Smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, providing us with easy access to the internet and a wide range of digital content. While they offer numerous benefits, they also present potential risks, especially for children who are more vulnerable to cyberbullying, addiction, and exposure to inappropriate content. iPhone does come with a built-in parental control feature, but it's not foolproof, as kids can effortlessly bypass it.
In this article, we have compiled a list of the best 10 iPhone parental control apps to monitor kids' iPhone. So, even if your kid has bypassed the parental controls feature you can still keep a close eye on your child's phone activities and ensure their safety in the digital world.
Part 1. Features That A Qualified Parental Control App Needs
As a parent, keeping your child safe in the digital world is becoming more challenging every day. Fortunately, parental control apps can help you monitor and manage your child's online activities. But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which app to choose. To make it easier for you, here are some essential features that a qualified parental control app should have:
Content Filtering: A good parental control app should be able to block inappropriate content, including websites, apps, and videos.
Screen Time Management: An effective parental control app should allow you to set limits on the amount of screen time your child can have, as well as schedules for device usage.
App Blocking: A qualified parental control app should give you the ability to block specific apps or categories of apps that you consider unsafe or inappropriate.
Location Tracking: A parental control app that provides real-time location tracking can help you ensure your child's safety, especially when they're not at home.
Social Media Monitoring: With social media being a major part of kids' lives, a parental control app should allow you to monitor your child's social media activity and set limits on usage.
Web history tracking: By tracking the Web browser history parents can view the websites their kids visit, block specific sites, and set filters to restrict access to certain types of content.
Remote control: The app should allow parents to control their child's device remotely, so they can control and monitor their kid’s device at any time, at any place.
Parental alerts: With this feature, parents can set alerts for when their kids receive or send text messages or access specific apps, enabling them to take quick action if necessary.
Usage reports: The app should provide usage reports to parents, showing how much time their child has spent on different apps, websites, and activities.
By having these features, parents can better control and manage their child's online experience.
Part 2. Top 10 iPhone Parental Control Apps
#1. FoneWatcher Parental Control App
When it comes to the best iPhone parental control apps, FoneWatcher stands out with its unbeatable safety features and remarkable functionality. With this app, you can easily monitor your child's online and offline activities from a remote location, giving you complete control over their device usage.
Recommended stars: 5/5
Available for: iOS, Android [newest version]
Features:
Pros
- Block explicit search results and apps
- Provide real-time updates
- Remote monitoring
- Don't require jailbreaking
- Unbreachable security
Cons
- No free trial is available
2. Qustodio
Qustodio is another powerful and reliable parental monitoring app that helps parents to monitor and block sexually implicit content, websites, and apps on their kid's iPhones. With its comprehensive features and easy-to-use interface, parents can effortlessly keep tabs on their kids' online activities.
Recommended stars: 4/5
Available for: Android, iOS, Windows
Features:
Pros
- Track real-time location & get location history
- An advanced panic button helps the child to alert the parent when in danger
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- The free version only offers limited features
3. NetNanny
NetNanny is one of the top-rated parental control apps for iPad and iPhone that offers comprehensive features to keep your child safe online. With its advanced features, parents can take control of their child's device usage and protect them from online threats.
Recommended stars: 4/5
Available for: iOS, and Android
Features:
Pros
- Real-time internet filtering to block inappropriate content.
- Offers a 14-day free trial for new users.
- Easy-to-use interface with clear instructions for parents.
Cons
- Expensive subscription plans.
- Limited support for third-party browsers and apps.
4. Kaspersky
If you're looking for a more customizable solution to control your kid's online activities, then Kaspersky is an ideal option. Its advanced artificial intelligence offers features like screen time management and content filtration on browsers and other apps.
Recommended stars: 3/5
Available for: iOS, Android
Features:
Pros
- Comprehensive web filtering and blocking features
- Track the location of the target device
- monitor up to 500 devices, ideal solution for whole-family protection
Cons
- Limited monitoring option on social media
- Can't monitor messages and calls
5. Norton Family
Norton Family is an excellent option for parents who want to keep an eye on their children's online activity across multiple devices. Whether you're concerned about inappropriate content, excessive screen time, or cyberbullying, Norton Family has a comprehensive suite of features that can help.
Recommended stars: 3/5
Available for: Windows, iOS, and Android
Features:
Pros
- Efficiently monitor and manage children's online activity.
- Easy-to-use interface with clear instructions for parents.
- Offers detailed activity reports
Cons
- Don't work well with certain third-party apps
- Limited monitoring for iOS
6. OurPact
OurPact is a versatile parental control app that allows parents to monitor and manage their child's digital activity across multiple devices. With a range of useful features, it provides parents with greater control over their child's online experiences.
