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Why Do You Need Parental Controls?

Parental monitoring apps have become essential for ensuring a child's online safety and well-being in today's age.

These apps help parents monitor and manage their child's digital activities by filtering inappropriate content, setting screen time limits, tracking location, and logging interactions. By doing so, they provide protection against common online threats like cyberbullying, predators, and exposure to harmful content.

Beyond safety, these apps also help parents understand their child's digital habits, identify potential risks, and take preventive measures. Whether it is ensuring a healthy balance between screen time and offline activities or keeping an eye on who their child interacts with online, these tools enable parents to make informed decisions.

Overall, parental controls play a significant role in helping parents guide their children towards safer and responsible digital usage.

A Quick Look at the 11 Best Apps for Parental Control

Parental Phone Apps Best in Terms of Rating Price Starting From
XNSPY Overall value 9.8/10

$4.99/month

Net Nanny Control 9.2/10

$3.33/month

Bark Ethical monitoring 8.8/10

$5.00/month

Qustodio Reliability 8.6/10

$4.58/month

Norton Family Family integration 7.4/10

$4.16/month

FamiSafe iPhone monitoring 7.0/10

$4.99/month

Aura Security and privacy 6.9/10

$8.33/month

FamilyTime Affordability 6.5/10

$1.15/month

mSpy Discreet monitoring 6.2/10

$11.66/month

Google Family Link Android monitoring 5.9/10

$0.00/month

Eyezy Ease of use 5.6/10

$7.99/month

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Top Parental Control Apps for Ultimate Monitoring and Control

If you are wondering what apps to monitor kids phones with, look through this list of 11 cell phone monitoring apps that get the job done.

1. XNSPY: Best Parental Monitoring App for Overall Value

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Over several years, experts and users alike have nominated XNSPY as the best phone monitoring app for parents. However, before we dwell on why it is a reliable monitoring app to opt for, it is better to understand how it works.

Rather than depending on cloud backups or other methods, XNSPY runs in the background of the target phone and makes it possible for parents to not only monitor their child’s phone remotely and discreetly but also execute commands immediately.

It is also because of its working that parents get real-time updates on all phone and location activities.

While testing the app, I noticed that no logs were missing and I was able to access all features without any trouble. Moreover, no glitches, lags, or slow loading were noticed throughout the testing period.

Apart from this, what truly makes the app stand out is its feature range. Not only has it inculcated parental controls according to the industry standards, some features facilitate constant monitoring too.

XNSPY has the most extensive feature range out of all the apps I have tried and tested. However, what would really add to the overall monitoring experience is its availability on Windows and macOS too.

Discussed below are the XNSPY features that I liked working with.

XNSPY Parental Monitoring Features

Social Media and Email Monitoring

XNSPY offers monitoring over 13 social media platforms. This includes direct monitoring in which parents get access to all their children’s conversations, consumed content, media files, and other interactions.

The app also enabled email monitoring with logs like email address, subject, body, timestamp, etc. Lastly, activity on apps that are not monitored directly is still provided through the screen recorder and keylogger available on XNSPY.

SIM Activity Tracking

I found the phone logs to be very detailed because they include call logs, recordings, text messages, contact lists, calendar logs, and internet history. All the logs provided offer proper insight into the child’s phone usage, like call details, complete call recordings, text messages in chat and list view, all saved events, and proper internet history with bookmarks and analysis.

During the testing, it was evident that the app was logging all activities immediately on the user dashboard.

Location and Geofencing

XNSPY uses advanced technology to track live locations, log location history, and create geofences. During the testing period, XNSPY kept offering me very accurate locations and elaborate history logs with addresses, timestamps, and a show-on-map button.

Using the button, I could easily navigate to a location through Google Maps. Contrarily, for geofencing, you can add as many geofences as you want by simply putting in a place’s name, address, and geofence range.

For all my predefined areas, I received immediate alerts as soon as I entered or left a geofence.

