9 Best Parental Control Apps for Android: Tested in: I tested a wide range of parental control apps to find the best options for Android devices — and it was more challenging than expected. Many apps lacked essential features, were too easy for kids to bypass, or had questionable privacy practices.
The apps I’ve chosen are well-suited for Android phones and tablets. They can block inappropriate or harmful websites, restrict access to specific apps, track your child’s real-time location, and some even offer the ability to monitor texts, calls, and social media activity. Best of all, they can’t be easily uninstalled or disabled by your child.
My top recommendation is Qustodio — it offers an incredibly user-friendly experience on Android and comes packed with powerful tools for managing screen time and monitoring online behavior.
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1. Qustodio — Best Overall Parental Control App for Android in 2025
Qustodio stands out as the top parental control app for Android in 2025. It offers a full suite of tools to help you monitor and manage your child’s device usage — both online and offline. Key features include:
- Web & app filtering — Block access to specific websites (on browsers like Chrome and Firefox) and apps. You can also block unmonitored browsers to prevent workarounds.
- Screen time management — Set daily screen time limits for both device usage and specific apps.
- Social media monitoring — Keep an eye on chats in WhatsApp, Instagram, and LINE, with alerts for potential risks.
- YouTube monitoring — View your child’s YouTube search and watch history.
- Location tracking — See where your child is in real time and review their location history.
- Call & SMS monitoring — Track calls and text messages, with the option to block numbers.
- Panic button — Lets your child send an emergency alert to trusted contacts.
- Detailed activity reports — Monitor search history, app usage, screen time, and more.
Qustodio is especially strong when it comes to enforcing rules — it can’t be uninstalled without your credentials, and it syncs time-based restrictions with its servers, so your child can’t bypass limits by changing time settings or switching networks.
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It also includes a Routine feature that lets you customize which apps and websites are available during specific times of the day, using modes like Entertainment, Focus, and Study — or create your own.
Location tracking is solid, with the ability to set up geofenced zones of up to 200 meters, though apps like Norton Family offer a wider geofencing range.
Qustodio has a free plan that covers one device with basic features like web filtering and screen time controls. Its paid plans start at INR400/month (Basic) for five devices, or INR720/month (Complete) for unlimited devices, and all plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Norton Family — Excellent Web & App Filtering for Android
Norton Family is another top choice for Android users, offering effective web and app filtering features. It can block apps and restrict web access based on over 45 categories. It works seamlessly with Chrome, Android’s built-in browser, and Norton’s own browser.
Norton’s location tracking is also a standout. You can monitor real-time movements, set geofenced zones up to 3,200 meters (2 miles), and even schedule alerts or request check-ins.
While it allows you to set total screen time limits on Android, it doesn’t support time limits for individual apps — unlike Qustodio. However, it does let your child request additional screen time directly from the app.
Like Qustodio, Norton Family alerts you to tampering attempts and enforces time limits even if your child changes device settings.
You can buy Norton Family as a standalone service for INR4,320/year, or get it bundled with Norton 360 Deluxe, which adds antivirus protection, a VPN, a password manager, and more — all for the same price. Every plan comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
3. Bark — Ideal for Monitoring Teens & Social Media
Bark is best suited for parents of teens who want alerts about potentially harmful content without being overly invasive. It monitors over 30 apps and platforms — including texts, emails, social media, and more — and sends real-time alerts when it detects concerning activity, along with context for each alert.
Bark excels at social media monitoring, supporting platforms like Instagram and Snapchat out of the box. For other services, it’s easy to connect accounts with login credentials.
It also allows internet and app blocking and lets you create daily schedules. However, Bark doesn’t support total device time limits or offline app blocking.
Location tracking includes real-time updates and geofencing up to 200 meters, and if you want a less intrusive option, you can just request a check-in from your child.
To uninstall Bark, your child needs a unique code that’s sent to your parent app — and they can’t get around restrictions by adjusting device settings like time and zone.
Bark has a single plan — Bark Premium, which costs INR1,210/month, supports unlimited devices, and includes a 7-day free trial (but no money-back guarantee).
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4. FamiSafe — Ideal for Parents of Teen Drivers
FamiSafe stands out for its unique focus on driving safety, offering detailed reports on your teen’s driving behavior. Through its Android app, you can monitor incidents like sudden braking, speeding, and traffic violations. You can even set alerts to get notified when your child exceeds a speed limit you’ve defined.
Beyond driving, FamiSafe also helps you manage your child’s digital life. It monitors over 10 popular social apps on Android, including Instagram, Snapchat, and Discord, and alerts you if inappropriate keywords are detected. You can even add custom keywords to watch for. It also monitors YouTube and TikTok activity, notifying you of any problematic content — and for TikTok, it even gives access to their full watch history.
