The Best Free Parental Control App to Keep Your Kids Safe Online

2023-09-03

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In today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever to keep your kids safe online. With so many dangers lurking on the internet, from cyberbullying to online predators, it’s easy for kids to get into trouble. That’s why it’s important to have a parental control app installed on your child’s device.

Parental control apps allow you to monitor your child’s online activity, set limits on their screen time, and block inappropriate content. They can also help you track your child’s location and receive alerts if they’re in danger. With so many different parental control apps available, it can be tough to choose the right one for your family. That’s why we’ve done the research for you and compiled a list of the best free parental control apps.

These apps are all easy to use, reliable, and packed with features to help you keep your kids safe online. Whether you’re looking for a simple app to help you monitor your child’s screen time or a more robust app that gives you complete control over their online activity, we’ve got you covered. Let's explore each one in detail to discover their unique features and capabilities.

Best Free Parental Control App

Protect kids online, promote safety.

Monitor screen time
Filter inappropriate content
Track location
Set time limits
Block specific apps
Receive alerts
Manage multiple devices

Keep your kids safe online, one app at a time.

Monitor screen time

One of the most important features of a parental control app is the ability to monitor your child’s screen time. This allows you to see how much time they’re spending on their devices each day, and what apps and websites they’re using. This information can be helpful in a number of ways.

First, it can help you to identify potential problems. For example, if you see that your child is spending a lot of time on social media or gaming apps, you may want to talk to them about their online activity. You can also use screen time monitoring to set limits on your child’s device use. This can help to prevent them from spending too much time on their devices and neglecting their other responsibilities, such as schoolwork and extracurricular activities.

Finally, screen time monitoring can also help you to keep your child safe online. By seeing what apps and websites they’re using, you can be alerted to any potential dangers, such as inappropriate content or cyberbullying. You can then take steps to protect your child from these dangers, such as blocking specific apps or websites.

Screen time monitoring is an essential feature of any parental control app. It allows you to keep track of your child’s online activity and identify any potential problems. This information can help you to keep your child safe online and help them to develop healthy habits around technology use.

In addition to the benefits listed above, screen time monitoring can also help you to:

Identify trends in your child’s online activity
Set goals for your child’s device use
Encourage your child to use their devices in a more productive way

Filter inappropriate content

Another important feature of a parental control app is the ability to filter inappropriate content. This allows you to block your child from accessing websites, apps, and other online content that is not age-appropriate.

Block websites and apps: You can use a parental control app to block specific websites and apps that you don’t want your child to access. This can include websites with adult content, gambling sites, social media sites, and other sites that you deem to be inappropriate for your child.
Filter search results: Parental control apps can also filter search results on your child’s device. This means that when your child searches for something on the internet, the app will block any results that contain inappropriate content.
Scan for inappropriate content: Some parental control apps can also scan your child’s device for inappropriate content, such as images or videos. This can help you to identify any potential problems and take steps to protect your child.
Set time limits for specific websites and apps: You can also use a parental control app to set time limits for specific websites and apps. This can help to prevent your child from spending too much time on these sites and apps.

Filtering inappropriate content is an essential feature of any parental control app. It allows you to protect your child from online dangers and help them to develop healthy habits around technology use.

Track location

Another useful feature of a parental control app is the ability to track your child’s location. This can be helpful for a number of reasons.

Peace of mind: Knowing where your child is at all times can give you peace of mind, especially if they are young or if they spend a lot of time away from home.
Help your child stay safe: If your child is ever lost or in danger, you can use a parental control app to track their location and help them get home safely.
Set up geofences: Some parental control apps allow you to set up geofences, which are virtual boundaries around specific locations. If your child enters or leaves a geofence, you will receive an alert. This can be helpful for keeping track of your child’s whereabouts and ensuring that they are staying in safe areas.
View location history: Many parental control apps also allow you to view your child’s location history. This can be helpful for seeing where your child has been and for identifying any patterns in their movement.

Tracking your child’s location can be a helpful way to keep them safe and to give you peace of mind. However, it is important to use this feature responsibly and to respect your child’s privacy.

Set time limits

One of the most important things you can do to protect your child online is to set time limits on their device use. This can help to prevent them from spending too much time on their devices and neglecting their other responsibilities, such as schoolwork and extracurricular activities. It can also help to reduce their exposure to online dangers, such as cyberbullying and inappropriate content.

