How Can I Monitor My Child's Screen Time?

You can monitor your child's screen time with third-party apps like Qustodio, Norton Family, or Net Nanny. Another option is to use the built-in parental controls on your device. iOS has Screen Time, and Android has Family Link.

Can I Monitor My Child's Social Media Use?

Most parental control and monitoring apps allow you to monitor your child's social media use. Some apps, like Canopy, are specifically designed for this purpose. Make sure to choose an app compatible with your child's preferred social media platforms.

Can I Monitor Multiple Devices at Once?

Yes, you can monitor multiple devices simultaneously with most parental control and monitoring apps. You'll just need to install the app on each device and sign in with your account. After that, you can view activity from each of your child's devices in one place.

What Are the Most Important Features of a Parental Monitoring App?

The most important features depend on your needs. Consider your child's age and online activity trends along with your budget when choosing an app. Some popular features include web filtering, activity reports, text and social media monitoring, location tracking, and panic alerts.

Can I Monitor My Child's Phone Without Them Knowing?

While not all parental control and monitoring apps are completely discreet, most do allow you to monitor your child's phone without them knowing. Some apps, like Screen Time, also allow parents and caregivers to set a password that must be entered in order to uninstall the app. This way, children cannot uninstall the app without permission.

Best Parental Control and Monitoring Apps of 2023

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Children of all ages use tablets, phones, computers, and other devices to play games, do homework, and watch videos. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the average child spends seven hours a day in front of screens. That's more than twice the amount of screen time recommended by the AAP.

And while technology can be a good educational resource for school-aged children, it can also be challenging to find a balance. Parental control and monitoring apps can help you manage and monitor your child's screen time. These apps can also block certain content, set limits on app usage, and help you see what your child is doing online. Here are our top picks for the best parental control and monitoring apps.

Best Parental Control and Monitoring Apps of 2023

Best Overall: Screen Time
Best Budget: unGlue
Best for Real-Time Monitoring: Qustodio
Best for Location Tracking: Norton Family
Best for Older Kids: Canopy
Best for Younger Kids: Net Nanny
Best for Time Management: Kaspersky Safe Kids

Best Overall: Screen Time

Courtesy of Screentime

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Key Specs

Price: Free to $7 per month
iOS/Android: Both
Number of Devices: 1 to 5

Why We Chose It

The free version of Screen Time offers a range of features, including daily activity reports and app usage details for one device per child. The premium version, which starts at $7 per month, gives you more features and allows you to track up to five devices.

Pros & Cons

Pros

7-day free trial of premium features
Includes social media monitoring
Instant pause feature to control device use

Cons

Features are limited on iOS devices
Location tracking only available on the premium plan

Overview

Screen Time is great for customization—you can reward your child with more screen time after they finish their homework or chores. Parents can also preset blocked periods like bedtime, homework time, or school hours.

For moments when you're feeling extra generous, you can activate "Free Play" to temporarily override settings without messing up your screen monitoring routine. All downloads are approved or rejected by you, and you can keep an eye on your children's web history, too. Bonus: One Screen Time account works for the whole family—you can give access to relatives or caregivers—and your kids won't be able to uninstall the app without a secure password. Genius!

Best Budget: unGlue

Unglue

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Key Specs

Price: Free to $7 per month
iOS/Android: iOS
Number of Devices: Unlimited

Why We Chose It

With unGlue, parents can monitor an unlimited number of devices for just $7 per month. That's a great deal for families with multiple kids and devices.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Physical activity tracking
Ability to control social media use
Rewards chores with extra screen time

Cons

Only available on iOS devices
No location tracking

Overview

unGlue is all about empowering kids to learn screen time etiquette and self-regulate. You can set boundaries on entertainment by bundling all major apps, sites, and games into one category and setting a time limit. This way, your kids can access the internet to do schoolwork without getting distracted by anything deemed "fun."

Kids can also learn to balance phone time by tracking their own screen time—and the app will reward more internet time if they accumulate roll-over minutes, complete extra chores, or put in a required number of daily steps tracked through the app.