FamiSafe includes call and SMS monitoring, allowing you to view call durations, block specific contacts, and read texts. It also features a screen viewer that captures periodic screenshots, giving you a visual log of your child’s activity, including content viewed in disappearing-message apps like Snapchat.
In terms of controls, you can block apps individually or by category and filter web content across browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave, and Edge. However, during testing, some unwanted sites slipped past the filter — so for stricter content control, Qustodio may be a better option.
FamiSafe also includes screen time limits (customizable by day and app) and allows children to request additional time if they reach their limit. It’s also protected against tampering — your child can’t uninstall the app or bypass your restrictions without your password.
FamiSafe offers:
- Monthly Plan: INR 870 (5 devices)
- Quarterly Plan: Covers 10 devices
- Annual Plan: Unlimited devices
All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. Mobicip — Great for Custom Scheduling on Android
Mobicip is perfect if you want fine control over your child’s screen time. You can create detailed custom schedules to block distractions (like games) during school hours and allow access to educational tools or apps like Zoom during homework time.
Mobicip also features Vacation Mode, which lets you ease restrictions during breaks, and Family Time Mode, which pauses all app and web usage for focused family time.
You can block apps from the Google Play Store, stop access to specific installed apps, or restrict by category (Social Media, Games, Entertainment). Its web filter supports over 15 categories — fewer than Norton Family’s 45+ — but still provides decent coverage.
Mobicip also monitors Facebook and Snapchat, alerting you to inappropriate images or conversations. However, if you want broader social media coverage, Bark supports over 30 platforms.
The app has uninstall protection, so kids can’t remove it without your credentials.
Plans:
- Lite: INR 260/month (5 devices)
- Standard: INR 440/month (10 devices)
- Premium: INR 690/month (20 devices + social media monitoring)
There’s also a limited free plan for up to 2 devices and a 7-day money-back guarantee on paid plans.
6. mSpy — Best for In-Depth Monitoring on Android
mSpy is built for deep supervision. It lets you monitor texts, emails, shared photos, and chats on a wide range of social media apps. You can also view your child’s bookmarked websites and browsing history.
One of mSpy’s standout features is its screen recorder, which captures screenshots every time something new happens in apps like Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. It also has a keylogger that tracks everything typed on the device, from messages to search queries.
However, unlike most other apps, mSpy’s content filtering requires you to manually blacklist each site — there are no category-based filters. If that sounds tedious, apps like Qustodio offer more efficient filtering systems.
A major downside is that to use mSpy’s full feature set, you often need to jailbreak or root the Android device, which may not be ideal or feasible for every parent.
mSpy doesn’t offer screen time limits or track time spent on apps. However, it’s incredibly stealthy — you can choose to hide the app, making it invisible on your child’s phone. It’s also extremely hard to uninstall without your permission.
Plans:
- Premium: INR 1,010/month (1 device, all features)
- Extreme: INR 2,940/month (adds call recording and camera/mic access)
- Family Kit: INR 2,940/month (up to 3 devices)
Note: There’s no free trial or money-back guarantee.
7. Kaspersky Safe Kids — Excellent App Filtering for Android
Kaspersky Safe Kids delivers powerful app filtering on Android devices. While it’s no longer available on the Google Play Store, you can still download it via alternative sources like Samsung’s Galaxy Store, Huawei’s AppGallery, or directly from Kaspersky’s website. Do note, however, that Kaspersky products are banned in the US, so you won’t be able to purchase the app there.
With Kaspersky Safe Kids, you can:
- Block or allow apps by category (15+ categories, like Games or Social Media),
- Restrict access based on age ratings,
- Manually approve or deny access to specific apps,
- Set app-specific screen time limits, and
- Allow key apps (like Google Meet) to bypass daily usage limits.
You can also define custom downtimes to disable phone access during certain hours (like bedtime or study time), with different schedules for each day of the week.
Its web filtering works on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, and includes 10+ predefined categories such as Profanity, Violence, and Online Games. You can choose whether to block access entirely or simply warn your child when visiting inappropriate sites. While it’s effective, it doesn’t offer as many filtering options as Norton Family or Qustodio.
Uninstalling Kaspersky Safe Kids requires parental login credentials, so your child can’t remove it without your permission.
The app costs just INR 190/month, and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you subscribe to Kaspersky Premium, you’ll also receive a free 1-year Safe Kids subscription. It supports unlimited devices, making it a solid choice for families with multiple kids.
8. Eyezy — Great for Monitoring Texts, Emails & Files on Android
Eyezy gives you full visibility into your child’s digital life. On Android, it allows you to:
- Read texts and emails,
- Monitor social media chats and call logs,
- View photos, videos, installed apps, and browser history,
- See nearby Wi-Fi networks and block suspicious ones.
