Tools
Free and paid tools to track, filter, and lock down your kids' devices
Start with the free tools already built into devices you own. If you need more, for example alerts across dozens of apps at once, or cross-platform coverage, we've compared the paid options too. FamilyShield Online doesn't receive compensation from any product listed here.
Before you install anything: check your local laws
Monitoring a device, reading messages, or tracking a family member's location is regulated differently depending on where you live, especially once a teenager is involved, if the device isn't solely owned by you, or if a custody or family-court order is in place. Some regions require disclosure or consent even from a minor; others restrict monitoring a co-parent's household entirely. Check your region's data-protection and privacy laws (and any custody arrangements) before using any tool on this page, and see our contact list if you need to reach a local data protection authority.
Screen time & app limits
Set limits and require approval for new apps or purchases
Free
Apple Screen Time
Built into every iPhone and iPad. Set app-specific time limits, downtime schedules, content restrictions, and Ask to Buy for purchases, with a weekly report you can review together.
support.apple.com →Google Family Link
Free for Android and Google accounts. Set daily screen limits, app-specific timers, a remote bedtime lock, and Google Play purchase approvals.
families.google.com/familylink →Microsoft Family Safety
Free with a Microsoft account. Screen time schedules and app or game limits that sync across Windows PCs and Xbox, plus spending limits for the Microsoft Store.
microsoft.com/family-safety →Paid alternative
Qustodio
Cross-platform screen time, app limits, and web filtering with a single dashboard covering iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. Basic plan from $59.95/year (1 child, 5 devices); Complete from $104.95/year (unlimited children, 15 devices) adds panic button and call/text monitoring.
qustodio.com →Location & find-my-family
See where your kids are
Free
Apple Find My
Built into every iPhone. Share location with family members, set up notifications when someone arrives or leaves a place, and locate a lost or stolen device.
support.apple.com →Google Family Link location sharing
See your child's Android device location, alongside their screen time and app controls, in the same free app.
families.google.com/familylink →Life360 (free plan)
Cross-platform location sharing and driving reports for the whole family, with a free tier that covers the basics.
life360.com →Paid alternative
Life360 Gold & Platinum
Adds crash detection with emergency dispatch, roadside assistance, stolen phone protection, and (Platinum) ID theft and credit monitoring for the family. Gold is $16.99/month or $99.99/year; Platinum is $24.99/month or $149.99/year.
life360.com/membership →Content filtering
Block adult content at the network level
Free
OpenDNS FamilyShield
A free, no-signup DNS service that blocks adult content across every device on your home network, set up once on your router.
opendns.com/familyshield →Your router's built-in controls
Most modern routers include a free parental-controls section for content filtering, device time limits, and pausing internet access by device.
Our home network guide →Your mobile carrier or ISP
Many mobile carriers and internet providers offer free content filters or age-appropriate default settings on request. Check your provider's parental control page or call support to ask what's included.
Paid alternative
Qustodio content filtering
Category-based web and app filtering that follows the child across devices (not just one router), with a schedule and detailed activity reports. Included in the Qustodio plans above.
qustodio.com →Communication & image safety
Catch risky messages and images automatically
Free
Apple Communication Safety
Free, on-device nudity detection for Messages, AirDrop, FaceTime, and Photos on a child's Apple ID, warning them before viewing or sending, with no images sent to Apple.
support.apple.com →Google SafeSearch & Family Link app review
Free filtering of explicit results in Google Search, plus content ratings and approval before a new app installs on a linked child account.
support.google.com →Platform-native tools
YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and most major platforms now include free built-in family pairing, screen time, and content controls. Check the app's own settings under "Family" or "Supervision."
Paid alternative
Bark
AI-based monitoring of texts, email, and 30+ apps for signs of cyberbullying, grooming, sextortion, and self-harm risk, with alerts sent to parents rather than raw message access. $14/month or $99.99/year, one plan covers unlimited children's devices.
bark.us →Aura
Web and app content filtering plus AI-flagged messaging alerts, bundled with identity theft and credit monitoring for the family. Aura Family plans start around $10/month for one child (Aura Kids) up to about $32/month (Aura Family) for broader household coverage; pricing and bundles change, so confirm current tiers on their site.
aura.com →For more on how grooming actually unfolds and what these alerts are designed to catch, see our predators & grooming guide.
At a glance
Free vs. paid: feature comparison
| Feature | Free built-in tools | Qustodio | Bark | Life360 | Aura |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | $59.95-$104.95/yr | $99.99/yr (or $14/mo) | Free, or $16.99-$24.99/mo | ~$10-$32/mo |
| Screen time & app limits | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | Yes |
| Cross-platform (iOS + Android + desktop) | Partial (per ecosystem) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Family location sharing | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Web/content filtering | Yes (basic) | Yes (detailed) | Limited | No | Yes |
| AI-flagged message/image alerts (bullying, grooming, self-harm) | Limited (Apple Communication Safety only) | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Crash detection / roadside assistance | No | No | No | Yes (paid tiers) | No |
| Identity theft / credit monitoring | No | No | No | Platinum only | Yes |
Pricing and features change; confirm current details on each provider's site before subscribing. Listed here for comparison only, not an endorsement, and FamilyShield Online receives no compensation from any of these companies.