10 Best Parental Control Software for Online Safety of your Kids

Parents have several concerns regarding the safety of the kids. They had act like a spy to monitor the activity of children no matter if it is online or offline. If you are worried that the online dangers could harm your kids, then you should take help of the parental control software to filter the content, apps, & websites and also monitor the activity of the kids. In this article, we are listing 10 best parental control software to ensure the safety of your children.

What to Expect from Parental Control Software?

Here are some things that you should expect from parental control software.

• It should support content filtering
• Helps you to limit the screen time
• Should offer Safe Browsing
• Capable of blocking apps and websites
• Should support social media blocking and monitoring
• Support instant messaging apps monitoring
• Should feature online activity reports
• Support Calls and Texts Monitoring
• Real-Time Alerts of inappropriate activity
• Should support various devices and platform
• Affordable pricing

1. Qustodio

Qustodio is the best and most customizable parental control software out there. This software can be used on several platform and devices to monitor the activity of your children. It works on Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Kindle, and Nook. This tool is available both free and paid version. The free version works only on one device and has basic features, while the paid version supports all the features, and can be purchased for 5, 10, and 15 devices which cost for a year is $54.95, $96.95, and $137.95 respectively.

Key Features

• Content Filter
• Activity Reports
• Screen Time Limit
• App & Game Blocking
• Social Media Monitoring
• Monitor Texts and Calls
• Location Tracking
• Panic Button

Pros	Cons
Filters content even for HTTPS websites Settings for each child applies to all devices Monitoring of text and calls on Android Check Circle Strong social media controls Check Circle Supports time limit for each app	iOS version doesn’t support text and calls oversight

2. Net Nanny

Another popular parental control software is Net Nanny. This tool is expensive but supports an extensive list of features. Net Nanny doesn’t have a free version, and it costs around $40 if you purchase it for one device either Windows or Mac. You will get support for Android and iOS if you are buying the license for 5 devices which would cost you around $60. If you have a larger family, then you can purchase the license for $9 per device. Compared to other software it is slightly expensive.

Key Features

• Content Filter
• Screen Time Limiting & Monitoring
• Email Notifications
• Mask Profanity
• Social Media Monitoring
• Remote Management
• Alerts and Weekly Reports

Pros	Cons
Remote configuration and management Settings applied to all devices for a child Email alerts and reports Check Circle App management for Android	Limited iOS features and support

3. Kaspersky Safe Kids

Kaspersky Safe Kids is another excellent tool to protect your kids from harmful content on the internet. It supports multiple devices like Windows PC, Mac PC, iPhone & iPad, and Android smartphones & tablets. The tool comes in free and paid version. The free version only supports content filtering, app usage control, and screen time management. The paid version has the full long list of features. The pricing is also affordable, it can be purchased for $15 for a year and supports unlimited devices and kids profile.

Key Features

• Content Filter
• App Usage Control
• Screen Time Management
• Location Tracking
• Social Media Monitoring
• Call and Text Monitoring
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Battery Tracker
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Geofencing

Pros	Cons
Affordable pricing with no limit on profile and devices The content filter has the option to block or warn Real-Time alert system Check Circle Time limiting of apps and games Check Circle Geo tracking alerts Check Circle Text and calls monitoring	Limited functionality for iOS devices

4. Symantec Norton Family Premier

Another affordable parental control tool is Norton Family Premier. It doesn’t have the free version, but the charges are not that much high. This software doesn’t limit the number of devices and number of kid’s profile. You can get the license of Norton Family Premier in $49.99 for one year.

Key Features

• Content Filter
• Time Management
• Social Network Monitoring
• Privacy Protection
• Videos, App, and Text Monitoring
• Email Alerts
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Location Tracking
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Remote Locking the Device

Pros	Cons
Parental configuration applies to all devices No limits on devices and profiles Location Tracking Check Circle Affordable	Does not support Mac Times Circle Content blocking does not work on HTTPS sites on unsupported browsers Times Circle All features do not work on all platforms Times Circle Inefficient social media monitoring

5. Circle with Disney

Circle with Disney is a hardware level protection for your whole network. You don’t need to install the parental control software on each device your kids use. This one device will limit and monitor the activity of your kids on the whole network. Circle with Disney doesn’t restrict the number of devices and can be purchased for $99. You don’t need to pay the subscription charges on a yearly or devices basis.

Key Features

• Content Filter
• Time Management
• Internet Pause
• Usage Monitoring
• Rewards System
• Ad Blocker
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Safe Search
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Alerts of Time limit and new device
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Support Ungoverned Device

Pros	Cons
Can turn off the internet in bed time Option to pause internet during a dinner or family time Works on all devices on your network Check Circle Easy configuration	Identifying devices with the name is difficult Times Circle Limited monitoring options

6. uKnowKids Premier

Another excellent parental control software is uKnowKids. It is an excellent tool to watch the activity of your children on the internet and several popular social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. It also monitors the chat and calls on the iPhone and Android devices. uKnowKids Premier costs $140 for a year and Premier Plus Apple costs $140 for a year and $50 one time charges. It seems to a little bit costly, but no other tools provide chats and calls monitoring on iOS devices.