Alerts

Parents can use XNSPY to receive contact, location, and keyword alerts. To test this feature, I added different contacts, locations, and keywords to the Watchlists. The moment I got in touch with a flagged contact, visited a watchlist location or used marked keywords, I received an alert almost instantly.

What I truly enjoy about this feature is the user’s ability to watchlist as many contacts, locations, and keywords as possible.

Remote Commands and Blocking

Parental controls offered by XNSPY are remote commands like app blocking, website monitoring, device locking, surround recording, data wiping, screenshot taking, and screen time management.

Parents can use screen time reports, app blocking or phone locking to control screen time, plus wipe data to prevent security breaches.

XNSPY Compatibility

XNSPY is compatible with all Android and iOS devices, including smartphones, tablets, iPads, and iPhones. A compatibility checker is also available on the website for users interested in checking a specific device’s compatibility with the app.

XNSPY Pricing

Basic: $59.99/year

Premium: $89.99/year

XNSPY Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- Updates are provided in real-time

- Offers comprehensive monitoring with text, instant messages, calls, and even email logs

- The dashboard is user-friendly and offers easy navigation

- Most features include actuarial reports that summarize data by analyzing it

- Alerts are triggered instantly and commands are executed with accuracy and efficiency

- Customer support includes a 24/7 live chat option but no call assistance

- No free trial, only a demo available

Should I Buy XNSPY?

To put it simply, yes, you can buy XNSPY. Since XNSPY compiles surveillance and controls in one place, parents do not need to use it with any other monitoring applications. Moreover, it has good value for money due to the feature range it offers.

However, for parents who want a modern layout and cannot look past the old user dashboard, one of the other options can prove to be more suitable.

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2. Net Nanny: Best Parental Monitoring App for Its Control

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Net Nanny is one of the phone monitoring apps for parents that is best known for its parental controls. When I went about testing it, it truly did not disappoint. Overall, the app is not only easy to use, but its execution of commands and customer support is commendable.

Moreover, the feature range was good as per the industry standards, and it seemed like a good option because all essential features are offered to help parents protect their children online and offline.

However, the only areas where it appeared to lag were its unavailability on Android devices and its inability to monitor texts and email. All in all, if Net Nanny were to make its features more detailed and customizable, plus focus more on the user experience, it would be the best option in the market.

Even though all tested features worked well, better oversight must be ensured with more robust features like uninstallation prevention in iOS, text monitoring, app time limits, etc.

Throughout the testing period, I found the following features to be the most comprehensive.

Net Nanny Parental Monitoring Features

Location Tracking

Location tracking in Net Nanny is quite precise. It also offers a Family map locator with real-time location updates every 2-3 minutes. However, geofencing is not available. The only option available is to label specific addresses and receive alerts when the child enters or leaves that address.

App Blocking & Web Filtering

Parents can use Net Nanny to remotely block or allow over 120 apps. Even though some apps slipped through during testing, the feature performs quite well.

On the other hand, web filters help parents select the kind of content a child can access. With over 10 categories of filters, parents can easily allow, block, or get alerts. Moreover, what I really liked about the feature was that I could add my own keywords too for web and content filtering.

Activity Reports

The one feature I really enjoyed was its activity reports. With all the useful information in one place, I did not have to look through every feature. I received these reports every 6 hours with analysis of searches, locations, screen time, block/alerts, etc. However, it would have been better if more metrics were added to these reports.

Screen Time Management

Lastly, parents can also set screen times for the overall device. Once a child has surpassed the time limit, parents can decide to either pause their device or disable their internet. Moreover, even if the time limit has not been reached, parents can still use both of these remote controls.

Net Nanny Compatibility

Net Nanny has limited compatibility since it only runs on iOS, macOS, and Windows. A version that also runs on Android and Kindle Fire is still in process.

