Today’s children grow up surrounded by smartphones, tablets, YouTube, TikTok, and online games. While technology offers great educational benefits, it also exposes kids to dangers such as:
✔ Harmful content
✔ Cyberbullying
✔ Online predators
✔ Addiction to screens
✔ In-app purchases
✔ Fake social media accounts
✔ Location tracking
✔ Scams
This is why parental control apps have become essential in 2025. These apps help parents:
✔ Monitor online activity
✔ Limit screen time
✔ Block inappropriate websites
✔ Track their child’s location
✔ Control app usage
✔ Manage downloads
✔ Protect from cyber threats
In this guide, we review the 10 best parenting apps every parent should consider in 2025.
Let’s begin.
1. Google Family Link (Best Free Parental Control App)
Google Family Link remains one of the most trusted and widely used apps for Android users.
✔ Key Features
- Screen time monitoring
- App download approval
- Location tracking
- Daily usage reports
- Bedtime and lock screen controls
- Website filtering through Chrome
- Restrict in-app purchases
✔ Why It’s Great
It’s free, easy to use, and works directly with your child’s Google account.
✔ Best For:
Parents using Android phones or Chromebooks.
2. Qustodio (Best All-Round Professional Parental App)
Qustodio is one of the world’s most complete parental control solutions.
✔ Key Features
- Web filtering & content blocking
- Social media monitoring
- YouTube history tracking
- SMS and call monitoring
- Location tracking
- App usage reports
- Screen time limits
✔ Why It’s Great
Its dashboard is extremely detailed, making it easy to understand your child’s online behavior.
✔ Best For:
Parents who want deep monitoring and complete control.
3. Norton Family (Best for Safe Internet Browsing)
Made by Norton, a global leader in cybersecurity.
✔ Key Features
- Real-time web monitoring
- Search activity supervision
- Block dangerous websites
- Time supervision
- Detailed reports
- Location tracking
- School time mode
✔ Why It’s Great
It protects children from harmful online content better than most apps.
✔ Best For:
Parents who want strong web filters to protect kids online.
4. Bark (Best for Social Media Monitoring)
Bark is designed to detect harmful behavior on social platforms.
✔ Key Features
- AI-powered monitoring
- Tracks more than 30+ platforms
- Detects cyberbullying
- Detects sexting or explicit content
- Detects depression or suicide signals
- Screen time limits
- Website blocking
✔ Why It’s Great
It sends alerts when Bark detects dangerous keywords or behavior.
✔ Best For:
Parents concerned about bullying, online predators, or emotional wellness.
5. Life360 (Best Family Location Tracker)
Life360 is more than parental control — it’s a full family safety app.
✔ Key Features
- Real-time location tracking
- Driver safety reports
- Crash detection and emergency contacts
- Location history
- Family check-in alerts
- Geofencing (alerts when child enters or leaves an area)
✔ Why It’s Great
Helps keep track of where your children are at all times.
✔ Best For:
Parents of teenagers or kids who travel alone.
6. Kaspersky Safe Kids (Best for Budget-Conscious Parents)
Affordable but powerful.
✔ Key Features
- Web & app controls
- Screen time limits
- GPS tracking
- YouTube search monitoring
- Battery level check
- Real-time alerts
✔ Why It’s Great
Provides excellent features at a very affordable price.
✔ Best For:
Parents who want premium control without paying too much.
7. FamilyTime (Best App for Strict Parental Control)
Great for parents who want tight control over their child’s digital activities.
✔ Key Features
- App blocking
- Location tracking
- Geofencing
- Screen time limits
- PickMeUp alerts
- SOS alerts
✔ Why It’s Great
Helps parents enforce rules and block harmful apps instantly.
✔ Best For:
Parents needing strong control over phone usage.
8. KidLogger (Best for Activity Monitoring)
This app focuses on tracking digital activities.
✔ Key Features
- Records keystrokes
- Tracks app usage
- Logs files opened
- Screenshots
- Tracks chat messages
✔ Why It’s Great
It gives extremely detailed digital activity logs.
✔ Best For:
Parents who want full insight into what their child is doing.
9. FamiSafe (Best for Blocking Harmful Content)
Developed by Wondershare, FamiSafe is one of the best tools to block inappropriate content.
