10 Best Parental Control Apps for Teens - September 2025
From social media to gaming, monitor and manage your kids' online activities with the best parental control app. Set healthy screen time limits & get alerts for cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
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🔥 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
🔥 Protection From $4.58/month
- Block Games, Apps & Inappropriate Sites
- Set Daily Screen Limits & Custom Routines
- Monitor Location, Calls & Messages
- Get Instant AI-Powered Activity Alerts
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
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
📲 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
- Filter & block inappropriate content
- Monitor kids' social media, apps & web activity
- Manage screen time
- 24/7 location tracking
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.
Aura Parental Control App
Aura Company Overview
Aura is a leading digital safety company focused on protecting families from online threats, identity theft, and cyberbullying. Trusted by over 1 million users, Aura combines advanced cybersecurity, privacy tools, and award-winning parental controls into one seamless platform.
- Content Filtering
- Set custom filters for each family member and control access to specific apps, websites, and streaming platforms.
- Set Online Balance
- See how your child spends time online — with smart insights to help you guide them.
- Screen Time Limits
- Set precise limits by child, app, website category, and total daily screen time — all from one dashboard.
- Set Bedtimes
- Automatically cut internet access at bedtime for all devices linked to your child’s profile.
- Pause the Internet®
- Instantly pause internet access for one child or the whole home with a single tap.
- Activity Monitoring
- View detailed reports on app and web use across all devices to detect patterns and prevent overuse.
- Safe Gaming
- Get instant alerts from voice and text chats in 200+ popular PC games, with round-the-clock monitoring.
Device & Platform Compatibility
Aura Parental Controls are compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks — covering smartphones, tablets, computers, and gaming consoles. One simple solution to manage and protect every device in your home.
Plans & Pricing
Aura offers flexible plans for individuals, couples, and families — each designed to fit your household’s needs. All plans include full access to parental controls, real-time alerts, device monitoring, and 24/7 U.S.-based support. Choose monthly or annual billing, and start with a free trial to explore all features risk-free.
Qustodio Parental Control Apps
Qustodio Company Overview
Qustodio provides parental control and digital wellbeing tools that help families manage screen time, filter content, and monitor activity across devices. Trusted by millions of parents, it focuses on clear dashboards, alerts, and cross-platform coverage.
- Filter Content & Apps
- Block inappropriate websites, apps & games; allow only child-friendly content.
- Activity Monitoring
- Get detailed reports on web browsing, app use, searches; alerts for risky content.
- Screen-Time Limits
- Daily limits, restricted times, routines, schedules for device/app access.
- Geofencing
- Real-time location tracking; mark safe zones; get notified when child enters or leaves those zones.
Device & Platform Compatibility
Qustodio works on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and Kindle. Parents can manage settings from the mobile app or web dashboard, though certain features may vary depending on the operating system.
Plans & Pricing
Qustodio offers a free plan with essential features for one device and premium subscriptions with expanded monitoring, reporting, and screen-time controls. Premium tiers are billed annually, with pricing based on the number of devices covered.
Bark Parental Controls
Bark Company Overview
With AI-powered monitoring, screen time tools, and location tracking across 30+ platforms, Bark Premium empowers over 7 million parents to detect dangers, manage content, and support safer digital habits for their kids.
- App & Content Monitoring
- Track texts, emails, YouTube, and 30+ platforms for signs of issues like bullying, predators, and more.
- Real-Time Alerts
- Get immediate notifications when potential risks are detected, including suicidal ideation or explicit content.
- Web & Media Scanning
- Scan web searches, saved images, and videos on supported devices for concerning behavior.
- Website & App Filtering
- Block specific websites or entire categories; restrict app use based on your child’s age or needs.
- Screen Time Management
- Set schedules, daily limits, and routines—like school hours or bedtime—for device and app usage.
- Location Tracking & Check-Ins
- Track your child’s real-time location, set geofenced areas, and receive alerts when they enter or leave zones.
Device & Platform Compatibility
Bark is compatible with iOS, Android, and other devices, supporting various platforms and providing cross-device synchronization.
Plans & Pricing
Bark Premium is $99/year or $14/month — their annual plan is the most popular and saves you 42%.
mSpy Parental Controls
mSpy Company Overview
mSpy offers parental control and phone monitoring tools that let users track calls, messages, GPS, and app activity in real time. Trusted by over 1.5 million users worldwide, it provides discreet, easy-to-use solutions for digital supervision.
- Call & Text Monitoring
- Track incoming/outgoing calls, contact info, and text message content, even deleted messages.
- GPS Location Tracking
- View real-time GPS location, route history, and set geofencing alerts for defined areas.
- Social Media Monitoring
- Monitor activity on WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, and more.
- Screen Recorder
- Automatically captures screenshots of app activity for visual insight into device use.
- App & Website Blocking
- Block or restrict specific apps and websites to control distractions or harmful content.
- Keylogger
- Capture keystrokes made on the device, including messages typed but not sent.
- Email & Browser History
- Review sent/received emails and full browsing history, including deleted records.
- Stealth Mode
- Runs in the background invisibly; user won’t know the app is installed.
- Multi-Device Access
- Easily switch monitoring between multiple devices under one account.
Device & Platform Compatibility
mSpy supports Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. It works with most major OS versions and includes both jailbreak and no-jailbreak options for iPhone users, ensuring flexible installation across devices.
Plans & Pricing
mSpy offers monthly, quarterly, and annual plans starting at $11.66/month (billed yearly). All plans include core monitoring features, with discounted pricing for long-term subscriptions.