Net Nanny Pricing

1 device plan: $49.99/year

5 device plan: $79.99/yea

Net Nanny Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- Screen time and app management are effective

- Offers three different options for data filtration

- The app setup is simple and alerts are quick

- Limited features that lack text, email, and call log monitoring

- Does not offer monitoring for Android

- Geofencing is limited and web filtering is not foolproof

- Outdated user interface

Should I Buy Net Nanny?

The answer totally depends on what you are looking for in a parental monitoring solution. If you want strong content filters and are okay with a basic level of social media monitoring, then, the app comes highly recommended by experts and other parents.

However, for deeper insights into your child’s daily phone usage, you should look for options with a more advanced approach to child monitoring.

3. Bark: Best Choice for Ethical Monitoring

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Parental control apps like Bark are more about monitoring than constant oversight. Therefore, they ensure ethical monitoring while also enabling parents to gain some semblance of peace.

All in all, Bark has made a profound impact on monitoring due to its inculcation of AI in text, media files, and social media monitoring. Not only does its advanced machine learning algorithm look through a child’s mobile phone activity, but also triggers alerts anytime it detects potential risks.

Rather than the 24/7 surveillance, this is a preferred method by some parents since it allows open discussions among parents and children. However, it is very likely that while ensuring this ethical monitoring, parents might not be able to gain proper insight.

Since only the logs that trigger an alert are visible, parents can have a hard time understanding the context and putting two and two together. Lastly, the biggest concern of parents while using Bark is its lack of screen time tracking and specific apps management.

Overall, Bark provides some very insightful features which are discussed below.

Bark Parental Monitoring Features

Content Monitoring

Bark offers content monitoring over 30 social media platforms. Rather than relying on keyword alerts, Bark uses advanced machine learning algorithms to scan content in over 15 categories. These categories include common issues like bullying, drugs, weapons, profanity, sexual content, etc.

Not only that, parents can also adjust the sensitivity of the alerts. However, when I used high sensitivity, some false alerts were received. Plus, the alerts received were also delayed by at least 20 minutes.

Screen Time Management

Bark also allows parents to set screen time rules and schedules for the entire device but does not offer time limits for specific apps. For screen time management, it provides default settings along with the option to create up to three alternative rule sets.

In addition to that, parents can easily turn a device on or off once the time limit has been surpassed. However, offline apps remain accessible as a remote device lock feature is not offered.

Website and App Blocking

Parents can block both websites and apps using Bark’s customizable filters. Moreover, it provides flexibility by enabling users to unblock content that was mistakenly restricted or block content that bypassed Bark’s filters. However, offline apps cannot be blocked. Despite this limitation, though, the filtering system works effectively for web and app blocking.

Location Sharing

Bark’s real-time location tracking works for both Android and iOS devices and offers updates every 4-5 minutes. The app also includes a geofencing option using which parents can set virtual boundaries with a range of 200 meters. As soon as a child enters or leaves a designated area, parents receive alerts within approximately 5 minutes.

Bark Compatibility

Bark is compatible with Android and iOS devices, including both phones and tablets, as well as Windows computers. In addition to its software, Bark also offers its own phones and smartwatches, which come with pre-installed monitoring app.

Bark Pricing

Jr: $49+tax/year

Premium: $99+tax/year

Bark Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- Uses artificial intelligence to send alerts

- Has a 7-day trial available

- Monitoring is available over 30 apps with over 19 content categories.

- No monitoring options since only the logs triggering the alerts are visible

- Screen time tracking is not available, and only limited browser tracking

- Security measures can be breached by disabling VPN or uninstalling the app

- Customer service is below par and includes only an AI and live chat option during certain hours

Should I Buy Bark?

Bark is a great choice for parents who want less invasive monitoring while still ensuring their child’s safety. Instead of constant oversight, it focuses on alert-based monitoring, notifying parents only when potential issues arise. This makes it ideal for those who prefer a hands-off approach while still having control over screen time, web filtering, and location tracking.

