Best Parental Control Apps For Android

Worried if your kids are safe online or on their cell phones? Here are the 7 best and popular parental control apps for Android to help you ensure their safety.

It is a crazy world out there especially with the help of the internet. Raising your kids and keeping them safe online is extremely hard. Many problems have stemmed from our beloved digital devices and the internet.

Digital devices such as cell phones and laptops have subjected our children to many threats. Threats also arise from using the internet and social media applications. Use of social networking sites and Smartphones has caused the development of new problems.

Some of these problems are cyberbullying, digital addiction, cyber predators, and many other security threats. Social media applications have also been attributed to causing body image issues in teenagers and tweens.

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With the new dawn of the world after a pandemic, we face the reality of online classes for children. This means that we are not able to completely ban screen time. They have to use their devices for school and learning. This also makes it hard for us to monitor them.

Children also do not like to be monitored. Yet for concerned parents, it is hard to let them out in the unsafe environment of the internet. This is the reason to set parental controls are so important for parents like us.

What are Parental Controls apps?

Parental controls apps let parents or guardians monitor the screen time of their children without being invasive. We will be able to look out for them and let go of our worries.

Many Parental Control apps also help in blocking or filtering inappropriate contents for kids. They help in web filtering and blocking inappropriate websites. Parental Control apps also help in keeping the screen time of your child in check so they don't overindulge in their devices.

Best Parental Control Apps For Android

The market is full of new parental controls. It might be confusing for parents to compare and pick a certain Parental Controls app. With so many parental control apps available, it can be hard to make a decision.

Therefore we have prepared a guide here for you. We have handpicked 7 of the best Parental Controls apps for Android for the year 2022. This guide will help you to make the best decision according to your criteria and budget. We will compare all the features, pros and cons and pricing of all these 7 applications.

Fenced.ai

Fenced.ai is one of the best parental controls apps. It is a trusted application that helps in monitoring the activities of your children and filtering inappropriate content.

This application is also designed to be used in schools and the workplace. You can use this application to remotely monitor the activities of your child digital devices. This allows you to have non-invasive security options for your child.

Features

• Monitor calls, SMS and contacts
• Monitor photos and videos
• Also monitor social media applications including Facebook, Instagram, Viber,  Snapchat and many more
• Keep track of screen time and installed applications
• Get insight on your child's location data
• Enable alerts for locations and certain keywords
• Web filtering

Pros

• Alert system
• Free demo available
• Easy user interface
• Free version available
• Good customer service
• Powerful and trusted parent controls app
• Bundled pricing plans
• Easy to set

Cons

• Limited features in free version
• Requires rooting of some devices

Pricing

There are three pricing plans of fenced.ai with different availability of features

• Free plan
• The basic plan for $ 9.99 per month
• A premium plan for $19.99 per month

For more pricing information, please follow this link. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Bark.us

The bark is another parental control application that specialises in monitoring social networking applications. It is a powerful parental control application.

It is a simple Parental Control app with an alert system. The alert system of bark helps provide warning but also has been criticized for providing unnecessary alerts. It helps in monitoring without being overbearing to children.

Features

• Social media monitoring of 24 different applications
• Monitoring SMS and call logs
• Screen time monitoring
• Web filtering
• Alert system
• Monitor photos and videos
• Bundled pricing plans

Pros

• Easy to use
• 7-day free trial
• Child psychiatrist insight
• Alert system

Cons

• Comparatively expensive
• Unnecessary alert system
• Insistent alerts
• No free version available

Pricing

Bark provides two pricing plans with an option to pay monthly or annually.

• Bark Premium for $ 14 per month
• The Bark Jr for $ 5 per month with limited features

For more pricing information, please follow this link. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Qustodio

Qustodio is another parental control software. This application is an advanced monitoring software that provides a new feature called the panic button.

A panic button in the application helps children in sending out a panic alert whenever they are in trouble. This application will help locate them when they hit the panic button. It can help track them down in case of any emergency.

Features

• Monitoring screen time
• Monitor social networking application like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
• Panic button
• Block or filter content
• Block inappropriate websites
• Determining app usage
• Determining screen time limits

Pros

• Panic button
• Location tracking
• 3-day free trial
• App usage data

Cons

• Expensive
• A short period of the free trial

Pricing

Qustodio provides three different plans according to the number of devices that they can use on. You can also choose a bundle of a yearly plan too.

• Small Plan for $ 4.58 per month
• Medium Plan for $ 8.08 per month
• Large Plan for $ 11.50 per month

For more pricing information, please follow this link. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Net nanny

Net nanny is another parental control app that was initially launched for desktop only. This application has the best act filtering and blocking mechanism.

Net nanny application has customisable web filters. They are also good at monitoring screen time and blocking applications. But it does not allow monitoring of social networking applications on mobile devices. It is one of the worst flaws of the net nanny.

Features

• Monitoring screen time
• Customisable web filters
• Filtering and blocking inappropriate content
• Web filtering
• Blocking application
• Determining app usage

Pros

• Powerful web blocker
• Blocking pornography
• Setting time limits
• Time scheduling

Cons

• Expensive
• Hard to set up
• Does not allow social platform monitoring
• Some pricing plans are only offered for desktop devices
• Does not offer monthly pricing plan
• Does not allow monitoring of call and SMS

Pricing

Net nanny does not have a monthly plan but allows only annual plans. They are priced based on the number of devices that are protected by the application.

