Using the best parental control software you can monitor and control your kid’s activity on different devices. As we know that the internet is growing faster than ever and attracting users of every age.
Kids have access to the internet through computers and mobiles. We can not completely forbid them from using these technologies because it will hamper their growth.
Technology has its benefits and limitations, all depending on how you use it. The Internet is getting more advanced and useful day by day but it is also full of inappropriate content and cyber predators.
Fortunately, parental monitoring software are here to keep your kids safe from inappropriate content and threats from the cyber world.
What To Look Out For In a Software That Provides Parental Control Service?
- Block inappropriate content.
- Control the screen time of your children.
- Let’s monitor your kid’s online activity.
- Get a report of your kid’s weekly and monthly activities.
Best Parental Control Software For Windows 10 PC In 2023
- Norton Family
- Qustodio
- Windows 10 family
- Mobicip
- Net Nanny
- Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Verity Parental Control Software
- McAfee® Safe Family
1. Norton Family
Supported Devices: Windows, Android, and iOS
Free version: 30-day free trial.
Full Version: $49.99/year
Ratings:
- PCMag: 4/5
- Comparitech: 4/5
- AppGrooves: 3.3/5
- TomsGuide: 3/5/5
Norton has a very nice reputation in the computer security field. They have developed many software from antivirus to VPN. Norton Family is a unique kind of software developed by Norton. Using this software you can easily monitor your children’s online activity.
Here are the Features of This Parental monitoring software:
- Keep track of the sites your child use.
- Schedule and control the screen time of your kid’s device.
- Get a notification when your child uses inappropriate search terms.
- Get a complete report of your child’s online activity in your inbox.
- Block inappropriate websites on your child’s device.
- Control your child’s activity on their mobiles.
- Your kids can send you messages asking permission to open a site they feel is necessary.
- If your child tries to access a blocked website, you will get an alert.
- Track the location of your children by tracking their mobile devices (Android & iPhone).
- You can also see a history of your child’s location for the last 30 days.
- Set physical boundaries for your children, So, when they go beyond the set boundaries you will get a notification.
Pros:
- Can control PC, Android, and iPhone devices using one account.
- Separate apps are available for Android and iPhone.
- 30-days trial version to test the software.
Cons:
- Not available for Mac.
After watching the features one can say that this is the best software to apply parental control on Windows PC and mobile devices. This is a must-have software for your Windows 10 PC.
2. Qustodio
Supported Devices: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook, Kindle
Free version: yes.
Full Version:
- Small- $54.95/year for 5 devices
- Medium- $96.95/year for 10 devices
- Large – $137/year for 15 devices
Ratings:
- PCMag: 3.5/5
- TechRadar: 4.5/5
- Comparitech: 4.5/5
- TomsGuide: 3.5/5
Qustodio is one of the best parental control software for Windows 10 PC and other devices.
Along with Windows, this parental monitoring software is available on other devices i.e. Mac, Android, iOS, etc.
Here are the features of this software for parental control:
- Monitor the screen time of your kid’s device.
- Set a daily usage limit for your child’s device.
- Restrict your kid from using mobile for a specific time like at the dinner table.
- Filter insecure websites.
- Get your child’s activity reports monthly or daily.
- Restrict specific games or apps that you don’t want your kids to use.
- Know the live location of your kids.
- Monitor the social media usage of your child.
- Protect all the devices that your kid uses.
- Get alerts when your child tries to access something wrong.
- Monitor SMS and calls of your child.
- Get a complete report of your child’s last 30 days of activity.
- Get support from experts.
Pros:
- Free trial available
- Available for multiple devices and operating systems.
- Easy to install and use.
- Best parental monitoring features.
Cons:
- The duration of the trial version is not clear on the website.
3. Windows 10 Family
Supported Devices: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS,
Free version: yes.
Full Version: $9.99/month
Ratings:
- PCMag: 2/5
- Techradar: 3/5
Using this tool you can set up a kids-friendly Windows 10 PC/laptop and make sure that your children won’t encounter any inappropriate content. This is one of the best parental control software available for Windows 10 PC. In the earlier version of Windows 10, it was known as Windows Defender Security Center.
Here are the main features of this parental monitoring software:
- Limit usage of Apps and games in Windows, Xbox, and Android.
- Limit device usage for Windows and Xbox.
- Your kids can request to enhance their screen time.
- Get a summary of activities performed by your kids.
- Restrict Specific apps and games.
- Restrict the use of specific websites.
- Know the location of your kids.
Pros:
- Control Xbox timing.
- Great control over apps and games.
- Access most features for free.
Cons:
- Online ratings are not as good as expected.
Watch this video to learn how to set up Parental Control using Windows 10 Family:
4. Mobicip
Supported Devices: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Kindle, & Chromebook
Free version: yes.
Full Version:
- Lite- $2.99/month- billed annually
- Standard- $4.99/month- billed annually.
- Premium- $7.99/month- billed annually
Ratings:
- Comparitech: 4/5
- Apple App Store: 3.6/5
- PCMag: 3.5/5
- WizCase: 9.8/10
Another on the list of the best software for parental control is Mobicip. According to this parental monitoring software website, it has covered over 2 million children. According to the number, we can assume that this is a very popular parental control software for PC.