For a balance between privacy and protection, Bark is a viable option. However, if constant oversight is something you need, you should look for alternatives that offer both parental controls and real-time monitoring.

4. Qustodio: Best Parental Control App for Its Reliability

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When it comes to parental monitoring apps, Qustodio stands out for its reliability in tracking children’s phone activities and app usage. It helps parents set boundaries and encourage healthier digital habits in their children by offering a clear overview of their screen time.

However, while Qustodio performs well in what it offers, its feature range is somewhat limited compared to other monitoring apps. One of the biggest downsides is that any tech-savvy child can easily uninstall the app or bypass its restrictions.

Additionally, its lack of live customer support can be frustrating when dealing with technical issues that are time-sensitive.

That said, Qustodio’s basic features work well and reliably. While it may not be the most comprehensive parental control application, it does offer a solid and glitch-free experience.

After trying the paid version, here’s my general opinion on the app.

Qustodio Parental Monitoring Features

Daily Time Limits

Parents can set time limits for both the entire device and individual apps using Qustodio. Once the set limit is reached, apps are automatically blocked, but kids can still make emergency calls, send a warning, or use the SOS button. Parents also have the option to block internet access or extend screen time when needed.

Location Tracking

Qustodio allows parents to track location and set up geofences for a child. For location tracking, updates are received every 5-10 minutes and history remains accessible for up to 30 days. On the other hand, geofence alerts are received after 10-15 minutes and have an area of 200 meters.

Calls and Text Messages

Parents of children with Android devices can also monitor their calls and text messages. However, they need to install another app for it to function. Once set up, parents can see who their child is calling or texting alongside details like call duration, message type, etc.

Web and App Filtering

With 29 filtering categories, Qustodio lets parents choose whether to allow, block, or receive alerts for different types of websites. On the other hand, if a site is manually added, parents can also select an ignore option which ensures that the site does not appear in any reports.

For apps, parents can receive alerts when a new app is installed, and block its access or set time limits.

Qustodio Compatibility

Qustodio runs smoothly across iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Chromebook, and Kindle devices. It supports Android version 7 and above, and iOS version 12 and above.

Qustodio Pricing

Basic: $54.95/year

Premium: $99.95/year

Qustodio Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- Compatibility is impressive

- Content and web filtration, plus time management, is quite comprehensive

- SOS feature adds security and helps parents gain peace of mind

- Offers a free version but with limited functionality

- Stealth mode is not available

- Does not offer private social media chats

- Kids can use a VPN to bypass the web filter system

Should I Buy Qustodio?

Qustodio is a reliable option for parents looking for features like screen time management, location tracking, and web filtering. If you prioritize accurate monitoring above all else, then, Qustodio might be the one for you.

However, you will also need to look past its delayed alerts, lack of social media monitoring, and limited free trial.

5. Norton Family: Best in Terms of Family Integration

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Norton Family switched from a free to a paid version in 2018. After adding a subscription fee, it worked on offering some robust parental controls.

Today, it has become a household essential for large families. However, the question remains if it is one of the best parental monitoring apps or not.

When I tested the app, I found it to be helpful because of its real-time alerts, customization options, and filtering. Moreover, the overall setup was easy and the user dashboard was not too clunky.

Nonetheless, the app was lacking in specific app screen time limits and social media monitoring. Therefore, parents who wish to keep a keen eye on their children’s online interactions can have a hard time due to their limited potential in that area.

Overall, Norton Family performed well in the features it offered and did not glitch throughout the observation period.

Here are some of its most prominent features.

Norton Family Parental Monitoring Features

App Management

App management is only available on Android devices. All in all, the feature allows parents to see the full list of apps installed and also enables them to block or unblock specific ones. Even though the command can take a while to be executed, i.e., 30 minutes, the app blocking is effective.

Web Filtering

There are 47 predefined website categories on Norton Family. Parents can decide to monitor, warn, or block these categories. For the monitor option, parents can see the websites a child accessed in a particular category, while for the block option, children are unable to access websites that fall under the blocked category.