Key Features

• Calls and Text Monitoring
• Apps and Games Monitoring
• Social Media Monitoring
• Real-Time Notifications for flagged activity
• Daily and Weekly activity reports

Pros	Cons
Active Calls and Text Monitoring on iOS Monitors posts on social media Alerts parents when risky posts and photos are shared Check Circle Recovers deleted text messages Check Circle Locating child and setting up Geofences	Does not support Android Tablets Times Circle iOS tracking needs a regular iCloud backup Times Circle Geolocation is not accurate Times Circle Expensive Subscription Charges

7. Mobicip

Mobicip offers customizable options to monitor and control the activity of children on the internet. This tool is available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Kindle. Mobicip offers full feature free of cost for one device. If you need to monitor more than 1 device, then you need to pay the subscription charges. The five device plan costs $39.99 – $49.99 for a year and 10 device plan costs $89.99 for a year. It also has 15, and 20 devices plan if you have a big family who uses various devices.

Key Features

• Screen Time Management
• Content Filtering
• Apps & Games Time Management
• Location Tracker
• Video Monitoring
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Browsing Activity Monitoring with Screenshots

Pros	Cons
Settings for a child applied to all devices Online management Supports various devices Check Circle Daily or Weekly Reports Check Circle Strong content filtering Check Circle Weekly Internet Time Limit	No daily time limit Times Circle No Real-Time Alerts Times Circle Complex Configuration Times Circle Delay in enforcing settings in devices when done online

8. K9 Web Protection

K9 Web Protection is a free tool to protect the kids from online dangers. This tool supports Windows, Mac OS, iPhone & iPad devices. You can fill the form with an email address to request the license key for free. K9 offers safe browsing by blocking harmful content and also prevents the access of internet after a set time limit.

Key Features

• Content Filtering by different category
• Safe Search
• Always allow and block website lists
• Browsing Activity Monitoring

Pros	Cons
Free of Cost Pre-set configurations according to the age group of the kid. Can use the password to override a block	Doesn’t support app & games blocking Times Circle Less effective monitoring Times Circle Doesn’t offer screen time limit Times Circle Low functionality of iOS and Android App

9. OpenDNS Home VIP

OpenDNS Home VIP works like Circle with Disney and provides parental controls options for the whole network. It filters content and blocks websites with explicit materials. You need to set the DNS IP in the router or the device, no need to install software on every device your kids use. Home VIP plan is available at $19.95 for a year for unlimited devices. It keeps records for one year.  It also has a free version named OpenDNS Family Shield and OpenDNS Home with essential features, but it doesn’t have monitoring options.

Key Features

• Faster Internet
• Customizable Content Filtering
• One Year Internet Statistics
• Can allow only whitelist websites

Pros	Cons
Works on All Devices Reports on site accessed A feature of blocking the website from the report Check Circle Affordable Pricing	Doesn’t limit internet usage time Times Circle The report consists of every URL accessed even that is not a website Times Circle Reports are difficult to match with devices and users Times Circle Doesn’t offer app and game blocking

10. KidsWatch Pro

KidsWatch Pro parental software not just monitors the activity of your kids but also helps you to block inappropriate content on the computer. The downside of the tool is it works on Windows PCs only. KidsWatch comes in two variant one is for Time Management which cost $29.95 for a year, and another is Professional variant costs $49.95 for a year. Pro version supports internet filtering, chat monitoring, and predator watch.

Key Features

• Screen Time Management
• App and Games Schedule
• Content Filter
• Chat Monitoring
• Alternate Arrow Circle Right Email Alerts when Kids use a flagged word

Pros	Cons
Broad time scheduling options Records and monitors chats Real-Time Email Alerts Check Circle Activity Reports by Email	Only works on Windows PCs. Times Circle Chat recording can’t be turned off. Times Circle Send email alerts even for Administrators

Verdict

The best parental tool for you is the one that supports all your need. First, compare the features of all these software and then decide which one is best for you. Also, don’t forget to match the supported devices that your kids use. I will suggest Qustodio for you. It has the most potent content filter and also support text and calls monitoring on the Android devices. If you don’t want to go with the hurdle of installing these tools on all devices, then the best option for you is Circle with Disney. It works on all devices in your home but also has limited monitoring capabilities.

These tools and utilities are just for your help to ensure the safety of your kids. At the same time, it is important to observe your kids and spend time with them. Create a healthy relationship with them so that they can report of any unpleasant activity like cyberbullying and blackmailing.