Best for Real-Time Monitoring: Qustodio

Courtesy of Qustodio

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Key Specs

Price: Starting at $55 per year for 5 devices
iOS/Android: Both
Number of Devices: 5 to 15

Why We Chose It

Monitoring in real-time is vital for some parents, and Qustodio offers just that with its user-friendly parent dashboard that displays location, browsing history, screen time, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

3-day free trial offer
Ability to block apps and filter content
Read text messages and see call history

Cons

Limited social media tracking (Facebook only)
More expensive than other options

Overview

Find everything you need to know about your kids' screen time on Qustodio's online dashboard. Qustodio offers standard features, like Smart Web Filters that can block inappropriate content, game limitations, and a device time schedule—so your kids are unplugged when needed.

You'll also receive Smart Activity Reports to stay on top of your kids' screen time trends and app usage. Qustodio even allows you to monitor social networks, track calls and texts (for Android devices only), and install location tracking with helpful panic alerts.

Best for Location Tracking: Norton Family

Norton

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Key Specs

Price: $50 per year
iOS/Android: Both
Number of Devices: Up to 50

Why We Chose It

Norton Family helps you keep tabs on your kids by tracking their location in real-time and over the last 30 days.

Pros & Cons

Pros

30-day free trial offer
Monitor time spent on devices
Ability to set up text alerts to report location changes

Cons

Some features are limited on iOS devices
Doesn’t support Mac devices

Overview

Norton's award-winning parental control software is now available in app form. Keeping tabs on your kids' activity is easy with web, time, search, social network, mobile app, text message, and video supervision. This way, you know who your kids are in touch with, what social media image they are presenting of themselves, and how often they are gaming.

Norton Family also protects personal information for those with Windows devices, so your child doesn't disclose sensitive or endangering information. Our favorite feature? "Instant Lock," which lets you unplug your kid during dinnertime.

Best for Older Kids: Canopy

Canopy

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Key Specs

Price: $8 to $16 per month
iOS/Android: Both
Number of Devices: 3 to 10 devices

Why We Chose It

In the age of the tech-savvy teenager, you need a parental control and monitoring app that is just as sophisticated. Canopy has an array of features that detect and remove inappropriate content before your child ever sees it.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Advanced filtering for social media, web browsing, and apps
Teaches kids how to be responsible on digital devices
Free 7-day trial offer

Cons

Limited features outside of content filters
Can't monitor text messages

Overview

If you're looking for a way to monitor texts and social media use amongst teens, tweens, and older kids, consider Canopy. This app ensures your child is safe from sexual content, cyberbullying, and inappropriate language by scanning texts and social media posts for red flags.

It's restrictive, but still gives your child autonomy and privacy. For example, you can't read their messages. And it blocks content in real-time—if a pornographic message comes through, it will flag your phone. The downside: the app does not control screen usage. It also cannot block content within apps.

Best for Younger Kids: Net Nanny

Courtesy of Net Nanny

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Key Specs

Price: Starting at $50 per year
iOS/Android: Both
Number of Devices: Up to 20 devices

Why We Chose It

Net Nanny monitors and limits screen time for younger kids while also filtering out age-inappropriate content on the web and in apps.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Advanced filtering for web browsing and apps
Ability to manage screen time and set limits
Real-time location tracking

Cons

Can't monitor calls and texts
No geofencing

Overview

With a modern look and intuitive design, Net Nanny is an excellent parental control and monitoring app that lets you filter the content your child is accessing. It can also track your child's location, display their history, and set time allowances—ideal for children of all ages.

And Net Nanny doesn't just blindly block apps and websites; it analyzes them individually, giving you (and your child) the best possible experience.

Best for Time Management: Kaspersky Safe Kids

Courtesy of Kaspersky Safe Kids

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Key Specs

Price: $0 to $15 per year
iOS/Android: Both
Number of Devices: Unlimited

We We Chose It

Kaspersky Safe Kids helps you manage your kids' screen time by setting limits on their devices and giving you a detailed report of their digital activity.

Pros & Cons

Pros

YouTube search monitoring and content blocker
Detailed reports of app and website usage
GPS location tracking

Cons

Some features are limited on iOS
No free trial offer

Designed to monitor your child's computer and smartphone activity, Kaspersky Safe Kids lets you control your little one's online habits. With screen time limits, a GPS locator, an app manager, and the ability to block access to inappropriate or harmful content, Kaspersky is a great choice for parents of young children.

You can also monitor YouTube searches and videos watched within browsers on Windows, iOS, and Android devices—and within the YouTube app on Android devices. The only downside is the app's interface is a bit clunky, and the system can be slow.