The parental monitoring program has 3 different versions-
- Lite: Can connect 1 device.
- Standard: Can control 10 devices.
- Premium: Can control 20 devices.
Here are the main features of the premium version of this software:
- Manage up to 20 devices.
- Block unwanted apps.
- Limit daily device usage.
- Schedule the specific activities.
- Lock any devices when you want.
- Monitor social media activity.
- Track the location of your family members.
- Rewards to encourage your children
- Limit the app usage.
- Restrict inappropriate websites.
Pros:
- Control multiple types of devices with one account.
- Cost-effective pricing models.
- Motivate children for self-discipline using the Child Dashboard.
Cons:
- No such cons were found.
5. Net Nanny
Supported Device: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Kindle Fire
Free version: No.
Full Version: $39.99/year
Ratings:
- PCMag: 3/5
- SafeWise: 3/5
- CNet: 7/10
- TechRadar: 4/5
NetNanny is one of the best parental control software for Windows 10 PC. Net Nanny has a very nice reputation on the Google Play Store and iOS app store as a parental control app.
The software has impressive parental monitoring features to control the activities of your kids.
Here are the features of this best software for Parental control:
- Manage the screen time of your family.
- Block websites that are harmful to your kids.
- Impressive internet filters control your kid’s online activities.
- Block access to adult content.
- Get a detailed report of your child’s online activities.
- Get real-time location of your child.
- Monitor the content that your kid watches on YouTube.
- Web-based parental dashboard to watch the activity of any device in your family.
Pros:
- Family pass option to protect more devices.
- Intelligent social media protection.
Cons:
- No trial version is available.
6. Kaspersky Safe Kids
Supported Device: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Free version: Yes.
Full Version: $14.99/year
Ratings:
- PCMag: 4/5
- TomsGuide: 4/5
- TechRadar: 4/5
- Toptenreviews: 3.5/5
Another on the list of the best software for parental control is Kaspersky Safe Kids. As the name indicates the software is specially made for kids. It will help you control and manage what your kids watch online.
Features of this best parental monitoring software for PC:
- Advanced GPS tracking facility.
- Limit the screen time for your kid’s devices.
- Filter insecure apps.
- Block adult content.
- Limit your kids from searching for inappropriate content on YouTube.
- Get alerts when your kid tries to access a blocked site.
- Block the proxy site so, your kid won’t be able to bypass the filters.
- Unique and competent customer support.
Pros:
- Easy to set up.
- Affordable parental control software.
- A free trial is available.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
Cons:
- Doesn’t provide location history.
7. Verity Parental Control Software
Supported Device: Windows 10, 8, 7 PC
Free version: No.
Full Version: $49.99/year
Ratings:
- CNet: 3/5
This is another less popular but efficient software to apply parental control on Windows 10 PC. The software has enough features to keep insecure content away from your Kid’s PC.
Here are the main features of this software:
- Block unwanted applications and websites.
- Keep track of the usage of particular software.
- The program will take screenshots of your kid’s online chatting window.
- Limit the time spent by your kid on the computer.
- Manage restrictions on different devices.
- Get reports through mail or online dashboard.
Pros:
- Get screenshots of your kid’s activities.
Cons:
- Boring computer interface.
- Only available for Windows
8. McAfee® Safe Family
Supported Device: Windows, iOS, Android
Free version: 30 days free trial
Full Version: $49.99/year
Ratings:
- PCMag: 2.5/5
- Techradar: 4.5/5
Last but not least parental control program for PC on the list is McAfee Safe Family. McAfee is a prominent security solutions provider. McAfee Total Protection is another software from the developer which has many security features including parental control.
If you want a robust antivirus on your PC and to control your child’s online activities then McAfee Total Protection is a nice software for you. But if you already have a security suite for your PC and just want a parental monitoring software then McAfee Safe Family is a nice choice for you.
Here are the main features of this software to apply parental control:
- Restrict specific websites.
- Block apps that you don’t feel safe for your children.
- Limit the screen time of your kids.
- Know the location of your child.
- Block in-app purchases on iPhone.
- Block usage of devices at a specific time.
- Get notified when your kid tries to open a blocked website.
Pros:
- Free trial version for 30 days.
- No limit on the number of devices you control
Cons:
- The software is not available for Mac.
- Monitoring access is limited to software because no web version is available.
So, these were the 8 best parental control software for Windows 10 PC. Using these tools you can monitor and control your kid’s activity on your Windows 10 PC.
Most of these software can control and manage your kid’s activities on their phones (Android, iPhone, iPad) and Mac.
FAQs:
Which is the best parental control app?
Answer: NetNanny is a nice app to control your kid’s phone usage.
What is better Net Nanny or Qustodio?
Answer: Qustodio has better GPS tracking and is more affordable.
Which operating system has the best parental controls?
Answer: Android has an in-built parental control function. Also, it is more flexible to give control to developers.
Priyanka Sharma is a technical content writer at SoftAppWorld. Her keen interest is in testing different kinds of software and writing reviews about them. Her goal is to help people with software reviews and how-to guides. In her free time, she likes to create different kinds of sketches and designs. You can find her on LinkedIn