The best parental control app for iPhone and iPad in 2022 (2023)

WarrantyChildren are safe onlineIt means protecting them from online predators, scams, cyberbullying, and inappropriate content or apps. If your child has an iPhone or iPad as their personal device, Apple's native parental controls are available, but there's not much they can do.

That's why it's important to find the best parental control app for iPhone.

The central theses:

• After testing and comparing over 23 parental control apps, we are convincedCustodiois best for most parents.
• Apple devices have built-in parental controls for screen time limits, app blocking, and usage reporting.
• A third-party parental control app will help further protect your child with features like content filtering and monitoring features.
• Apple's operating system is strict with certain permissions, which means that call and text monitoring, contact blocking, and panic buttons are generally not available on iOS.

With parental controls, you can easily monitor and restrict your child's online activities. Apple introduced its Screen Time parental control app in iOS 12 (see How toSet child lockwith screen time). You can view real-time usage reports, limit kids' screen time, and block usage of specific apps.

However, while it does a decent job, someKids hacking screen time, and this requires the use of third-party applications to implement tighter restrictions and more granular monitoring. In this guide, we'll cover some of the best parental control apps for iOS, explaining all of their features and settings along the way. Let's get into it.

8 Best Parental Control Apps for iPhone and iPad

That brings us to our list of the best parental control apps for iPhone and iPad. We talk about each app's features and capabilities, as well as the price, pros, and cons. Note that they are not in any particular order - the best app depends entirely on your use case.

1.Custodio

More details about Qustodio:

• Prices:Free; $4.58 per month on a five-device, 12-month plan
• Internet site:qustodio.com

Qustodio is one of the best options due to the number of parental controls it includes. You can set it to automatically filter apps, games and websites, even onprivate mode— block anything that is inappropriate. You can block anything from gambling to adult or violent content. You will also receive a notification when your child tries to access blocked content.

There are several ways to set device limits, including time limits for specific apps and a schedule to block usage at certain times of the day. You can set a time limit, which is how much time your child can spend online, in a specific app, or the entire device.

It also supports location tracking, geofencing, and call and text monitoring, but the panic button and contact blocking features are not available on iOS.

You get access to a real-time dashboard that lets you see exactly what your child is doing online. It means you can see what you seeYouTube, view their browsing history and social media activity, and track how long they've been on their device. In addition, you will receive daily, weekly or monthly emails detailing all of your child's activities.

Pricing and free plan

Qustodio comes with helpful setup guides. There are four pricing plans available. The first is the free plan, but it's limited to one device, and you don't get game and app restrictions, YouTube and social media tracking, or 30-day reporting.

Your other plans arebilled annually and starts at $4.58 per monthfor five devices, the most expensive being $11.50 per month for 15 devices. You can try the premium plan for free for 30 days and there is also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Net Nanny

More details about Net Nanny:

• Prices:$4.58 per month on a five-device, 12-month plan
• Internet site:netnanny.com

Net Nanny has a variety of features that can be accessed and implemented from the user friendly main window. There's also a "Family Feed" section on the dashboard that lets you see all of your kids' online activity at a glance, including the apps they're using, their online searches, and a complete overview of their YouTube usage.

You can easily block access to content in 14 categories such as suicide, weapons and pornography, and completely block access to specific websites, as well as disable apps and social media apps.

If your child accesses something inappropriate outside of the already implemented blocks, you can stop accessing this category immediately. You can even completely block access to the Internet.

Other features of Net Nanny include the ability to limit screen time to specific hours or an allotment of time. There's also a location tracker that lets you see your child's real-time location, access location history, and receive arrival and departure notifications.

Missing premium features

Some things it's missing, however, are the ability to monitor calls and text messages, block certain contacts, or enable an emergency response feature that your child can use to alert you when they're in an uncomfortable situation and want you to Look. go look for them. 🇧🇷

Net Nanny has three pricing plans with the same features. Their cheapest plan is $39.99 per year, but you can only use it on a desktop computer; cannot be used on a mobile device. After that, you can choose between $54.99 per year for five devices or $89.99 per year for 20 devices. There is a 30-day free trial for up to five devices and a 14-day refund policy.

