How To Choose the Best Parental Control Apps for iPhone and iPad in 2025
Ninety percent of kids between ages 8 and 16 have accidentally or deliberately seen illicit content online, according to GuardChild. That’s kind of alarming, especially with how easy smartphones make it for even very young kids to access stuff they probably shouldn’t. With screen time increasing and devices more integrated into daily life, it’s no wonder guardians feel like they’re walking a tightrope trying to keep tabs without invading privacy too much.
While Apple’s built-in parental controls offer some basic tools, a lot of parents want more—like real-time alerts, web filtering, or monitoring deleted messages. That’s where dedicated parental control apps come into play. These apps give a broader set of tools for monitoring, controlling, and even spotting risky behaviors before things get out of hand. In this guide, there’s a mix of options from straightforward to advanced, so whatever your needs, there’s probably a tool here that can help you sleep a little easier at night.
How to Choose the Right Parental Control App for Your iPhone
Before diving into the specific apps, a quick note: most of these need to be set up on both your device and your kid’s, often requiring you to install a parent app and a kid app. Some do better with younger kids, others are geared toward teens—so think about what kind of monitoring makes sense for your situation. Also, keep in mind that many apps rely on internet connectivity or local device access, which can limit what you can see if your kids turn off their phones or go offline.
1. MMGuardian: Editor’s Choice
MMGuardian is kind of the gold standard if you want something powerful. It’s AI-driven, so it scans messages—even deleted ones—and alerts you if it finds signs of cyberbullying, drug talk, self-harm, or violence. That’s helpful because, honestly, kids are pretty sneaky, and messages often get deleted before you even catch on.
Plus, it lets you track their GPS location, restrict apps, set screen time limits, and block websites. The reports you get are pretty detailed — seeing overall activity, web history, call logs, and more. It’s not the cheapest, but the interface is straightforward, and installation is simple—install the parent app on yours, add the kid’s app on theirs, then follow the prompts. On some setups, it works right away; on others, a restart or two might be needed to get it running smoothly. If you are serious about monitoring everything, this one is a solid choice.
Cost: Free with optional subscription from $1.99/month
2. FamiSafe: App and Web Filtering Galore
If you’re more concerned about internet use, sites visited, or specific keywords, FamiSafe might be more up your alley. It keeps tabs on browsing behavior, messaging apps, and even the words your kid types in—using a library of hundreds of keywords around bullying, drugs, and inappropriate content. It’s kind of creepy, but useful.
This app also lets you set rules—like blocking certain websites or filtering content—plus controlling YouTube, social media, and browser history. It’s flexible enough to add custom keywords, which is great because you can tailor it to your own worries. The free version offers basic controls, but if you want to monitor more devices or get deeper insights, the paid plan (starting at $9.99) unlocks a bunch of features. Setting it up involves installing the kid’s app and pairing it with your device using a code. Not sure why, but sometimes the initial connection takes a bit longer—just be patient.
3. Google Family Link: For Android and Chromebook Monitoring
This one’s mainly for Android device control. It’s good if your kid uses Google Play a lot. You can restrict app downloads, set daily limits, and filter content. The setup involves creating a dedicated Google account for your kid, then linking it with Family Link. From there, you can remotely approve or block new apps and even see their Google activity.
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t work on iPhones, so if your kid’s rocking an iOS device, you’ll need a different app. Also, you can’t really regulate app updates or content they’ve already accessed unless you have set restrictions beforehand. When it works, it’s handy—though I’ve noticed sometimes, the syncing is slower than expected, or it stops tracking if the device goes offline. Still, it’s free, so worth a shot if you’re mainly worried about Android devices.
4. OurPact: The Security-Focused Control
For folks who want a complete picture, OurPact is pretty comprehensive. It lets you control internet access, apps, and even monitor offline activity via connecting through USB—kind of weird, but it adds an extra layer of security. Once set up, you get a gallery view of recent activity, and if your kid installs new apps, you get notified instantly. It can also block sites and schedule internet time, which is handy for keeping screen time in check.
The initial setup involves connecting the device via USB, which is a bit old-school, but it ensures privacy and security. It does require some manual configuration, so on some days, it might feel more hassle than it’s worth. Still, if you want a straightforward way to see everything and control access, it’s worth trying.
5. Kidslox: Rewards + Monitoring
Kidslox combines parental controls with a reward system—pretty funny idea, but it works. It blocks apps and websites, schedules usage, and even has an activation lock to prevent your kid from uninstalling it. Setting it up involves installing the app on both your device and theirs, then syncing them. When offline, though, features can be limited.