Most parental control apps allow you to set time limits for your child’s device use. You can typically set a daily limit for the total amount of time your child is allowed to spend on their device, as well as limits for specific apps and websites.

When setting time limits, it is important to be realistic and to take into account your child’s individual needs and responsibilities. You should also be consistent with your limits and enforce them consistently. If you are too lenient with your limits, your child will learn that they can get away with breaking them.

Here are some tips for setting effective time limits:

Start by talking to your child. Ask them how they are using their devices and what they think about setting time limits. This will help you to understand their perspective and to come up with limits that they are more likely to accept.
Set clear and specific limits. Don’t just say “no screen time.” Instead, be specific about how much time your child is allowed to spend on their devices each day and what apps and websites they are allowed to use.
Be consistent with your limits. Enforce your limits consistently, even when it’s difficult. If you give in to your child’s begging or pleading, they will learn that they can get you to change your mind.
Be flexible when necessary. There may be times when you need to be flexible with your limits, such as when your child has a special project or event. Just be sure to communicate your expectations clearly and to make sure that your child understands that the change is temporary.

Setting time limits is an essential part of keeping your child safe online. By following these tips, you can help your child to develop healthy habits around technology use.

Block specific apps

Another useful feature of a parental control app is the ability to block specific apps. This allows you to prevent your child from accessing apps that you deem to be inappropriate or harmful.

Protect your child from dangerous or inappropriate apps: There are many apps available that can be dangerous or inappropriate for children. These apps may contain adult content, violence, or other harmful material. By blocking these apps, you can help to protect your child from being exposed to this type of content.
Help your child focus on their studies: There are also many apps that can be distracting for children, such as games and social media apps. If your child is having trouble focusing on their studies, you can use a parental control app to block these apps during school hours.
Promote healthy habits: Some apps can also promote unhealthy habits, such as excessive screen time or gambling. By blocking these apps, you can help your child to develop healthy habits and to avoid these potential problems.
Manage your child’s app usage: Parental control apps also allow you to manage your child’s app usage in other ways. For example, you can set time limits for specific apps, or you can require your child to get your permission before they can download new apps.

Blocking specific apps can be a helpful way to protect your child from online dangers and to help them to develop healthy habits around technology use.

Receive alerts

One of the most important features of a parental control app is the ability to receive alerts. This allows you to be notified of any potential problems or dangers that your child may be facing online.

Here are some of the types of alerts that you can receive from a parental control app:

Inappropriate content: You can receive alerts if your child attempts to access inappropriate content, such as pornography, violence, or hate speech.
Suspicious activity: You can also receive alerts if your child engages in suspicious activity, such as spending excessive amounts of time on a particular website or app, or communicating with strangers online.
Location alerts: If you have enabled location tracking, you can receive alerts if your child enters or leaves a specific area, such as their school or home.
Screen time limits: You can also receive alerts if your child exceeds their screen time limits.

Receiving alerts from a parental control app can help you to stay informed about your child’s online activity and to take action if necessary. For example, if you receive an alert that your child is trying to access inappropriate content, you can talk to them about the dangers of this type of content and help them to find more appropriate websites and apps.

Alerts can also help you to identify potential problems early on. For example, if you receive an alert that your child is spending a lot of time on a particular website or app, you can talk to them about their online activity and see if there is anything that is causing them concern.

Receiving alerts from a parental control app is an essential part of keeping your child safe online. By being notified of potential problems, you can take action to protect your child and help them to develop healthy habits around technology use.

Manage multiple devices

Many children have multiple devices, such as a smartphone, tablet, and laptop. This can make it difficult for parents to keep track of their child’s online activity and to enforce parental control rules.

Control all of your child’s devices from one place: A good parental control app will allow you to manage all of your child’s devices from one central location. This makes it easy to set up and enforce parental control rules across all of your child’s devices.
Set different rules for different devices: You may want to set different parental control rules for your child’s different devices. For example, you may want to allow your child to use social media on their smartphone, but you may not want them to use it on their school laptop.
Track your child’s activity across all of their devices: A good parental control app will allow you to track your child’s activity across all of their devices. This gives you a complete picture of your child’s online activity and helps you to identify any potential problems.
Receive alerts about your child’s activity on all of their devices: You can also receive alerts about your child’s activity on all of their devices. This ensures that you are always informed about your child’s online activity, even if they are using a device that you are not aware of.