Recommended stars: 3/5
Available for: iOS, Andriod
Features:
Pros
- Monitor multiple devices
- Easy to use and offers a simple, intuitive interface
- Offers comprehensive support and resources for parents, including educational materials and customer support
Cons
- Expensive as compared to other apps
- Provide limited filtering on Youtube
7. Famisafe
FamiSafe is a highly recommended parental control app that offers an array of features to help parents monitor their kids' activities on their iPhones and iPads and ensure they only use apps that are safe and age-appropriate.
Recommended stars: 4/5
Available for: Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, Windows, Chromebook, and Mac
Features:
Pros
- User-friendly interface makes monitoring easy for parents
- Comprehensive range of features, including real-time location tracking, app blocking, and web filtering
Cons
- iOS version has limited features
- It may not work well with some older devices, limiting its compatibility
8. Bark Parental Control
Bark Parental Control is another amazing app that specializes in monitoring social media platforms for potential safety concerns, such as cyberbullying, online predators, and sexting.
Recommended stars: 3/5
Available for: Android, iOS
Features:
Pros
- Simple and Intuitive interface
- Provide real-time alert to parents about potential dangers
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- Bark can be expensive, with a yearly subscription fee
9. Screen Time
Screen Time is a parental control app that is specifically designed to help parents manage and monitor their children's screen time usage.
Recommended stars: 3/5
Available for: Android, iOS 9.3 +, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
Features:
Pros
- Easy to use interface
- Highly customizable
- Can be used on multiple devices
- Provides detailed usage reports
Cons
- The app can be buggy at times
- Limited ability to monitor social media activity
10. Circle Parental Control
Circle Parental Control is a popular app that offers comprehensive parental control features, making it easier for parents to manage their children's screen time and online activity and keep them safe while using iPhones.
Recommended stars: 4/5
Available for: Android, iOS
Features:
Pros
- Offers multiple levels of filtering and customization
- Allows parents to monitor and manage multiple devices and users
- Includes a "pause" button to instantly block internet access
Cons
- Lack of ability to set time limits for specific apps or games
Part 3. Editor's Comments
Parental Control App | Best For | Pricing | Overall Performance | Editor's Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|
FoneWatcher |
Comprehensive monitoring and control |
$39.99 - $99.99 per year |
5/5 |
FoneWatcher is the best parental control app for iPhone and iPad, offering a wide range of features to ensure the safety of your child in the digital world. Its unbreachable safety, affordability, and extraordinary features make it stand out from the crowd. |
Qustodio |
User-friendly interface |
$39.95 - $137.95 per year |
4/5 |
Qustodio is an excellent choice for parents who want a user-friendly interface with a variety of features. Its affordable pricing and compatibility with multiple devices make it a popular option. |
NetNanny |
Blocking inappropriate content |
$39.99 - $89.99 per year |
4/5 |
NetNanny is a great parental control app for blocking inappropriate content on your child's device. Its unique features such as profanity masking and screen time schedules are impressive. |
Kaspersky |
Web Content Filtering |
$14.99 - $149.99 |
3/5 |
Kaspersky offers web content filtering, app blocking, and screen time management but it limited social media monitoring features. |
Norton Family |
Comprehensive monitoring |
$49.99 per year |
3/5 |
Norton Family is a comprehensive monitoring app with multiple device tracking ability, making it perfect for family monitoring. |
OurPact |
Screen time management |
$6.99 - $9.99 per month |
3/5 |
OurPact is an effective screen time management app, but it’s expensive with limited features only. |
FamiSafe |
Location tracking |
$9.99 - $59.99 per year |
4/5 |
FamiSafe is a useful app for location tracking, screen time management, and web filtering but its limited features. |
Bark Parental Control |
Social media monitoring |
$99 per year |
3/5 |
Bark Parental Control is a great option for monitoring your child's social media, but its high pricing and limited features make it less appealing than other options. |
Screen Time |
Free app |
Free - $6.99 per month |
3/5 |
Screen Time offers basic screen time control, but its limitations and in-app purchases can be frustrating. |
Circle Parental Control |
Network-level filtering and monitoring |
$9.99 per month |
4/5 |
Circle Parental Control offers network-level filtering and monitoring but it has limited compatibility with certain routers. |
Conclusion
When it comes to ensuring your child's safety in the digital world, parental control apps are an excellent tool to have. Each of the apps mentioned above has its own unique features and capabilities, making them suitable for different families and situations.
However, based on the features, ease of use, and overall performance, FoneWatcher stands out as an excellent choice for parents looking for comprehensive parental control. Its unbreachable safety features, remote control, web browser tracking, parental alerts, and usage reports make it an all-in-one solution for keeping an eye on your child's phone activity.