13 Best Android Parental Control Apps in 2025 | Unleash Cybersecurity With These Recommendations
Today’s generation is growing up on the web with Google as their teacher, but are you educating them on how to cross this digital frontier safely?
Keeping kids secure both in the digital and real world is the primary concern of every parent. While you can watch them at home, have you ever wondered who’s monitoring their digital life?
With unlimited access to the internet and the digital world at a young age, keeping the predators at bay has become an absolute necessity.
Hence, to help you with the cyberbullying concerns, I have tried and tested some prominent Android parental control apps and shortlisted the best of them in the article below. So, give it a good read!!
| 🤔What Makes a Great Parental Control App? Common Pitfalls to Avoid Children today know how to outsmart all the parental controls that you install, or they somehow find a way to fool the software. Which brings us to the question of what makes a great parental control app? Honestly, finding a reliable parental control app for Android is like finding a needle in a haystack; hence, here’s a quick rundown on the features that a trustworthy child safety app should have! 📃 What to Look For?
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🌟 13 Best Android Phone Parental Control Apps (Quick Rundown)
Protecting children from the explicit content available on the web has become the numero uno priority of every parent. Therefore, to provide you with some effective and budget-friendly options, I have brought to you a quick overview of Android parental control apps, analyzing the prices and features of different software available on the internet.
| Rank | App | Fees | Free Version | Best For | Top Features | Rating |
| 1 | SaferLoop | N/A | N/A | Overall Cyber Protection | Real-Time Alerts Geo-Fencing Web Filtering App Blocking Screen Time Management | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 2 | Qustodio | $4.58/mo | Yes | Cross Platform Usage | Instant Activity Reports Screen Time Limit Geo-Fencing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 3 | Google Family Link | Free Service | NA | Managing App Permissions | Location Tracking Content Filtering Account Management App Management | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 4 | OurPact | Premium $6.99/mo Premium+ $9.99/mo | 14-Day Trial | App Access and Family Locations | Screen Time Scheduling Web Monitoring Family Locator App Blocking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 5 | Kaspersky Safe Kids | $1.66/mo | Yes | Budget-Friendly Option | Provides App Usage Statistics Content Filtering Safe Browsing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 6 | Bark | $5.00/mo | 7-Day Trial | Managing Social Media and Messages | Instant Alerts Monitors Messages Manages Social Media | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 7 | FamiSafe | $9.99/mo | Yes | Manage Child’s Digital Activities | SOS Alerts Location Tracking Device Activity Monitoring | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 8 | MMGuardian | $3.99/mo | Yes | Controlling Messages and Calls | Safety Alerts Contact Blocking Web Filtering | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 9 | Mobicip | $7.99/mo | 7-Day Trial | Overall Safety | AI-Content Filtration App Blocking Web Filtering | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 10 | Norton Family | $4.99/mo | 30-Day Trial | Screen Time Control | Screen Time Management Location Tracking | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 11 | Boomerang | $15.99/ year | Yes | Search Monitoring | App Control Call and Text Monitoring | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| 12 | FamilyTime | $3.00/mo | Yes | Budget-Friendly Option | GPS Tracking Location Alerts | ⭐⭐ |
| 13 | Net Nanny | $7.99/mo | Yes | Web Filtering | Real-Time Alerts Safe Browsing | ⭐⭐ |
🔰 Our Top 13 Android Parental Control App Picks to Safeguard Your Kid’s Browsing Space
As a millennial parent in this tech-savvy Gen Zalpha world, I can understand how tough it is to ensure the digital safety of the little ones.
That’s why I have curated this detailed listicle of the best parental control app for Android. From precise web filtration to geo-fencing and app blocking, I have covered all your needs in the list given below. So reflect on it thoroughly!!
1. SaferLoop — Best for Overall Security and Location Check-Ins
| Rating: ★★★★★ (5.0) Free Trial: Not Available Price: N/A Platforms: Supports both Android and iOS Best For: Overall cyber safety and instant security alerts |
From daily screen time management to AI-based content filtering and providing real-time insights into your little one’s online activity, SaferLoop parental control app gives you peace of mind and empowers you to manage and monitor your child’s digital footprint.
