Parental control apps help protect children online

These programs ensure compliance when using your smartphone or computer. They will help you monitor the behavior of your children, find out who they are communicating with, and block inappropriate or dangerous websites. They prevent access to adult content or interact with strangers on social networks. Read an overview and review of selected parental control applications prepared by Filip Mikuš, cyber security expert from Aliter Technologies.

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Software that offers parental control for devices on all platforms. The app is available for both desktop and mobile devices where you can choose either a free or a paid version.

The free version provides a site database that prevents children from watching inappropriate content on the site. Use the app to manage the time that children can spend actively using each app. Define age restrictions and categorize applications by usage. The app offers the ability to track and control the time spent using.

The paid version includes additional mobile-specific features, including a battery status monitor, so you can see if your phone’s battery status is sufficient to prevent you from losing contact with your child. You can also track your child’s location using GPS, manage social networking, and receive real-time alerts when they visit a banned website or leave a predefined “safe” area.

Benefits

• App available for both desktop and mobile devices (Android and iOS).
• Manage applications and screens.

Drawbacks

• It may slow down the computer.
• Advanced features only in paid version.

Qustodio Parental Control

The app is available for almost all popular platforms on MS Windows and macOS, as well as on Android and iOS mobile platforms. It offers a free and paid version.

The free version is one of the most comprehensive applications for parental controls that allows you to set rules and schedules, block pornography, and other inappropriate content.

With the paid version, you also get SMS monitoring, a feature to track social activity.

With a wealth of features and support for familiar platforms, Qustodio is one of the best free parental control software.

Benefits

• App available for both desktop and mobile devices (Android and iOS).
• Allows parents to set time limits.
• Selected advanced features in the free version.

Drawbacks

• Advanced features only in paid version.

KidLogger

This free parental control software not only keeps track of what your kids write and which websites they visit, but also keeps track of what programs they use. If you’re concerned about who your kids are communicating with online or on the phone, voice recorder is also available. If your children are older and more responsible, you can choose what you want to control and when to give them some privacy.

The free version can only be used on one device. The free version is missing features such as conversation tracking, e.g. on WhatsApp and the ability to listen to Skype calls, but it is still a great tool if you are concerned about your child safety.

Benefits

• Monitor keystrokes.
• Listennng to calls.
• Comprehensive options to set up what we want to track in your app.

Drawbacks

• The free version does not record calls
• Advanced paid-only features like reading messages and social networking

Norton Family parental control

Use of this application is ideal for homes running Android and MS Windows. The app offers features that the parent will appreciate, such as location tracking, application timeouts, and filtering off inappropriate web pages, it can set timeouts for individual applications or manage applications and monitor text messages.

Benefits

• Wide range of features.
• Web filters and monitoring.
• Unlimited number of devices.

Drawbacks

• The paid version only pays off when you purchase a complete package that also includes antivirus protection.
• Advanced features only in paid version.

ESET Parental Control

The app provides a free and paid version.

With the free version, you can determine which websites your children can browse. It also provides your child’s current location, automatically blocking inappropriate apps based on Google Play ratings. The application automatically blocks access to applications and websites that are defined, as adult categories.

With the paid version there is also available a complete report on the use of the phone and browsing the web. A useful feature is the SOS button, which notifies the parent of the child’s position in an emergency by SMS.

Benefits

• Wide range of features.
• The license is valid for the whole family, the price is not multiplied by the number of children.

Drawbacks

• Advanced functions only in paid version – reports, SOS button.
• The app is only available on Android.