Choosing the best parental control app is crucial for peace of mind, ensuring your child navigates the internet safely. With countless risks online—from inappropriate content to unwanted contact from strangers—finding a reliable app can help protect your child from cyberbullying and harmful interactions.
In this guide, I’ve reviewed the top parental control apps for both Android and iPhone. These tools can monitor online activity, track location, and promote healthy digital habits. I’ve evaluated each option based on safety, ease of use, device compatibility, and overall value to help you find the best fit for your family.
The Best Parental Control Apps Ranked
Below is a quick look at the best parental control apps and their key features.
- mSpy — Powerful tools for cell phone monitoring
- Eyezy — Best iPhone spy app for parents
- uMobix — Best parental control app for Android with great remote control capabilities
- Cocospy — Best for social media tracking
- Qustodio — Best for multi-device monitoring
- Phonsee — Best for GPS location tracking and geofencing
- ClevGuard — Excellent for screen and call recording
- Norton Family — Complete online protection with bundled anti-virus tools
- FamiSafe — Best for blocking inappropriate content and sites
- Show Full Guide
The Best Parental Control Apps for Android and iPhone Reviewed
Here are my quick reviews of the best parental control apps based on their key features, pricing, and pros and cons.
1. mSpy — Powerful Tool for Cell Phone Monitoring
Starting Price | $11.67/month |
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No. of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Money-back Guarantee | 14-day refund window |
Pros
- The easy-access dashboard keeps you informed
- Plenty of web and social media monitoring tools
- Tracks Tinder activities on iPhones
- Accurate GPS location tracking
Cons
- Requires physical access to target device on Android
2. Eyezy — The Best iPhone Spyware For Parents
Starting Price | $7.99/month |
---|---|
No. of Devices | Up to 3 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Money-back Guarantee | 14-day refund window |
Pros
- Logs every keystroke
- Lets you view deleted messages
- Useful insights into their social activity
- Lets you remotely block apps and websites
- Undetectable
Cons
- Some of its features require jailbreaking and rooting
3. uMobix — Best Parental Control App for Android With Superb Remote Control Capabilities
Starting Price | $12.49/month |
---|---|
No. of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Money-back Guarantee | 14-day refund window |
Pros
- Feature-rich Android monitoring app
- A dedicated app that replaces the online dashboard
- Top-tier social media coverage
- Remote device locking
Cons
- The iPhone version lacks features
- No geofencing
Starting Price | $12.49/month |
---|---|
No. of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Money-back Guarantee | 14-day refund policy |
Pros
- Monitors 15+ social media, messaging, and dating apps
- Shows deleted messages
- Accurate GPS and SIM location tracking
- Logs outgoing and incoming calls
Cons
- Fewer features for non-jailbroken iPhones
- Inconsistent impact on the target device’s battery
5. Qustodio — Best for Multi-device Monitoring
Starting Price | Free plan
Paid plans from $4.58/month |
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No. of Devices | Unlimited |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Compatibility | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
Money-back Guarantee | 14-day refund policy |
Pros
- Best-in-class customer support
- Works across PC and mobile
- Lets you pause and unpause the internet
- Affordable
Cons
- The free version has minimal features
- No social media monitoring
6. Phonsee — Best for GPS Location Tracking and Geofencing
Starting Price | $8.85/month |
---|---|
No. of Devices | 1 |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Money-back Guarantee | 14-day refund window |
Pros
- You can block apps and websites
- Precise location tracking and geofencing capabilities
- Email tracking
- Monitors 10 social media and messaging apps
Cons
- Some advanced features require root access on Android
- No interactive demo or free trial
7. ClevGuard — Excellent for Screen and Call Recording
Starting Price | Starting from $4.99/month |
---|---|
No. of Devices | ● Up to 3 devices on the individual plan ● Up to 20 devices on the family plan |
Free Trial/Demo | Demo |
Compatibility | iOS, Android, Windows |
Money-back Guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Pros
- Call recording
- Long-term plans have a great price point
- Monitors Discord chats
- Stealth mode
Cons
- Location tracking could be more accurate