Why is it #1?
The comprehensive suite of parental control features and easy customization options make SaferLoop the top child safety app.
Distinctive Features:
- AI-based content filtration to block inappropriate content.
- Instant alerts are sent immediately to update when it senses any threat.
- Geo-fencing to notify about the child’s location.
- Detailed reports give a visual breakdown of online behavior.
Why Parents Love it?
Gives parents comfort and reassurance by automatically taking the necessary precautions and decisions.
| Pros | Cons |
| AI integration for web filtering. | The free version has limited features. |
| Easy-to-understand interface. | The premium version might be expensive for many. |
| Remarkable reporting and alerts. | |
| Automated and adaptive platform. |
2. Qustodio — Best to Manage Multiple Child Profiles
| Rating: ★★★★☆(4.5) Free Trial: Yes (Limited) Price: $4.58/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Managing multiple profiles |
If you have multiple devices at home, then Qustodio can be your go-to parenting partner. Consider it the best parental control app for Android, as it seamlessly syncs across multiple platforms, facilitating multiple device management at once.
Why is it #2?
This application integrates AI-based web filtering to ensure your younger ones are far away from harmful content. Furthermore, it also has some exceptional location tracking and immediate alert features that give you total control of your kid’s activity online.
Distinctive Features:
- Facilitates management of multiple devices from one place.
- Geo-fencing creates safe zones and immediately reports to you every time your younger one is out of them.
- Weekly activity reports to update you about the online behavior and browsing habits of your little one.
Why Parents Love It?
Its strong support and precise data insights make it a reliable option for keeping an eye on the children.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers an extensive set of features. | Quite expensive. |
| Enables call and text monitoring. | |
| Supports multiple platforms. |
3. Google Family Link — Best for Real-Time Location Tracking
| Rating: ★★★★ (4) Free Trial: NA Price: Free Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Managing app permissions |
Google Family Link is a boon for Android users because it offers an extensive set of child safety features, free of charge. It will give you the sense of security while your little one is freely exploring the digital domains.
Why is it #3?
This Google LLC-powered application tracks multiple platforms to eliminate explicit content and keeps you in the loop by providing you with insights about your child’s online activities. Furthermore, it provides instant alerts when it traces even the slightest possibility of cyber abuse.
Distinctive Features:
- Device bedtime to ensure your younger ones are not sleep-deprived due to phone usage.
- Remote device lock enables parents to lock their ward’s device from anywhere.
- Mandatory app approvals for installing new apps.
- YouTube has restrictions to limit certain videos.
Why Parents Love it?
Google Family Link is a parent favorite because it provides a balanced digital experience for minors by restricting inappropriate content, managing app permissions, and scheduling screen time limits.
| Pros | Cons |
| Doesn’t need any paid subscription. | Has limited features. |
| Excellent web filtering and monitoring features. | Not ideal for families who use multiple platforms. |
| Intuitive user interface. |
4. OurPact — Best for App & Screen Time Management
| Rating: ★★★★ (4) Free Trial: Yes (14-Day) Price: $6.99/month for premium and $9.99/month for Premium+ Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Screen time scheduling |
Launched in 2015, OurPact emerges as one of the most flexible Android parental control apps that regulate applications and screen time management. It has impressive visual scheduling tools to enable parents to set strict time limits on certain app usage.
Why is it Great?
Apart from web filtering and screen time management, this child safety software has an advanced GPS tracking tool that notifies you about when your youngster arrives at or leaves a specific location.
Distinctive Features:
- App scheduling sets time limits for using certain apps.
- GPS tracking to get real-time insights about your little one’s whereabouts.
- Screen time management to balance between studies and phone usage.
Why Parents Love it?
Its premium+ plan enables you to access screenshots from your teen’s device and block shady messaging or texting apps that you find harmful.
| Pros | Cons |
| Impressive user interface. | Relatively expensive. |
| Covers 20+ devices. | Web filtering is not precise. |
| Excellent GPS tracking. | Confusing pricing plan. |
5. Kaspersky Safe Kids — Best for Restricting Apps
| Rating: ★★★★ (4) Free Trial: Yes (Limited) Price: $1.66/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: App blocking and web filtering |
Kaspersky Safe Kids has the AV-Test-approved certificate for having indestructible antivirus and parental control software. It has a freemium model. Hence, it offers most of its premium features even in the free version, so you being short on money won’t be a problem.