Managing multiple devices can be a challenge, but a good parental control app can make it easy. By using a parental control app, you can keep track of your child’s online activity across all of their devices and enforce parental control rules consistently.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about parental control apps:

Question 1: What is a parental control app?
Answer: A parental control app is a software program that allows parents to monitor and manage their child’s online activity. Parental control apps can be installed on a child’s device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

Question 2: What are the benefits of using a parental control app?
Answer: Parental control apps offer a number of benefits, including the ability to:

Monitor your child’s screen time
Filter inappropriate content
Track your child’s location
Set time limits for specific apps and websites
Block specific apps
Receive alerts about your child’s online activity

Question 3: How do I choose the right parental control app for my family?
Answer: There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a parental control app, including:

The features that are important to you
The compatibility of the app with your child’s devices
The cost of the app
The reviews of the app

Question 4: How do I set up a parental control app?
Answer: The setup process for a parental control app will vary depending on the app that you choose. However, most apps will require you to create an account and then install the app on your child’s device. Once the app is installed, you will need to configure the settings to meet your specific needs.

Question 5: Are parental control apps effective?
Answer: Parental control apps can be effective in helping parents to keep their children safe online. However, it is important to note that no app is 100% effective. Parental control apps should be used as one part of a comprehensive approach to online safety, which should also include talking to your child about online dangers and teaching them how to stay safe online.

Question 6: How much do parental control apps cost?
Answer: The cost of parental control apps varies depending on the app and the features that it offers. Some apps are free to use, while others may charge a monthly or annual subscription fee.

Question 7: What are some tips for using parental control apps?
Answer: Here are a few tips for using parental control apps:

Talk to your child about parental control apps before you install them. Explain to your child why you are using the app and what it will do.
Use the app to set clear and consistent limits for your child’s online activity.
Monitor your child’s online activity regularly and talk to them about any concerns that you have.
Be flexible with your limits. There may be times when you need to adjust your limits, such as when your child is doing research for a school project.

Closing Paragraph for FAQ: Parental control apps can be a valuable tool for parents who want to keep their children safe online. By using a parental control app, you can monitor your child’s online activity, set limits, and receive alerts about potential dangers. However, it is important to remember that parental control apps are not a substitute for talking to your child about online safety and teaching them how to stay safe online.

In addition to using a parental control app, there are a number of other things that you can do to help keep your child safe online. These include:

Tips

In addition to using a parental control app, there are a number of other things that you can do to help keep your child safe online:

Tip 1: Talk to your child about online safety.

One of the most important things you can do to keep your child safe online is to talk to them about online dangers and how to stay safe. Explain to your child that there are people online who may try to harm them, and teach them how to recognize and avoid these dangers. You should also talk to your child about the importance of being respectful and responsible online.

Tip 2: Teach your child how to be a good digital citizen.

Being a good digital citizen means using technology in a responsible and ethical way. Teach your child to be respectful of others online, to protect their personal information, and to avoid cyberbullying. You should also encourage your child to be creative and to use technology to learn and grow.

Tip 3: Set limits and expectations for your child’s online activity.

It is important to set limits and expectations for your child’s online activity. This includes setting limits on screen time, the types of websites and apps that your child is allowed to use, and the amount of time that your child is allowed to spend on social media. You should also talk to your child about the importance of following these limits and expectations.

Tip 4: Monitor your child’s online activity.

It is important to monitor your child’s online activity to ensure that they are staying safe and that they are following your limits and expectations. You can do this by checking your child’s browsing history, their social media accounts, and their emails. You can also talk to your child about their online activity and ask them questions about what they are doing online.

Closing Paragraph for Tips: Keeping your child safe online is an ongoing process. By following these tips, you can help your child to stay safe online and to develop healthy habits around technology use.

Remember, parental control apps are just one tool that you can use to keep your child safe online. By talking to your child about online safety, teaching them how to be a good digital citizen, setting limits and expectations, and monitoring their online activity, you can help them to stay safe and to have a positive experience online.

Conclusion

Keeping your child safe online is a top priority for all parents. With so many dangers lurking on the internet, it is important to take steps to protect your child from these dangers.

Parental control apps can be a valuable tool for parents who want to keep their children safe online. Parental control apps allow you to monitor your child’s online activity, set limits, and receive alerts about potential dangers. However, it is important to remember that parental control apps are not a substitute for talking to your child about online safety and teaching them how to stay safe online.