The modern world has provided everyone with massive freedom. On the downside, present times are unpredictable and dangerous, particularly for children.
Arguments can be made on the sensitivity and invasion of privacy with parental control. However, it’s necessary to shield children from the numerous online threats that can affect their livelihood. When done moderately and with open communication, parental control can safeguard kids and build a better parent-child relationship.
Parental control software through dedicated mobile apps is central to protecting children. But which are the best parental control apps, and how do they work? Find out more in this article.
How Does Parental Control Software Work?
This software forms part of comprehensive phone monitoring or spy apps. More technically, it is spyware. While sometimes used in a harmful way, it can offer positive benefits in the context of parental control.
Spy apps work in the background, tracking all activities on a mobile phone without the owner knowing. This is achieved by the user secretly installing the software on the target’s device before the monitoring. Then, they will have access to a dashboard on their computer connected to the spy app. The best parental control software is highly undetectable, providing minimal technical interruption to the target’s phone.
Spy apps work similarly on the Android and iOS operating systems. However, the frequency of data updates is usually faster with Android because iOS updates depend on the iCloud backup frequency.
The Top 5 Parental Control Apps
Let’s now briefly cover the five best names for Android and iPhone parental controls.
- uMobix: Best Parental Control App Overall
- Qustodio: All-in-One Parental Control App with Multiple Tracking Features Involved
- Bark: Best for Monitoring 24+ Social Media and Messengers in Real Time
- Google Family Link: Free Parental Control Tool with Robust Features and Easy Monitoring
- Spyic.pro: Top Parental Control App with Comprehensive Location Tracking
uMobix: Best Parental Control App Overall
uMobix is a reliable spy phone app for Android and iOS-based smartphones and tablets. Its basic functions include monitoring communication on the targeted device, including SMS and multimedia apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Tinder, etc. On the advanced side, users have a keylogger to view the target’s keystrokes and passwords. Other cutting-edge features of uMobix are remote control, the ability to see deleted info, camera snapshots, and audio/video streaming. In total, there are 40+ features on offer.
Customers can test uMobix with a one-day $1 trial, which they can request by contacting their support team. The app works in stealth mode, without raising suspicions from the target device owner, and lets you view real-time updates from the online dashboard accessible from any browser.
Below is a list of its features and their brief overview:
- Call monitoring: The parental control app provides detailed call logs, showing dated dialed, missed, and received calls.
- Viewing text messages: Complete phone monitoring allows users to read messages on standard SMS and popular instant messengers like Kik, Skype, Viber, etc.
- Viewing emails: uMobix can show parents all the sent and received emails as soon as they arrive, along with the email addresses.
- Monitoring social media activity: Unfiltered, expansive view of the target’s activities across a plethora of social media apps, from Facebook and Snapchat to Instagram and TikTok.
- Browser history checking: Users can view the target’s recent browsing history and their most frequently visited websites within a certain period.
- Location monitoring: Tracking location is among the most important elements of parental control. The uMobix phone monitoring app can show parents their children’s live location on Google Maps, updated every few minutes with pinpoint accuracy.
- Keylogger: Monitor keystrokes, such as passwords, including copied and pasted information.
- Remote control: Delete unwanted apps, restrict apps, block websites, block the device in case of theft or loss, and disable calls and messages.
Qustodio: All-in-One Parental Control App with Multiple Tracking Features Involved
Qustodio is a highly-rated mobile spy software that takes second position among the best parental control apps for Android and iOS. It provides all the must-have features of such apps with a few bells and whistles. These include web and app filtering, screen time controlling, 24/7 instant alerts, reports, and SOS notifications, remote control, call logs and SMS tracking, filtering inappropriate content, and scheduling screen time events. GPS is also included, with up-to-the-minute, time-based, and address-named locations.
Below is an overview of Qustodio’s main features:
- Phone activity monitoring: Calls, text messages, internet history, activity timeline, web filtering, internet disabling, activity alerts.
- Messenger activity monitoring: WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Skype.
- Reports, alerts, and SOS: Receive daily, weekly, or monthly reports of your kid’s online activities through email. Set alerts for specific activities and get notifications as soon as they happen.
- Location tracking: Check your kid’s location on the map and see their history.
- App control: Remote blocking of websites, apps, and games.
Bark: Best for Monitoring 24+ Social Media and Messengers in Real Time
Bark is a simple but effective phone spy app for Android and iPhone. It prides itself on allowing customers to monitor almost all activities on the target device in real time. Features include email tracking, web history tracking, app and website blocking, GPS tracking, and monitoring of ubiquitous instant messengers and social media apps. Other features include the capacity to view texts, social media, images, videos, and audio with the help of advanced AI scan technology. You can also manage your kids’ screen time, create custom schedules for app use, or pause the internet if necessary. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t work in stealth mode, and kids may disable it.
Below is an overview of Bark’s primary features:
- SMS and Meta apps: View your kids’ online activities using Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
- GPS tracking, location alerts, and check-ins: Monitor their whereabouts in real-time.
- Browser history monitoring: Analyze the websites and the frequency of visits.