Why is it Great?
This parental control app for Android even blocks specific YouTube searches to restrict minors from intentionally interacting with inappropriate content.
Distinctive Features:
- Effective web filtering and customizable settings to block explicit content.
- GPS tracking to create a geo-fence for your child’s safety.
- App management and scheduling restrict the use of particular apps and set specific limits on daily screen time.
Why Parents Love it?
This safety app manages and monitors social networks and creates a geo-fence to help you track your child’s location. Furthermore, you can also schedule your teen’s screen time and app usage to foster healthy screen habits.
| Pros | Cons |
| Affordable pricing. | Its web portal is a bit slow. |
| Supports unlimited device connections. | Mobile app needs improvement. |
| Easily monitors Windows and Mac devices. |
6. Bark — Best for Social Media Monitoring
| Rating: ★★★★ (4) Free Trial: Yes (7-Day) Price: $5.00/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Monitoring and managing social media |
Bark is an all-in-one child safety app popularly known for its social media monitoring features. Well, if you are a parent of a teen, this app will give you mental ease by keeping an eye on their social media texts and calls.
Why is it Great?
It offers social media monitoring and an effective geo-fencing option, along with blocking inappropriate content and apps.
Distinctive Features:
- App and contact management to control who can contact your younger ones and what apps they can use.
- Threat alerts that notify you about every minor issue.
- Location tracking and geo-fencing to ensure your younger ones are in the safe zone.
Why Parents Love it?
It sends instant triggered alerts and inserts a small part of the chat to give you the context of the conversation. This particular feature makes it a crucial aid for teens’ parents.
| Pros | Cons |
| Scans over 30 social media, gaming, and messaging applications. | Cannot block offline apps. |
| Has flexible screen time management to set screen time limits. | Can drain your phone battery. |
| Relatively affordable with no limit on the number of devices connected. |
7. FamiSafe — Best for Geo-Fencing
| Rating: ★★★★ (4) Free Trial: Yes (Limited) Price: $9.99/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Managing and monitoring device activity |
Developed by Wondershare, FamiSafe creates a safe browsing corner for kids and assists parents in managing and monitoring their little ones’ online activity. This Android phone parental control app provides cross-platform compatibility to balance safety and money.
Why is it Great?
The ease of use and its extensive range of features make FamiSafe stand out among its competitors. With effective monitoring and easy content blocking, it is a valuable tool for ensuring your younger one’s safety in the virtual world.
Distinctive Features:
- Live GPS tracking along with location history to send emergency alerts.
- Manages apps by setting screen limits and blocking arbitrary app usage.
- Add blocker seamlessly blocks the apps of specific categories.
Why Parents Love it?
It protects children in the digital realm and provides an affordable solution for people with a budget. Furthermore, its multi-device usability makes it a celebrated parental control app for Android among parents.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great option for parents with multiple kids. | Free version lacks the advanced features. |
| Has flexible time controls. | |
| Intuitive user interface. |
8. MMGuardian — Best for Scheduling Screen Time
| Rating: ★★★★ (4) Free Trial: Yes (Limited) Price: $3.99/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Safety alerts and contact blocking |
MMGuardian is well-equipped with all the industry-standard parental control features and is easy to set up as compared to other controlling software. From website and app filtering to live location tracking, extensive activity reports, and customizing schedules for your teens, this app can do it all in one go.
Why is it Great?
This app gives you more control over what your infant can access and what it can’t. It has a blacklist and whitelist feature, using which you can filter out inappropriate content within 145+ categories.
Distinctive Features:
- GPS tracking for real-time location updates.
- Temporarily locks the child’s phone for a specific period of time.
- Sets time limits and blocks inappropriate applications with app usage limits.
Why Parents Love it?
