What is the best parental control app? Full app comparisons

[@Omashu555]

I wish I found your channel 3 years ago. It becomes even worse when you are not with the other parent (who is a smart tech person) and they decide to mess with your kids accounts. 😢😢😢 ALSO IM SO DISAPPOINTED AND DONE WITH APPLE!!! They think 13 years old is an adult, but we are still legally responsible for everything our kids do. What in the world?? 😮‍💨 End rant… Thank you so much for this❤ You are making a difference!!!!!

[@javilara5829]

11:57 is when it starts.

[@parkernovember2193]

lol thx!

[@Loves_DuckSR]

Thank you!

[@earl5827]

Thanks

[@george_wd]

Thanks!

[@daryldwiggins8034]

Hero

[@rosebean7331]

hi there do you have an updated video, one for July 2024???

[@shenedadenney8649]

This information should be available from ALL public schools

[@hagiospneuma23]

3:10 Monitoring 4:05 Filtering 4:31 Management 7:25 Screentime 11:52 BARK 15:04 Boomerang 17:14 OurPact 19:30 Qustodio 20:44 MMGuardian

[@RobotoGato1]

Not all heros wear capes

[@dstrongone7721]

thank you very much very helpful 🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@Robotic24]

@@RobotoGato1 ain’t a hero, as a child… he is an enemy.

[@henriktiren2674]

All the 5 software your reviewed here are the best in this category. Gonna try Time Boss. Thank you for this genuine review.

[@anaveragehuman2937]

@@Robotic24 I'm sorry you feel this way but I can understand why you do. We do this WITH our kids so they understand WHY we do it. There's evil out there and you WILL encounter it eventually, no matter how hard parents try to keep it away. Our hope is to let our kids have a childhood and help prepare them for the real world. I hope you can have a decent childhood. Adulthood will come too soon.

[@Userthetruthwillsetyoufree]

Can you make another video with updates?? 2024??? I am thinking on Qustodio

[@DevinAdint]

The 13 year age Copa is a bit crazy even though parents are still held responsible for things their kids do up to 18

[@CamHart73]

COPPA is for children 13 and under. Google's decision to allow the child to disable monitoring at age 13 is not a requirement of COPPA. It's simply a decision Google made. COPPA puts *parents* in control of how their children's data is monitored/used.

[@catkorbel8021]

Stupid question but can't you just change the dob on the Google account

[@UFOjonathancastro]

​@@catkorbel8021yes

[@christophertopher4464]

I think it's BS... I have a 13 yr old girl and ...I'm not a helicopter parent.. but her schooling been falling off and older men being pedophile... If you ain't monitoring your child online... Ur crazy

[@naomiolson4834]

another fix for if they have an application on their phone that you decide you do not want them to have any longer, the one thing that can solve that problem is to remove the app, and then go to Content & Privacy Restrictions>iTunes &App Store Purchases>Installing Apps (and select don't allow). My daughter had some social media that I decided I no longer wanted her to have and this has solved our problem with it. hope it helps.

[@FamilyTech]

Yes. That does remove the app store all together, so the other apps will also no longer receive updates.

[@miamilomi1338]

Content restriction and on itunes&app put 'don't allow' on deleting apps so you know what apps they're using. Sometimes they can use an app that allows them to go into inappropriate contents but once the app is deleted, screen time won't record it and there will no way for you to know they downloaded the app.

[@user-yl8dy8rf3l]

I have been using school champ for the past few weeks and its amazing for knowing exactly what your children are doing + its totally free. There is an option for either blurred screenshots to protect their privacy or actual screenshots.

[@CheyenneWay]

What's sad is that there are only 5.7K views and this should be mandatory for all parents.

[@Who4sked]

Nooo ooooo don't do it cause they will remove my games

[@repentlive4jesus662]

@@Who4skedwhy would they remove your games?

[@michaelkniess2098]

Because there isn't 5000 other videos, lol

[@jassy4507]

for IOS once your child is 13 your child can opt out of the family sharing. This is the age that we should be most careful so that makes IOS not an option for many of us parents.

[@erinslawson2269]

Same with Google Family Link!

[@michaeltucker4864]

I dont think its the same with Family link.

