Editor's Choice: The Best Parental Control Apps For 2025 (Independently Tested)

Children are spending more time online than ever, making the job of selecting the right parental control app even more crucial. Parents need tools that strike the right balance between safety, privacy, and usability. From monitoring screen time to blocking harmful content and tracking social media activity, the best parental control apps make it easier to protect your family, yet don’t feel invasive.

After testing and comparing dozens of options, Bark earns our top pick as the best overall parental control app, thanks to its unmatched monitoring capabilities and family-friendly pricing. Close behind, Aura Parental Controls is the best choice for parents of teens, offering advanced digital safety tools and flexible controls tailored to older kids’ online habits.

Here are our top 5 picks for the best parental control apps of 2025.

Best parental control software of 2025

Bark: Best overall parental control app

What we liked

Complete parental control package: Bark provides one of the most comprehensive parental control toolsets on the market. Parents can manage screen time, filter websites and apps, monitor social media platforms, and track real-time locations with geo-fencing alerts. The ability to pause the internet entirely or create custom routines for school time, free time, and bedtime makes Bark stand out from competitors who offer only surface-level content filtering.

Robust message monitoring: Bark’s AI-driven monitoring covers text messages, emails, and 30+ popular social platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and Snapchat. It leverages machine learning to flag slang, code words, or risky behavior linked to bullying, self-harm, sexual content, and online predators. Parents receive targeted alerts instead of full message logs, striking a balance between safety and privacy.

Unlimited coverage at a good price: Unlike many competitors that charge per device, Bark supports unlimited devices under a single subscription. At roughly $14/month for Bark Premium, parents gain access to complete monitoring, screen-time management, and location services at a cost-effective rate compared to other apps that scale pricing based on the number of devices.

Expert advice: Beyond software, Bark also provides access to parenting resources and expert advice. The in-app guides help parents understand difficult topics like sexting, anxiety, or risky app usage, something most parental control apps don’t offer. This added context makes alerts more actionable.

Also won:

• Best parental control hardware: Bark isn’t only an app. Families can purchase the Bark Phone (a child-safe Android device with built-in parental controls) or Bark Home (a router add-on that filters and manages every device connected to your Wi-Fi). These hardware options are ideal for parents seeking an all-in-one digital safety ecosystem that extends Bark’s protection beyond mobile devices.

What we didn’t like

Tedious setup: Setup can be frustrating, particularly on Android and iOS. Android users often have to sideload an APK file, which can feel risky. iOS users must connect devices through a desktop app, which can take up to 45 minutes. While this isn’t unusual for advanced monitoring software, it feels clunky compared to competitors with smoother onboarding.

No email image scanning: Bark does a good job monitoring text-based content in emails, but it doesn’t scan attached or embedded images. This means parents may miss inappropriate photos or memes sent through Gmail, Outlook, or other supported platforms.

Delayed alerts: Bark’s alerts are typically delayed by a few minutes, and its activity reports are sent weekly rather than daily. While this is consistent with other parental control apps, the lack of true real-time reporting may frustrate parents who hope for instant notifications in critical situations.

Aura Parental Controls: Best for teens

What we liked

Core monitoring features: Aura nails the basics that matter for older kids. Website and app blocking, schedules/routines for school nights vs. weekends, weekly/daily time budgets, and the ability to pause internet access when boundaries are crossed. For gaming households, Safe Gaming (via Aura’s security suite on Windows) adds in-game voice/text risk detection on platforms teens actually use (e.g., Discord), giving parents a heads-up on toxicity or harassment without requiring them to hover.

Aura Balance: The new Balance feature evaluates how your teen is interacting online (tone, frequency, and style) and builds a mood/persona profile instead of exposing message contents. Parents receive tailored guidance based on patterns (such as late-night usage, irregular sleep, and heavy social media usage) rather than raw transcripts. Balance provides meaningful signals without “spying,” which reduces blowback from teens and helps to keep trust intact.

Age restrictions: You can set different content filters for children versus teens, then refine by app categories (social, streaming, games) and specific titles. In testing, Safe Search and YouTube Restricted Mode worked smoothly, and per-app allow/block/unmanaged states made it easy to adjust settings as maturity and responsibility evolve.

Bonus identity theft protection: On the Aura Family plan, you get child SSN monitoring and identity theft protection for minors. That’s a practical layer for high schoolers who are opening accounts, shopping online, and becoming targets for scams/fraud. Most parental control apps don’t include identity protection features.

Also won:

• Best all-in-one: Subscribing families can bundle VPN, antivirus, password management, data breach alerts, and ID theft remediation. If you want a single subscription that covers digital safety and parenting features, Aura’s suite offers solid value.

What we didn’t like

No location tracking: There’s no GPS location or geo-fencing. For many families, that’s a deal-breaker (and a common feature in standalone parental control apps).