- Social media monitoring: Track 30+ social media applications, web browsers, and emails.
- Remote media files access: View photos and videos stored on the target device.
- Regular reports: Get personalized reports on your child’s online activity.
- Screen time control: Manage screen time on your kid’s phone.
- Websites and apps management: Block suspicious websites and apps.
Google Family Link: Free Parental Control Tool with Robust Features and Easy Monitoring
Google Family Link is one of the most popular Google products. It is a great parental control app that helps you keep your family safe online. It’s worth a look as it’s free, though, and it could be handy if run alongside another parental control app. Google Family Link is well-suited for parental control. It lets you easily manage content filters in Google apps like Search, Chrome, and YouTube (with Restricted Mode). However, Family Link doesn’t block inappropriate content on its own.
Below is an overview of Google Family Link’s features:
- Location tracking: Know your kid’s geolocation on the map.
- Specific restrictions: Set restrictions for using Chrome, YouTube, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
- Remote device control: Change and reset your kid’s password if they forget it, edit their personal information, or even delete it if needed.
- Battery life: View the remaining battery level.
- Block websites: Approve or block websites your kid wants to download.
Spyic.pro: Top Parental Control App with Comprehensive Location Tracking
Spyic describes itself as the ‘definitive parental control and remote monitoring app’. It is another excellent option for remote surveillance. It allows you to keep track of your kid’s activities without bothering them. The platform is unique because it allows users to access many features without rooting at an affordable price, with the yearly package being the most cost-effective ($12.49 per month). Such is Spyic’s confidence that the app has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Below is an overview of Spyic’s features:
- Social media monitoring
- Location tracking
- Photo and media tracking
- Monitoring of browser history
- Remote controls
Why Is Parental Control Crucial?
Safety and Security
If there were one reason for any parent to use a spy app, it would be to feel safe and secure about their kids’ well-being. Parents can have peace of mind knowing where their children are at all times and whether they are not in dangerous spots.
Dealing with Emergencies
The safety and security aspect of parental control is also crucial for dealing with emergencies. Children, like other people, are exposed to unpredictable, health-threatening, or life-threatening situations. Parental control apps can help speed up emergency responses.
Combating Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying has become an increasing problem that is particularly effective for the impressionable child. Previously, parents were clueless about all the people their kids could be communicating with, but with parental controls, remote stealthy oversight is possible. Unfortunately, not everyone online is a friend, and children can become victims of cyberbullying. This can threaten their mental well-being and lead to the disclosure of private data. Having an app to monitor kids’ phones helps combat cyberbullying and lets parents react promptly.
Monitoring Daily Activities
Whether a child is at school, sports practice, music lessons, or with friends, parental supervision apps give a clear idea of their daily activities. It is possible to check where your kid is within a few clicks via a remote dashboard.
Limiting Your Child’s Screen Time
Children are easily influenced. When exposed to one thing for a long time, it can become addictive. Firstly, this can affect their mental and physical health. Secondly, a phone or gadget addiction becomes a problem even in adulthood. Finally, children may be exposed to inappropriate or harmful content like explicit ads and scam offers.
Thankfully, many parental control tools aim to restrict the time kids spend on the internet and compulsive apps. In turn, this improves their health and allows them to focus on more meaningful activities.
Building Trust and Responsibility
Parents can introduce parental control apps to maintain a safer family and open communication. Naturally, children will become more free as they grow. Yet, this should come with responsibility. Tracking apps can make kids honest about their activities so that parents don’t worry about what they’re truly doing.
How to Choose the Best Parental Control Apps?
Here are the main things to consider when searching for a phone monitoring app for parental control.
- Seek the Widest Feature Availability Across Android and iOS. Your chosen tool must be compatible with the target operating system. Keep in mind that parental control apps generally offer more features for Android devices than those using iOS.
- Choose Apps with no Rooting/Jailbreak Required. Rooting (or ‘jailbreaking’ on iPhones) is when you unlock a device’s administrative control. This allows the user to customize the phone and perform privileged activities that are normally restricted. Rooting has downsides, including voiding the phone’s warranty (if available) and compromising security. Furthermore, the owner can notice poorer phone performance. Potential subscribers must prioritize the most important tracking features and pick the parental control apps that don’t require rooting to make them work. None of the apps mentioned on the list require it.
- Pick Apps with a User-Friendly Interface and Ease of Use. Like any software, an excellent interface makes the app easier and more enjoyable while performing the necessary tasks.
- Look for the Most Useful Features. While spy apps are, of course, sophisticated, users should gain as many useful functionalities as possible on a competitively priced plan.
Conclusion
Back in the day, parents would have figuratively had to chaperone their children to ensure their safety. Thankfully, technology has made a comprehensive tracking experience possible from the comfort of one’s home. Parental control apps are invaluable for emergencies, tackling cyberbullying, monitoring daily activities, limiting screen time, and overall peace of mind.
Since uMobix ranks top among competitors, offers multiple features, and is highly rated on review sites, it would become the best solution for real-time and remote oversight.
Also, read this article on the Top 5 reasons to use parental controls by Norton.com.