[@inkpearls3364]

Then they don’t have a phone anymore 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@jjskousen]

Really fantastic info! My wife and I have had to learn trial and error with many of these issues, especially trying to manage the differences between parental controls between Android and Apple, but just in this short video you have answered many issues we had to learn the hard way. Great content here! I know lots of parents who could benefit from your channel; thanks!

[@talakas501]

Google family on Android is very easy to use when your child has android phone. Now he got iPhone and everything has changed and causing issues. Wondering why we use iPhones

[@Robotic24]

As a child I don’t endorse this message.

[@CamHart73]

@@talakas501 iPhones make for very poor devices for kids. You simply can't monitor them well enough. Android is far better.

[@boiledeggsk]

​@Robotic24 as a child, i say go touch grass

[@GrayNWolf]

@@boiledeggsk Nah restrictions suck, dawg you can't do nothing on your phone with them

[@debbiemalka3096]

Can I see what they are writing on what's up?

[@bigbuggie5]

It’s ridiculous to pay for an app and not get the full text of why it is flagged.

[@sharoncheng4679]

You mentioned BARK is only good for home wifi, which one to use when teen' phone is outside the home wifi? For android phone and for iphone for the teen? Thank you so much!

[@henriktiren2674]

Some parental controls do not need internet connection - Net Nanny, Time Boss....

[@ladytigress417]

Is there any new app that can monitor text messages, online searches and internet use?

[@gretchenjohnson388]

Ever heard of Parallel Space? It is an app that allows for blocked apps to be mirrored and hidden. I blocked Snapchat and my teen son figured out how to do this.

[@videowatcher495]

KZbin is such a great DIY information provider. It is hard to keep an eye on kids today. Best of luck.

[@inkpearls3364]

The phone would be GONE.

[@marymcgeehan4060]

I'm having issues because my daughter has an iPhone and I have a Google pixel.....realllllly looking for something that will work for us to set limitations and filter. Any suggestions?!

[@craigbutler8092]

Fellow IT parent - spot-on content! Subscribed to support. Also, +1 for Boomerang, especially for Android-based homes. I found it works sufficiently even with non-Samsung Android devices.

[@FamilyTech]

Thanks for supporting me! Yes. I do love Boomerang for all Android devices as well, it just has EXTRA fun for Samsung devices!

[@Robotic24]

As a child I don’t endorse this message. I will not be smited by parental controls.

[@J.D.Mc.]

Do any of those apps let the parent see the kids screen in real time?

[@ironmanmachine]

@@Robotic24 Then no devices for you. 🤷‍♂

[@drdarsho81]

nice review but You should have mentioned that bark is only available in the US and South Africa

[@franceshaggitt3104]

Which app is best for apple and android..son has apple

[@sarahmeagher738]

So I understand Apple bad and Android good, but I fell into the Apple games two or three years ago. I have an IPAD, and my daughter has an IPAD. Neither of them has wireless service. My husband and I use Android phones and computers. From what you have said here, I am guessing my best apps are Google family link, Boomerang, and OutPact. I only ask because you mention phones in the video, but we don't own iPhones and won't, so we are only dealing with IPADs, and I was curious if there is a difference.

[@user-lc2mx4bk6v]

Synology WiFi routers have an amazing built in parental control system. I have one, and it works wonderfully. Very customizable and dynamic on-line parental control suite that can be accessed with the router. You can choose what devices are controlled and how much control each is assigned. It works amazingly well, and I have not noticed any lagging because of it.

[@AustinSauter]

Sarah’s son figured her PIN code out when she was out of town with friends. His reaction was “Mom! I figured your PIN code out on the first try.”. He kept requesting time extensions, and she kept approving it even though she knew that he knew the PIN code.

[@cddude]

Can we get an updated video on this for 2023?

[@5hihab5aad]

God help your children 🙏 But very informative video, thanks.

[@__the__juan]

Lol

[@inkpearls3364]

She is doing it RIGHT! Who wants their childrens frontal cortex to shrink before its even done growing? I mean, would you hand a 10-12-13 yr old a crackpipe?

[@lenalena1586]

Where can I find your mentioned video on "which app can monitor which social media networks on which devices"?? My kids use TikTok and I'm having a hard time finding an app that will monintor messages in TikTok.