Parents appreciate MMGuardian for its comprehensive suite of features, location tracking, instant safety alerts, and constant monitoring of the digital footprints of their younger ones.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers adaptive parental controls that can be adjusted according to the child’s age and maturity level. | Limited geo-fencing, which cannot be used for setting location-based alerts. |
| Sends real-time security alerts. | Subscription amount is on the expensive side. |
| Compatible with multiple devices. |
9. Mobicip — Best for Custom Schedules
| Rating: ★★★ (3) Free Trial: Yes (14-Day) Price: $7.99/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Overall safety and app blocking |
Mobicip is the safest option to customize web and app filters to restrict distractions while e-learning. It also has a vacation mode, which lets you relax the restrictions for a set period of time or days.
Why is it Great?
It has 15+ content categories where you can blacklist specified websites and apps. Mobicip’s exceptional social media monitoring, web filtering, and geo-fencing options make it a trusted shield against cyberbullying and data breaches.
Distinctive Features:
- Screen time schedulers that limit screen time and app usage.
- Family locator to locate your children and set geo-boundaries.
- An app blocker that limits distracting apps.
- Activity summary to give you insights about your child’s online habits.
Why Parents Love it?
As a parent, I love this app as it blocks certain apps directly from the Google Play Store, which means minors won’t be able to download the risky applications in the first place.
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers comprehensive content filtering. | Lacks call and text monitoring. |
| Enables customizing settings to fit different parenting styles. | Activity reports take a long time to update. |
| Provides cross-platform usage. |
10. Norton Family — Best for Blocking Inappropriate Content
| Rating: ★★★ (3) Free Trial: Yes (30-Day) Price: $4.99/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Screen time management |
It has one of the most powerful web filters that can even monitor and block the content of streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. School Time is my favorite feature of Norton, where it helps the children focus on studies by restricting all the possible distractions.
Why is it Great?
Norton houses almost all the essential parental control features that a person could possibly ask for. Its web-filtering and recently added geo-fencing options make it a no-brainer choice for any caregiver.
Distinctive Features:
- Detailed activity reports to track the digital footprints of the little ones.
- Gives real-time insights with active location tracking.
- Closely monitors the websites that children visit and blocks all the inappropriate content.
Why Parents Love It?
Parents adore this parental software, as it is a trusted Norton cybersecurity brand that already has an antivirus plan. Plus, the web supervision and school-time scheduling create a balance between study and screen time.
| Pros | Cons |
| Supports multiple devices, including Windows. | Lacks support on MacOS devices. |
| Has a School Time feature that enables school-time scheduling for remote learning. | The mobile application needs further improvement. |
| Offers great monitoring and filtering service at a reasonable price. |
11. Boomerang — Best for Activity Reports and Insights
| Rating: ★★★ (3.8) Free Trial: Yes (Limited) Price: $15.99/year Platforms: Available on both iOS and Android Best For: Facilitates apps and web control within budget |
Extensive weekly activity reports, social media risk alerts, geo-fencing, and text monitoring features make Boomerang everyone’s favorite. It’s a versatile and affordable option that seamlessly eliminates the explicit content, giving the parents a sense of security.
Why is it Great?
It’s a no-fuss, easy-to-integrate Android parental control app that effortlessly blocks all inappropriate content, manages screen time, and blocks predators.
Distinctive Features:
- GPS tracking to assist you with your child’s location.
- App controls to prevent the usage of adult-centric applications.
- Advanced web filtering to eliminate explicit content and disturbing graphics.
Why Parents Love it?
Boomerang covers all the realms of digital safety and its ease of use makes it a preferred choice among technologically challenged parents.
| Pros | Cons |
| Covers all the basic needs of parents. | Free version doesn’t support customization options. |
| Has relatively affordable pricing, especially heavy discounts on annual plans. | Reporting features are also limited. |
| Can be easily used by anyone. |
12. FamilyTime — Best for Custom Screen Time Limits
| Rating: ★★☆ (2.5) Free Trial: Yes (Limited) Price: $3.00/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: GPS tracking and location alerts |
It’s a renowned budget-friendly parental control app with advanced web filtering and social media monitoring features. This application offers a high level of control and even sends location alerts to the parents if the youngster is not in a safe zone.
Why is it Great?
