Best Parental Control Apps: An Honest Comparison
Seven tools reviewed so you can choose the right level of oversight for your family — including two free options already on your devices.
How to choose the right tool
Parental control apps vary enormously in their approach. Some focus on content filtering and blocking, others on monitoring and alerts, others on screen time management, and some attempt to do all three. Before choosing, consider: How old is your child? What are your primary concerns — harmful content, contact with strangers, excessive use, or cyberbullying? How much do you want to monitor versus how much do you want to block? And how important is it that your child knows the software is installed? The most effective tools are those used transparently, where your child is aware of and understands the oversight in place. No app replaces conversation, but the right tool can provide a meaningful safety net.
Comparison of seven parental control tools
Bark
~£9/monthPlatforms: iOS, Android, Chromebook, Windows, Mac
What it does: Bark uses AI to analyse your child's messages, emails, and social media activity for signs of cyberbullying, depression, self-harm, sexual content, and online predators. Rather than showing parents all messages, it sends alerts only when something concerning is detected — preserving more privacy than most alternatives.
Key features: Smart AI monitoring across 30+ platforms, screen time scheduling, web filtering, location sharing, app blocking.
Limitations: Does not give parents access to message content directly. Works better as an alerting system than a blocking tool. Requires child's accounts to be connected.
Circle
~£8/monthPlatforms: Whole-home via router; iOS and Android app for mobile
What it does: Circle connects to your home Wi-Fi router and monitors all devices on the network, allowing you to set individual profiles for each family member. It can filter content, pause the internet, set daily time limits, and track usage across every device — including smart TVs and games consoles.
Key features: Network-level filtering (works on all devices), per-profile time limits, usage history, pause internet, bedtime scheduling. Mobile plan extends controls beyond home Wi-Fi.
Limitations: Network-only coverage means it does not work on mobile data without the paid Circle Go add-on. Children can bypass home controls by switching to mobile data.
Qustodio
~£40–£100/yearPlatforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Kindle
What it does: Qustodio is one of the most comprehensive cross-platform tools available, offering detailed activity reports, web and app filtering, social media monitoring, call and SMS tracking, and screen time management. It provides some of the clearest dashboards of any parental control software.
Key features: Detailed activity reporting, content filtering by category, time limits per app, location tracking, panic button feature, social media monitoring on Android.
Limitations: More expensive than some alternatives. Social media monitoring is limited on iOS due to Apple restrictions. Some features require the premium tier.
Net Nanny
~£50/year (5 devices)Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook
What it does: Net Nanny has been one of the leading web filtering solutions for over two decades. Its particular strength is dynamic content filtering — it analyses page content in real time rather than relying on a static blocklist, making it better at catching newly created harmful sites.
Key features: Real-time content analysis, customisable filtering categories, app blocking, screen time limits, profanity masking on screen, family feed showing recent activity.
Limitations: The interface is less polished than some newer competitors. Location tracking is basic compared to dedicated tools. Limited social media monitoring capability.
Kaspersky Safe Kids
~£15/year (premium)Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac
What it does: Kaspersky Safe Kids is one of the most affordable feature-complete parental control tools. Its free tier covers the basics — web filtering and app control — while the premium tier adds GPS tracking, social media monitoring, and YouTube oversight.
Key features: Web filtering, app control, screen time scheduling, GPS location tracking (premium), YouTube monitoring, social media alerts (VKontakte and Facebook only on premium).
Limitations: Social media monitoring coverage is narrower than competitors. As a Russian-headquartered company, some organisations have raised data sovereignty questions — worth factoring into your decision.
Google Family Link
FreePlatforms: Android (primary), limited iOS supervision of Android children
What it does: Google Family Link is a free tool built into Android that allows parents to approve app downloads, set daily screen time limits, view device activity reports, lock the device remotely, and track location. It is the natural starting point for Android households.
Key features: App approval for Play Store downloads, daily screen time limits, activity dashboard, device lock, location sharing, content filtering in Google Search and Chrome.
Limitations: Controls are automatically removed when a child turns 13 (they can choose to remove oversight). Limited to Google services; does not monitor third-party apps or filter non-Chrome browsers effectively.
Apple Screen Time
FreePlatforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac (Apple devices only)
What it does: Apple's Screen Time is built into every Apple device and managed through Family Sharing. It provides powerful controls for Apple households: per-app time limits, content restrictions by rating, communication limits, downtime scheduling, and the ability to require approval for purchases and app downloads.
Key features: Downtime scheduling (device lock except calls), app time limits, content ratings filter, communication limits (who can call/message), Screen Distance for eye health, Family Sharing purchase approval.
Limitations: Only works on Apple devices. Determined teenagers can sometimes find workarounds (VPNs, alternative browsers). Does not provide the monitoring or alerting capability of dedicated tools like Bark.
Which tool is right for your family?
Start with the free built-in tools if you have not already — Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link cover the basics well for most families with younger children. If you have a mixed-device household, or if your child is older and you want monitoring rather than blocking, Bark or Qustodio are the most frequently recommended by child safety organisations. Circle is the best option if your primary concern is managing all household devices, including games consoles and smart TVs. Whatever tool you choose, introduce it transparently: tell your child it is installed, explain why, and involve them in setting the rules where their age allows.
Important limitations of all parental control software
No parental control app is foolproof. Teenagers in particular are resourceful and can often find workarounds — using a friend's device, switching to mobile data, or using a VPN to bypass filters. Apps also cannot protect against harm that occurs through voice calls, in games with voice chat, or in physical spaces. The research evidence is consistent that parental monitoring software works best as part of a broader approach that includes open communication, agreed household rules, and ongoing conversations about online safety. Tools support that approach; they do not replace it.
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
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