Best Parental Control Apps

Scores and product facts reflect the dated comparison snapshot. See how we rank.

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Best Overall
1Aura
9.9 / 10Reference score
- monitors: Online activity, online gaming, app usage, screen time, online chatting (voice and text)
- alerts: AI chat app alerts, cyberbullying & predator alerts, online usage, personal info requests, mental health alerts, and more
- stages: Kids, preteens, teens up to age 18
- time-limits: Yes
- devices: iOS and Android devices. Safe Gaming available on Windows PC
- free-trial: Not available
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2Bark Parental Controls
9.8 / 10Reference score
- monitors: Texts, emails, YouTube, 30+ apps, photos, screen time, web use
- alerts: Dangers like bullying, predators, depression, sexting & more
- stages: Kids, preteens, teens
- time-limits: Yes, custom schedules, remote locking, and app-level rules
- devices: Android, iPhone, iPad, Chromebook, Kindle Fire — plus Bark Phone & Watch
- free-trial: Yes, 7-day free trial
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3Qustodio
9.7 / 10Reference score
- monitors: Live GPS location, YouTube, social media, browsing history, games/apps, and calls/SMS
- alerts: AI-powered alerts for messages & search, SOS panic button, GPS arrival alerts, and cyberbullying/explicit content warnings
- stages: Tailored features for kids, preteens, and teens
- time-limits: Yes; App-specific daily limits, custom schedules, routines, and an instant internet pause
- devices: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and Kindle (unlimited devices)
- free-trial: Yes; 3-day free trial (Free plan available)
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4Norton Family
9.6 / 10Reference score
- monitors: View child’s search terms, videos watched, age-appropriate content, screen time, location
- alerts: Internet usage, search terms, app downloads and installs
- stages: Kids, preteens, teens
- time-limits: Yes
- devices: Windows PC, Android, or iOS
- free-trial: Yes, 7-day free trial
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5HeyPolo
9.5 / 10Reference score
- monitors: Real-time GPS location, location history, driving behavior (speed, phone use, harsh braking, rapid acceleration, harsh cornering), and crash detection.
- alerts: Arrival and departure alerts for saved locations, one-tap SOS with live location, crash detection alerts, speeding and distracted driving alerts, severe weather alerts, and low battery notifications.
- stages: Kids, teens, and families; driving safety features tailored specifically for new teen drivers.
- time-limits: Not available; HeyPolo focuses on location and driving safety rather than device or screen time management.
- devices: iOS and Android.
- free-trial: Yes, 30-day money-back guarantee
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6mSpy
9.4 / 10Reference score
- monitors: Social media, SMS, iMessage, screen time, location, keystrokes, calls, photos, videos, browsing history
- alerts: Set alerts based on trigger keywords
- stages: Kids, preteens, teens
- time-limits: No
- devices: Android, iPhone, iPad
- free-trial: Not available
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7Gabb
9.3 / 10Reference score
- monitors: Phone calls, texting, location, and contacts
- alerts: High-risk content including grooming, sexual content, bullying, location, call/text logs
- stages: Kids, preteens, teens
- time-limits: Yes
- devices: Gabb Phone 4, 4P, and Watch 3E
- free-trial: No, but 30-day return guarantee is available
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8Panda Security
9.2 / 10Reference score
- monitors: App and game downloads, social media history, time spent online, inappropropriate content
- alerts: Geolocation, device tracking, panic button for emergencies, usage reports
- stages: Kids, preteens, teens, elderly
- time-limits: Yes
- devices: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS
- free-trial: yes, 30-day free trial
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9Avast
9.1 / 10Reference score
- monitors: Screen time, online activity, website blocking, location, app monitoring, content filters
- alerts: Location alerts, blocked app access alerts, time limit alerts
- stages: Kids, preteen, teen
- time-limits: Yes
- devices: Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows PC
- free-trial: 30-day money-back guarantee offered
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10Troomi
9.0 / 10Reference score
- monitors: Monitors and manages apps, contacts, screen time, location, texts, and web browsing
- alerts: Potentially harmful content, such as explicit texts, images, emojis, call logs, text monitoring, real-time alerts
- stages: Ages 7-13
- time-limits: Yes, limits can be set for general phone usage, calling, texting, web browsing, and individual apps
- devices: Android
- free-trial: No
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Our Top Choice

Best Overall

1Aura

9.9 / 10Reference score

monitors: Online activity, online gaming, app usage, screen time, online chatting (voice and text)
alerts: AI chat app alerts, cyberbullying & predator alerts, online usage, personal info requests, mental health alerts, and more
stages: Kids, preteens, teens up to age 18
time-limits: Yes
devices: iOS and Android devices. Safe Gaming available on Windows PC
free-trial: Not available

Official site Compare

Compare Features

Service	Best Overall—. AuraAuraofficial destination requires review	—. Bark Parental ControlsBark Parental Controlsofficial destination requires review	—. QustodioQustodioofficial destination requires review	—. Norton FamilyNorton Familyofficial destination requires review	—. HeyPoloHeyPoloofficial destination requires review
monitors	Online activity, online gaming, app usage, screen time, online chatting (voice and text)	Texts, emails, YouTube, 30+ apps, photos, screen time, web use	Live GPS location, YouTube, social media, browsing history, games/apps, and calls/SMS	View child’s search terms, videos watched, age-appropriate content, screen time, location	Real-time GPS location, location history, driving behavior (speed, phone use, harsh braking, rapid acceleration, harsh cornering), and crash detection.
alerts	AI chat app alerts, cyberbullying & predator alerts, online usage, personal info requests, mental health alerts, and more	Dangers like bullying, predators, depression, sexting & more	AI-powered alerts for messages & search, SOS panic button, GPS arrival alerts, and cyberbullying/explicit content warnings	Internet usage, search terms, app downloads and installs	Arrival and departure alerts for saved locations, one-tap SOS with live location, crash detection alerts, speeding and distracted driving alerts, severe weather alerts, and low battery notifications.
stages	Kids, preteens, teens up to age 18	Kids, preteens, teens	Tailored features for kids, preteens, and teens	Kids, preteens, teens	Kids, teens, and families; driving safety features tailored specifically for new teen drivers.
time-limits	Yes	Yes, custom schedules, remote locking, and app-level rules	Yes; App-specific daily limits, custom schedules, routines, and an instant internet pause	Yes	Not available; HeyPolo focuses on location and driving safety rather than device or screen time management.
devices	iOS and Android devices. Safe Gaming available on Windows PC	Android, iPhone, iPad, Chromebook, Kindle Fire — plus Bark Phone & Watch	iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and Kindle (unlimited devices)	Windows PC, Android, or iOS	iOS and Android.
free-trial	Not available	Yes, 7-day free trial	Yes; 3-day free trial (Free plan available)	Yes, 7-day free trial	Yes, 30-day money-back guarantee

HOW WE RANK

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