Parenting is difficult—and it’s even more difficult in the digital era. Parents no longer have the choice of keeping their children away from the dark and dangerous World Wide Web because, from online education to virtual games, children are always connected to the Internet, putting them at risk of a variety of risks and vulnerabilities.
Because of this, when you are parenting a smart generation, you must be smart too, and you must utilise the best parental control software to protect your children from harm. With features ranging from banning specific websites to giving protection against cyberbullying, our top 10 shortlisted parental control software for Windows and Mac can help you be a more informed parent in 2022.
Top-rated Parental Control Software for Windows 10/11 and macOS
A growing number of good security and safety tools are becoming available as a result of the proliferation of cybercrime activities. The following 10 parental control software programmes for 2022 include the capabilities and features that we are confident will be available to parents seeking solutions to protect their children:
1. Norton Family
The family received a rating of 4/5.
Windows operating systems that are compatible include Windows 32-bit, Vista 32-bit, and Vista 64-bit.
Mac OS X 10.5 (Tiger) is compatible.
Symantec is a software development company.
$39.99 is the cost of the item.
The Nortons are a family that has a long history of philanthropy.
Norton Family, also known as Norton Online Family by some, is a cloud-based parental control programme designed to encourage open and honest communication between parents and their children. The software can be used to covertly monitor children’s online activities and send reports to their parents regularly. Following the Norton Safety Minder policy that you have set in place, this programme can monitor instant messengers, social networking platforms, and other websites. Parents can ban specific websites using one of the more than 40 filters available, as well as establish a time limit for computer usage, among a slew of other capabilities.
Assurance-Inducing Characteristics
You can configure the site block option in advance based on the birthdate of your child.
You can create a daily internet time limit for your child using the weekdays and weekends settings, which are different from one another.
Parents can put information on a blacklist that they don’t want their children to publish via instant messaging or social networking sites if they like.
The IM control manager provides three degrees of control; the strictest of them prohibits children from chatting with pals unless each one has gained parental clearance.
Pros
It is simple to use.
System for reporting that is straightforward.
Cons of the most widely used parental control software
There will be no real-time reporting.
The installation process is lengthy.
2. FamiSafe
rating is 2.9 out of 5 stars.
Windows 10 is the most compatible operating system.
The compatible MacOS version is 10.0 (Mavericks).
Wondershare is the company that developed the software.
Prices are as follows: a monthly plan costs $9.99 per month, a quarterly plan costs $6.66 per month, and an annual plan costs $4.99 per month.
FamiSafe is a three-in-one parental control software solution that provides control, tracking, and detection options. You can help your children develop good digital habits by limiting their screen time, tracking their physical presence, and protecting them from any online dangers. You can use this tool to parent children of all ages, from your three-year-old to your teenage son or daughter.
failsafe Assuring Characteristics
The ability to generate activity reports allows parents to keep track of which apps are being installed or uninstalled on their children’s devices.
Websites and programmes that are deemed inappropriate can be prohibited.
Web browser history analysis ensures that you are surfing the web safely.
You may customise your child’s app usage and limits based on his or her schedule.
Instant parental alerts assist in the detection of suspicious text or content on children’s electronic gadgets.
Pros
Setting screen time limitations is simple.
Support for both mobile and desktop devices.
Sets the maximum amount that can be purchased.
Cons
There is just a three-day free trial period.
Chromebook is not supported at this time.
3. Kaspersky Total Security
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Windows 7 or above is required as a compatible operating system.
Compatible macOS versions include MacOS 10 and later.
Kaspersky Lab is the company that developed the software.
Pricing information is available on the website. A three-license membership costs $89.99 per year, five licences cost $99.99, and a ten-license family plan costs $149.99.
Considering that McAfee Parental Control Software does not support Mac OS X, Kaspersky Total Security ranks second in our list of recommended parental control software. With anti-virus, anti-ransomware, webcam security, password manager, and a host of other features, it provides comprehensive online protection. It is available in a variety of languages. For parents, it provides a powerful interface for keeping track of their children’s web browsing behaviour on the internet.
Kaspersky Assuring Characteristics
A variety of viruses, crypto lockers, and other cyber vulnerabilities can be protected against using this method of protection.
You can encrypt payments to prevent your adolescents from making unnecessary purchases online.
A virtual private network (VPN) can encrypt data sent and received over the internet.
You can keep webcam spies away from your children if you take the proper precautions.
The advanced parental control features are extremely durable and unique in their design.
Pros
Comprehensive online security solutions.
Parents will find additional payment protection and password managers to be extremely beneficial.
It is compatible with all of the most popular operating systems nowadays.
Cons
Some functionalities need the use of a virtual private network (VPN).
Data protection is limited to one device at a time.
4. Overall
rating: 4 out of 5
Windows 7 or above is required as a compatible operating system.
Compatible macOS versions range from MacOS X Mavericks (10.9) through OS X Catalina (10.11). (10.15)
Qustodio is a software development company.
Price – A five-device plan costs $54.95, a ten-device plan costs $96.95, and a fifteen-device plan costs $137.95 an annum.
Qustodio
Qustodio is high-end security and parental control software solution for the home. It is being designed to give parents additional support through the use of enhanced blocking and monitoring tools. With Qustodio, you can completely protect your child’s online activities, from virtual game control to banning pornographic websites. You can learn more about Qustodio here. This programme has a specific YouTube monitoring feature that protects your children from viewing unfiltered YouTube content on your computer or mobile device.
Assurance-Inducing Characteristics
The use of more detailed data allows you to better understand your children’s online activities.
Your children’s study, sleep, and computer time can all be balanced according to their schedules.
You can keep track of the calls and SMS sent and received by your children’s Android handsets.
Android users can make use of a specific panic button provided by Qustodio, which they can activate in an emergency.
The application also includes a family locator, which allows you to keep track of the whereabouts of your entire family in real-time.
Pros
Options for setting a time limit are really useful.
Support for multiple platforms.
The web interface is well-organized.
Cons
Facebook is the only social media platform that allows for tracking.
Expensive.
Some functions are available exclusively on Android devices.
5. Mobicip
has a 3.5-star rating.
Windows operating systems that are compatible include Windows 32-bit, Vista 32-bit, and Vista 64-bit.
Mac OS X 10.5 (Tiger) is compatible.
Mobicip is a mobile application development company.
Price – For a single device, the cost is $49.99 a year; for ten devices, the cost is $89.99; for fifteen devices, the cost is $124.99.
In addition to supporting all of the major devices, such as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, Mobicip also works with other operating systems such as Mac OS X and Windows, and even Chromebooks. In the beginning, it was just a safe web browser, but it has recently been transformed into a full-fledged parental control tool, complete with capabilities such as app blocking, track location tracking, screen time regulations, and other similar functions.
mobicip Assuring Characteristics
Parents can set whitelists and blacklists for their children by customising the filters on the web and through mobile applications.
Mobicip allows parents to keep track of their children’s internet activities across a variety of devices.
By using age-appropriate filtering, you may make video content more manageable for your children to watch.
The app allows you to track your children in real-time, allowing you to protect them both online and offline.
Screen time should be limited following your children’s timetable.
Pros
A well-thought-out smartphone application.
Web-based interface that is easy to use.
App banning is a fantastic feature.
Support for a variety of platforms.
Cons
It is possible to circumvent desktop browsing limitations.
There is no geofencing.
You can only arrange time; you cannot establish time constraints for the entire day.
