you want to see the other plans, click on the store tab. Here, you’ll find plans, including KidsGuard Pro, KidsGuard for WhatsApp, and KidsGuard for LINE.
Pros
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Advanced TikTok and YouTube monitoring
- Remotely lock the target device’s screen
- Very affordable
Cons
- Separate plans for WhatsApp monitoring
7. Norton Family — Parental Control Bundled With Full Internet Protection
Norton Family has been around for a decade already, and it’s equipped with all the essentials parents need to keep their loved ones safe.
The features included are web and app filtering, time limit setup, scheduling, location tracking, and in-depth activity reports. In fact, Norton Family is so good that not even the best VPNs can bypass its web filtering features.
What’s nice is the fact the Norton Family can track an unlimited amount of devices, and it comes bundled with one of the best antivirus solutions around. It’s important to note that tracking unlimited devices is only available on the Norton Family plan, the Ultimate Plus, and the Lifelock plan.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
N/A | $4.16/month | Unlimited | Android & iOS | 30-day free trial | 60-day refund (annual plan), 14-day refund (monthly plan) |
If you’ve ever worried about what your child gets up to on the internet during school hours, Norton Family allows you to set a school time, which gives you the ability to restrict internet usage while the kids are at school.
You can also set up geofencing capabilities with a feature called Favorite Locations. With this, you can see exactly where your child has gone and where they are and be alerted if they are somewhere you think could be dangerous.
You can also engage in site supervision by tracking what your child searches for on YouTube. This feature can also be extended to other popular search engines like Google.
With video supervision, you can track what videos have been viewed. This is a great way to gauge what interest your child has. It’s also a good way of ensuring they are not watching harmful or inappropriate content.
However, there are a few small issues that prevent us from calling this the best parental control app. For example, it can’t monitor macOS devices, and if you have a tech-savvy child, they could find a way to bypass the web filtering controls you have set in place on a Windows machine.
Pricing
Norton Family is a single package and only has one price.
That said, the parental control app is also available in the Delux and Select plans. As a bonus, if you purchase Norton Family, you’ll get access to Norton 360 Deluxe, Norton 360 Premium, Norton 360 Advanced, and Norton’s LifeLock Plans. That’s a very comprehensive internet security deal.
Pros
- All-around internet protection
- Track unlimited devices
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Mobile app could be improved
- Can’t monitor macOS devices
8. Qustodio — Best Free Parental Control App
Qustodio is a free parental control app for iPhone and Android. While not all of its plans are free, it does offer industry-leading parental control features like web and app filtering, time limits, location tracking, scheduling, and activity reports.
That being said, the sheer comprehensiveness of Qustodio makes it the best free parental control app for Android and iOS. What’s nice is the fact that not even the best VPNs can bypass its web filters, and unlike many of its competitors, Qustodio can detect and block over 9,000 iOS apps.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
N/A | $4.58/month | 5 | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Chrome | 3-day free trial and limited free version |
30-day refund |
An unusual feature of Qustodio is its panic button, and not many parental control apps provide a similar feature. Simply tap the SOS button twice, and it’ll send an email or SMS with a link for the location of the target device. Other information includes a street address, coordinates, and a date and timestamp.
There’s also an app specific to children, and with it, your child can view the limits set on their device and take steps to manage their own screen time. It also gives them access to their own dashboard, which is an excellent way of keeping your child in the loop and making them feel a part of the conversation about their internet safety.
One downside, though, is that Qustodio can’t monitor any text messages or posts your child receives on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X / Twitter.
That being said, setting up time limits for specific apps is really simple, and it works on a number of platforms like Android, Windows, macOS, and even Kindle. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to call Qustodio one of the best parental control apps for Android tablets.
Pricing
Qustodio offers a free plan, and it’s actually one of only two parental control apps on this list to do so.
You can cover one device with it and receive daily activity reports, manage screen time, and set daily limits. You can also set filters for specific websites. We think this makes it the best free Android app for parental control.