✔ Key Features
- Web filtering
- App blocking
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Screen time balance
- Detects suspect photos
- YouTube & TikTok monitoring
- Driving safety reports
✔ Why It’s Great
Very effective in blocking harmful websites, apps, and videos.
✔ Best For:
Kids who spend hours on social media.
10. Screen Time Parental Control (Best for Limiting Device Usage)
Perfect for managing how long children spend on their phones.
✔ Key Features
- Set daily time limits
- Create task rewards
- Block access during homework
- Pause the device instantly
- Monitor app installs
✔ Why It’s Great
Helps parents reduce smartphone addiction.
✔ Best For:
Younger kids and pre-teens.
Comparison Table: Best Parenting Apps in 2025
| App Name | Best Feature | Price | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Family Link | Free control tools | Free | Android users |
| Qustodio | Complete monitoring | Paid | Strict parents |
| Norton Family | Web filtering | Paid | Kids using internet often |
| Bark | Social monitoring | Paid | Teenagers |
| Life360 | Location tracking | Free/Paid | Family safety |
| Kaspersky Safe Kids | Affordable | Paid | Budget parents |
| FamilyTime | Strict control | Paid | Young kids |
| KidLogger | Detailed logs | Paid | Full monitoring |
| FamiSafe | Block harmful content | Paid | Social media users |
| Screen Time | Reduce addiction | Paid | Younger kids |
Why Parents Need Parental Control Apps in 2025
The internet is more powerful—and more dangerous—than ever. These apps help parents protect children from:
✔ Inappropriate content
Pornography, violence, drugs, gambling, hate speech.
✔ Online predators
Strangers pretending to be kids.
✔ Cyberbullying
Harassment on WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram.
✔ Excessive screen time
Affects sleep, learning, and behavior.
✔ Online scams
Fake giveaways, phishing links, crypto scams.
✔ Dangerous challenges
Viral TikTok/Snapchat trends that can cause harm.
✔ Addiction
Games and social media designed to keep kids hooked.
A parental control app is like a digital seat belt — it protects your child every time they go online.
How to Choose the Right Parenting App
Here’s a simple guide:
✔ If you need FREE parental control
👉 Choose Google Family Link
✔ If you want strongest content filtering
👉 Choose Norton Family or FamiSafe
✔ If your child uses social media
👉 Choose Bark
✔ If you want to track location
👉 Choose Life360
✔ If you want deep monitoring of activities
👉 Choose Qustodio or KidLogger
✔ If your child uses iPhone
👉 Qustodio and FamiSafe work best
✔ If you want affordable paid options
👉 Kaspersky Safe Kids
Signs Your Child May Need a Parental Control App
✔ Staying online late at night
✔ Quickly closing the phone when you approach
✔ Getting messages from strangers
✔ Becoming secretive about online activities
✔ Addicted to games or social apps
✔ Falling grades in school
✔ Receiving unknown calls
✔ Hiding or deleting chat history
✔ Changes in mood or behavior
If any of these signs appear, it’s time to use a monitoring app.
Common Mistakes Parents Make Online
❌ Giving phones to kids without restrictions
❌ Allowing unlimited internet data
❌ Allowing them to install any app
❌ Not monitoring social media
❌ Ignoring cyberbullying signs
❌ Allowing kids to use phones in bedrooms at night
❌ Not setting screen time limits
Parental control apps help prevent these mistakes.
Tips for Keeping Kids Safe Online (Beyond Apps)
✔ Talk to your child about online safety
✔ Teach them not to talk to strangers
✔ Keep devices in shared spaces
✔ Set rules for screen time
✔ Use strong passwords
✔ Update devices regularly
✔ Monitor behavior changes
✔ Be involved in their digital life
Technology helps, but communication is more important.
Final Thoughts
The internet is an amazing tool but also a dangerous place for children. With the increasing number of online threats in 2025, parental control apps have become essential in every home.
Whether you want to block harmful content, reduce screen time, monitor social media, or track your child’s location, the apps listed above provide powerful solutions.
Top Recommendations
- Best Free App: Google Family Link
- Best Overall: Qustodio
- Best for Online Safety: Norton Family
- Best for Social Media Monitoring: Bark
- Best for GPS Tracking: Life360
By using these apps along with good parenting communication, you can help your child enjoy the internet safely and responsibly.