You can manage up to 10 devices and even allow you to keep multiple parents or guardians in the loop, which is handy for larger families. It’s mostly free but probably worth shelling out for premium if you want more control and detailed reports. Plus, the reward feature might help motivate kids to stick with rules.
6. Verizon Smart Family™: For Teenagers and Drivers
This one’s for the teen-driver in the house, with features like driving reports, GPS location, and content filtering. The focus on safe driving and geofencing makes it a good pick if car safety or managing teen expenses is part of the concern. It also allows you to restrict content purchases, which is a bonus to prevent surprise bills or inappropriate purchases.
Setup involves installing the app and linking your account, plus your kid’s device. The driving monitor is…kind of neat, but on some days, it seems to confuse when the kid’s just parked or stopped, leading to some false alarms. Still, for monitoring teens, it offers a pretty thorough package.
7.mSpy: Deep and Discreet Monitoring
mSpy is definitely more on the spying end of the spectrum. It tracks calls, messages, social media, location, and even pictures and videos, all without your kid knowing. Kind of sneaky, but that’s what makes it popular among parents who want to catch sneaky behaviors.
It uses iCloud backup support, so you can access a lot of info without installing a lot of apps—though there’s also an iOS version that hides in the background. Keep in mind it’s a paid service starting around $11.66/month. It’s more invasive and requires some tech setup, but if controlling everything is the goal, this does it all.
8. Spy Phone ® Phone Tracker: Just Location
If the main concern is tracking where your kid has been, this GPS-focused app is straightforward. It shows the history of locations, who they call, and can even ring the device. It’s handy if you want to know if they’re hangout out with friends or at home.
Installing is simple—just run the app on their device, log in with your details, and you get real-time updates. Keep in mind, the GPS info isn’t updated constantly—only when they’re online—and it won’t work if the device is offline for long. Still, good for basic location monitoring.
9. Find My Kids: Chat & GPS Notes
With Find My Kids, you connect via their app and can see your child’s movement, receive alerts when they arrive or leave locations, and send SOS messages. It’s pretty good for peace of mind, especially with kids who wear GPS watches or have their own phones. Also, they can send you messages, so it doesn’t feel like spying so much as just staying aware.
It also records app usage stats, so you can see how much time they spend on TikTok or gaming. Listening around them is possible too, which is…kinda bizarre but maybe useful if you want to know what’s going on around them in real life.
10. Spyic: Web-Based Dad/ Mom Monitor
This is pretty slick because it doesn’t require installing anything on your kid’s device—just linking via their platform on a web browser. You get a full dashboard to see chats, calls, app usage, and web history. It’s clean and easy to navigate, and all controls are in one place.
It’s a paid service starting at around $9.99/month, and there’s no free trial—so be aware, but if you want a no-fuss, remote monitoring option, it’s worth considering.
11. Bark: Smarter Content Monitoring
Bark stands out because it uses machine learning algorithms to analyze what your kid accesses online. It monitors social media, texts, emails, and even some device activity, alerting you only if it detects potential issues. It’s kind of like having a digital watchdog, but less invasive than full-blown spying.
This app supports many devices and platforms, including iPhone, iPad, computers, and gaming consoles. Setup involves linking their platform once, then you get a dashboard where you can see recent activities, blocked content, and schedule online time. Just keep in mind—it’s subscription-based, from about $5.99/month, and it will notify you if you’re worried about potential red flags rather than giving you constant access to all activity.
Wrap-up
Using these apps can really help bridge the gap between trust and security. Not saying you should hand over the keys entirely, but a little monitoring can prevent a lot of trouble — cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or just plain dangerous situations. The key is finding the right balance and being open with your kid about why you’re doing it. Sometimes, just knowing they’re being watched makes them think twice, which is pretty much the goal, right?
Summary
- Choose based on what you’re most worried about: content filtering, location tracking, or message monitoring.
- Be prepared to install on both devices, and set clear expectations.
- Remember, no app guarantees perfect privacy—kids will find ways around some controls, so keep communication open.
Conclusion
All in all, installing one or more of these parental control apps can save a lot of sleepless nights. Some are more invasive than others, so pick what feels right for your family’s comfort level. Just keep in mind: the goal isn’t to spy endlessly, but to keep tabs enough to step in before things go sideways. Hopefully, this shifts the needle a bit and makes monitoring a little less stressful. Fingers crossed this helps.