5 Best Parental Control Apps for Android and iPhone in 2024

In today’s social media world, children face cybercrime and adult content exposure. Parental control apps are valuable for monitoring and blocking sensitive content on children's devices. With a wide range of options available, parents look for budget-friendly apps with easy-to-use interfaces.

Here, we will provide insight into top parental control apps. Through the Advantages and comparisons of the features of these apps, parents can choose the best app for their innocent users.

1.Msafely

Msafely has advanced features to monitor children’s online activities, but its stealth mode to monitor children's phones makes it preferable to other apps.

Key Features:

Social media monitoring

?Msafely monitors social media platforms and allows parents to check their children's uploaded posts. They can also check the child's watching history and communication with others.

GPS tracking

?The app enables users to check the GPS location of the target device. By locating the location of WIFI or data, the app allows users to trace the real-time location of children.

Text monitoring

?This parental control option allows users to monitor the texts and contact details on the child's device. It also helps to check the texts sent and received on cell phones or social media platforms.

Browsing history

?Msafely helps parents evaluate the browsing history of their children's devices. It enables them to check deleted data because the app operates on provided iCloud information, giving accurate monitoring results.

Pros:

Msafely operates secretly to monitor the target phone because there is no need to install extra software or apps on the target phone. It collects data from the feeded email.

The app provides a detailed report on social media activity and provides an overview of scrolling, searching, uploading, and communicating on social media apps.

2.SpyX

SpyX is a reliable app with a robust user experience, but unlike other apps, it is not beneficial only for monitoring a child’s phone. It focuses on building a permanent safety shield around children’s digital presence. This app emphasizes blocking access to harmful games, websites, and apps.?

Key Features:

Real-time Location Tracking

Parents can check their child’s location anytime. The app uses real-time GPS to detect the child’s outdoor activities. The geofencing ability of SpyX permits users to set safe zones and receive alerts when their child enters the described location.

Monitoring Social Media Activity

This feature lets parents check their child’s social media activities. They can detect their friend list, uploaded stories, and chat boxes. It ensures that their child is interacting with safe people and sets alerts about using inappropriate content.??

Call and SMS Monitoring

?This function permits parents to monitor incoming and outgoing calls and SMS. They can check the contact details and read the messages, which prevents any stranger from harming the child.

Pros:

The app has exclusive and comprehensive monitoring options for children’s online activities. It saves navigation time for unfamiliar users by providing dedicated customer support.

3. Net Nanny

Net Nanny has advanced features to control children's online activities. The app has the latest features for content filtering and location tracking.

Key Features:

Real-time web filtering

Internet browsers have unlimited content to explore, and inappropriate ads can disturb innocent children. Net Nanny's website blocker function allows parents to block unwanted websites.?

App blocking

?The Net Nanny app has features to block unknown app access. Children cannot download apps without their parents' permission by using this app. The app's latest features can set security on the Play Store to block its access for children.

Location tracking

Net Nanny has a useful feature of location tracking, through which parents can trace a child's real-time location. The parents can set specific locations in the app, such as the child’s school, a friend’s house, or other places for extra activities.?

Screen time management

The app allows setting off hours to control screen time. Through this feature, parents can block children's internet access. This function is best for controlling the adverse effects of using the screen all day.

Pros:

The app's interface is easy to understand and requires no experience. The dashboard's attractive arrangement and clear navigation cues allow users to handle the app without expert instructions.

The app's premium functions allow comprehensive control over websites. Parents can block website access by content category, and children can use YouTube or other social media apps without receiving inappropriate ads.

4. Kaspersky Safe Kids

This parental control option is affordable and has comprehensive features to control children's screen time. The app helps provide customized search results for innocent minds.

Key Features:

Location tracking

This app allows parents to control their children's walking area. Geo-fencing technology allows children to be located safely, and parents can monitor them safely.

Screen time limits

If we leave children free, they will spend all their time scrolling social media. Therefore, Safe Kids allows to set a scheduled screen time for teenagers and check the overall history of screen time.

Web content filtering

Safe Kids can block inappropriate content, and parents can tailor content according to their children's age. The app also offers to block harmful sites and protect children's presence. Android users can opt for the Google plug-in option, and Safari can also be disabled on iOS devices.?

App blocking

This option allows you to restrict the app access and block the App Store for kids. Parents can install the apps according to genre and age restrictions.

Pros:

The app has cost-effective features and comparatively low prices. Its unlimited monitoring functions stand out compared to other parental control apps.

The app has cross-platform support, allowing it to operate on multiple devices. Users can access the app regardless of the device and platform type. It can also monitor more than one device at once.?

5. Norton Family

The low budget cost with an unlimited device option suits large families. The app uses cloud-based data and monitors every child's click.?

Key Features:

Web filtering

The app can block access to adult websites, and parents can set specific search results according to age limitations. This develops confidence in children because, having control over search results, they can search freely for their entertaining content.

Screen time management

This app allows parents to block internet access to break children's screen schedules or set specific periods to develop time management skills in young minds.

Location tracking

The app uses geo-fencing technology to alert and notify parents about children's entry in specific areas. GPS tracking helps locate the exact location of the target device.

App blocking

Norton Family can block access to irrelevant apps. Parents can restrict app access by describing their child's age limit and interests.

Pros:

The comprehensive features are available in a yearly subscription with cost-effective rates. The app can support multiple devices at one time, making it ideal for a large family

Final Analysis

Choosing the right parental control app can be challenging due to the variety of options available. To simplify, set clear monitoring goals, review your budget, and select an app that meets your needs.?

Read detailed feature descriptions, test demos and free trials for navigation clarity, then opt for a premium subscription. Monitoring children's phones ensures safety, but always obtains consent before tracking an adult's phone to comply with legal considerations. Because Msafely is a good app that not only can help parents monitor their children, but also operate within the law, we prefer to choose it.