Lastly, for the warn option, children are warned about the content of the website and are then allowed to decide whether to visit the site or not. However, note that these web filters do not work on unpopular browsers and can be easily bypassed by disabling the browser extension.

Time Management

Parents using Norton Family can also add daily screen time limits. They can either add different limits for different days or use the same limits throughout the week with a single click.

Moreover, they can use the predefined time limits of very high, high, moderate, and low. Once a child reaches the time limit, they are unable to access any apps. However, they can still use their mobile devices or make emergency calls.

Location Tracking

Norton Family offers both a phone’s current location and its location history. Parents can also use date and time filters to see its location during a particular time frame.

In addition to location tracking, geofencing is also available. For all geofences, parents receive alerts anytime their child enters or leaves the predetermined area.

Norton Family Compatibility

To function properly, Norton Family requires Android 8 or later, current or previous two versions of Apple iOS, and Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11.

Norton Family Pricing

Norton Family: $49.99/year.

Norton Family Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- Free 30-day trial available

- Unlimited number of devices available with up to 15 profiles

- Over 47 categories to facilitate customizable web filtering

- Text, email, and social media monitoring are not available

- Web filtration happens through browser extensions that can be easily disabled

- Screen time limits are not available for specific apps, and no option to block apps either

Should I Buy Norton Family?

Norton Family is a good option for large families looking for basic parental controls. However, if you have a small family, it is better if you invest in other apps that offer better monitoring and more parental controls.

Additionally, for parents who want to make sure their children are not engaging in risky online behavior and are away from online abuse, Norton Family might fall short.

6. FamiSafe: Best Parental Control App for iPhones

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FamiSafe is a well-rounded parental control solution that stands out for its affordability and unique features. Among the top parental monitoring apps for iPhone and Android devices, it secures the sixth spot due to its strong performance in screen time management, location tracking, and driving monitoring.

These features provide parents with effective control over their child’s digital habits and physical safety.

However, while the app excels in certain areas, it also has noticeable flaws. The web filters can be inconsistent, sometimes failing to block restricted content properly. The biggest drawback, however, is its lack of inappropriate content monitoring on social media apps.

Despite these shortcomings, FamiSafe remains a good choice for parents looking for an affordable and easy-to-use monitoring solution. While it may not be the most viable option, it performs well in most key areas.

Discussed below are some of its features that make it a worthy contender.

FamiSafe Parental Monitoring Features

Activity Reports

FamiSafe’s timeline includes a summary of the kid’s daily activities. These reports provide insight into their recently used and installed/uninstalled apps. Parents can also see the time they have spent on each app and the number of times they have frequented them.

If accessed from mobile, parents can also view their live location, screen time, overview of YouTube and TikTok activity, etc.

Location Tracking

FamiSafe’s location tracking works perfectly on both Android and iOS. Parents only need to tap the live location button to see their children’s exact location and when the device was last there. These logs are updated every 3 minutes.

Additionally, parents can set geofences too for an area of 100 meters. Overall, the functioning of this feature is quite impressive.

Driving Reports

An extra feature offered by FamiSafe is the driving report. It logs a child’s driving habits and sends them to the parent. The reports include the speed, total distance, driving time, number of hard brakes, and much more. Not only that, all the high-risk statistics are color-coded to grab a parent’s attention.

Web Filtering

FamiSafe uses over 14 categories to prevent exposure to mature or harmful content. Its web filtering is generally quite effective and detects/blocks inappropriate content.

However, some inconsistencies in its overall functioning were noticed during testing. To bypass those inconsistencies, parents are advised to manually put in dangerous websites under “Exceptions”.

FamiSafe Compatibility

Devices compatible with FamiSafe include Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, Windows, Mac, and Chromebook. The app is most compatible with Android version 4.4 or later and iOS version 11 or later.

