Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy 2024: Parental Monitoring for Children vs. Teens

When it comes to parental controls, we believe Aura is a better option than mSpy thanks to its more robust screen time management and filtering options. That said, mSpy is a very powerful tool when it comes to monitoring, allowing you to see all messages sent or received.

Though mSpy feels quite intrusive, it may be your best option if you're faced with a particularly troubled teen who has a history of getting around other parental control apps. But for most parents, Aura has more features to promote a healthy digital lifestyle.

In this article, we will provide an overview of Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy, covering their features, test results, and pricing. Keep reading to discover which one of them is the best parental control app for you.

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy review at a glance

Aura Parental Controls and mSpy each offer unique benefits. Aura shines with its unparalleled web and app filtering capabilities, firmly positioning it as the top choice for safeguarding children online.

Conversely, mSpy provides an exhaustive overview of mobile device use, standing out in the realm of device monitoring.

• Aura Parental Controls: Best for child online safety
• mSpy: Best for monitoring teens

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy compared

	Our Pick
Star rating	4.0 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	2.8 AllAboutCookies writers and editors score products based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Price	$8.25-$20.00/mo	$11.67-$48.99/mo
Free trial	Yes — 14 days
Number of protected devices	Unlimited	1-3
Web filtering
Conversation monitoring		Yes — Social media, texts, emails
Screen time management
Location tracking
Activity reports
Remote lock
Supported devices	iOS, Android	iOS, Android
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

Aura Parental Controls pros and cons

During our testing, we found that Aura Parental Controls performed well overall as a monitoring app. We were able to easily keep track of screen time and limit or restrict apps at will. We were also able to force safe search on the device, so the child couldn't get into any mischief.

That said, we were disappointed to see they had no location tracking capabilities, which we think is a huge miss. We were also able to delete the app our device without the parent dashboard noticing, making this a better option for younger kids.

mSpy pros and cons

There's no denying that mSpy is a very powerful app, basically giving you complete access to everything that's done on the device — right down to monitoring every keystroke on the keyboard. It even gives you instructions on how to remove most traces of it from the device, so the target may even be oblivious that they're being tracked.

Our hands-on testing found that the features all worked as advertised, though we were disappointed in the lack of screen time monitoring features. You could restrict access to certain sites or apps, but weren't able to set up time limits or filter content.

Overall, this app is better as a last resort for a troubled teen who you need to keep safe at all costs. It's best to start out with another app that's not as secretive or intrusive as this one so you can open up conversations with your child about safe internet use and healthy boundaries.

Which parental control app is the better value?

Aura gives you the better value overall, thanks to the option to bundle it with their ID theft products, topped off by free trial access and a long 60-day money-back guarantee.

	Our Pick
Price range	$8.25-$20.00/mo	$11.67-$48.99/mo
Best value plan	Ultimate Family for $20.00/mo (billed annually)	Family Kit for $28.00/mo (billed annually)
Free trial	Yes — 14 days
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 60 days
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

Aura Parental Controls plans

Aura Parental Controls plans cater to families of various sizes, starting with a 14-day free trial that requires a credit card upfront. In addition to covering unlimited devices for kids, Aura offers advanced online security tools, premium identity theft protection, and comprehensive credit monitoring. Parents can manage screen time, block apps, and ensure their children stay safe on social media platforms like Discord and TikTok.

• Aura Parental Controls: For $8.25/mo (billed annually), this plan focuses on basic web filtering and screen time management for unlimited children. With options to set up parental controls on iOS and Android devices, Aura excels in helping parents manage screen time limits, block apps, and ensure their children stay safe on social media platforms.
  
• Aura Ultimate Family: Jumping up to $20.00/mo (billed annually), this plan covers 5 adults and unlimited children with extra features, like dark web monitoring, identity theft protection, and support for up to five devices, making it a good choice for larger families. It also has additional tools for credit monitoring and SSN tracking. 

mSpy plans

mSpy caters to the diverse needs of modern parents with its range of tailored plans, which monitor specific data for certain devices, ensuring their children's digital safety. Plans target specific monitoring needs and are tailored to specific platforms, features, and coverage lengths.

• mSpy Premium: At $11.67/mo (billed annually), this plan caters to a single device per subscription. It stands out for its comprehensive monitoring capabilities to stay safe on social media platforms, as well as precise location tracking, restricting apps and internet access, and an in-depth analysis of text messages and call logs. 
  
• mSpy Extreme: This plan will cost you $23.99/mo (billed annually) and offer advanced monitoring needs specifically for Android users. It distinguishes itself by offering exclusive features such as remote camera access and a hidden microphone, allowing for real-time insights into the child's environment.
• mSpy Family Kit: For $28.00/mo (billed annually), you can monitor up to three devices under a single subscription. It extends the comprehensive monitoring tools found in the Premium plan to more devices, suitable for families looking to keep tabs on multiple devices simultaneously. 

Which app has the better monitoring and alerts?

Though lacking in screen time management features, mSpy is loaded with monitoring capabilities that allow you to know exactly what's happening on the device at all times, including one of the most comprehensive conversation monitoring we've seen.

		Our Pick
Website filtering
App filtering
Social media monitoring
Text message monitoring
Email monitoring
Internet search monitoring
Screen time limits
Remote lock
Cyberbullying and online predator alerts
Location tracking
Geo-fencing
Activity reports
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

When comparing Aura Parental Controls and mSpy, several differences become evident. Aura Parental Controls offers comprehensive website and internet search filtering and app filtering for popular apps like Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Minecraft, and Roblox. It also offers screen time limits, activity reports, and cyberbullying and online predator alerts.

On the other hand, mSpy provides extensive social media monitoring, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, as well as text message and email monitoring, location tracking, and geo-fencing.

While Aura Parental Controls focuses on filtering and alerts, mSpy offers a wider range of monitoring features, making it more suitable for parents who want detailed insights into their child's online activity. Both programs have their own merits, with Aura Parental Controls being more focused on filtering and alerts and mSpy offering more comprehensive monitoring capabilities.

mSpy's features are critical for parents who are primarily concerned with monitoring and tracking their child's online activities across various platforms and apps. However, Aura Parental Controls may be sufficient for those who prioritize filtering and alerting features.

Which parental control app has the better support and compatibility?

Aura and mSpy have very similar compatibility and support options on paper, but we found that Aura wins this category because some of mSpy's features require you to jailbreak iPhones.

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Other devices
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Chat, phone, email, guides	Chat, phone, email, guides
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

While neither option works on laptops, we found that Aura was a lot easier to set up on the phone than mSpy, which required a lot more steps, permissions, and even jailbreaking for some features. 

Both apps offer 24/7 customer support with similar options, but we did find the Aura support was easier to access and talk to. Getting a refund from mSpy was near impossible in our experience, thanks to its strict refund policy.

FAQs

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: Which is better?

We believe Aura Parental Controls is a superior app than mSpy because it allows you to set better screen time limitations and filter inappropriate web content.

That said, if your main priority is complete conversation monitoring, then no app does that better than mSpy, which will give you access to text messages, WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, and more.

	Our Pick
Value
Features
Compatibility & customer support
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	Get mSpy Read mSpy Review

For the best parental control app, consider the strengths of each platform and make an informed decision based on your family's unique needs.

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