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Parental Control Apps: Should You Pay for a Subscription?
Parental control apps are more essential in this age of virtual learning, but do you really need to spend money on a subscription, or will the free versions suffice?

Table of Contents
Premium control that stands above the rest
Why we chose Kidslox
- The most feature-rich app of all the apps we tested and low-priced given its quality
- Has a lifetime access option for only a one-time fee of $99.99 or subscriptions at only $3.99 a month or $39.99 a year.
- Offers a lot of device monitoring and location monitoring such as safe driving alerts so the app can grow with your kids and their needs
Spring for the upgrade if:
- You have more than 1 kid or more than 1 device to control
- You want to get Mac/PC control along with a phone or tablet
- Blocking of specific apps is important to your control
- You want the extra protection features that you can use for years to come with your kids’ devices
Stick to free if:
- You only have 1 kid and 1 device to protect
- All you need is a basic device block schedule for certain hours of the day
- You don’t mind the Messages app remaining unblocked
Best free and low-fees option with decent premium features
OurPact is another one with great features, and they even have a middle tier subscription for only $1.99 a month so you can add multiple devices and block schedules, which would be another option we highly recommend.
Why we chose OurPact:
- Another feature-rich control app for phones and tablets only
- Has a variety of subscription options, including a low-cost PLUS subscription for only $1.99 a month that would work well for multi-device control
- Premium subscription for $6.99 a month or $69.99 per year.
- Easy to use and straightforward device pairing
The $1.99 a month PLUS subscription is the perfect budget option for those who just want a month to month subscription during the school year. Not to mention that this one probably has our favorite user interface of all the apps tested. However, this one certainly had better reviews for iOS users over Android users, so Android users may want to read on to our next pick.
A no-cost Android must-have
This no-cost option is so great, we had to include it, even though its full control features only work on Android or Google devices.
Why we chose Google Family Link:
- 100% free option that still has excellent control features
- Highest rated option for Android users specifically whereas some apps, such as OurPact, were much higher rated for iOS but less high for Android
- Parental Control app is available for iOS too even though it can only fully control Android and Google devices
- Even if your kids have iOS devices, you can use this to monitor their Google account and web browsing
There were not any other free apps of the same features for iOS only, but it’s possible that Apple may develop parental control features of their own to be included with their devices. Either way, this is a great pick for Android control and for any parent who wants to monitor their child’s use of Google.
Upgrade to all-around protection
For the most upgraded pick, Circle was an obvious choice for us. If you’re willing to spend the extra cash, you really get what you pay for.
Why we chose Circle:
- Best option to protect every WiFi-enabled device in your home, including phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, video game consoles, and more
- Priciest option for full control at $129 purchase for a home device and $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year but includes robust control as well as other Circle security protections
- Specific app blocking capabilities as well as internet filters and ability to give kids rewards for good behavior
For your tech-savvy young ones, this might be the best to look into. This one appears to be harder for kids to find ways to “un-block,” and reviews point out that though there are sometimes connect issues that the app developers are quick to update and fix these problems.
Everything We Recommend
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Our Pick
Parental Control - Kidslox
4.4 Ratings 46K+ Reviews 1M+ DownloadsKidslox Parental Control App
Kidslox parental control and screen time tracker is a secure parental control app that makes it easy for parents to control screen time, track their child's location, block apps, and monitor app usage.
Control Screen Time
The Kidslox Parental Control app includes a range of tools for monitoring and regulating screen time to help parents manage their kids and teens phone use in line with their desired parenting style:
✔ Instant lock - lock your kids phones (android and iphone) remotely, at the touch of a button
✔ Screen time schedules - set fixed times when your child can use their smartphone, e.g. set a bedtime curfew when the phones switch off
✔ Daily limits - allow your family free access to their phones until they reach a daily limit of screen time you set
✔ Screen time rewards - give your children extra screen time for completing chores, homework or other tasks
✔ Usage monitoring - keep track of the way your kids use their phones, see app usage, sites visited, screen time and more...