FamiSafe Pricing

Family: $59.99/year

School: $239.98/year

FamiSafe Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- Some exclusive features like driving reports can be helpful for parents

- Keyword alerts are customizable for content and web filtration

- Free trial available but with limited functionality

- Stealth mode in the app is not very reliable

- Feature limitations when it comes to call and message monitoring

- Activity reports do not offer much details

Should I Buy FamiSafe?

If you prioritize detailed activity reports, strong web filtering, and advanced social media monitoring, FamiSafe may not be the best fit for you. Its inconsistent web filtering and limited inappropriate content detection on social apps are notable drawbacks.

However, as a simple, affordable, and effective parental monitoring software, FamiSafe is worth considering.

7. Aura: Best Parental App in Terms of Security and Privacy

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Aura is one of the top parental control apps that is renowned for its strong focus on security and privacy.

Unlike most parental monitoring solutions, it comes with a comprehensive security suite that offers features like identity theft protection, safe gaming tools, and antivirus software. While it is on the pricier side, the cost is justified if you plan to use its full range of features.

Overall, as a parental monitoring solution, Aura meets industry standards with its ability to filter websites and apps, generate activity reports, manage screen time, and pause/unpause the internet.

However, it does have some notable shortcomings like the lack of location tracking and the ease with which it can be uninstalled for the target device. Another key limitation is that parental controls are only available in the Family plan.

While all its features perform decently, these drawbacks prevent it from being the absolute best choice for parental monitoring.

On the plus side though, it proves itself with the following features.

Aura Parental Monitoring Features

Content Filtering

Content filtering in Aura lacks customization. However, it works well in the areas it offers. Once a child’s age is added to the app, it uses the data to determine the kind of content inappropriate for the child. Parents can make little changes to these age-appropriate templates.

Moreover, since Aura does not access content within an app, the filter only works for web searches and online content.

Screen Time Management

Parents can use Aura to set overall device and specific apps’ screen time limits. Once a child has used all their screen time, parents can pause the internet on the child’s device and then resume access anytime with “Unpause.” All in all, the feature offers good customization and works well.

Activity Reports

Activity reports are available directly on the main dashboard for parents to see. Initially, the reports will only provide an overview of the overall phone usage but parents can then select each category for more information.

Aura Compatibility

Aura is compatible with both iOS and Android mobile devices, supporting Android 9 or later and iOS 13 or later.

Aura Pricing

Kids: $120/year

Family: $384/year

Aura Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- 14-day free trial with each plan

- Screen time monitoring and content filtration are effective

- Good live support that answers questions without jargon or fluff

- The app can be easily uninstalled from the phone

- Location tracking or message monitoring is unavailable

- Limited feature range and controls compared to market competitors

Should I Buy Aura?

Aura is a very expensive option if you are only interested in parental monitoring. Since its parental controls are only available in a Family plan that comes with other features too, it is up to you to decide whether those additional features like identity theft, privacy protection, etc, are needed by your family or not.

All in all, the app falls short in parental monitoring and there are better and more reliable options for parents who are only interested in supervision.

8. FamilyTime: Best Parental Monitoring App for Its Affordability

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Most apps to monitor kids phones end up breaking the parent's bank. It is for this reason that people stay on the lookout for affordable apps. To be honest, it does not get cheaper than FamilyTime.

The app is not only affordable but also offers some really useful features for children’s digital and physical safety. Comparing it to the other apps in the market currently, the app has good parental monitoring with controls like web and app filtering, time management, location tracking, and social media tracking.

However, like all other apps, it has its shortcomings. The most prominent drawback in its monitoring capabilities is the limited functionality offered for iOS devices. Nonetheless, the app truly compensates with its extra features and affordable price range.

Some of the key features of FamilyTime that make it enjoyable are discussed here.

FamilyTime Parental Monitoring Features

App Blocker

FamilyTime lets parents see the list of apps on their child’s device. Using this list, parents can then block or allow particular apps. Moreover, if a child wishes to download a new app, parents can decide whether to allow it or not. However, all these functions are only available in Android. For iOS, the app blocker is limited to Safari, Camera, and Siri.