- Limited features with KidsGuard
8. Norton Family — Complete Online Protection with Bundled Anti-Virus Tools
Starting Price | $4.17/month |
---|---|
No. of Devices | Unlimited |
Free Trial/Demo | 30-day Free Trial |
Compatibility | iOS, Android, Windows |
Money-back Guarantee | 60-day Refund Policy |
Pros
- Budget-friendly parental control app
- Many features for managing attention and content
- Built by one of the best antivirus software providers
- Monitors unlimited devices with a single subscription
Cons
- Fewer social media and messaging app features
- Lacks app supervision on Windows devices
9. FamiSafe — Best for Blocking Inappropriate Content and Sites
Starting Price | $4.99/month |
---|---|
No. of Devices | Unlimited |
Free Trial/Demo | 3-day Free Trial |
Compatibility | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
Money-back Guarantee | 7-day refund window |
Pros
- Works on Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and Kindle devices
- Reports on your child’s driving habits
- Numerous activity reports for passive monitoring
- Remote app and web filtering and blocking
Cons
- Fewer features for iOS
- Inconsistent GPS location tracking accuracy
Top Parental Control Apps Compared
The table below lists the key features of the top parental control tools I selected for my shortlist. You can compare them across details such as price, compatibility, free trials, and refund windows.
Provider Name | Annual Price | Devices Tracked | Compatibility | Free Version | Guarantee |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
mSpy | $11.67/month | 1 | Android, iOS | Demo | 14-day refund policy |
Eyezy | $7.99/month | Up to 3 | Android, iOS | Demo | 14-day refund policy |
uMobix | $12.49/month | 1 | Android, iOS | Demo | 14-day refund policy |
Cocospy | $12.49/month | 1 | Android, iOS | Demo | 14-day refund policy |
Qustodio | $4.58/month | 5-15 | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, Kindle Fire | Limited free version | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Phonsee | $8.85/month | 1 | Android, iOS | Demo | 14-day refund policy |
ClevGuard | $4.99/month | 1 | Android, iOS | Demo | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Norton Family | $4.17/month | Unlimited | Android, iOS, Windows | 30-day free trial | 60-day money-back guarantee |
Famisafe | $5/month | Unlimited | Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, Kindle Fire | Demo | 7-day money-back guarantee |
How We Review And Test Spyware Apps
Important Note: Spy software is not legal to use without the device owner’s permission in many countries and states. When we test spy software, we do so only with the explicit consent of the device owner and in compliance with local laws and regulations.
To provide our readers with accurate and well-informed recommendations, we test the most popular spy applications on the market to find the best options for you. Our methodology consists of the following criteria:
- General Features: We evaluate the comprehensive feature set of each spy app, including but not limited to features such as App Management, Time Management, Call Monitoring, Device Control and GPS Tracking.
- Ease of Use: We gauge the user-friendliness of each app, considering factors such as installation process complexity, the necessity of jailbreaking (for iOS) or rooting (for Android) the target device, and more.
- Device Support and Compatibility: We thoroughly examine the compatibility of each spyware app with different devices and operating systems, including iOS and Android. We also assess whether the app offers a unified dashboard accessible from both desktop and mobile devices.
- Customer Support: We test the responsiveness and effectiveness of customer support provided by each app developer. We evaluate the availability of support channels, such as live chat, email, or phone support, as well as the satisfaction ratings of customer assistance.
- Price and Value for Money: We assess each spyware app’s pricing structure in relation to its features and functionalities, aiming to determine its overall value proposition. We analyze whether the app offers different subscription tiers, flexible payment options, and discounts for long-term commitments. Additionally, we check whether the app provides free trials or demos for users to test its capabilities before making a purchase.
- Privacy and Security: We prioritize the privacy and security of user data in our evaluation. We scrutinize the app’s data encryption measures, adherence to privacy regulations, and commitment to regular security updates to safeguard user information from unauthorized access or breaches.
What is the Best Parental Control App for iPhone?
