In today’s digital age, children are spending more time online than ever before. From educational websites to social media platforms, there are endless opportunities for kids to explore and learn. However, the internet also presents a host of risks, from cyberbullying and inappropriate content to online predators and excessive screen time. As parents and caregivers, it’s essential to have the right tools in place to protect your children from these dangers.
In this article, we’ll explore the Top 10 Best Tools to Keep Kids Safe Online. These tools range from parental control software and monitoring apps to content blockers and screen time trackers, ensuring that your kids can enjoy the benefits of the internet while staying safe.
1. Qustodio
Why it’s great:
Qustodio is one of the best parental control tools available, offering comprehensive features to monitor and manage your child’s online activity. It helps you keep track of social media use, websites visited, and app usage while providing detailed reports on their online behavior.
What sets it apart:
Qustodio allows you to block inappropriate content, set time limits for screen use, and track calls and text messages. It also provides real-time alerts, so you can monitor your child’s safety as they navigate the digital world.
Best for: Parents looking for an all-in-one solution to monitor and control their child’s online activity.
Key features:
- Activity monitoring and time management
- App and website blocking
- Real-time alerts and notifications
- Social media monitoring
- Available for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac
2. Norton Family
Why it’s great:
Norton Family is an excellent tool for families who want to keep their kids safe online while giving them the freedom to explore. It offers a variety of tools for monitoring web activity, tracking search histories, and managing screen time.
What sets it apart:
Norton Family excels at web filtering, blocking inappropriate sites, and offering reports on your child’s online behavior. Its “Time Supervision” feature lets you set time limits for individual websites and apps, making it a comprehensive safety tool.
Best for: Parents who need a powerful, easy-to-use tool for web monitoring and content filtering.
Key features:
- Web filtering and site blocking
- Time management and usage limits
- Location tracking and alerts
- Social media monitoring (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube)
- Available for Android and iOS
3. Bark
Why it’s great:
Bark is a child safety tool focused on protecting kids from cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators. It monitors texts, emails, and over 30 social media platforms, providing alerts for concerning behavior.
What sets it apart:
Bark uses artificial intelligence to analyze messages and posts for red flags such as bullying, suicidal thoughts, or signs of grooming. Parents receive actionable alerts to help them address potential issues before they escalate.
Best for: Parents concerned about their child’s interactions on social media and messaging apps.
Key features:
- Monitors text messages, emails, and social media
- AI-powered alerts for harmful behavior
- Activity reports and real-time alerts
- Limited screen time controls
- Available for Android and iOS
4. Circle Home Plus
Why it’s great:
Circle Home Plus is a device that connects to your home Wi-Fi and allows you to manage and filter content across all devices in your household. It’s an excellent tool for parents who want to monitor their kids’ internet usage on a network level.
What sets it apart:
With Circle, you can create customized profiles for each child and set specific time limits, filter content, and monitor online activity. It also offers a “Pause the Internet” feature, giving parents the ability to pause internet access for all devices when needed.
Best for: Families with multiple devices who need a network-wide solution.
Key features:
- Device-level internet monitoring and management
- Content filtering and web blocking
- Time limits and usage schedules
- Ability to pause the internet for specific devices
- Available for Android and iOS
5. Kaspersky Safe Kids
Why it’s great:
Kaspersky Safe Kids offers an easy-to-use platform for parents to monitor their children’s online behavior, set time limits, and block dangerous content. It also tracks your child’s location and alerts you when they enter or leave specific areas.
What sets it apart:
Kaspersky Safe Kids is particularly valuable for its advanced GPS tracking and location alerts. In addition to managing screen time and blocking inappropriate content, it also provides detailed reports on how your child spends their time online.
Best for: Parents who want a mix of content filtering and location tracking.
Key features:
- Content filtering and app management
- Screen time control and usage reports
- GPS location tracking and alerts
- Facebook monitoring
- Available for Android and iOS
6. FamilyTime
Why it’s great:
FamilyTime is an easy-to-use parental control app that helps parents manage screen time, block inappropriate apps, and monitor social media activity. It’s ideal for families who want a flexible, customizable solution for their children’s digital safety.
What sets it apart:
FamilyTime features geofencing, which allows parents to set virtual boundaries and receive notifications when their child enters or leaves a specified area. It also has a feature for monitoring calls and texts, making it a great all-in-one solution.
Best for: Parents looking for geofencing and call/text monitoring features.
Key features:
- Screen time management and app blocking
- Geofencing with location alerts
- Call and text monitoring
- Remote monitoring and alerts
- Available for Android and iOS
7. Mobicip
Why it’s great:
Mobicip is a comprehensive parental control app that helps parents manage their children’s screen time, block harmful content, and monitor their digital activity. It offers unique features such as safe browsing and YouTube filtering.
What sets it apart:
Mobicip allows parents to block specific websites or categories of content (such as violence or adult material) and gives real-time reports on online activity. Its YouTube filtering system is particularly useful for preventing exposure to inappropriate videos.
Best for: Parents concerned about YouTube and web browsing safety.
Key features:
- Safe browsing and content filtering
- YouTube video filtering
- Screen time management and activity reports
- Location tracking
- Available for Android, iOS, and Windows
8. Canary
Why it’s great:
Canary offers a simple yet effective way to protect children from harmful content and online predators. It allows parents to monitor their children’s social media, online activity, and screen time.
What sets it apart:
Canary’s strength lies in its ability to track children’s online behavior across multiple platforms. It also provides a parent-friendly dashboard with alerts and reports on risky activity, ensuring that you’re always in the loop.
Best for: Parents who want simple but effective monitoring.
Key features:
- Social media and online activity monitoring
- Risk alerts and activity reports
- Screen time control
- Available for Android and iOS
9. SecureTeen
Why it’s great:
SecureTeen is a great tool for parents who want to protect their kids from online threats, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online predators. It monitors text messages, social media, web activity, and apps.
What sets it apart:
SecureTeen offers a variety of useful features, including social media tracking, website filtering, and geo-fencing. It also provides detailed activity reports to help parents stay informed about their child’s online habits.
Best for: Parents who want to monitor a wide range of digital activities.
Key features:
- Text message and social media monitoring
- Geo-fencing and location tracking
- Web filtering and app blocking
- Activity reports and alerts
- Available for Android and iOS
10. Google Family Link
Why it’s great:
Google Family Link allows parents to manage their children’s Google accounts and devices, providing an easy way to monitor and control screen time and content access.
What sets it apart:
Google Family Link is particularly beneficial for parents of younger children using Android devices. It offers app management, activity reports, location tracking, and screen time controls—all within one easy-to-use app.
Best for: Parents using Android devices with younger children.
Key features:
- App management and content filtering
- Screen time control and activity reports
- Location tracking and geo-fencing
- Ability to lock the device remotely
- Available for Android
Conclusion
Keeping your kids safe online is a crucial part of modern parenting, and the tools listed above offer a variety of solutions to help you monitor, control, and protect your child’s online activities. Whether you’re looking for an all-in-one parental control app or a more specific solution for blocking harmful content, there is an option for every family.
By utilizing the best tools to keep kids safe online, you can ensure that your children are protected from digital dangers while still enjoying the benefits of the internet. Take the time to explore these options and find the tool that works best for your family’s needs, helping you foster a safe and responsible online environment for your child.