Time Restrictions

Time restriction is another feature that allows parents to control their child’s phone remotely by setting daily time limits. I liked that FamilyTime enabled parents to select apps that are not part of the usage limits and apps that are. Moreover, specific app time limits are also present in Android.

Location Tracking and Geofencing

Family locator on FamilyTime offers a simple way of tracking a child’s whereabouts. With parents receiving updates every 5-10 minutes about their child’s exact address, physical security is ensured.

Moreover, geofencing is also very convenient and covers an area of 150 meters to 1 kilometer.

Social Media Monitoring

FamilyTime provides insight into a child’s social media and YouTube activity. Parents can access their dashboard to read through their child’s conversations on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, etc. However, they cannot set any alerts to ensure the prevention of harmful content.

FamilyTime Compatibility

FamilyTime is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac devices. Moreover, it claims to run smoothly on all versions of these devices, which is not likely.

FamilyTime Pricing

MyFamily: $29/year

MyFamily 5: $69/year

FamilyTime Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- The installation and setting up process is very easy

- App blocker, SOS, and Pick Me Up options are useful features to have

- Screen time controls are extensive

- No measures in place to prevent uninstallation

- Not all features work flawlessly, and glitches can be encountered frequently

- No monitoring options for computers, i.e., Mac and PCs

Should I Buy FamilyTime?

If you are an Android household, then, you can give FamilyTime a try because of its parental controls and other exclusive features. However, things take a turn for the worse once iOS devices are in question.

Not only are some features entirely not available, those available have limited abilities too. However, even with its limited functioning, I believe most parents will be willing to oversee that because of its price.

9. mSpy: Best Parental Control App for Its Discretion

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Parental phone apps like mSpy are more popularly known as surveillance apps. Since these apps include little to no parental controls, they are used widely by parents for constant surveillance.

Parental monitoring offered by mSpy includes web filters and location tracking. However, parents using mSpy can miss out on screen time and app usage limits. In its place though, the app provides features like app, email, and text monitoring.

Overall, what I genuinely enjoyed about using mSpy is its stealth mode. The app is undetectable once installed on the target phone. Even though parents might see it as their chance to monitor their child without consent, it is very unethical.

Apart from the icon appearing a few times on the top bar, the app was not visible anywhere on the smartphone.

The most important features of mSpy are given below.

mSpy Parental Monitoring Features

App Monitoring

Parents can use mSpy to monitor messages, media files, and contacts across various social media apps. Moreover, text and email monitoring are also offered for complete oversight. However, this feature is limited when it comes to iOS monitoring and requires a separate setup.

Location Tracking

mSpy claims to offer real-time location tracking, which I found to be overstated. Even though location tracking, history logs, and geofencing are available, the logs and alerts are delayed. Still, the location tracking was pretty accurate with exact addresses and timestamps.

Keylogger

The keylogger in mSpy is an alternative method of monitoring text conversations. It logs everything that a child types on their cell phone, regardless of where they are typing.

mSpy Compatibility

mSpy is compatible with Android and iOS devices. However, to access the complete range of its features, rooted Android and jailbroken iOS devices are required.

mSpy Pricing

Basic: $140/year

Complete: $587/year

mSpy Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- Monitoring abilities are good and offer a wide range

- Users are not notified because it runs in stealth mode

- can see messages, social media chats, history, browsing history, etc

- Privacy and ethical monitoring concerns due to live camera recording

- Cannot control or manage screen time

- Need jailbreak or rooting to gain complete functioning

Should I Buy mSpy?

mSpy’s features like live camera recording raise some serious ethical concerns. Therefore, it is better if parents opt for comprehensive monitoring tools within legal and ethical limits.

However, if you do not mind circumventing these limits, then, the decision is ultimately yours.