[@danirayoum196]

Honestly, I be much more concerned about what content they are seeing on tik tok than what people are messaging. Scroll through the app for 10 minutes yourself and you will see. However, i dont know how old your kids are either.

[@ahmedenani656]

Thanks, but this application is not available for Apple, what is the best alternative option for iPhone please

[@paoflor9564]

I wonder if there is just one parental control that has everything, instead of having to pay so many apps

[@Robotic24]

As a child I don’t endorse these messages. She can’t stop us given enough time.

[@bentenpeterson]

@@Robotic24 😂😂😂

[@Robotic24]

@@bentenpeterson Its fax, watch how well her security controls are put in place when I metasploit that router lol.

[@Ig86]

@@Robotic24 😆😄 I could say "poor child", but it is for your good. When you grow up you will realise why your parents do that for you. As a good parent you will also try protecting your future children from harmful content and screen addiction. I say it as an adult who once was exposed to a harmful content when I was a child. Now I try to protect my children from it because I love them. I try my children to understand it, but they still think parental control is an evil 🙈 Sometimes a 3 year old child wants to play with a kitchen knife, but we adults don't let it doing despite a child starts crying and thinks these adults are bad :)

[@dr.emilschaffhausen4683]

@@Robotic24 If I was your dad I'd simply bend your phone in half front of you.

[@nicolerichards3949]

This was so helpful! Thank you so very much. Just starting out with my son and a new phone.

[@andrewfernandez5062]

2:30 is when the video starts if anyones wondering

[@stephanielebeauf7570]

Hi there, thanks for this information. Helps in understanding all of this. You covered a lot but didn't mention what is the best app for filtering. Is there a video dedicated to filtering?

[@Stephen-Ashley-Blake]

Thank you for this! Totally off-the-wall question: What glasses frame do you use? (They look great, and both my wife and I wear glasses.) Thanks!

[@danirayoum196]

This is great, right now we just turn our Wifi off at night. Do it through an IP address and kids dont know what that is to turn it back on. But I like to turn it off at any point in the day.. oops, internet stopped working. How in the world do you manage so many devices? It stresses me out just the thought of my daughter having a phone. Much less 60 devices! Thank you for your time and knowledge!

[@masturakhakimova6435]

how to turn off wi-fi through an IP?

[@craigbutler8092]

Something that might be interesting to look at is Netgear's models of routers on which you can enable Circle. That is an extra subscription, but it is about as effective as any for managing device access in a home. I believe Sarah also touts the Gryphon routers, which would do similar things. (I personally don't have experience with the latter, but it sounds pretty solid.)

[@craigbutler8092]

@@masturakhakimova6435 if you have access to your router's admin console, you might be able to allow/disallow certain devices by IP address. You definitely can by MAC address on many routers. (MAC addr not speaking of Apple devices, but all devices' unique IDs.) At least that is a manual way to achieve what you might be aiming for. :)

[@l31007]

Can't they just use the phone's cellular data?

[@craigbutler8092]

@@l31007 If just speaking of controlling devices through the wifi router - yes, correct, someone could simply switch to cellular data. For more complete service management, an app on individual devices is needed to supplement. Circle is one of those apps. Circle is bundled with some Netgear router models, which is where most of my experience with the app came from in our home. You can install it (or similar app) on a parent device in parent/admin mode, and child mode on children's devices. I understand Gryphon router, which I think Sarah has ties to, has their own companion app as well. None is 100% perfect, but those two apps are not bad for homes with quite a few devices. Also do a decent-ish job managing Apple i-devices, which can't be said for all solutions I have tested. (Android-based devices are easier to lock down or manage with third-party apps, etc. because of Apple's tighter and sometimes proprietary ecosystem.)

[@CamHart73]

None of these solutions will allow your child to use social media but have the parent gain insights into what's viewed through social media. No filter filters social media. Social media is full of filth and is most likely how kids are first exposed. Truple is the best solution out there. It handles social media as well as everything else. Edit: Correction, it looks like OurPact may do this now too.

