Parenting is hard—and in the digital age, it’s even harder. Today, parents don’t have an option to outcast their kids from the dark and scary World Wide Web because from online studies to virtual games, children are non stop online, which means they are constantly exposed to numerous threats and vulnerabilities.
Therefore, when you are parenting a smart generation, you gotta be smart too and need to use the best parental control software to safeguard your kids. From blocking certain websites to providing protection against cyberbullies, our ten best shortlisted parental control software for Windows and Mac can make you a smart parent in 2021.
There are various good security and safety tools available nowadays due to emerging cybercrime activities. However, when parents are looking for tools to protect their children, it requires certain functions and features that we can assure are available in the following ten parental control software for 2021:
Rating – 4/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 32-bit, Vista 32 and 64-bit
Compatible MacOS – MacOS X 10.5
Developer – Symantec
Price – $39.99
Norton Family or some might know as Norton Online Family, is a cloud-based parental control software to foster good communication among parents and their children. The software can discreetly monitor children’s online activities and report back to the parents. This tool can monitor instant messengers, social media platforms, and other websites based on the Norton Safety Minder policy enforced by you. Parents can block specific websites using over 40+ filters, preset computer usage time, along with numerous other features.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 4/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 7 or higher
Compatible MacOS – MacOS 10
Developer – Kaspersky Lab
Price – A three-license subscription lists for $89.99 per year, five licenses cost $99.99, and a 10-license family plan for $149.99.
Since McAfee parental control software doesn’t support macOS; therefore, Kaspersky Total Security is the second-best parental control software in our experience. It is a complete online safety bundled with anti-virus, anti-ransomware, webcam security, password manager, and tons of other features. For parents, it is a powerful interface to keep tabs on your kids’ web surfing activities.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 4/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 7 or higher
Compatible MacOS – MacOS X Mavericks (10.9) to OS X Catalina (10.15)
Developer – Qustodio
Price – The five device plan costs $54.95, ten device plan $96.95, and 15 devices for $137.95 per year.
Qustodio is premium security and parental control software. It is developed to provide extended support to parents with advanced blocking and monitoring features. From virtual game control to blocking pornography sites, you can fully shield your kid’s online activities with Qustodio. This tool provides a special YouTube monitoring feature to protect your children from unfiltered YouTube content.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 3.5/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 32-bit, Vista 32 and 64-bit
Compatible MacOS – MacOS X 10.5
Developer – Mobicip
Price – For a device, $49.99 per year, $89.99 for ten devices, $124.99 for 15 devices, and $159.99 for 20 devices.
Mobicip is a cloud based internet filter and parental control software that supports all the leading devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Windows, Android, macOS, and even Chromebook. Initially, it was a safe web browser, but lately, it has been turned into a full-fledged parental control application with app blocking, track location, screen time regulations, and other similar features.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 3/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 10;
Compatible MacOS – MacOS X 10.13 or higher
Developer – ContentWatch Inc.
Price – Basic plan for $39.99, five device plan for $54.99, and 20 device plan for $89.99.
Net Nanny, as the name suggests, is a nanny to content-control your kid’s online activities. The software enables parents to monitor and control their child’s computer and phone activities around the clock. Originally, Net Nanny was a web browser that helped filter web and IRC content and blocked certain images and profanity. However, the modern version is a complete parent application, including multiple security and monitoring features.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 3.5/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 2000 or higher
Compatible MacOS – Mac OS X 10.13-10.15
Developer – KidLogger
Price – Free basic. Professional for $29 for three months.
KidLogger is a monstrous parental control software that can record every program, screencaps, and calls on your kid’s devices. If you are concerned about who your kids might be talking to online, you have a voice-activated sound recorder for that. Based on your kid’s age, you can customize privacy options. With the instant messaging control, you can effortlessly keep your kids out of trouble.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 3.5/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 7 or higher
Compatible MacOS – MacOSX 10.0
Developer – Bark
Price – Bark Jr for free. Pro for $99 per year.
If you are looking for simple parental control software, you must try Bark. The developers claim that software has stopped 16 school shootings and identified 10,000 self-harm situations. This software uses an impressive algorithm that constantly recognizes warning signs in social media posts, text messages, photos, and emails. Bark is an alert system that tells what’s going in your child’s life without grounding their gadgets.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 3.5/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 7 or higher
Compatible MacOS – MacOS X
Developer – OurPact
Price – Basic free version. A premium plan for $6.99 per month.
OurPact is a comprehensive time management and family location sharing system. It can enable parents to restrict their children’s online access time and track their location anytime. This user-friendly software offers a variety of management and oversight tools to parents—from app blocking to text message monitoring.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 3/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 10
Compatible MacOS – MacOS X
Developer – SafeDNS
Price – $19.95
SafeDNS isn’t just parental control software; it is powerful cybersecurity for small organizations. This system provides security against multiple cyber attacks like botnets, ransomware, viruses, phishing, and more. Additionally, SafeDNS supports various parental control and malicious sites, URLs, and IP address blocking features.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Rating – 2.9/5
Compatible Windows OS – Windows 10
Compatible MacOS – MacOS 10.0
Developer – Wondershare
Price – Monthly plan for $9.99 per month, the quarterly plan is $6.66 per month, and the annual plan is $4.99 per month.
FamiSafe is an all in three parental control software offering control, track and detect options. You can develop some good digital habits in your kids by restricting their screen time, tracking their physical presence, and shielding them from potential online risks. From your three-year-old to your teenager, you can parent all ages of children with this tool.
Assuring Features
Pros
Cons
Parents, to keep your kids safe in 2021, you should invest in good parental control software without second thoughts because you can’t keep the internet away from them—as it’s everywhere. We hope that you’ll find a perfect parental control solution from our list.
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