It also includes a screen recorder that captures snapshots of app activity (like Snapchat messages), and a keylogger that records everything your child types.
Eyezy allows you to manually blacklist or whitelist apps, but it doesn’t offer category-based filtering like Qustodio or Norton Family.
Some features, however, require jailbreaking the Android device, which may not be safe or practical for most users. Additionally, there can be delays between when you change settings and when they take effect — something that more responsive apps handle better.
Unlike many other parental apps, Eyezy doesn’t have uninstall protection, but it can be hidden completely from your child’s device, preventing them from knowing it’s even installed.
Plans start at:
- INR 690/month for the Premium plan (1 device),
- INR 1,730/month for the Ultra plan (adds remote microphone/camera access),
- INR 4,930/month for the Family Kit (covers up to 3 devices).
There’s no free trial or money-back guarantee.
9. Aura — Robust App & Time Controls for Android (US Only)
Aura’s parental control features offer impressive control over how your child uses apps and spends screen time on Android. You can:
- Set daily screen time limits (e.g., 5 hours total),
- Allocate specific time limits to certain apps or categories (e.g., 1 hour for video apps, 2 hours for YouTube),
- Limit access to specific websites.
You also get a full list of installed apps, including pre-installed ones, and can block them instantly with a toggle.
Aura offers web filtering across 25+ content categories, including gaming, dating, and even VPNs — ensuring your child can’t bypass restrictions. It also tracks which blocked apps or websites your child attempts to access, giving you insight into their behavior.
That said, the lack of uninstall protection is a major downside. Your child can delete the app just like any other, though you will receive a notification if they do.
Aura’s parental controls are available only in the United States and as part of the Aura Family Plan, which includes:
- Antivirus software,
- A built-in VPN,
- And starts at INR 720/month (approximate).
It comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
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Show our expert takeTesting Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
To ensure these are the best parental control apps for Android, I used a comprehensive testing methodology, evaluating each app in real-life scenarios to assess functionality and overall value. Below are the key criteria I used to select and rank these apps:
Standard Parental Control Features: I prioritized apps that offer essential parental control features, such as the ability to set time limits on device use, block apps and websites, and monitor your child’s location.
Additional Features: I looked for apps with extra features that go beyond basic monitoring. For example, Qustodio offers YouTube monitoring, social media tracking, SMS monitoring, and even a panic button. Some apps also provide access to your child’s photos, videos, and conversations on social media.
Ease of Use: I tested each app’s interface to ensure it was user-friendly and easy to navigate. The best apps have straightforward interfaces or web-based dashboards that make it simple to manage your child’s online activities, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Additionally, I assessed how intuitive the apps were for children, especially younger ones.
Uninstall & Bypassing Protection: Most of the apps on this list require parental credentials or a device code to remove them, preventing your child from simply uninstalling the app to bypass restrictions. I also ensured that the apps track your child’s activity even when they switch networks, using their own servers to track time spent and enforce limits.
Value for Money: I focused on apps that offer strong value for the features they provide, ensuring that each app supports an adequate number of devices and covers all necessary features for families. Apps like Qustodio and Bark stand out for offering the ability to monitor an unlimited number of devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best parental control app for Android?
In my opinion, Qustodio is the best parental control app for Android in 2025. It offers excellent web and app filtering, screen time management, location tracking, and detailed activity reports. Additionally, it provides useful extras like YouTube monitoring and social media monitoring for platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and LINE.
Are there free parental control apps for Android?
Yes, there are free parental control apps available, but they often come with limited features. These free apps may not offer the full range of monitoring tools you need, and some may even sell your data to third parties. I recommend opting for a premium parental control app like Qustodio, which provides industry-standard features, as well as extra tools like YouTube and social media monitoring, plus a panic button.
Can my child uninstall parental control apps from their Android device?
Most parental control apps prevent your child from uninstalling the app. For example, top apps like Qustodio have uninstall protection that requires your account password to delete the app on Android.
How do I delete a parental control app on Android?
To delete a parental control app on Android, go to the app menu, press and hold the app icon, and select “Uninstall.” You’ll then be prompted to confirm the action using the parental credentials or a device code sent to the parent’s device.
For some apps, you may also need to go to Settings > Security > Device Administrators and uncheck the app (you may need to enter parental credentials here as well). This is necessary because some apps require administrative access, and you won’t be able to uninstall them without disabling this access first.
Will my child know I’m monitoring their Android device?
It’s very likely your child will be aware, and I think it’s important to have open conversations about online safety. Transparency is key to fostering healthy online habits. While some apps allow you to monitor secretly, such as mSpy and Eyezy with Stealth Mode (which hides the app icon and notifications), I recommend discussing the need for monitoring with your child to ensure a safer online experience.
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