Pros
- Offers a free plan
- Equipped with a panic button
- Works on PC and mobile
- Can track up to five devices
Cons
- Some features aren’t applicable to iOS, like the panic button
- Can’t monitor social media messages and posts
9. Famisafe — Easily Monitor Your Child’s Driving Habits
Famisafe is a well-rounded Android parental control app with a few extra unique features for more peace of mind. It’s also easy to use and works really well on Android, iOS, ChromeOS, Windows, and macOS.
What’s nice about Famisafe is the fact that it can cover between 5 and 10 devices, which is way more than every other parental control app on this list. What’s more, it comes with a 3-day free trial, and it’s more affordable than most.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
$10.99 | $5.08/month | 10 | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Chrome and Kindle Fire | 3-day trial | 7-day money-back guarantee |
The extra features include drive monitoring for older kids. With it, you can view your child’s location while they are driving. This is a pretty decent way of gauging your child’s driving habits and knowing if they are being responsible while on the road.
Another great feature from Famisafe is its reverse tracking capabilities. This feature allows your child to track you down in an emergency. It must be said that the location tracking and geofencing features sit with some of the best on the market.
When it comes to iOS, some parental control apps tend to fall short in terms of blocking unwanted apps. However, with Famisafe, that’s not the case. It allows you to block, schedule, and even set time limits for iOS apps. This is something other apps often struggle with.
Other than that, Famisafe also gives you the ability to monitor TikTok and YouTube. This allows you to see what videos your kids have been watching, and you’ll receive alerts if any of those videos are inappropriate.
However, it must be said that the web filter doesn’t always work, and you might sometimes get unwanted content coming through. Screen limits can also be bypassed on a Chromebook if your child has the technical know-how.
Pricing
There are three plans available from Famisafe, and the first is completely free.
The free plan is slightly limited, so if you want to track more than one device, try the paid plans.
Pros
- Covers up to ten devices
- Comes with a three-day free trial
- Reverse tracking feature
- Drive Monitoring
Cons
- Web filters could be improved
- Screen limits can be bypassed on ChromeOS
10. ESET Parental Control — Excellent Android App Monitoring and Management
ESET is a well-known brand name in the antivirus market, as it’s been selling antivirus solutions since 1992. Its parental control app comes with a free version plus a 30-day free trial as well as a decent range of features, including web filtering, app time limits, app blocking location tracking, and geofencing.
It’s also easily accessible from either your smartphone or via the website dashboard. However, there’s no iOS version, which means ESET is specific to Android devices.
Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Money-Back Guarantee |
N/A | $2.08/month (annual) | 1 | Android | Free version and 30-day trial | 30-day refund |
When it comes to blocking certain apps, ESET’s Application Guard works a little differently. There are four age groups in this feature: 0-7, 8-11, 12-17, and 18+.
Determining what apps get blocked depends on the age group of your child. For example, YouTube is blocked for kids under 12 years old, and Netflix can only be accessed when they turn 16.
This feature can be customized with a simple click if you feel this is slightly too restrictive, but it’s a pretty decent starting point.
Web Guard is ESET’s web filter and it works in a very similar way. It will automatically block any inappropriate websites, depending on what age group your child falls in and it also enforces Google’s safe search to make it harder for them to find inappropriate content.
If you’re looking for parental control for Android phones, ESET is a decent place to start. It might not be as feature-rich as mSpy, but it does provide enough to ensure your child is safe.
Pricing
You could opt to pay for a full three years upfront and use ESET uninterrupted for that period.
It’ll only cost you $74.97, and that’s really not a bad deal.
Pros
- Comes with a limited free version
- 30-day free trial
- In-depth app monitoring capabilities
- Best free child tracking app for Android
Cons
- Only works on Android
The Top Android Parental Monitoring Apps Compared
Now that you’ve seen the top parental control apps on the market, here’s a comparison table so you can easily compare products and make the best decision for you and your family.
