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

Best for Child Online Safety

4.0

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On Aura Parental Controls's website

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Aura Parental Controls

• Blocks harmful content on mobile devices
• Unlimited devices
• Lacks location tracking and monitoring features

Best for Monitoring Teens

3.0

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On mSpy's website

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mSpy

• Extensive monitoring capabilities
• Real-time location tracking
• Features like remote camera access can be intrusive

Aura Parental Controls is the premier choice for families seeking robust online safety measures, excelling in extensive web and app filtering alongside identity theft protection. Meanwhile, mSpy is the go-to for parents who need to keep on top of their teen's smartphone interactions, specifically the monitoring of texts, calls, and app usage.

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 teens' 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

Starting price	$8.33/mo (billed annually)	$11.67/mo
Free version
Max number of protected devices	Unlimited	1-3
Web filtering
Screen time limits
Location tracking
Activity reports
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	Read mSpy Review

Aura Parental Controls pros and cons

mSpy pros and cons

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: prices

		Our Pick
Monthly price range	$8.33-$20.00/mo	$11.67-$48.99/mo
Best value plan	Ultimate Family for $20.00/mo (billed annually)	Premium for $11.67/mo
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	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.

Despite its useful features, Aura has some drawbacks, such as the absence of location tracking and geo-fencing capabilities.

• Aura Parental Controls: Designed for one adult and unlimited children, this plan focuses on basic web filtering and screen time management. 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. While it effectively blocks harmful content, it lacks geo-fencing and location tracking, and its cyberbullying monitoring features are available only for Windows devices after installing the Safe Gaming tool.
  
• Aura Ultimate Family: This plan has extra features, like dark web monitoring, identity theft protection, and support for up to five devices, making it a good choice for larger families. Beyond the basics of app management and screen time management, it introduces unique elements like voice and text monitoring in games, offering peace of mind against online predators. It also has additional tools for credit monitoring and SSN tracking. On the flip side, the Ultimate Family plan might present a steep learning curve for less tech-savvy parents who prefer a simpler option.

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.

There is no free trial, but a 14-day money-back guarantee is available as long as the refund request complies with its refund policy.

• mSpy Premium: This plan, available monthly, quarterly, or annually, caters to a single device per subscription. It stands out for its comprehensive monitoring capabilities to stay safe on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, as well as precise location tracking, restricting apps and internet access, and an in-depth analysis of text messages and call logs. A potential drawback of this plan is its device-specific coverage, requiring multiple subscriptions for households wanting to monitor several devices.
  
• mSpy Extreme: This annual plan offers 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. Its advanced features are not available on iOS, and the remote camera access is intrusive.
  
• mSpy Family Kit: Designed with families in mind, it enables the monitoring of 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. The main disadvantage is that families with more than three devices would need to purchase additional subscriptions, increasing the overall cost.

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: monitoring and alerts

		Our Pick
Website filtering
App filtering	Yes — Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Minecraft, Roblox	Yes — WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Tinder, Snapchat, Viber
Social media monitoring		Yes — Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat
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	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, remote lock, 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 is safer, Aura Parental Controls or mSpy?

When choosing between Aura and mSpy for the best parental control software, you need to take into consideration security features. Two-factor authentication is crucial as it adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for unauthorized users to access your account. Additionally, understanding how these apps manage data security — specifically, the collection, sharing, and protection of user data — is essential. This includes evaluating what data is collected for account administration, payment processing, and monitoring purposes, ensuring it aligns with reasonable privacy expectations.

Aura is a good choice for parents who prioritize privacy as it does not share data with third parties and collects minimal data. On the other hand, mSpy employs robust encryption and also does not share data, showing a comparable level of commitment to user security.

When choosing between top parental control software like Aura, mSpy, Bark, Norton Family, Kaspersky Safe Kids, or Net Nanny, it's important to consider the varying methods these services use to safeguard data and privacy.

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy data security

Two-factor authentication
Collects data	Minimal	Minimal
Shares data with third parties
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	Read mSpy Review

Both Aura Parental Controls and mSpy have not publicly disclosed whether they have undergone security audits, which raises some uncertainty regarding their comprehensive security assurance measures.

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: compatibility and customer support

	Our Pick
Windows	Yes (for gaming only)
macOS
Android
iOS
Browser extensions	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Yes — Chrome
24/7 customer support	Yes, by phone only
Customer support options	Chat, phone, online guides	Email, phone, online guides
Learn more	Get Aura Parental Controls Read Aura Parental Controls Review	Read mSpy Review

When it comes to parental control software, compatibility with your child’s devices and customer support should be taken into consideration. That’s because you never know when you'll encounter a technical issue or need guidance on configuring settings to best protect your child online. Aura works well for families who use multiple devices and browsers, with support for Android, iOS, and Windows, as well as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Meanwhile, mSpy is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and even has a Chrome browser extension.

Furthermore, Aura provides around-the-clock phone support, a feature that sets it apart for those who prefer immediate assistance, but unfortunately, it doesn’t offer 24/7 chat support. Moreover, mSpy's customer support encompasses email, phone, and comprehensive online guides. mSpy’s lack of 24/7 support, though, is mitigated by its variety of support options, ensuring help is available through multiple channels.

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy FAQs

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy: which is the better parental control software?

When weighing Aura vs. mSpy in the realm of parental control software, both stand out for their unique capabilities. Aura Parental Controls is hailed for its robust web filtering and app management, ensuring children's and families’ internet safety.

On the flip side, mSpy offers an unparalleled experience in comprehensive device monitoring for kids and teens, focusing on social media monitoring, app usage, and location tracking — essential for modern parents looking to keep their kids safe online.

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

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.

Editorial Rating

Learn More

On Aura Parental Controls's website

Aura Parental Controls

• Blocks harmful content on mobile devices
• Unlimited devices
• Lacks location tracking and monitoring features

Aura Parental Controls vs. mSpy alternatives

• Bark is the best parental control app, offering a comprehensive alert system across texts, emails, and social media apps. It distinguishes itself through its ability to monitor a wide range of content categories, ensuring parents are informed of potential cyberbullying, depression, and exposure to inappropriate content.
  
  Get Bark | Read Our Bark Review

• Kaspersky Safe Kids excels with its precise location tracking and geo-fencing capabilities, setting it apart from Aura and mSpy, for parents who prioritize their child's physical safety alongside online security. It also offers robust web filtering and time management features, ensuring comprehensive control over your child's online activities.
  
  Read Our Kaspersky Safe Kids Review

• Net Nanny automatically blocks harmful content in real time with its standout dynamic web filtering technology. This feature offers a more proactive approach than Aura and mSpy's standard web filtering. Its detailed activity reports and intuitive dashboard provide insightful visibility into your child's online world, making it a top choice for parents seeking in-depth monitoring.
  
  Read Our Net Nanny Review

4.7

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.

Editorial Rating

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On Bark Premium's website

Bark Premium

• Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
• Screens content across 19 categories
• Activity can only be viewed if it’s triggered

Author Details

Mars Groves

About the Author

Mars is a California-based cybersecurity professional and writer currently pursuing a B.S. in Cybersecurity. With interests ranging from OSINT to ethical hacking and threat intelligence, Mars leverages his two years of writing experience to produce informative content on topics such as Internet guides and VPNs.