Final Verdict

The best parental control and monitoring app often depends on your family's needs, including the device type and age of your children. But Screen Time has a comprehensive approach to managing screen time, app usage, and content filtering that makes it the best choice for many families. And at just $7 per month, the premium plan is feature-rich and affordable. If you're looking for real-time monitoring of your child's phone, Qustodio is an excellent choice. The app offers a personalized dashboard with up-to-date information on your child's app usage, browsing history, and more.

Guide to Choosing a Parental Control and Monitoring App

Deciding on the best parental monitoring app for your family ultimately comes down to your unique needs and parenting style. But keep a few key factors in mind when narrowing down your options.

Age of child: If you have young children, you'll want an app that offers basic features like web filtering and activity reports. For older kids, you may want to consider an app with more advanced features like text and social media monitoring.
Types of devices: If your child only uses a smartphone or tablet, look for an app compatible with their device's operating system. If they use a computer, look for an app that offers features like web filtering and activity reports.
Budget: Parental monitoring apps can range in price from free to several hundred dollars a year. Choose an app that fits your long-term budget.
Features: Decide which features are most important to you in an app. Some popular features include web filtering, activity reports, text and social media monitoring, location tracking, and panic alerts.
Reviews: This is a great way to get an unbiased opinion on an app's features and performance. Reviews help you identify potential problems and decide if an app suits your family.

The best parental monitoring app offers multiple features, ease of use, and affordability for families of all sizes. Monitoring online activity, social media use, and screen time can help keep your kids safe online. Location features like GPS tracking and geofencing can also help keep tabs on your kids' whereabouts. Geofencing lets you set virtual boundaries and receive alerts if your child crosses them—and GPS tracking enables you to see their exact location at all times.

Look for an app with a clean, user-friendly interface that is compatible with all your devices. That way, you can monitor your kids' activity—no matter where they are or which device they use.

Compare the Best Parental Control and Monitoring Apps

Company	Price	iOS/Android	Number of Devices
Screen Time Best Overall	Free to $7/month	Both	1 to 5
unGlue Best Budget	Free to $7/month	iOS	Unlimited
Qustodio Best for Real-Time Monitoring	Starting at $55/year for 5 devices	Both	5 to 15
Norton Family Best for Location Tracking	$50/year	Both	Up to 50
Canopy Best for Older Kids	$8 to $16/month	Both	3 to 10
Net Nanny Best for Younger Kids	Starting at $50/year	Both	Up to 20 devices
Kaspersky Safe Kids Best for Time Management	$0 to $15/year	Both	Unlimited

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Monitor My Child's Screen Time?

You can monitor your child's screen time with third-party apps like Qustodio, Norton Family, or Net Nanny. Another option is to use the built-in parental controls on your device. iOS has Screen Time, and Android has Family Link.
Can I Monitor My Child's Social Media Use?

Most parental control and monitoring apps allow you to monitor your child's social media use. Some apps, like Canopy, are specifically designed for this purpose. Make sure to choose an app compatible with your child's preferred social media platforms.
Can I Monitor Multiple Devices at Once?

Yes, you can monitor multiple devices simultaneously with most parental control and monitoring apps. You'll just need to install the app on each device and sign in with your account. After that, you can view activity from each of your child's devices in one place.
What Are the Most Important Features of a Parental Monitoring App?

The most important features depend on your needs. Consider your child's age and online activity trends along with your budget when choosing an app. Some popular features include web filtering, activity reports, text and social media monitoring, location tracking, and panic alerts.
Can I Monitor My Child's Phone Without Them Knowing?

While not all parental control and monitoring apps are completely discreet, most do allow you to monitor your child's phone without them knowing. Some apps, like Screen Time, also allow parents and caregivers to set a password that must be entered in order to uninstall the app. This way, children cannot uninstall the app without permission.

Methodology

We reviewed over a dozen monitoring apps and read hundreds of user reviews to find the best parental monitoring apps available. We focused on apps that are compatible with multiple device types, offer a wide range of features, and are affordable for families of all sizes. Location features like GPS tracking and geofencing were also important, as well as the number of devices the app can monitor simultaneously. Finally, we chose apps that offer advanced security features like content filtering and social media monitoring to keep kids safe online—no matter their device type or preferred online platform.

Updated by Kimberly Zapata

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