Best Parental Control App for iPhone - May 2025
From social media to gaming, monitor and manage your kids' online activities with the best parental control app for iPhone. Set healthy screen time limits & get alerts for cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
🔥 Save 42% on Annual Plan - Only $14/Month
- Monitor texts, email and 30+ apps & platforms
- Manage screen time & filter content
- Alerts for cyberbullying & online predators
- Keep up with kids with location alerts & check-ins
🔥 Save 60% On Annual Plan-Only $8.33/Month
- Protect Unlimited Kids & Devices
- Filter Content & Block Inappropriate Websites
- Receive Alerts for Online Predators & Cyberbullying
- 24/7 Monitoring of In-Game Voice & Text Chats
Get 50% Off Your First 3 Months
- Monitor & Manage Your Child’s Online Activity
- Block & Track Websites, Apps, and Screen Time
- View Social Media Chats, Texts, & Emails
- Track GPS Location & Get Geofencing Alerts
- Block inappropriate apps, games & sites
- Monitor kids' texts & calls
- Receive alerts of cyberbullying & more
- Set healthy limits on screen time
📲 FREE Bark Phone for Kids - Starts at $39/mo
- No contract, unlimited talk & text
- Text & social media monitoring built-in
- Approve apps & contacts
- GPS-powered location tracking
Norton Family Parental Controls
- Monitor social media, content & online activity
- Block online distractions with School Time
- Set healthy screen time limits
- Stay updated on your child’s location
What Every Parent Should Know Before Choosing a Parental Control App
Not all parental control apps are created equal. The best ones do more than block content — they help you guide your child’s digital habits. Look for apps that are transparent, customizable, and easy to manage across multiple devices.
Must-Have Features for Today’s Digital Parenting
From screen time scheduling to app blocking, the top-rated parental control apps help you set healthy boundaries without hovering. The best ones offer web filtering, location tracking, and real-time alerts — all while keeping your child’s privacy in mind.
- Screen time tools: Create daily or weekend schedules
- Content filters: Block explicit websites and risky apps
- Location tracking: See your child’s location in real time
- Activity reports: Get daily summaries of app and site usage
Teen Phone Monitoring: Stay Informed Without Overstepping
As kids become teens, the focus shifts from restriction to awareness. Leading parental control apps offer monitoring features that help you spot potential red flags — like secret apps, late-night texting, or location changes — without invading your teen’s space. It’s about building trust, not tension.
Bark Parental Controls
Parental Control Features:
Bark’s Parental Control App provides comprehensive tools to monitor and manage children’s online activity effectively. Parents receive automatic alerts for potential issues such as cyberbullying, explicit content, and more, with customizable settings suited for each child’s age. Highlight features include:
- Content Monitoring: Monitors texts, emails, and 30+ apps and platforms for potential risks, alerting parents only when concerning activity is detected.
- Web Filtering: Customizable web filters that block inappropriate content across browsers, offering a safe browsing experience.
- Screen Time Management: Parents can set screen time schedules, allowing tailored access to different sites and apps during specific parts of the day.
- Location Check-Ins: Enables parents to request check-ins for their child's location and see a mapped location history.
- 24/7 Alerts: Bark’s advanced algorithms scan for signs of risky behavior in real-time, providing alerts on issues like depression, violence, and predatory behavior.
Device Compatibility:
Bark is compatible with iOS, Android, and other devices, supporting various platforms and providing cross-device synchronization.
Pricing:
Bark Premium is $99/year or $14/month — their annual plan is the most popular and saves you 42%.
Aura Parental Control App
Parental Control Features:
Aura’s Parental Control App offers robust features for monitoring and managing your children and/or teens' online activity. Real-time alerts notify parents of any risky behavior, such as cyberbullying or explicit content, and settings can be customized based on the child’s age. Highlight features include:
- Content Filtering: Allows you to choose a filter level for each member of your family and select the apps, websites, and streaming services that need limitations or restrictions.
- Screen Time Limits: Customize Screen Time Limits for each kid’s profile and set different limits for apps, categories of sites, and a Daily Time Limit.
- Set Bedtimes: When bedtime rolls around, all devices associated with your child’s profile will automatically disconnect from the Internet.
- Pause the Internet®: Pause the Internet at the press of a button. Hit unpause when you're ready to give back their internet access.
- Internet Usage: Get a complete picture of kids internet use across all devices so you can make informed decisions about the amount of screen time that’s right for your family. Track your kids' online habits to spot overuse on apps and websites.
- Bonus Online Time: Extend your kid’s daily time online with Bonus Time to reward good behavior or celebrate successes.
- Safe Gaming: Get alerted to threats with 24/7 in-game voice and text monitoring for over 200 of the most popular PC games.
Device Compatibility:
Aura is compatible with iOS, Android, and other devices, offering seamless synchronization across platforms.
Pricing:
Aura offers various subscription plans with premium features, and a free trial is available for parents to explore its capabilities before committing.
mSpy Parental Controls
Parental Control Features:
mSpy’s Parental Control App offers a robust suite of monitoring tools to help parents stay informed about their child’s digital activity. With real-time tracking and detailed insights, parents can ensure their child's safety across various online platforms. Highlight features include:
- Content Monitoring: Tracks messages, social media activity, and browsing history across multiple platforms, providing detailed reports and alerts on suspicious content.
- App and Website Blocking: Allows parents to block inappropriate websites and restrict access to specific apps to create a safe digital environment.
- Screen Time Control: Provides options to manage screen time limits and schedule device usage to encourage healthy online habits.
- GPS Location Tracking: Offers real-time location tracking and geofencing alerts, helping parents monitor their child’s whereabouts and receive notifications when they enter or leave designated areas.
- Call and Text Monitoring: Enables parents to view call logs, contact details, and text message content to identify potential risks.
Device Compatibility:
mSpy is compatible with iOS and Android devices, offering seamless monitoring with a user-friendly dashboard accessible from any web browser.
Pricing:
mSpy plans start at $16.65/month for the annual subscription, with options for shorter-term plans. The annual plan provides the best value with comprehensive monitoring features included.
Qustodio Parental Control Apps
Parental Control Features:
Qustodio’s Parental Control App offers a well-rounded set of tools to help parents protect and guide their children’s online experience. With a clean interface and easy setup, Qustodio supports proactive digital parenting through real-time monitoring and detailed activity reports. Highlight features include:
- Content Monitoring: Tracks app usage, calls, texts, and browser history, with smart alerts for inappropriate or suspicious activity.
- Web Filtering: Customizable filters block harmful content across all browsers, supporting safe browsing for children of all ages.
- Screen Time Management: Parents can set time limits per device or app and schedule device-free times like bedtime or homework hours.
- Location Tracking: Live GPS tracking with location history helps parents stay aware of their child’s whereabouts.
- Social Media Supervision: Monitors activity on platforms like Facebook and YouTube, providing insight into social interactions.
Device Compatibility:
Qustodio works across Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Kindle, and Chromebook, making it easy to monitor multiple devices in one dashboard.
Pricing:
Qustodio offers a free plan and Premium tiers starting at $54.95/year for 5 devices, with larger plans available for up to 15 devices.