3. Screen time

More details about Screen Time:

• Prices:Free; $6.99 per month for unlimited children with five devices each
• Internet site:screentimelabs.com

Screen Time from Screen Time Labs, not to be confused with Apple's Screen Time feature on iOS, is a separate service. It has many of the same features as the other parenting apps on this list, but many of them are not available for iOS.

However, there are some other cool features that might still be worth your while.

In addition to app blocking features, you can limit screen time by setting a time or schedule limit, approve or deny app download attempts, and get daily reports with the websites and apps your child is using. You can also track your child's real-time location and get notified when they enter or leave certain locations.

advanced features

Screen Time allows you to prevent your child from accessing its settings and may require a password to uninstall. It also has a nifty feature that lets you pause your kid's phone so you can ask them to turn it off.

You can also assign tasks to your child, for example How to do their homework or tidy up the room so they have more screen time. You can set the task and reward and approve when your child completes them.

However, Screen Time is really disappointed that none of its content, history, social media, text and photo monitoring filters are available on iOS. While there is a limited free version, most features are only available for Android devices. Screen Time Premium is only good if you want more control over how long your child spends on a device and the places they visit.

4. Mobicip

More details on Mobicip:

• Prices:Starting at $2.99 ​​per month on a one-device plan for one year
• Internet site: mobicip.com

Mobicip is an easy-to-use parenting app that lets you set time limits in three different ways: set a schedule, set time limits on specific apps, or set daily screen time limits.

You can set up content filters that work with websites, YouTube and social networks, or block inappropriate websites and apps completely. There's even a "Pause All Devices" feature if you want your child's undivided attention.

You get access to usage reports that show how your child is spending their time on the device. It can also monitor your online activity, which includes monitoring your social media usage.

However, what sets Mobicip apart is that, in addition to the main panel, there is also a secondary panel that allows your child to control their own usage. This is really good to help your child understand and manage the time they spend using the device.

next features

Location tracking and geolocation are also included, but some of the listed features are not available yet, including the SOS panic button. Another upcoming feature is a goals and rewards system that we envision will be similar to Screen Time's incentives feature. Even without these features, Mobicip is a decent app.

It starts at $2.99 ​​per month for the Lite version, which lets you install it on one device. There is also a Standard plan that costs $4.99 per month for 10 devices and a Premium plan that costs $7.99 per month for 20 devices. You need the premium plan to get social media monitoring and app limits, but you can try its features for free for seven days first.

Mobicip also has a 7-day refund policy for monthly plans and 30 days for annual plans, but you'll need to request a refund through support.

5. Ligue

More details about the shell:

• Prices:Starting at $4.08 per month on the 12-month plan for kids and unlimited devices
• Internet site:bark.us

Bark is a little different than our previous suggestions. While it allows you to manage screen time, filter web content and block websites, it does not fully monitor your child's device activities.

While this may sound surprising, the Bark is designed so that your child still has some privacy. Bark acknowledges potential issues such as suicidal thoughts, cyberbullying, online predators, and drug use. It will alert you to such activities without the need to monitor your child 24/7.

You can still monitor text messages, emails, YouTube and social networks. If you think your child needs some offline time, you can turn off their internet entirely.

Jr prices get premium

Bark has two plans available: Bark Jr. and Bark Premium. Jr plan. it costs $49 per year and the Premium plan costs $99 per year.

Jr plan. it includes screen time management, website filtering, and geofencing, but you'll need Bark Premium for monitoring and alerting features. You can set up unlimited children and devices on both plans, and a seven-day free premium trial is available.

6. Boomerang

More details about Boomerang:

• Prices:Starting at $1.33 per month on a 12-month plan for one device
• Internet site:Use bumerangue.com

Like Screen Time, many of Boomerang's features are not available on iOS. iOS users will not have SMS monitoring, call/contact blocking, geolocation, installed app controls, YouTube history or search monitoring; iOS app reports are limited to web history.

Another feature that iOS lacks is the ability to block access to device settings or prevent your child from uninstalling Boomerang. If your child is older or more tech-savvy, Boomerang might not be the best option.