11. Eyezy: Best Parental Monitoring App for Its Ease of Use

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When it comes to parental tracking apps, Eyezy is known for its user-friendly interface. However, that ease of use does not extend to every aspect of the app. The installation process is confusing, and with no free trial available, parents must commit before knowing if it truly meets their needs.

While Eyezy offers more monitoring options than most competitors, it lacks some essential parental monitoring features like screen time limits or content filtering.

Once installed, I found the experience underwhelming since several expected features, like email monitoring, a screen recorder, and internet search history tracking were simply not available.

Additionally, accessing the app’s most exclusive monitoring tools requires jailbreaking or rooting the device. Another drawback was the 15-minute delay in activity logs even when real-time monitoring was advertised.

Regardless of the issues at hand, Eyezy has some strong monitoring capabilities that I have dwelled on below.

Eyezy Parental Monitoring Features

Social Spotlight

Eyezy enables text monitoring over 15 different social media apps. Parents can use its tracking abilities to gain unrestricted access to their children’s message conversations and shared media. However, its slow updates and missed logs are key concerns.

Location Tracking

Parents can check their children’s location history for up to 60 days using Eyezy. Moreover, geofencing is also available for restricted and allowed zones. Please note that as is the case with all its updates, any new locations or geofencing alerts can take more than 15 minutes to be received.

Alerts

Alongside geofence alerts, Eyezy also allows parents to set keyword alerts. As soon as a keyword is detected in the activity logs, an email alert is triggered. This helps parents avoid the hassle of manually reading through all logs.

Eyezy Compatibility

Eyezy is compatible with Android and iOS devices purchased before 2010-2011. For specific devices, you can also use the compatibility checker available on their website.

Eyezy Pricing

Premium: $95.88/year

Family: $685.56/year

Eyezy Pros and Cons

Pros Cons

- Good monitoring options with the ability to check calls, messages, and more

- User dashboard is easy to use with good navigation

- Website blocking works even with a VPN

- It takes a while for the app-blocking command to be executed

- App glitches frequently and can require reinstallation

- Location tracking does not work properly and gives inaccurate results

Should I Buy Eyezy?

Eyezy offers extensive monitoring features and an intuitive interface, however, its drawbacks make it a questionable choice for comprehensive parental monitoring. If you as a parent want parental controls like screen time limits, content filtration, etc, then you might want to reconsider.

All in all, given its high price and limitations, Eyezy is not the best all-in-one parental control solution. However, if you’re looking for monitoring rather than control, it may still be worth considering.

FAQs

1. What parental control apps for Android offer the most detailed monitoring?

When considering the best parental control apps for Android, detailed monitoring is a key factor for many parents. Options like XNSPY, FamiSafe, and Google Family Link each have their strengths. XNSPY stands out as a comprehensive solution that offers robust monitoring features alongside effective parental controls. In contrast, Google Family Link is a free option that covers some basic parental functions. Similarly, FamiSafe provides parental control features but lacks monitoring.

3. How can I choose the best phone monitoring app for parents to ensure my child’s online safety?

Choosing the best parental monitoring apps for your child’s online safety starts with understanding your specific needs. Since every parent’s concerns may differ, it’s essential to identify your priorities first. Once you have a clear idea of what you need, shortlist apps that align with those requirements. Next, evaluate each app’s feature set, performance, and user reviews to assess reliability and effectiveness. By comparing these factors, you can choose the app that best ensures your child’s online safety.

4. Do parental tracking apps violate my child’s privacy?

The impact of parental monitoring on a child’s privacy largely depends on how it is used. If implemented transparently and with the child’s awareness, these apps can serve as tools for guidance and safety rather than surveillance. However, using such apps secretly or excessively may lead to feelings of distrust and invasion of privacy. Therefore, striking a balance between supervision and respect for privacy is crucial.

XNSPY Parental Monitoring App is All You Need

No more subpar tracking and control because XNSPY has everything.

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