✔ Custom modes - choose which apps to block at different times to encourage appropriate behaviour, e.g. allow educational apps during homework but games only during free time
✔ Adjust time - it's easy to increase or decrease daily limits on a one off basis in response to your child's behaviour
Location tracking
✔ Know your family's location via GPS tracking
✔ Get notifications when your child enters or leaves geo-fenced zones you set
✔ See location history
Content blocking
✔ Filter pornography and other adult content to give your child a safe browser experience
✔ Block in-app purchases
✔ Lock safe search on for Google search and other search engines
✔ Full internet blocker
Family Parental Controls On All Platforms
✔ Download Kidslox to protect and manage screen time on all your devices
✔ Mobile versions for Android devices and iPhones and iPads
✔ Desktop versions for Windows and Mac
✔ Online, browser based access to controls - turn off junior's phone from your laptop
Every family is different, in fact every child is different, which is why a modern parent or guardian needs a flexible tool that lets you set boundaries suitable for your child.
Kidslox offers several approaches in one simple to use app:
For in-the-moment control, use the instant lock.
For establishing positive patterns, set daily screen time schedules.
When you think your child is ready for a little more freedom, set daily limits. Minimal parental involvement, but a hard cap on screen usage.
For many teens it's appropriate to allow entirely free device use, but still monitor the apps and sites they're going on.
Of course each of these approaches can be combined and used with other features like the family locator to create the custom approach that's just right for your family.
To use Kidslox you will need to download the app onto each device you wish to control.
One paid account allows you to control up to 10 devices.
Kidslox contains no advertisements.
Our support team are ready to help via in-app chat or via email in case you need any assistance setting up Kidslox or getting good results with it.
Kidslox offers a 3 day free trial when you sign up. No need to add credit card details until you decide we're right for you.
Find our Premium pricing here: https://kidslox.com/pricing
Learn more about Kidslox on our website: https://kidslox.com
Please note:
- Kidslox requires an internet connection to operate
- This app uses the Device Administrator permission
- To be able to show you what your child is looking at online, take screenshots of their device, and require PIN entry on app deletion, Kidslox requires the Accessibility permission
- To be able to show your kids’ positions on a map, Kidslox requires the use of the Location permission on Android phones
- Find copies of our terms and conditions here: https://kidslox.com/terms/CostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$0.99 - $129.99 per item$2.99 - $49.99 per item -
Runner Up
OurPact – Parental Control App GPS Family Locator
4.4 Ratings 40K+ Reviews 500K+ DownloadsOurPact is the complete screen time parental control app every family needs. Our breakthrough solution offers flexible screen time management, screenshot views into your child’s online activity, a text & app blocker, a website blocker, and GPS family tracking to provide comprehensive family management.
Use OurPact parental control app to:
• View – Use either automated periodic, on-demand or gallery views of your children’s online activity, all encrypted for safety.
• App Blocker – Block internet, text messages, and apps at-a-touch
• App Rules – Block & allow specific apps
• Block/Allow Websites – Prevent access to specific websites, including adult content, for safe internet browsing
• Block Texting - Block access or set rules for texting apps
• New App Alerts – Receive alerts when new apps are installed on your child’s device
• Block Schedules – Automate your family’s daily routine
• Screen Time Allowance – Set daily screen time limits for your kids
• Geofencing with Places – create GPS geofences around specific locations and receive real-time alerts when their kids leave and arrive at home, school or any set zone
• Find My Family – Allows parents to locate any family member using geolocation and geofences.
• Find My iPhone & iPad – Family Locator also lets parents find the location of all their individual devices paired to their parent account in case of lost or stolen items.
OurPact gives you the power to block apps like social media and games plus gives you peace of mind knowing you can track your kid’s location and have visibility into their online activity.
OurPact allows parents to foster healthy habits and manage their child's screen time using screen time allowance, blocking specific apps, blocking texts, and scheduling daily screen time according to a child's daily routine. OurPact is the most comprehensive parental control app and family locator, perfect for families of any size.
By pairing your family's Android or other devices to OurPact parental control app, you have the power to manage your entire family's screen time & device locations from one powerful application.
Recommendations:
• Use OurPact's app blocker and parental control app solution to reinforce spoken or written agreements with your child regarding screen time limits and device use.
• Use OurPact parental control app to block social media or games with a single touch, while leaving apps that help your children learn and grow.
• Use OurPact’s View function for spot-check monitoring of your child’s online content.
• Set daily screen time allowance and teach your children how to budget their screen time effectively.
• Set one-time or recurring schedules for your child to manage screen time on-the-go.