• 5 devices plan for $ 54. 99 per year
• 20 devices plan for $ 89.99 per year

For more pricing information on the net nanny, please follow this link.

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Kaspersky Safe Kids is one of the most budget-friendly Parental Control applications. It also provides free basic features with screen time management and screen limiting features.

You can also use this application to control over 500 devices. Kaspersky Safe Kids a new parental control application with powerful features. It has an alert feature for low battery on your child's device. It can also help in limiting screen time and locking apps after they exceed screen time.

Features

• Monitoring screen time
• Monitor social platform application
• Block or filter content
• Screen time management
•  Low battery alert
• The safe search feature on YouTube
• Determining screen time limits

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Free basic plan
• 7-day free trial
• Low battery alerts
• Safe search on YouTube

Cons

• No uninstall option alert
• Upgrade required for premium plans

Pricing

Kaspersky Safe Kids only provides two pricing plans. The free version does not provide all of the features available in the premium version of the application.

• Free version
• Premium version for $ 15

For more pricing information, please follow this link.

Norton Family

Norton family is a great and parental control application for using on unlimited devices. It is compatible with both Android and IOS devices along with Windows Mac.

Norton family is provided for free if one purchases their expensive antivirus software. This application does not support geofencing like other Parental Control applications on this list. This application allows limiting screen time and also provides web filtering services on Android. It can also help in limiting screen time and locking apps after they exceed screen time.

Features

• Monitoring screen time
• Compatible with Android, iOS and Windows Mac
• Screen time management
• Blocking applications with more screen time
• Web filtering
• Unlimited devices
• Determining app usage

Pros

• School time function
• 30-day free trial
• Unlimited number of devices
• Works with Windows Mac
• Easy to set
• Time scheduling

Cons

• Does not allow social media monitoring
• Costly for single devices
• Does not allow geofencing
• Single pricing plan
• Yearly subscription only available

Pricing

Norton Family is available for free if you purchase Norton 360 security. You can also get a discount on the price if you purchase their other expensive antivirus plans. Norton Family is available for one pricing option annually.

• Norton Family $ 49.99 per year

For more pricing information, please follow this link.

Google Family Link

Google Family Link is a free parental control application by Google. This parental control app application provides limited features of web filtering and app monitoring functions.

Google Family Link is a reliable application for monitoring children below the age of 13 years. This app does not allow social platform application monitoring like other apps on this list. It can also help in limiting screen time and locking apps after they exceed screen time.

Features

• Free parental controls app
• Monitoring screen time
• Monitoring application usage
• Web filtering and blocking
• Screen time management
• Locking app when screen time is exceeded
• Time scheduling
• Determining app usage

Pros

• Free plans
• Locking app feature
• Setting time limits
• Location tracker
• Educational application recommendation
• Application download approval request
• Device compatibility options available
• Easy to set

Cons

• No social media monitoring
• Does not allow call and SMS monitoring

Pricing

• Available for free

For more information, please follow this link. Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Conclusion

These are some of the best parental control applications in the market. All of these applications have different features. You can match your needs to the available features and then select a proper application for you. These applications will help you keep your kids safe online.

These are some of the best and most popular applications available in the market. You should choose them based on your set criteria of needs. Most of these applications provide free trial services, which can help you get acquainted with their features.

Evaluate the applications based on our pros and cons list to have a better idea of what to choose. Our pricing list of each application can also be helpful when comparing them to features.

FAQs

What is the best parental control app for Android?

Fenced.ai is one of the best parental control application for Android. This parental control app has the best features expanding from screen monitoring, web filtering to social platform monitoring. The application is also fairly priced and has an easy user interface.

Other popular parental control apps options are Bark.us, Qustodio and net nanny.

What is the best free parental control app for Android?

Most parental control apps for Android provide free versions or free-trials. Fenced.ai and Kaspersky Safe Kids provides free versions of applications with limited features. Bark.us, Fenced.ai, net nanny and Norton Family provides free-trials for different periods.

Google Family Link is the best free parental control app for Android. They have completely free features with any paid versions.

What websites should parents block 2022?

Parents should block websites like Omegle, Reddit, Tumblr, Roblox and Bigo Live. These applications encourage teenagers and children to chat with strangers. This can cause them to befriend strangers.

Parents should also be aware of Discord that is a gaming forum and chatting platform. This platform can include a lot of swearing and cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is also rampant in social media applications like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.

What is the best app to monitor social media?

Fenced.ai, Bark and Qustodio are the best apps to monitor social platforms. They can help in monitoring social platform apps like Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Snapchat, TikTok and other similar social networking applications.

Bark.us has the widest variety of social networking coverage. They cover over 24 social media applications. They help in protecting your kids from the dangers of cyberbullying, cyber predators and befriending strangers.

Should parents’ use parental control?

The answer is “Yes”. Parents should use parental control to secure their kids from the dangers that might befall from using the internet and smartphones. Internet and social networking sites can pose a threat of cyberbullying. Parental controls will keep your kids safe online.

They also can be subjected to cyber predators and scams. Children can overshare their private or personal information. Using parental control can help you monitor their screen time too.

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