Keeping your child safe online can be challenging due to dangers like inappropriate content and cyberbullying. Fortunately, parental control apps can help monitor and protect your child’s online activities. In 2024, there are many apps available, but their effectiveness varies. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 parental control apps, ranked from highest to lowest, to help you choose the best option for safeguarding your child.
Best Parental Control Apps for Every Concerned Parent
1 mSafely
mSafely is an excellent parental control app that allows you to monitor what your child is doing on their devices anytime, anywhere. mSafely stands out for its impressive range of features that offer comprehensive monitoring, helping you to understand their web habits. The app operates in stealth mode, gathering the data you need to make informed decisions about your child’s online behavior. It’s also a safe and secure app, as all data is encrypted.
Pros
- No app installation is required on the target device
- Comprehensive monitoring
- Allows blocking of unwanted sites or apps
- Easy to set up and get started
- Works with Android and iOS devices
- Real-time monitoring
Cons
- A bit pricey
2 SpyX
As the name suggests, SpyX allows you to spy on your child’s online activities and block any unwanted sites or apps. The app works with both Android and iOS and offers a range of features that can help you monitor your child’s online activities.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- No app installation
- Offers a range of features
Cons
- Expensive pricing plans
- Limited customer support
- It does not allow multiple device monitoring on a single subscription
3 SpyPhone.cc
SpyPhone.cc is another parental control app you can use in 2024. It might not be as effective as mSafely, but it can help you track your child’s online activities. If you’re concerned about the online safety of your child, this app enables you to figure out what they are up to.
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Claims to be free
- Compatible with Android and iOS devices
Cons
- Limited range of features
- Fairly new player in the industry
- Limited social media monitoring
- It does not offer real-time monitoring
4 EyeZy
EyeZy offers a range of features that allow you to monitor your child’s online activities. It’s recognized for its excellent monitoring capability, empowering parents to monitor their children’s activities, including SMS, social media, location, and more.
Pros
- Real-time monitoring
- Call and text monitoring
- Geofencing alerts
Cons
- Complicated installation process
- Expensive plans
- Multiple devices are not allowed to share a single subscription
- Jailbreaking or rooting required
5 uMobix
If your child spends a lot of time on social media and you’re concerned about their safety, uMobix is the best app for you. It allows you to track their messages, images, videos, and files on social media and limit their screen time.
Pros
- Comprehensive social media monitor
- Easy to install
- Limits apps usage
Cons
- Cannot track iPhone location
- It does not offer geofencing
- Complicated to install
- Limited customer support
6 mSpy
mSpy is a great parental control app for iPhone monitoring. The app operates in stealth mode, meaning you don’t need to install the app on the target device. It also allows you to read their messages on various apps, including Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and others.
Pros
- Works in stealth mode
- User-friendly interface
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Offers a limited number of remote control features
- Slow data transfer
- Does not record calls
- No free trial
7 Parentaler
Parentaler prioritizes kids’ online safety by offering a range of features that allow you to monitor what your little one is doing on their phone, tablet, or computer. It might not be as effective as mSafely, but its variety of features makes it a standout parental control app.
Pros
- Impressive range of innovative features
- Claims to be free
- Works with various operating systems
Cons
- Requires physical access to the target phone
- Tech-savvy kids might find it
- Not customizable
8 Canopy
Canopy is a great app for protecting kids against explicit content. If you’re concerned that your child has access to or could have access to explicit content like pornography, Canopy can help you restrict their access to such content. From sexting to image nudity, this app will keep your child safe.
Pros
- Allows you to set screen time limits
- Sexting alerts
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Focuses mainly only on inappropriate content
- Expensive monthly plans
- Complex installation process
- It might not be secure
- Social media blocking isn’t effective
9 Family Time
Family Time is the best parental control app for younger kids and teens. It offers a range of management tools that allow parents to track their children’s online activities. In addition, it comes with teen-specific features such as speed limit alerts.
Pros
- Web blocking and filtering
- Comprehensive history reports
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Offers social media monitoring for two apps only
- Monitoring is limited to 5 devices
- Some features are not offered on iOS
- It doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee
- Only offers a 3-day free trial
10 MMGuardian
MMGuardian offers different levels of tracking and monitoring for parents. The app allows you to monitor call logs, messages, and browsing history. You can also block contacts. Additionally, it allows you to approve which apps to download.
Pros
- Offers 14-day trial
- Allows location tracking
- User-friendly dashboard
Cons
- Expensive monthly plans
- It does not limit screen time
- It does not offer a geofencing feature
Conclusion
We think mSafely offers comprehensive parental control features. Unlike most apps that are only strong in specific features, mSafely offers detailed monitoring of everything, from social media, SMS, dating apps, mobile browsers, and more. Most importantly, it allows you to block inappropriate content, apps, and websites. Additionally, the app allows you to spy on iPhone and Android devices in real-time. The GPS location tracking features enable you to see where your child is at all times. You can also enable the geofencing feature, which essentially allows you to set a boundary, which, when exited, you receive an alert.