[@Who4sked]

It will ruin my days of watching call of duty clips cause of mild blood

[@magicalcuriosities7062]

Why isn’t Cc available for your vid? 😢 sucks for hard of hearing

[@benjaminli1181]

Don't use Net Nanny! I am having bad experience of Canceling it. Net Nanny has no Canceling function, it is nightmare, you are better to keeping away from Net Nanny

[@Jrod7571]

Which parental control is best to use for the iPhone 13?

[@user-ye1nr3pj8q]

My bark app is not monitoring at all now that I am using my Verizon family vpn. How do I fix this? Thanks!

[@keithclark8030]

I am looking for something to block adult sites. Not just a phone, but PCs as well. Any suggestions? Thanks

[@FamilyTech]

Check out my video on Opendns!

[@fadydelrosario4048]

Very good video, and thank you for providing all these details on each App!!! Are there any App or software for parental controls/monitoring TVs and video games consoles like Nintendo or Xbox?

[@djphly]

Google family link completely disables safe mode too.

[@tavo3234]

I have Google family link on my kids device... They are able to remove it by logging into a computer to remove it..

[@Fritz722]

On boomerang, am I able to see deleted text messages?

[@BoysLoveUnrated]

My sister is 13 and we've been trying everything possible to remove/leave Google Link and couldn't. How???

[@TheDiymarketingguru]

How does Bark do at filtering? And how do you feel about canopy? Do you feel griffin router and bark would be enough?

[@kaylalivingston8581]

This video is awesome, saved me hours of research

[@Who4sked]

No cause they might delete my games

[@dallasbiggz7007]

Wasted 25 min of time. How save you hours?

[@jehuhernandez4628]

Going to incognito mode is a way for children to get away of these apps? I heard Samsung is the exception, but what about the others apps if they go to incognito mode?

[@MrsJenHallVideos]

Did I miss the part about filtering? Cause I heard you mention a lot about monitoring and managing but not filtering

[@cb56919]

Pls, we share the desktop computer with our children. Not only problem with search speed, but we could not access other websites like Amazon, for example. Which software could be suitable? Our pact is nice but children learn easily how to avoid it.

[@samanthascbler4423]

Are the monitored devices notified of the monitoring ?

[@Scott-io2sh]

This is psychopathic. Using multiple apps to completely monitor your children. Every picture, text message, search, DRAWING! I can understand using your WiFi router to block pornographic or unsafe websites but literally tracking every single thing your kid does is insane. I would never look at my kids photos our text messages unless they were very young (my kids would not even have access to the internet until they were at least 12 anyway) Let your teens have some BASIC privacy. What they talk about with their friends through texting is non of a parents business. If you are scared of your child looking at porn or talking about drugs online why don't you actually teach your kid/teen to be responsible instead of just monitoring everything they do. Do not completely shelter your kids.

[@sepirocth]

very helpful video, straight to the point, you should do more of these type, how to detect spy apps and so on etc.

[@kandicesites]

So do you think OurPact is the best for an iPhone?

[@pedrorosales4473]

WARNING WARNING WARNING. my 12 year old just beat Outpact...twice. i'm moving on to something else.

[@miamilomi1338]

I already blocked twitter, instagram, snapchat, reddit, pinterest, tiktok, and snapchat on the website and made sure app deletion is not allowed. Content is already restricted which I noticed once it is on that mode, history on safari can't be deleted although it is deleted on google activitu. Is there any app that kids use nowadays that allows them to view inappropriate content aside from my list? Is what I'm doing enough to make sure inappropriate content is not visited without my supervision?

[@judycarter4405]

On my daughters Chromebook, Family Link will not apply the time limit for KZbin because KZbin isnt an app.

[@deeperez6652]

Which monitoring app actually supports MMS / Group messaging?

[@Lorelai08]

My mom put bark on my phone and my phone wouldn’t work. It took so much for the app to work so I could do anything nothing would load. As soon as I deleted it everything worked again. It was so annoying I could log in to anything

[@Greeneyedgeny7]

Are there any android of these apps that they are NOT able to delete / remove off their phone?

[@amarineswife3245]

Thanks for your videos, it is awesome for parents like me. I have a question, we just bought our teen a gaming laptop. He has his own email registered on his laptop. We just want to know , how to put a parental control on his pc laptop? Pls help. Thanks 😊

[@FamilyTech]

Use Microsoft Family Safety. I am going to do a whole video on it soon.