Parental Control App | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Guarantee/Refund |
mSpy | $48.99 | $11.66/month | 1 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
Eyezy | $47.99 | $9.99/month | 1 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
uMobix | $49.99 | $12.49/month | 1 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
Cocospy | $49.99 | $12.49/month | 1 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
Spyic.pro | $49.99 | $12.49/month | 1-3 | Android & iOS | Demo | 14-day refund |
KidsGuard | $9.99 | $4.17/month | 3 | Android & iOS | Demo | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Norton Family | N/A | $4.16/month | 5 | Android & iOS | 30-day free trial | 60-day refund (annual plan), 14-day refund (monthly plan) |
Qustodio | N/A | $4.58/month | 5 | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Chrome | 3-day free trial and limited free version |
30-day refund |
Famisafe | $10.99 | $5.08/month | 10 | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Chrome and Kindle Fire | 3-day trial | 7-day money-back guarantee |
ESET Parental Control | N/A | $2.08/month (annual) | 1 | Android | Free version and 30-day trial | 30-day refund |
Is the Best Free Parental Control App for Android Worthwhile?
The best free child-tracking app for Android and other operating systems has to be Qustodio. It gives you access to all the basics, like web filtering and app blocking. However, you can only track one device with the free plan, and the more advanced features are locked behind a premium paywall.
If you want access to the more advanced features, we recommend going for a paid plan. Qustodio is more affordable than most, and you can cover up to 10 devices with a single account.
Key Features to Look for When Buying Parental Apps for Android
When deciding which parental control app to choose, there are a few key details you should take the time to think about.
Features
Parental control apps are great tools to help monitor your child’s safety, but not all of them are the same. Some apps like Qustodio offer advanced features like a panic button for emergencies, while others like Famisafe offer the ability to monitor an older child’s driving habits.
Investigating the right features for you will go a long way when you finally decide which is best suited for your family’s needs.
Price
You get some tools that offer completely free versions of the monitoring apps, while others offer annual and monthly subscription options. Try to take advantage of any free trials or demos before committing to a purchase.
Security
These apps ask you for some pretty sensitive information, so it’s vital you trust the tool you’ve decided on. Investigate what kind of security measures are in place to ensure your data doesn’t get compromised.
If compatibility is something you’re worried about, you can check out our regional guides to parental control tools, such as our guide to the best parental control apps in Australia.
Number of Devices Covered
While many solutions cover one device per subscription, some solutions do cover more. For example, Famisafe can cover up to 10 devices.
If you have a large family, it’s probably better to go for something that covers more than one device. That said, if you only have one child, then there’s no need to pay for more.
How to Set Parental Controls on Android
To set parental controls up on an Android device, you’ll need to ensure you have access to the target device as well as a stable internet connection. We’ll be going over how to install uMobix – but installing other monitoring apps is generally intuitive and a similar process. Here’s how to put parental controls on an Android phone.
Step 1 — Register and Create an Account
Go to the uMobix website and register for an account.
Once you’ve registered, select a plan and purchase it.
Step 2 — Sign in to Your Account
Once you’ve signed in, you should be directed to a page that looks like the one below.
There will be a unique link on the page. Copy the link and open it using the target device.
Step 3 — Download Required Files from the Target Link
Once you’ve visited the page, you’ll be given instructions about the required files to be downloaded.
On the mobile target device, you can then download the files.
Step 4 — Open the Downloaded File
Opening the downloaded file will automatically start the installation of the app on the target device.
Wait for the installation to complete
Step 5 — Open Application
Open the application and enable keylogging. Once you’ve done this, look for User Accounts and switch it on – it’s off by default.
Go back to continue with the application setup process.
Step 6 — Click on Setup Automatically
In order to complete the installation and setup of uMobix, you can simply click on Setup Automatically and accept all the permissions.
Best Parental Control and Monitoring Resources
If you’d like to learn more about this software, feel free to take a look at our other guides.
- Best Parental Control Apps
- Best Parental Control Apps for YouTube
- Best Web Browsing History Tracker
- uMobix Review: Is it the Best Phone Tool?
- mSpy Review: Everything You Need to Know
Conclusion – Which is the Best Parental Control App for Android in 2023?
We’ve looked at a wide range of parental control apps and have determined that mSpy is the best parental control for Android phones. It comes with all the features you need to ensure your child is kept safe online.
Its location tracking features are top-notch, and the whole platform is easy to use. But don’t just take our word for it, try it today or have a go with the free demo. In any case, mSpy is an excellent choice for online child safety.