The best parental control app depends on your child's age and devices. Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link are free and enough for many younger children, Qustodio suits families mixing Apple and Android, and Bark suits parents of teenagers who want alerts about worrying messages rather than full monitoring.
When you work from home, your kids' screens are part of your working day whether you like it or not. A parental control app can't replace the conversations, but it does take some of the policing off your plate, so you're not checking tablets between calls. Here's how to choose one, sorted by your child's age, plus the free tools already built into the devices you own.
Start with what's already on the device
Before you pay for anything, try the built-in controls. For many families with younger children, they're enough.
- Apple Screen Time. Built into iPhone, iPad and Mac. Set downtime, app limits, content restrictions and ask-to-buy through Family Sharing.
- Google Family Link. For Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks. Approve apps, set daily limits and bedtimes, and see where the device is.
- Microsoft Family Safety. Covers Windows PCs and Xbox, with screen time limits, web filtering and activity reports.
- Games consoles. PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch all have their own family settings for play time, spending and online chat.
When a dedicated app is worth it
Third-party apps earn their place when your family mixes Apple and Android, when you want one dashboard for every device, or when you're more worried about what's said in messages than how long a screen is on.
| App | Strongest at | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Qustodio | One dashboard across phones, tablets and computers | Detailed reports and time limits per app |
| Bark | Flagging signs of bullying, risky contacts and worrying messages | Alerts you to problems rather than showing you everything |
| Net Nanny | Web filtering that reads page content, not just site lists | Good for younger children who browse a lot |
| Norton Family | Web, search and video supervision from a big security brand | Fits families already using Norton security |
| Google Family Link | Free control for Android and Chromebook | Limited on iPhone |
| Apple Screen Time | Free control built into Apple devices | Doesn't cover Android |
| Microsoft Family Safety | Windows and Xbox time limits and filtering | Best on Microsoft devices |
Features and supported devices change, so check each app's current page for the phones and tablets your family uses.
Pick by age
Under eight
Keep it simple. Use the device's own controls to lock down app downloads and purchases, use a child profile in video apps, and keep tablets in shared rooms. You probably don't need a paid app yet. For screen-free time on journeys, my list of offline games for kids on a road trip is a lifesaver.
Eight to twelve
This is when most children get their first phone and start using messaging and games with chat. A cross-device app such as Qustodio or Google Family Link helps you set school-night limits, approve new apps and filter the web. Talk about what they'd do if someone they don't know messages them, and agree the rules together.
Teenagers
Heavy-handed monitoring tends to backfire with teens, who'll find workarounds fast. Many parents switch to alert-based tools such as Bark, which flag concerning content without showing you every message. Pair it with agreed phone-free times, such as meals and the hour before bed.
Set it up in an afternoon
- Make a list of every device your child uses, including consoles and school laptops.
- Turn on the built-in family controls on each one and create a child account.
- Decide whether you need a third-party app to cover gaps.
- Set app approval and purchase approval first. These stop the most surprises.
- Add time limits and bedtimes, starting a little generous so you can tighten later.
- Show your child what you've set up and why. Hidden monitoring tends to break trust when it's found.
Write a family tech agreement
A short written agreement does more than any setting. Sit down together and agree a few simple rules, then pin them somewhere everyone can see. Review them every few months, because what suits a nine-year-old won't suit them at eleven.
- Where devices live at night, such as charging in the kitchen.
- Which times are screen-free, such as meals, homework and the hour before bed.
- Which apps and games need a parent's yes before downloading.
- What to do if something online feels scary, rude or wrong, and a promise that telling you won't mean losing the device.
- What the grown-ups agree to as well, such as no phones at the dinner table.
Things to watch
- Children are good at finding loopholes such as factory resets, guest modes and friends' devices. Controls slow them down, they don't stop a determined teenager.
- Router-level filtering covers every device on your home wifi, but not mobile data.
- Location sharing is useful for logistics. Agree when you'll check it, so it doesn't feel like tracking.
- Your child's privacy matters too, and so does yours. If you're tidying up your family's footprint online, see Incogni vs DeleteMe.
Keep the conversation going
The most effective parental control is a child who tells you when something online feels wrong. Use the app to handle the boring bits, such as bedtimes and downloads, and spend the time you save talking. If you need ideas to keep younger ones busy away from screens while you work, try these prompts for keeping kids busy.
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Frequently asked questions
At what age should I stop using parental controls?
There is no fixed age. Many families loosen controls step by step through the teenage years, moving from limits to alerts and then to agreed rules, so children practise managing their own screen time before they leave home.
What is the best parental control app?
For mixed Apple and Android families, Qustodio is a strong all-rounder. Bark suits parents of older children who want alerts about worrying messages. Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link are free and enough for many younger children.
Is there a free parental control app?
Yes. Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link and Microsoft Family Safety are free and built into or designed for their own devices.
Can my child get around parental controls?
Sometimes, through resets, guest modes or other people's devices. Controls work best alongside agreed rules and regular conversations.
Should I monitor my teenager's messages?
Many parents prefer alert-based tools that flag concerning content rather than reading everything. Being open about what you've set up helps keep trust.
Do parental controls work on mobile data?
App-based controls on the device do. Router-level filtering only covers your home wifi.