Basic Functions on iOS

Boomerang is still a good choice if you're looking for general or hourly screen time limits, standard location tracking, or web filtering. Free SPIN Safe Browser is available for iOS and helps automatically filter harmful content while providing safe search results.

If you're looking for an inexpensive app to help you manage your child's screen time and filter content, Boomerang isn't a bad choice. It costs $15.99 per year for a single device or $30.99 per year for up to 10 devices. There is also a 14-day free trial.

7. The Norton family

More details about the Norton family:

• Prices:$4.17 per month on a 12-month plan with unlimited kids and 50 devices
• Internet site:family.norton.com/web/

Norton doesn't just offer antivirusjVPN Apps🇧🇷 is also experimenting with online family protection with its Norton Family service. You can easily set screen time limits or schedules and receive email reports on your child's activities. You can also prevent your child from viewing harmful or inappropriate content and control their browsing history.

Norton's App Supervisor feature, which allows you to control which apps your child can install and use, is not available for iOS users. Other than that, you get access to the same features as other platforms, including geofencing and location tracking with 30-day location history.

school time control

Norton Family's standout feature is Schooltime, which lets you control your child's work environment. You can give your child access to specific websites needed for school work to ensure that they are not distracted by other people during a school lesson. This is especially useful in remote learning situations, homeschooling, or just for homework.

If you are a Norton 360 Deluxe or Norton 360 with LifeLock member, you already have access to Norton Family. Otherwise, it's $49.99 per year for kids and unlimited devices. There is also a 30-day free trial.

8. Pavilion

More details about the canopy:

• Prices:Starting at $7.99 per month for three devices
• Internet site:dosel.us

Canopy is an excellent service for application management and content filtering. One notable omission, however, is that it doesn't include screen time limits. Canopy's goal is to keep your kids safe, not to help them manage how much time they spend on their devices. However, it's not a problem considering that Apple has its own Screen Time settings.

Canopy uses artificial intelligence to scan websites and detect malicious content. It doesn't automatically block an entire site when it detects a small amount of inappropriate content; Instead, you can decide which level of blocking you want to implement. You can even block lingerie images. Canopy replaces anything identified as inappropriate with a white rectangle so your child can see the rest of the webpage.

Filtering isn't just for websites. You can also filter some apps, for exampleTag thanks🇧🇷 Furthermore, the sexting prevention feature will alert you to certain images, regardless of whether they were downloaded or taken by your child, and will allow you to decide if they are inappropriate or not. You can also track your child's location and prevent them from uninstalling the app.

Canopy has three plans available, the only difference being in how many devices you can install it on. Your monthly costs are $7.99 for three devices, $9.99 for five devices, and $15.99 for 10 devices. There is also a 30-day free trial for up to 10 devices.

common questions

• The best parental control apps for iOS are Qustodio, Net Nanny and Mobicip. They all offer the same features at a similar cost. Other parental control apps like Bark and Canopy are also good, but the available features are a little less extensive.

  (Video) How to set up Parental Controls on your iPhone / iPad

• You can use a parental control app to monitor what your child is doing online, filter content, control screen time, and much more. Apps like Qustodio or Net Nanny cost less than $5 a month.

• The Bark parental control app is great, but if you want full monitoring features on your kid's phone, you're better off using Qustodio, Net Nanny, or Mobicip.

• No, you cannot stop your kid from deleting text messages on iPhone. Many parenting apps allow you to monitor text messages and calls. However, due to Apple's rigid operating system, these features are generally not available for iOS.

What makes the best parental control app for iPhone and iPad?

There are a few things to consider when choosing the best parental control app for iPad or iPhone. First, which one you choose depends on your use case, which depends on your child's age. For example, you might want to block certain websites for a child under the age of 12. If you have a teenager, you might want to give them more freedom but still be able to control their story.

That's why we choose apps withmultiple functions and settings🇧🇷 While iOS has screen time management settings and age-based filters, third-party apps allow you to store all your settings in one convenient place.Web filtering featuresit's atAbility to block inappropriate appsare just two of the features we look for in iPhone parental controls.

Be able toControl your child's messagesjMonitor them on social media appsIt's a great way to protect them from cyberbullying.