• Find my family or locate lost or stolen items using Family Locator.
OurPact offers a Premium and Premium+ monthly auto-renewing subscriptions charged to your iTunes account. Try free for 2 week. You'll be billed monthly within 24 hours of the end of the current billing period. You may cancel or turn off auto-renewal of your OurPact subscriptions any time by going to the user's Account Settings. To avoid being billed for an additional period, subscriptions must be canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period.
For more information visit:
ourpact.com/privacy
ourpact.com/terms
If you have any questions or need technical support, do not hesitate to reach us via email: support@ourpact.comCostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$1.99 - $99.99 per item$1.99 - $99.99 per item -
Also GroovyTry the Family Link parental controls app from Google. Whether your children are younger or in their teens, the Family Link app lets you set digital ground rules remotely from your own device to help guide them as they learn, play, and explore online. For children under 13 (or the applicable age of consent in your country), Family Link also lets you create a Google Account for your child that's like your account, with access to most Google services.
With Family Link parental controls, you can:
Guide them to good content
• View their app activity - Not all screen time is the same. Help your child make healthy decisions about what they do on their Android device, with activity reports showing how much time they’re spending on their favorite apps. You can see daily, weekly, or monthly reports.
• Manage their apps - Handy notifications let you approve or block apps your child wants to download from the Google Play Store. You can also manage in-app purchases, and hide specific apps on their device, all remotely from your own device.
• Feed their curiosity - It can be hard to figure out what apps are right for your child, so Family Link shows you teacher-recommended apps on Android that you can add directly to their device.
Keep an eye on screen time
• Set limits - It’s up to you to decide the right amount of screen time for your child. Family Link lets you set time limits and a bedtime for their supervised devices, so you can help them find a good balance.
• Lock their device - Whether it’s time to go play outside, have dinner, or just spend time together, you can remotely lock a supervised device whenever it’s time to take a break.
See where they are
• It’s helpful to be able to find your child when they’re on the go. You can use Family Link to help locate them as long as they’re carrying their Android device.
Important Information
• Family Link’s tools vary depending on your child’s device. See a list of compatible devices at families.google.com/familylink/setup
• While Family Link helps you manage your child's purchases and downloads from Google Play, they will not need approval to install app updates (including updates that expand permissions), apps you have previously approved, or apps that have been shared in Family Library. Parents should regularly review their child’s installed apps and app permissions in Family Link.
• You should carefully review the apps on your child’s supervised device and disable those you don’t want them to use. Note that you may not be able to disable some pre-installed apps.
• To see the location of your child or teen’s device, it must be powered on, recently active, and connected to the internet.
• Teacher-recommended apps are only available on Android devices in the US to parents of children of certain ages.
• While Family Link provides tools to manage your child’s online experience, it does not make the internet safe. Rather, it is intended to give parents choices about how their kids use the internet, and encourage conversations about internet use.CostFreeFreeIn-App PurchasesNoNoCircle 1st generation
4.2 Ratings 34K+ Reviews 500K+ DownloadsWorks with the Circle with Disney device and supported NETGEAR routers. Not compatible with the 2nd generation Circle Home Plus device.
ABOUT CIRCLE:
Circle products help families better manage time spent online. Filtering content and balancing online usage has never been easier. From devices on your home network, both wireless and wired, to connected devices, Circle has you covered. Customizing Circle for your unique family is quick and easy.
Circle’s mission is to improve families’ lives, online and off.
Don’t have a Circle with Disney device or a supported Netgear router? Please visit www.meetcircle.com to learn more about our products.
NEED HELP?
If you have any questions, need help with Circle, or want to provide feedback, you can contact our Support Team at help@meetcircle.com or go to support.meetcircle.com
NETGEAR OPTIONAL IN APP SUBSCRIPTION - Pricing & Terms
Circle Premium (for supported NETGEAR routers) is an optional automatic renewing subscription. Your subscription will be charged to your Google Play account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renewing is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of your current period. Current subscribers can manage subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal by visiting Play Store Subscriptions settings after purchase.
Circle Premium (for supported NETGEAR routers): $4.99 USD / month (meetcircle.com/netgear)
Privacy policy: https://meetcircle.com/privacy/
Terms of use: https://meetcircle.com/license/CostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$4.99 - $49.99 per item$4.99 - $49.99 per item
The 411 from our Appventurer
How we tested?