[@amarineswife3245]

@@FamilyTech thanks so much. It is really good. I had a hard time first coz when we bought his gaming laptop, we made him admin first but I was able to change it and made mine and it’s connected on my phone. I love that I can check it first what he wants to download or see. We really don’t permit our kids to watch KZbin, TikTok or other social medias alone. So thank you for what you do, it helps parents like us. 😊

[@taylormarcum]

None of these apps are good at all totally controlling whoever wrote this comment I would hate to be your child

[@hagiospneuma23]

This is sooooooooooo important!!! THANK YOU!!

[@JustinMcGonigal]

Do any of these apps have a bucket-style system for time allotment? To me, this should be a no-brainer, but it's something I haven't found. Giving kids x amount of time for "games" would be a lot more beneficial than giving specific random allotments of time to each game.

[@paulas1097]

Mm guardian does

[@Lhamador2031]

On y Mu mc Y

[@WiseCrackingT]

Femisafe

[@amygraves7328]

kidslox does

[@AustinSauter]

Sarah, how would you react if your kids watched, liked, and subscribed to your videos?

[@inkpearls3364]

You seem like a stalker. Gross.

[@siuplugphrairin]

family link is good app but only if you don't need you child pay for some in app purchase app

[@leahpeene7365]

Thank you for such a comprehensive review, very helpful!

[@z51239a]

please dont get any of them for your kids. I promise they do not improve anything, especially with relationships

[@teacherthecat9132]

@@z51239a yea. Mom is monitoring all my texts. What do I do

[@barrydean8960]

Text the weirdest shit possible so that she will get so weirded out that she just stops

[@hammara2u]

Uffff!! you speaks alot !!

[@bling0rb007]

13 is the age social media say. Do you guys really want to follow their way?

[@joeschoenleber3366]

How do I set up text monitoring so i get text strings from my child

[@MSCURVYSILHOUETTE]

I can only find the parent app for Google not the kids one with two kites

[@ThomasDoyle-qr4hl]

Turn on parental guidance button

[@MonikaCzeiger]

Hi, what are your thoughts on familykeeper plz?

[@JoeyPownall-sk3hx]

we live in a very rural area with no reliable internet so we use visible with unlimited hotspot on our mobile phones and run our tv or whatever off the hot spots, one device at a time. if we give our daughter her phone back -problems in past- would these recommendations stand with no shared internet? (galaxy a14) any info would help thanks

[@henriktiren2674]

Does Time Boss work on apples at all? You said they don’t generally work well but didn’t specify about this one.

[@schulze420]

Bommerang on whatever phone or pinwheel phone?

[@FamilyTech]

Android. Pinwheel has its own monitoring in place

[@schulze420]

Does bark on Android work live or is it done a backup like the iPhone?

[@FamilyTech]

@@schulze420 It's live

[@AFC-nl7pz]

Hello..thanks for the great detailed videos...I am also in IT for the past 20 yrs...we are just getting ready to give twin boys a phone...Verizon is the provider, they are talking that their "Smart Family parental app and plan gives all that you'll need....I was also told by another Verizon store that since Verizon isn't an app developer per say,, that i should look to 3rd party parental controls and suggested "My Watchdog" .... Question: have you ever used or have any thoughts about the Verizon Smart Family application and how it stacks up to other 3rd party parental control applications...is Verizon worth it? Or does it lack important coverage control 🤔..thanks

[@FamilyTech]

I actually use Verizon smart family in conjunction with other tools. I don't like that it requires a VPN to be active on the phone to function properly, but it does have some good features that I use to protect the phone while it's off my protected wifi network. I also use Bark and Boomerang with Google Family Link and the Verizon family safety. They all work great together and I use each for different functions.

[@AFC-nl7pz]

@@FamilyTech ok...I haven't heard that about Smart Family app, nor was I told that in the store 🥴...ive been watching your Parental control posts, by date posted surrounding what and how and why's ..i.e. monitoring, filter, management,....but, that said, why so many apps? Is there really no application that can cover and help limit or deny access to 1.) Limiting mobile internet 2.) Whats being typed in SMS before the send, 3.) Any and all social media apps from downloading & installing, etc..etc.....why so many apps to administer and configure??🤷‍♂️

[@joepotter106]

Do these mentioned have separate VPNs working against each other? We are finding that if you have more than one system running on a phone that they conflict with each other so we have to choose one...which is hard.