When it comes to the best parental control app for iPhone, Eyezy stands out as a top choice. Its standout feature is the ability to monitor an iPhone without needing physical access to the device, thanks to its integration with iCloud. This means you can track calls, text messages, social media activity, and app usage directly through iCloud credentials, making it incredibly convenient for parents.
Eyezy also provides detailed insights into web browsing history and offers real-time location tracking, which is crucial for monitoring your child’s online and offline activities.
Another solid option is mSpy, one of the most popular apps known for its comprehensive monitoring features, including call tracking, message monitoring, and app usage insights. However, mSpy does have some limitations. mSpy does offer some monitoring features for iPhones through iCloud credentials, but its full range of capabilities often requires jailbreaking the device, which can be a technical hurdle and potentially compromise the device’s security. Eyezy operates without such requirements, and it’s also a bit more affordable than mSpy when paying for the annual plan, offering excellent value for parents.
What Will a Parental Control App Show Me?
There are several key benefits to using a parental control app to protect your child’s device.
Parental control solutions offer many different technologies to manage your child’s time on their phone, such as time-of-day locks, screen timers, remote app management, website blocking, and device use notifications. These all allow you to tailor your child’s use of their phone.
Many solutions also come with the ability to locate and manage the phone remotely. If you’re really worried about your contacts list falling into the wrong hands, some even come with the ability to delete your phone’s contents remotely.
One of the biggest problems with letting your child have unfiltered and unsupervised access to the Internet is the sheer amount of unpleasant content available. In fact, 56% of children under 16 have seen inappropriate content online.
With real-time updates on their physical movements, you’ll always know where your child is, which will give you complete peace of mind.
Parental control suites allow you to adjust what your child sees, who they talk to, and where they go, alerting you to potential problems long before they become serious.
Which Devices Can I Track With Parental Control Apps?
Depending on your needs, you can find parental control apps for iPhones, Android devices, and Windows and Mac computers. However, not every service offers the same features.
Most of these apps will work on Android devices. However, the best parental control app for Android should offer most, if not all, of its features without requiring root access on the target device. Rooting an Android phone can be a complicated process that may not be ideal for non-tech-savvy parents. Apps like uMobix are excellent Android parental control apps because you can use most of their features without root. However, you will miss out on some, like a keylogger and microphone and camera access.
Finding the best parental control app for an iPhone is a touch more complicated since it’s not easy to bypass Apple’s built-in restrictions. While you often don’t need physical access to the target device to install an iPhone tracking app for parents, you will have to know your child’s iCloud credentials. Even then, an iPhone parental control app won’t be as feature-packed as one for Android. Look at the iPhone-specific features a parental control app offers to ensure it covers your needs.
Most parental control apps are built for iPhones and Android devices, but a few options, like Qustodio and Famisafe, offer desktop tracking as well. Kids spend a lot of time on their computers, so it’s important to find the right parental control app to monitor these devices.
Will Parental Control Apps Block All Inappropriate Content?
While some apps and services have built-in parental controls, it may not be too difficult for your kids to bypass these restrictions. With the best parental control apps for iPhones, Android devices, and desktops, you should be able to block access to all inappropriate content on your children’s phones and computers. Here’s what some parental control apps can do:
- Restrict access to inappropriate websites
- Remote block access to sites and apps
- Monitor browser history to see the sites your children are visiting
- Comprehensive social media monitoring to ensure they aren’t receiving inappropriate content from friends or strangers
- Keyloggers let you see everything your children type on their iPhone or Android
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Parental Control App
There’s a lot to consider when choosing the best parental control app. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:
Not all parental control apps are built equally, nor are they all intended for the same situation. Some providers on my list, such as FamiSafe, offer features more closely focused on content protection and online filtering to block inappropriate web content.
Others, like mSpy, are built to be a complete mobile monitoring platform. Consider your needs and then pick the solution that’s closest to them.
While most apps work across platforms, finding a parental control app for Android is much easier than for iOS. Parental control on an iPhone is a lot more complicated, but there are apps, like mSpy and Phonsee, that are better suited for iOS devices. You’ll have to look to apps like Norton Family, Famisafe, and Qustodio to monitor activity on Windows and Mac computers.