The first step was hunting through multiple top apps lists and articles for parental control apps to narrow down the selection. I then tested 10 of the top-rated parental control apps by downloading each one on an iPhone 11 Pro and using the Device Management controls on a separate iPad Air 3.
I tested each free version first, followed by upgrading to the premium version, if applicable, and testing each feature and page of the device for effectiveness and efficiency. I used these observations to determine the quality of each app version and noted the user interface and the number of features for each app. I also tried both the app and website versions of each control dashboard to compare ease of use.
For the apps that included computer monitoring, I tested on a 2015 Macbook. I was not able to test the computer monitoring for the Circle app since that requires a device for home set-up, but based on my testing of the parental control app itself and the Circle 1st Generation app reviews, I determined that this is a valid option given its success for thousands of users.
While I am not a parent myself, I have spent a lot of time with young kids and am familiar with device parental controls from previous babysitting gigs. I also surveyed the parents in my life ranging from those with kids aged 1 year old to 15 years old to get their opinions on useful app features for their family lifestyle. Based on my own research and testing as well as the insights gained from other parents and app reviews, these are the conclusions I came to.
Why get the app?
All of the apps I tested had online dashboard controls in addition to the app. However, the app versions are often the best option, especially for on the go controls. This gives you all blocking controls at your fingertips as well as real-time alerts when any threats are detected or location boundaries are broken so you can respond to them immediately without any delay.
The app controls also make it much easier to unlock the phone or unblock specific apps quickly if your child needs them. For example, if they need to look something up for school you can turn web browsing back on while still keeping the website content filters.
More About Kidslox: Our Pick
Kidslox is the most feature-rich app of all the apps we tested, and it’s surprisingly low-priced given its quality. With the lowest monthly cost of all the paid subscriptions at $6 a month, this would be a great option for those that just want the control tools while virtual learning is still going on without being roped into a long-term commitment.
Kidslox is also the only control app that offers lifetime access for a one-time fee of $99.99, so if you have young kids or more than one child and would like to use monitoring features for multiple years, this would be a great deal to look into. It is especially useful long-term since you can monitor Mac and PC computers as well as phones and tablets, and there are even safe driving features so the app can grow with your kids. As far as features go, the premium version really gives you just about everything you need, from blocking individual apps to website filtering and alerts for any detected threats.
The most useful feature for parents of very young kids that need to log on to their online classes each day is the Child and Adult mode scheduling, where you can have certain apps locked in Child mode and then unlock them in Adult mode, making it easier to switch on a shared device.
It’s worth noting that this feature is available with the free version, but you can only control 1 device at a time and you cannot choose which specific apps are blocked or allowed. If you only have 1 child and device, this could be a good option, but the robust features of premium, including the ability to block the messaging app in Child mode and filter website content, are definitely worth the cost.
Overall, Kidslox Premium provides the easiest to use interface and the most flexibility with its features out of all the apps we tried, making it a clear winner.
Snags but not drags:
One thing to keep in mind with Kidslox is that, like many parental control apps, there are ways around it. Kids may figure out how to uninstall the profile on their device or bypass the system in other ways. Kidslox gives parents an email notification immediately if anything becomes unlinked, so they suggest using the app in addition to family rules and restrictions.
Also, the app developer responds to just about every single review, both good and bad, so they seem to be taking any problems very seriously and are actively working on improving based on user feedback.
More About OurPact: Runner Up
OurPact is another feature-rich parental control app for phones and tablets. At $7 a month or $70 a year for premium, it is a bit on the pricey side, but it does have a reasonable free version that allows you to create one schedule for device blocking.
This free version might do just fine if you’re looking for something simple to block apps during the school day or homework time. The basic version blocks most apps but does keep a few live; most notably messages. The free version is very effective and your kid can even get the PactJr dashboard to see how much time they have left until their apps return.
OurPact also has a PLUS version which is an in-between step and only costs $1.99 a month but gets you 10 devices and unlimited schedules, which would be a great option for a multi-kid household. In order to get all the website filtering features, app lists and descriptions, and location tracking as well as access to up to 20 devices, you will have to spring for the premium.
