Discover the best parental control apps to keep your kids safe online. Monitor activity, set screen time limits, and protect them from harmful content with easy-to-use tools.
Author: Aasritha Sai
Parents want their kids to explore the internet and stay safe at the same time. Are you worried about your kids' online activity, or maybe you're unsure how to set limits on screen time or block inappropriate content? You're not alone. In fact, studies show that 60% of parents worry about their children's online safety. If you're looking to safeguard your kids' digital experience, you're in the right place.
In this blog, you’ll learn about parental control apps, how to use them on both Android and iPhone devices, and why they’re more important than ever in 2025.
A parental control app is a tool designed to help you monitor and manage your child's online activities, ensuring they're safe while using smartphones, tablets, and computers. With kids now spending more than 12 hours a week on screens, often more time than they spend with their own parents, these apps have become essential for setting healthy boundaries and keeping digital habits in check. You can track screen time, block inappropriate content, monitor messages, and set limits for app usage.
In simple terms, a parental control app is like a digital safeguard, helping you manage what your kids can do on their devices. Parental control apps can restrict access to certain apps, set time limits for screen usage, and track browsing history. You can use these apps for your children to:
As your kids spend more time online, managing their screen time has become more challenging. Parental control apps help you set limits, ensuring they balance their digital activities with real-world interactions.
With rising risks like cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content, these apps allow you to block harmful material and keep your children safe.
As technology evolves, kids now have access to more advanced devices and apps, making it harder to track their online activity. Parental control apps have adapted, providing you with the tools needed to protect your children, including Instagram Parental Controls that help you monitor your child's social media activity.
According to a recent forecast, the global demand for parental control software is expected to jump from $1.65 billion in 2023 to over $5.4 billion by 2033, showing just how essential these tools have become for families everywhere.
Parental control apps also include features like screen mirroring, one-way audio, scheduled downtime, and social media monitoring to help you keep your child safe. These tools give you better visibility and allow you to guide your child's online experience in a positive way.
Parental control apps offer several important features that give you full control over your child’s digital habits. These features are essential for creating a safe online environment and helping you to manage your children. Here are some common features that can help keep your kids safe:
Screen time limits allow you to set daily restrictions on how long your child can use their device. You can adjust these limits for different apps, helping your child balance screen time and offline activities.
With app blocking, you can restrict access to apps that are inappropriate or distracting. This feature helps you maintain control over what your child can access on their device, ensuring they engage with age-appropriate content.
With parent access to call and message logs, you can monitor who your child is communicating with and what they are saying. This feature lets you track calls and messages across different apps, helping ensure their interactions stay safe and appropriate.
Social media tracking allows you to monitor your child's interactions on platforms like Instagram or Twitter. This helps protect them from cyberbullying and ensures responsible social media use. Parental controls can also help you monitor activity on YouTube, Google Chrome, Instagram, and other social media platforms.
GPS tracking lets you see your child’s real-time location. Whether they’re at school or with friends, you can track their movements and ensure their safety.
With emergency alerts and geofencing, you’re notified if your child leaves a designated area. This feature gives you peace of mind, knowing you’ll be alerted about unusual movements or activity.
Finding the right parent app is essential for you to manage your children. The best parental control apps in 2025 help ensure your child’s online safety. Here are some of the best options to consider for keeping your child safe online.
Qoli.ai is a helpful app for parents who want to make sure their kids are safe when using their phones. It helps you keep track of how much time your kids spend on their devices, where they are, and what apps they use. With Qoli.ai, you can see details like call history, WhatsApp messages, photos, videos, and more. It’s easy to use and gives parents complete control over their kids’ phone usage, promoting digital wellbeing and parental controls.
MMGuardian helps parents manage their child’s phone usage in a simple way. While it doesn't offer geofencing, a money-back guarantee, or the ability to set daily device usage limits, MMGuardian gives you the tools you need to keep your child’s phone use safe and balanced. It’s easy to use, making it simple to manage your child's phone habits.
MMGuardian works on both Android and iOS devices, giving you the flexibility to manage your child’s phone on either platform.
Rating:4/5
FamilyTime a mobile monitoring app designed to help you manage your child’s phone usage. It doesn’t include comprehensive web filtering or social media monitoring. FamilyTime provides the essential tools to keep your child’s phone use safe and balanced.
FamilyTime works on both Android and iOS, offering the flexibility to monitor your child’s device regardless of which platform they’re using.
Rating:4.5/5
Kaspersky Safe Kids is a helpful phone control app for parents. Kaspersky safe kids doesn’t have some features. Some of the features it may not provide, such as real-time location tracking or social media monitoring, this app focuses on the basics to help keep your child safe online. Kaspersky Safe Kids helps you manage your child’s phone use without overcomplicating things.
Kaspersky Safe Kids works on both Android and iOS phones, making it easy to monitor your child’s phone no matter which type of device they use.
Rating:3/5
Famisafe is a user-friendly app that helps you stay informed about your child’s digital habits. While it doesn't offer comprehensive call recording, a free plan, or the ability to monitor all social media apps and conversations, it provides essential tools to help keep your child’s phone use safe and balanced.
Famisafe works on both Android and iOS, providing flexibility to monitor and control your child’s phone usage across different platforms.
Rating:3.5/5
| App | Key Features | Platforms | Price | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qoli.ai | Screen Time Limits, Location Tracking, Geo-Fencing, App Monitoring, Access Recent Images, Screenshot Assistant, Track Call History, Hidden Call Recorder, Mobile Usage Tracking | Android, iOS (soon) | ₹750/month | 7-day |
| MMGuardian | Call & SMS Monitoring, App Monitoring, Screen Time Control | Android, iOS | ₹450/month | 7-day |
| FamilyTime | Screen Time Control, App Blocking, Location Tracking, Geo-Fencing | Android, iOS | ₹525/month | 3-day |
| Kaspersky Safe Kids | Screen Time Management, Web Filtering, App Control | Android, iOS | ₹375/month | 14-day |
| Famisafe | Screen Time Control, App Monitoring, Location Tracking, Activity Reports | Android, iOS | ₹750/month | 3-day |
Once you've installed the parental control app on your child's device, follow these simple steps to get everything set up and running:
Open the app and sign up using your email or phone number. You may be asked to confirm your email address.
After creating an account, you’ll need to add your child’s device. You can do this by entering their device’s details or sending them an invitation link to install the app.
Once the device is connected, go to the parent dashboard in the app. This is where you’ll control all settings for your child’s device.
The app will guide you through setting up the permissions and restrictions on your child’s device. This usually includes selecting screen time limits, app restrictions, and content filters.
Once you've selected your preferences, the app will sync the settings to your child’s device. This process is usually automatic, but make sure the connection between devices is working properly.
Finally, review the settings to confirm everything is set up. You can adjust the settings later if needed. The app may ask you to set a password for security purposes.
It’s important to protect your child online, but you also need to be aware of the legal and ethical boundaries when it comes to monitoring their digital activity.
You generally have the right to monitor your child's online activity, especially if they’re under 18. However, it's important to ensure that monitoring is done in a way that respects privacy and doesn’t overstep boundaries. Always be aware of how you collect and use your child’s data.
While it’s necessary to monitor your child’s activity, it’s also important to respect their privacy. Here are some ethical guidelines:
Parental control apps are a great tool to protect your child online while allowing them to have the freedom they need. These apps help you monitor their activity, set time limits, and block harmful content. The key is to strike a balance, keeping them safe without overstepping their personal space. Remember, open communication is important, and as your child grows, you can adjust the settings to help them become more independent, all while ensuring their safety.