Most mobile phone monitoring solutions I’ve reviewed here don’t significantly impact the device’s battery life or processing power, but be warned. Turning on location features for long periods or with short update rates is likely to drain battery life and make the app’s use more noticeable.
When using a parental control Android or iOS app, you’re entrusting sensitive data about your family to a third party. You want to be assured that whichever provider you use is taking appropriate security measures to protect your data.
Some tools are more expensive than others, with discounts for longer-term subscriptions. That said, take advantage of any demos, free trials, or money-back guarantees before making any long-term commitments.
Seeing what others say about an app can help you choose the one you prefer. To help with this, when looking at the feedback on the best apps for parental control, I only look at real user reviews.
Paid vs. Free Parental Control Apps – What You Need to Know
Some parental control apps out there claim to be free, but more often than not, they’re harvesting your data to fund hackers, thieves, and scam artists. When you monitor your child’s phone, you’re handling highly sensitive data, so you need to be confident it’s in good hands. With one of the paid apps on my list, you’ll be assured your data is safe.
Of course, Google and Apple have built-in parental controls on their smartphones, and some apps, like YouTube, allow content filtering. These aren’t particularly robust, though, and a tech-savvy child can bypass them easily. The Google Family Link service provides more granular control but still doesn’t match what the providers on this list can do.
Some paid providers offer a free trial version of the app, allowing you to try it before you subscribe. However, these free trials are often reduced to basic monitoring features like call logging and address book monitoring.
Overall, I recommend testing paid products with demos, trials, and guarantees and avoiding free parental control apps that advertise as completely free.
How to Use a Parental Control App – A Guide
Parental control apps can be overwhelming to use at first. I’ve chosen the top provider on my list, mSpy, for a step-by-step guide that’ll walk you through all you need to do to get set up and started with one of the best parental apps for Android on the market:
- Step 1 — Go to the mSpy website and purchase your desired plan.
- Step 2 — Get physical access to the target device to install mSpy.
- Step 3 — Head to the Play Store, click ‘Settings’ and choose ‘Play Protect’ to disable it.
- Step 4 — Next, go to the main screen to settings > apps > Google Play Store> notifications > show notifications. Turn this setting off.
- Step 5 — Open Google Chrome and enter the link from the mSpy email to download the app.
- Step 6 — Click open when the download is complete, allow all permissions, and click ‘Install.’
- Step 7 — Launch mSpy and enter the registration code you got via email from mSpy. Click ‘Complete installation.’
Now, mSpy will monitor the target device. Simply access the mSpy dashboard from your own device to see the data it syncs. Note that all parental control apps on my list follow a similar installation process, and you’ll receive in-depth assistance on how to do it when you sign up.
Limitations of Parent Control Software
Naturally, parental control software has some limitations. To really benefit from monitoring, you need to be engaged with the process and able to review what is being accessed.
Communicating with your child about the appropriate use of devices and permitted content should help foster positive family relationships and the healthy use of technology.
If you choose to use a monitoring app without the child’s knowledge, though, there is a small chance that they will discover it—which, depending on their age and sense of personal independence, may result in feelings of distrust.
Trying to limit your child’s autonomy may also backfire as they pursue forbidden activities in response to restrictions. Of course, if they move their activities to another device, with or without your knowledge, then they’ll likely become impossible to track.
Given all this, it’s best to use a parental control app within a context of trust – otherwise, you’ll inevitably be working against each other.
FAQs
What app is best for parental control?
Are parental control apps safe?
Which is the best free parental control app?
Can I lock my child’s iPhone remotely?
Can my child see mSpy on their phone?
How do I monitor my child’s text messages on an iPhone?
What is the best parental control app for monitoring YouTube?
References
- 10 Reasons to Monitor Your Child’s Internet Activity (uKnowKids)
- How Can You Stop Your Kids Viewing Harmful Web Content? (BBC)
- How to Manage Your Family’s Screentime (The Guardian)
- Learn About Inappropriate Content (Internet Matters)