[@fadydelrosario4048]

Also, I don't see the discount code for BARK... 😞

[@LDS_2023]

Excellent review. Question, any recommendations on Snapchat monitorong solution?

[@ironmanmachine]

Yeah, no snap chat.

[@garisoncyr6696]

Thanks for putting this together!

[@alannajervis5864]

Can you use an iPad for the message monitoring? I have the screen time set up already but not getting the message monitoring

[@KelleeBeck]

How does the griffin counter work with another service - for example, if you have Verizon and a Verizon router?

[@OneFaithFilledLady]

I have a samsung and i monitor my son's android phone and tablet with familylink which is ok but I figured out some new things yesterday thats helped. But i want to get my younger son an ipad bc i feel like it'll be smoother but than the android tablet allows me to use familylink.. so hoping for an easy way to manage android and apple easily

[@FamilyTech]

Google Family Link does not work on an iPad. You would need to use Apple's screen time settings. Which you can only do remotely if you have an iPhone.

[@andreawilliams3016]

Bark can only be used if you have a computer!

[@FamilyTech]

Only if the child's device is an iPhone. If the child's device is an android a computer is not required.

[@RobsReels]

I was wondering if there was a router that had both wired and Wi-Fi with parental controls. I have many of my computers wired directly and not on Wi-Fi. Can you help?

[@lisavenditto9484]

I am trying to find an app for my daughters I phone which will allow her to listen to music, text or call specific people and use her clock feature. Do you know if this exists? iPhone. Thanks!

[@0nfir34h1m]

I'd be very curious how you feel about net nanny.

[@tehshzz]

Are there any good alternatives to the Boomerange portion of this? There are a couple glitchy clunky things boomerang does.

[@lisatetrault9721]

SO HELPFUL!!! Watching tons of your videos and so in need of accessible education: thank you!!!

[@TheMaddman187]

How can I control my kids phone if I have android and they have apple?

[@shanbengtson4171]

Wondering if you can disable a camera on an Android so they can not take inappropriate pictures?

[@marcocohen9432]

hi, is bark good to detect also bad words in spanish or works only in english? thanks !

[@kekonoce]

Wondershare FamiSafe has a section so you could enter those Spanish words.

[@gavinmatthews5618]

Does any of them block extensions in browsers?

[@anthonynguyen3965]

Have you had any experience with Synology routers? How does it compare to Gryphon?

[@rickeramirez193]

Wonderfully detailed review- really appreciate this thank you. Quick question if you don't mind. Does using multiple software solutions create an issue working alongside 'Family Sharing' for IOS. Can Family sharing be used with Bark, and Boomarang for IOS simultaneosly? Thank you for your time.

[@FamilyTech]

No, they do not create an issue with family sharing. You should be able to use all three of those.

[@gloriaalfaro9985]

@@FamilyTech I k kill Ll

[@davidguy7335]

Why in the world do you have 50 devices in your home!!?

[@AustinSauter]

13:51 "But I would rather be notified and have it be benign than have it not be benign and not be notified,” said Sarah. I would rather not be notified and have it not be benign than be notified and have it be benign.

[@channingsze8890]

I got qustodio on your recommendation and the concept is nice (cross device/platform protection), but it handles some platforms terribly (I'm thinking Chromebook/Chrome OS). uninstalled now and would never recommend.

[@jumanarangwala5072]

I had a very bad experience with qustodio. Just installed it on my child's device and it had to be hidden from him. But automatically it closed many features like videos and some apps even when they were not adult content. Deleted it immediately.😡😡

[@ginnyarmknecht2325]

i've watched some of your videos and just got my kids their 1st phones. i've put Bark, Boomerang, and family link on them and i'm super overwhelmed with it all. there is so much on each and a lot of over lapping. I've tired to mirror everything for each kid but things are not working correctly on one phone. do you have videos on set up of each app just feel like there were so many questions/steps i'm hoping i set everything up right? Also have you seen a lag with the use of all these apps?

[@showmethevideo1221]

Thanks for helping