But there is a 14-day free trial for you to decide if it’s the right control for you. Keep in mind that this has great ratings for iOS at 4.8 stars but not as great for Google Play at only 3.2 stars, so if you’re an Android family, read on to the next one.
More About Google Family Link: Also Groovy
Google Family Link is 100% free and has tons of tools for parents to monitor all Google-compatible devices, including Android phones and Google chrome computers.
You can manage all of the apps they use and see all of their screen time usage and activity. This one is particularly learning-friendly since there are app guides for parents, including teacher-recommended apps.
It has all the usual settings for screen time limits and manual locks as well as device tracking. Given all the features, it really is amazing that this service is provided at no cost, and might have made it to our top choice if not for its limitations on devices.
You are able to use the Google Family Link control app for parents on any device, including iOS devices, and you can still control your kids’ Google account and Google web browsing through the Link even if they have an iPhone or iPad, but you will not be able to lock the device, control the apps, or see any activity or location information for iOS.
More About Circle: Also Groovy
The Circle Parental Control is the best option we tested that has multi-device capability past phones and computers; this one also controls any WiFi-enabled device such as smart TVs and video game consoles.
The parental controls really cover it all, so if you’re worried about leaving your kid unattended by their PS4 while you work in another room, this one is the way to go.
It is no doubt the most expensive of the bunch with a necessary purchase of the $129 home plus device in order to connect and control all devices through your home WiFi. The subscription is $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year on top of this, but this really is the only option if you want to be able to control every device your kids have, (and we know there are a lot of them out there.) You get what you pay for with this one!
Luckily the parental control app itself is reasonably user friendly and allows you to block individual apps such as TikTok and Hulu along with the usual device lock schedules and location tracking.
You can even pause the internet entirely across all devices with one tap and give rewards through the app such as bonus screen time in return for a chore well done. Not to mention the Circle system includes many other home security features. Even aside from virtual learning and keeping your kids focused, Circle Parental Control seems like a useful option for years to come.
Other Apps Considered
Norton is a well-known security and protection software, and the parental controls are decent, especially considering it is cross-platform and includes computers. This is also one of the few apps that blocks Messages. However, the features are less customizable since the blocks are automatic based on age, and there aren’t any location tracking features. The good news is Norton has a six-month free trial, so you could use it for almost the entire school year for free.
This was another one that is not very customizable. It’s not possible to block specific apps, only app groups based on age ratings. This one has no free option or free trials either, so the other paid apps were better quality.
This one is a fairly popular app, but not as feature rich as Kidslox or OurPact despite that it’s on the more expensive side. Pricing is $8.99 per month for only 5 devices and up to $19.99 a month for 20 devices.
ScreenTime is a bit harder to use as far as user interface and the actions were slow to take effect in our testing. For example, pressing the lock button took a few minutes to kick in on the device where other apps were almost instant. The app blocks for this are all or none without the ability to block individual apps.
Saferkid is the most expensive app we tested at $200/year and we could not get it to work with pairing the “kids” device at all. All other apps tested were very easy for pairing, so this one was a bit of a let down.
This app is still downloadable on the app store and has decent ratings, but it appears the service is no longer available. There is no website and it is not possible to create an account! So don't waste your time trying.
Aubrey Rinehart
I’ve been hooked on apps ever since my first download of Tap Tap Revenge on my 2nd generation iPod Touch. Now I rely heavily on a wide variety of apps for all of my day to day functions. As a type one diabetic, I depend on many of them to manage my health, and some of them quite literally save my life. I most frequently use apps that help keep me organized, especially as far as my schedule and finances, but for fun I also enjoy my apps for social media, games and other entertainment.
I really am happiest when I get to be creative, which is why I love to write. Since graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I’ve written for blogs, created website copy, and composed various informational content. I love the opportunity to use writing as a tool to effectively communicate my ideas and opinions, and to express my experiences and research. I’m happy to use my skills to help others discover their new favorite apps!
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Is your at-home student straying from their Zoom class to the Roblox game on their iPad? Those screens can be tempting. Most parental control apps are "freemium" with a basic version and paid upgrades, so we set out to discover if the extra cost is worth it. We found the premium subscriptions are usually the better option for device control, especially in the case of our top pick, Parental Control by Kidslox, at $3.99/mo or lifetime access at $99.99. Here's how we chose: