Best Parental Control App for iPhone in 2021

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Looking for an iOS app that will help you protect your kids while they are on their iPhones? look no further. An iPhone parental control app can be a part of a software or stand alone app that you can download on iTunes. But not every iPhone app has the same features, there are many different parental control apps out there, but that’s where we come in. We constantly review each app to give you impartial, comprehensive reviews to make the process quick and simple and give you the bottom line.

How Do We Rate Parental Control Apps for iPhone?

When considering parental control apps for iPhone, more important than the native utilities that come factory-installed, is to keep the following factors in mind:

1. What features do the control apps offer, and how granular or customized can you get with the parental controls for iPhone?
2. Is the company and software well-reviewed, effective, and trustworthy?
3. How much does it cost, and how does that compare to similar offerings from others?
4. Is the app suitable for all iPhones, or only certain models or versions of the iOS operating system?
5. Do these parental controls for iPhone slow the performance of the device significantly?
6. Are these controls easy to bypass for tech-savvy kids, thus defeating their use?

When we review and analyze various third-party programs, as well as the native and app-based parental controls on iPhone, these are the factors and questions we most often consider, that shape the final review verdict.  Consumers would do well to do the same when selecting their own apps or settings for parental controls on iPhone.

Short on time? Here are the best Parental Control apps for iPhones:

1. Bark – Monitors 30+ different social platforms, text messages, YouTube, emails and more.

* Most affordable, starting at $5 a month.

Try Bark For Free!

Or read our Bark review

2. Qustodio – User Friendly, limits screen time, games, social media activities, blocks inappropriate content.

* Use coupon code “PARENTAL10” for an additional 10% discount on Qustodio.

Try Qustodio For Free!

Or read our Qustodio review

3. Norton – Full online security suite, limits screen time, block and filter inappropriate content.

Try Norton For Free!

Or read our Norton review

What Features Should Parental Control Apps for iPhone Have, and What Can You Restrict with Parental Controls on iPhone?

There is a range of features that can be included under the heading of parental controls on iPhone and iPhone apps/third-party software.  Briefly, the main categories and functions of these features include:

• Content filtering – limits access to apps, web pages, and similar, usually from a database or based on topics, e.g. adult content, violent/racist/hate content, and so on.
• Feature limitations – some apps and settings allow you to block features entirely, such as disabling text messages, Siri functionality, cellular data, and so on.
• Monitoring – allows a parent to review, either retroactively or in real-time, the activity of a child on their phone, to varying degrees (text messages, call logs, web searches, apps, etc.).
• Tracking – apps that are used not to limit content or access, but physically track the location of the phone via built-in GPS, to help keep tabs on wayward youngsters.
• Timing – some parental controls on iPhone help you to define or restrict the total time a child can use their phone, or during what hours of the day it can be used.
• App blocking – settings and programs that will either block certain categories of apps, or allow for pre-approval or authorization required before a particular app or category can be installed on the device.
• Preventing purchases – native parental controls on iPhone as well as some apps and security suites can be used to selectively or entirely prevent in-app purchases.

What Types of Parental Controls Can You Use on an iPhone?

Broadly speaking, there are several layers of parental controls for iPhone that you can use.

1. The native parental controls on iPhone that are included as part of the operating system, and free to use. They are powerful, though not app-specific, and mostly for use in blocking or monitoring “global” content or device features, such as preventing all in-app purchases or setting time limits on usage.
2. Parental controls on iPhone apps, individual settings put in place by each app manufacturer to allow parents to control what kids can and cannot do in those apps.
3. Apps and software from third parties, specifically designed to provide more granular parental controls for iPhone, including many of the features and functions we’ve discussed above.

Each of these different categories of parental controls for iPhone has a place, since they often are limited to certain domains or functions by their nature.  You should take an inclusive approach for the best results (depending on the level of restriction you are looking for, your concerns for your child, and their age/maturity level).  That will allow you to control what you need, without outright blocking legitimate content or apps or making your child feel you are looking over their shoulder constantly and invading their privacy by looking at every conversation or anything else they do on their phone.

Why Should You Consider Using Parental Control Apps for iPhone?

There are many potential risks for children using a smartphone – all of the risks are inherent with internet connectivity, as well as additional risks based on the nature of the GPS technology and ease of online payment that are part of using a smartphone.  You can eliminate or significantly reduce these risks when you use parental controls on iPhone.  A few key examples:

1. Prevent your child from accessing adult content via web browsers on the phone.
2. Block viruses or malware from being installed.
3. Prevent your child from using their phone for hours on end, or during the night when they should be asleep.
4. Block unapproved purchases that cost real-world funds.
5. Prevent your child from accessing sites, social networks, and similar hubs that may expose their personal information. These places are the home for people that want to harm to your child.
6. Monitor where your child is in the real world.
7. Monitor who your child talks to, what they search for, and the websites or social networks they frequent.
8. Control access to violence, hate, racism, and other objectionable content or apps.

What Does Enabling Parental Control Mean?

Talking to your children, promoting responsible behavior, and developing their digital resilience, so they know what to do if terrible things happen is all-important, but controls are an excellent first step in protecting young children in particular.

Parental Controls, also known as Restrictions, let you choose what your children can and cannot access on an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. You may disable Safari, Camera, FaceTime, Siri, AirDrop, CarPlay, iTunes, iBooks, Podcasts, or App Stores (including in-program purchases) with Parental Control apps, as well as the ability to modify accounts and other app settings. They’re a method for you to restrict your child’s access to anything you feel is unsuitable for them depending on their age and sensitivity, as well as your sound judgment.

Parental controls are software and programs that enable parents to limit their children’s internet usage. They are an excellent method of preventing youngsters from accessing inappropriate web information. Some of the best parental control apps for the iPhone have been utilized by parents in 2021 to monitor their child’s activity.

Types of Parental Control Apps

The term “controls” might be perplexing at times. In general, there are three sorts of children that parents should be aware of:

• Network-level controls are configured on the hub or router and apply to all devices connected to that hub or router (covering your whole household).
• Device-level controls are configured on the device itself, such as a smartphone, and apply regardless of how or where the device is linked to the internet.
• Program controls are configured on the platform or application being utilized, for example, the settings on Google or YouTube. You can check that they are enabled on every device that your youngster has access to.

Are Parental Monitoring Apps Invading the Privacy of Children?

While privacy should be respected, it should not come at the expense of your child’s safety. Inform them that you reserve the right to monitor how they use it by granting them their email account, phone, or another device.

It doesn’t mean you don’t trust them, but you want to ensure they’re secure because there are odd and scary individuals out there who may hurt them. As a result, the parental control software can be beneficial in keeping an eye on your child when you are unable to personally oversee what they are doing online and with whom they are doing it.

The degree of control you will exercise over them will be determined by their age, maturity, and any events or difficulties that your child is coping with. However, if you believe that employing parental control apps for iPhone is a little excessive, you are one of the few considering using them.

Consider the following findings from a poll of parents of teenagers aged 13–17 (Anderson, 2016):

1. Some of the best parental control apps for the iPhone have been utilized by 39% of parents to regulate their child’s internet activity.
2. 16% of parents use it to limit their smartphone usage.
3. 16% have used monitoring technologies to track their child’s location.
4. 61% have investigated which websites their teen viewed.
5. 60% of parents looked into their teen’s social media presence.

Understand Your Children’s Activity to get the Best Parental Control Apps for iPhone

To keep track of what a kid is doing, you must first recognize what apps or sites they are using. You’ll have a better knowledge of how they’re using the Internet, be able to detect possible concerns, and know what requires monitoring if you know the applications they’ve installed, browsers they’re using, and devices they have access to. The ability to manage what applications are permitted on the PC, phone, or tablet is a popular feature of parental control software. It may be sometimes utilized to see what is there in your child’s iPhone.

Below is our list of the top rated and best parental control apps for iPhone for 2021. If you need to control an iPad visit our recommendation for the best parental control app for iPad.