While we don't condone spying on your children's whereabouts, many apps includelocation trackingjgeofences, which allow you to define "safe" areas. When your child enters or leaves a secure area, you'll receive an alert to keep them safe without having to track their every move.

Apple's operating system is somewhat restrictive with its permissions and control panel and doesn't always like to be paired with third-party developers. We choose apps thatworks well with iOS, which can be installed from the App Store and does not require jailbreaking your device.

The parental control app is not just made to beeasy to install, but alsointuitive to use🇧🇷 There might be a few different features to configure so configuring the app easily is a must.

there are also thosePreisConsider. While a less expensive app might make sense if you're on a budget, you really want an option that gives you the value you need. An app that costs a little more can offer a lot more features than a cheaper app.

Finally, if you have more than one child, you must ensure that your application goes through theCan be installed on multiple devices.

What is a parental control app?

A good parental control app allows you to set restrictions on your child's device while keeping an eye on what he is doing. The various monitoring settings and options available include:

• content filter
• App and website blocker
• screen time management
• usage reports
• Application or game management
• Monitoring of messages and calls
• no contact
• social media monitoring
• location tracking
• Geofencing (see when your child arrives and leaves a specific destination)

Regardless of what you're looking for in a parental control app, it's important to remember that we're not trying to protect our kids, especially when it comes to the internet. Rather, it's about providing them with a safe environment while they find their own way. It is up to parents to teach children to use online services responsibly and understand the implications of spending too much screen time.

Which brings us to another point: many parental control apps advertise that you can install them on your child's device without them knowing.We do not recommend using such apps.We see this as a violation of your child's trust and privacy - you are essentially stalking your child.

You should also not record your children's phone conversations. It's not just an invasion of your privacy, butcan also be illegal.

One of the best things you can do isconduct an open dialogue🇧🇷 Talk to your kids about Internet safety and make sure they know they can come to you if something is wrong. This, in turn, opens up a conversation about why parental controls might be necessary on your device.

Help your child understand that monitors don't mean you don't trust them and don't intend to spy on your children; You will be less likely to try to get around restrictions this way.

How to choose a parental control app

When choosing the best parental control service for you, you must first decide which features you want. As you can see from our list, many apps have a complete parental control kit, but some are focused on one aspect such as: B. Web Filtering. There are also some that don't have a list of fully iOS compatible features.

Qustodio, Net Nanny or Mobicip are your best bets. They offer the most features with iOS compatibility - you just don't get call/text monitoring or contact blocking.

If you have a lot of kids or mobile devices to protect, it's more cost-effective to choose a service that allows unlimited kids and devices, like Bark or Norton Family.

Canopy offers a smarter content filtering system. While it doesn't support screen time limits, you can easily configure it in your Apple device's settings.

The Best Free Parental Control Apps for iPhone and iPad

There are certainly free parental control apps, but they don't offer all the functionality of paid apps. If you really need a free option, Qustodio and Screen Time both have free versions available.

Other than that, the free version of Screen Time is pretty much useless for iOS users. All you can do is see what apps your child is using and get daily reports. Qustodio is the best free parental control app for iPhone, but even then you are limited to one device and you miss out on game and app restrictions, social media monitoring, YouTube monitoring and reporting.

If you want access to the absolute best parental controls for iOS, you have to pay. You can rest easy knowing you're protecting your child for about the cost of a coffee or two a month.

Final Thoughts: The Best Parental Control Apps

Now you know the best parenting apps for iPhone and iPad. Your final choice largely depends on the features you need. Unfortunately, even many of the paid options limit their capabilities to iOS. For the most part, call and text message monitoring, SOS buttons, and contact blocking features don't seem to be available for iPad and iPhone devices.

Qustodio, Net Nanny and Mobicip offer the most complete packages. Other services on the list include additional features you might need, like Norton Family's School Times feature or the ability to monitor multiple devices. Fortunately, there are plenty of free trials and refund periods you can use to test different options before committing.

Have you ever used a parenting app on iOS? Which app did you choose? Do you have any suggestions other than those on this list? Let us know in the comments and thanks for reading!