Designed with technically challenged people in mind, FamilyTime offers real-time monitoring, customizable filters, and geo-fencing options to keep the danger at bay.
Distinctive Features:
- Sets strict time limits, even on apps.
- Easy-to-manage software.
- Creates safe zones and gives instant location alerts if the child is out of them.
Why Parents Love it?
It is easy to use, provides instant alerts, and helps the children adapt to healthy screen habits, resolving the screen-time conflict between guardians and teens.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great value for money. | The free version lacks advanced features. |
| Easy-to-use interface. | |
| Advanced geo-fencing and location tracking options. | |
| Has AI-integrated controls. |
13. Net Nanny — Best for Web Filtering and Content Control
| Rating: ★★ (2) Free Trial: Yes (Limited) Price: $7.99/month Platforms: Android and iOS Best For: Real-time alerts for safe browsing |
Net Nanny is another trusted parental control software with an intuitive design and exceptional web-filtering technology that allows you to block 100+ apps in one go. It even has a built-in app advisor that keeps you informed about the apps that parents should keep an eye on.
Why is it Great?
This app easily integrates with both Android and iOS devices, and its geolocation feature is beyond excellent. Furthermore, it gives you detailed insights about your child’s browsing habits, sets strict screen time limits, and allows you to create filters of your own.
Distinctive Features:
- Exceptional web filters.
- Sets time allowances and schedules for balancing screen time.
- Easy customization options.
- Smart screening technology to scan social media texts and activities.
Why Parents Love it?
Net Nanny ensures your little ones’ virtual safety without locking everything down. The best part is it adapts to the changing behavior of the children and works well for both younger and older kids.
| Pros | Cons |
| Have time management tools. | It’s on the expensive side. |
| Lets you control which apps your younger ones can use. | Free version has limited features. |
| Offers GPS tracking. | |
| Facilitates comprehensive web filtering. |
These parental control software are ranked on the basis of their ease of use, distinctive features, pricing, and overall value they bring to the table. So depending on your preferences and requirements, you can choose any of them.
| 🛡️ ‘Guardians or Gatekeepers?’ Parental Control Apps From Kids’ Perspectives! I have gathered some experiences and opinions of teens on parental control apps, and here’s what they perceive them to be! A 12-year-old kid reviews SaferLoop, saying,“At first I didn’t like it when my tablet stopped after an hour. But now I finish my homework faster and get to play after. It makes me feel more organized. My mom and I made the schedule together!” A 15-year-old teen shares her experience of using Bark. “It’s kinda annoying when I’m in the middle of a game and it shuts off. But I get why my mom does it. She lets me earn extra time, so at least I feel like I have some control.” Another 12-year-old calls MMGuardians a digital chore chart.“I like the app my dad uses. I get screen time for finishing homework or doing stuff around the house. It feels like a game, and we talk about it together.” See, this is what happens when you educate your younger ones about the need of android parental control apps. When children are aware of the end goal of such software, they tend to cooperate more instead of finding ways to outsmart the restrictions. |
Also Read: Best Parental Control App for iPhone: Every Parent Must Know About
💬 Final Words
In the current digital age, children are more vulnerable to cyberthreats, predators, and data breaches than ever. Hence, I have laid down this extensive guide to help you decide the right app for your kid’s safety. Remember that choosing the ideal Android parental control app can make all the difference. However, if you’re still confused, here’s how to decide the one for you!
- Best to encounter overall cyber hazards along with screen time management and geo-fencing: SaferLoop
- Best for call and message monitoring: MMGuardian
- Best for multi-device management: Qustodio
- Best budget-friendly option: Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Best for real-time alerts: Bark
🚨 Bonus Tip: Digital Parenting Starts With Guiding Screens, Not Controlling Them
Remember that digital parenting is not about locking down screens; it’s more about educating kids about the online risks.
Parental control app for Android is an additional security measure that you can take. Furthermore, your end goal should be guiding children about safe browsing. So, I suggest you sit with your little ones and hold a conversation with them about online safety, privacy, and responsible browsing.
Explain to them why you are using the parental control apps in the first place. This way they will perceive it more as compliance rather than resistance.