No conversation monitoring: Aura doesn’t read texts, emails, or social DMs. Balance provides mood/sentiment guidance, but you won’t get keyword/screenshot alerts. This is a philosophical win for privacy, but it’s a limitation compared to tools that flag explicit high-risk content.

Site not user-friendly on Safari: Although the apps work on iOS/iPadOS and Android, we found the web portal to be harder to access and less usable from Safari. Expect to rely on mobile apps (or switch browsers) for a smoother management experience.

Norton Family: Best for web monitoring

What we liked

Robust content filtering: Norton Family’s category engine is the reason it wins this award. You’re not stuck with a single “adult content” toggle; you get deep, stacked controls with high-level categories (e.g., Sexual Content, Violence/Weapons, Drugs/Alcohol, Hate/Extremism, Gambling, Scams/Hacking, Web Proxies/VPNs) plus subcategory allow/blocked states.

In our tests, you can either block entire categories, allow specific subcategories, or warn first, which keeps younger kids safe while giving older kids some autonomy. SafeSearch enforcement was effective, and, critically, incognito/private browsing was still regulated. When we attempted restricted terms, email alerts landed fast, and the dashboard populated immediately with the attempted queries.

No hiccups: Unlike many parental control apps that promise the world and then miss alerts or lag by hours, Norton Family’s alerts arrived in real time in our testing. All restricted search terms and blocked attempts showed up in the parent portal quickly, and Instant Lock reliably shut down device use when triggered. Daytime/nighttime schedules applied correctly, and per-child activity reports updated promptly.

Video reports: If you disable the native YouTube app, Norton Family can track YouTube videos watched in the browser (title/URL history visible in the portal). That gives parents context on what kids are actually watching, far more actionable than raw “minutes on YouTube.”

Geo-fencing and location tracking: Location pinpointed our device accurately (down to the exact spot). Favorite Locations/geo-alerts functioned as expected in prior tests, and you can “Locate Now” to force a refresh. For routine check-ins, you can schedule location updates at specific times.

Also won:

• Best for ease of use: Setup is straightforward (QR codes to the right app, step-by-step permission walkthroughs). The parent portal is clean and clearly labeled, making rules, schedules, and reports easy to find, which is significantly less cumbersome than several top competitors.
• Best for younger kids: Norton Family is a comprehensive yet lightweight solution for parents who don’t want invasive message monitoring. Older, tech-savvy teens may find edges to push (especially on iOS, where app-usage visibility is limited), but for kids 12 and under, Norton’s strong web controls, fast alerts, and simple schedules are a great fit.

What we didn’t like

Lacking iOS features: As touched on above, Norton Family reports app usage/alerts on Android but not on iOS. On iPhone/iPad, you’ll lean more on web filtering, schedules, and Instant Lock rather than granular per-app activity/alerts.

No conversation monitoring: There’s no monitoring of texts, emails, or social DMs. Norton Family will block/allow sites and categories, but it won’t flag risky language inside messages.

Qustodio: Best for location tracking

What we liked

Real-time location tracking: Qustodio’s location tools were dependable in our tests. The Family Locator map was updated promptly, and the location timeline/history allowed us to audit where a device had been throughout the day. We also received change-of-location notifications shortly after movement, which were useful when kids leave school or arrive at practice. While Qustodio doesn’t advertise classic geo-fencing, the combination of accurate live tracking, history, and movement alerts makes it the strongest pick for parents who primarily want to know where their kids are and where they’ve been.

Panic Button: Qustodio’s Panic Button lets a child quickly share their live location with trusted contacts. It’s fast, simple, and practical in real-world scenarios (missed bus, unsafe rides, etc.) Many parental control apps skip an SOS feature entirely; Qustodio’s is built in and easy for kids to use without digging through menus.

Customization: Qustodio offers per-app screen-time limits, per-app blocking, scheduling, and 15-minute time increments. You can pause internet access entirely, allow, warn, or fully block categories, and tune routines for school nights vs. weekends. That flexibility is ideal for multi-kid households with very different needs.

Also won:

• Best Bark alternative: If you want robust core controls without Bark’s heavier message-analysis approach, Qustodio is the best substitute. It offers SMS/call monitoring on Android (with the required add-on), strong web/app controls, accurate location tracking, and a fair price across tiers (including a free option), making it a balanced pick for families that value customization and location visibility over deep in-app content scanning.

What we didn’t like

No social media or email monitoring: Qustodio does not read social DMs or emails. You’ll see time spent on social apps, but not the contents of messages. For parents who want keyword-based risk alerts inside chats or email, you’ll want an alternative to Qustodio.

No in-app content monitoring: Beyond SMS/calls on Android, Qustodio doesn’t analyze content inside apps (e.g., Discord, Snapchat). If you need AI-style language detection for cyberbullying/self-harm in messages, a competitor like Bark is better suited.

FamilyKeeper: Best for lightweight monitoring

What we liked

User-friendly: Setup was fast (around 5–10 minutes), and the mobile apps are easy to find via the store links in the onboarding flow. Pairing the parent/child apps is straightforward with a passcode, and common tasks (blocking an app, setting a daily allowance, or reviewing recent activity) are easy from the dashboard. The key takeaways here are a low learning curve and minimal fiddling once installed.

Good basic coverage: If you want “lightweight” rather than forensic monitoring, FamilyKeeper covers the fundamentals. Per-app time limits (as low as 1 minute, up to 24/7 blocks), app blocking, web/content filtering, activity summaries, and location + geo-fence alerts. In practice, it works best alongside native Apple/Google parental controls to fill gaps (such as quick app blocks and simple time budgets) without becoming a surveillance suite.

Cyberbully alerts: FamilyKeeper flags risky terms, profanity, and other concerning keywords, and can alert parents so they can step in early. In our testing, keyword flags were reliably triggered for Google/Chrome searches. We could not consistently validate keyword scanning within third-party apps or SMS, so treat this as a useful but basic signal rather than a comprehensive, in-app analysis.

Also won:

• Best for mobile: This is a phone-first product. The UI is optimized for quick changes from your device, and routine actions (blocking an app, extending time, checking location) take just seconds. If your whole workflow is on mobile, FamilyKeeper keeps the overhead low.

What we didn’t like

Lacks advanced features: Despite marketing claims, we were unable to reliably replicate true in-app/social content monitoring or SMS capture. What you get is primarily time/app usage, as well as filtering, not message-level insight. That’s fine for lightweight guardrails, but power users who want AI-style language detection for DMs or emails should look to heavier options (e.g., Bark).

Limited compatibility: FamilyKeeper is mobile-first and single-OS. During testing, parent and child apps had to be on the same operating system (iOS to iOS or Android to Android). There’s no desktop app, and tablet support is unclear, which makes management more challenging for mixed-ecosystem families (e.g., an iPhone parent and an Android child, or kids on school Chromebooks). Practically, that means more friction day to day and fewer ways to supervise devices beyond phones.

Top 5 parental control apps compared

Best for	Best overall	Best for teens	Best for web monitoring	Best for location tracking	Best for lightweight monitoring
Star rating	4.9 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.	4.2 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.	4.6 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.	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.	4.5 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	$4.08–$39.00/mo	$8.33-$32.00/mo	$49.99/mo	$4.58-$8.33/mo (billed annually)	$9.99-$28.99/mo
Free trial	Yes — 7 days	Yes — 14 days	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 31 days	Yes — 7 days
Number of protected devices	Unlimited	Unlimited	15 children	1, 5, or unlimited	Unlimited
Web filtering
Conversation monitoring	Social media, text, email			Text	Yes, but only with content filtering
Screen time management
Remote lock
Location tracking
Details	View Plans Read Review	View Plans Read Review	View Plans Read Review	View Plans Read Review	View Plans Read Review

How to choose the best parental control apps

To keep your children safe online, there are key features to look for that make all the difference. To make the most informed decision, you’ll want to have some or all of these options included in the parental control software you choose. Here are some questions to consider when searching for a parental control app.

• What is the cost? Price matters, and if you can get another comparable product for less, you’ll want to know.
• Is it simple to install and set up? Some products are easier to install than others. For instance, Bitdefender comes in two parts and can be a bit cumbersome to get started.
• How many devices can it cover simultaneously? Some control apps support an unlimited number of devices, but others may be limited to as few as 20, such as Net Nanny.
• Does it have customization options? Some apps have ad/block lists for websites.
• Will it include additional features, like smart gaming or a virtual private network (VPN)?
• What kind of content can the app block? Some parental control apps allow you to view the content, but not all of them will block everything.
• Does it include location tracking? One of the most important aspects for many parents is knowing their child’s location at all times.
• How detailed are the activity reports? Is it easy to check the dashboard and get an overview? Can you delve deeper into each category of monitoring to gain a more comprehensive picture?
• Does the app offer the same features on all operating systems? Some products are more geared toward Android, and some include support for iOS.

Advice from the experts

There are many difficulties when it comes to navigating your child's internet activity. We asked experts for their opinions on how best to monitor their children’s online activity.

What suggestions do you have for parents trying to balance their kids’ independence online vs. protecting them from potential harm?

How and when should parents talk to their kids about the risks of their online behaviors?

What are the biggest dangers online for kids? What should parents be looking out for when monitoring their children’s internet usage?

^{Some responses may have been slightly edited for clarity and brevity.}

FAQs

Bottom line: The best parental controls of 2025

The best parental control app of 2025 is Bark. It stood out in testing as the most comprehensive solution for families seeking reliable, AI-powered monitoring and broad device coverage.

Close behind are Aura Parental Controls and Norton Family. Aura is the best fit for parents of teens, thanks to its Aura Balance mood-profiling feature, Safe Gaming monitoring, and bundled identity theft protection. Norton Family excels at web filtering and ease of use, with geo-fencing and reliable YouTube/browser monitoring that make it ideal for younger kids.