With the current technological advancement, it becomes imperative to provide a caring environment for your family. Children of this age have become easily accessible to modern issues and topics and can become addicted to certain applications or even be exposed to inappropriate content. Your children may communicate with dangerous strangers without your knowledge. As a parent, it is your duty to protect your children and family. Failure to monitor your children’s devices may harm them, either intentionally or accidentally. Fortunately, there are a lot of free iPhone monitoring software available that using it will make it easier for you to monitor your children’s activity on their phones or computers without accessing their mobile phone.
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Why install an iPhone parental monitoring app?
For a simple and simple reason: everything we can access through our smartphones or tablets is also accessible to our children. There is a lot of content that is not suitable for certain ages, so installing an parental control app to limit access to them should be something basic on every device that a child or teenager uses.
In addition to blocking access to certain websites or applications, these applications have other functions, such as controlling the use of mobile phones by children, protecting your children on the Internet or monitoring their search behavior. A good iPhone parental control app can restore your sense of parental control and monitor anything that could harm them.
Best iPhone Monitoring Apps (Free and Paid)
Here we have chosen the best iPhone parental control apps to keep your child from such risks for 2023.
Please Note: Parental control software tends to be more powerful on Android compared to iOS since Apple is turning off app permissions and device access.
1. mSpy
The best parental control app for iPhone with multiple functions
If you are looking for a best iPhone monitoring app, mSpy is the right choice for you. You don’t even need to install any additional apps on your kid’s iPhone. It works with the iCloud ID on the target iOS device. You can monitor every step your child takes without letting them know. From tracking messages to getting updates about calls and controlling popular apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, mSpy is an application that has an incredible amount of unique features you are looking for. It also helps you block suspicious contacts from your child’s mobile device to ensure safety. With a single account, multiple devices running on a different operating system can be tracked.
Advantages:
- WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, and other messaging apps
- Call Logs
- Text messages
- Application monitoring
- GPS tracking
- Monitor Non-Jailbroken iPhone
Disadvantages:
- There are no free features
- Key registration is only available on Android
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
2. Life360
The best parental control app for iphone GPS tracking
Life360 Family Locator is a real time location-sharing app. The iPhone monitoring app uses GPS location data to report the location of users. Parents can create geofences around home, and other frequently visited destinations, to get notified when your children come and go from the location.
Advantages:
- It connects with the whole family
- Connects to local emergency services
- Accurate real-time GPS tracker for iPhone
- Message family through the app
- Free for 30 days
Disadvantages:
- Many features require purchases
- Connectivity issues and incorrect tracking information after published updates
- Missing other parental control features
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
3. Qustodio
The best iPhone parental control app for blocking inappropriate content
Qustodio Parental Control is a basic application with numerous functions, but its best feature is the function of blocked calls. With a list of “Call Expectations”, you can easily choose which numbers are safe to communicate with your children.
Qustodio is another option that you can download for free, but it has a Premium plan that makes it one of the most complete parental control applications for iPhone you can find, to have greater control over your children’s activity on all devices.
This application can be installed on smartphones, tablets and computers invisibly, and you can control everything: from blocking specific applications and websites, to the times when they can use it.
Advantages:
- Block calls
- Block websites
- Block applications
- SOS alert
Disadvantages:
- Malfunction after update
- It often has inaccurate GPS tracking
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Kindle
4. FamiSafe
The best iPhone parental monitoring app for Screentime control
FamiSafe is a free download iPhone monitoring program for parents who would like to set screen time control on child’s iPhone. It can block apps remotely, restrict screen time, and set geographical fences to monitor your kids’ online activities, however, it doesn’t track text messages or social messages.
Advantages:
- Location tracking
- Geo-fencing
- App blocker
- Screen time control
Disadvantages:
- Geo-fencing may not often work properly
- iCloud credentials are not supported
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
5. FlexiSpy
The best application to monitor calls on iphone
If you feel the need to listen to live chat and record iPhone calls of your child, you can choose using this app. VoIP calls can be easily recorded along with regular phone calls along with Skype, Line, WeChat, Gtalk, Viber, WhatsApp etc. FlexiSpy can also monitor your child’s text messages, including deleted texts, photos, web browsing, call log and location, this could be the application you are looking for.
FlexiSpy even allows you to monitor your child’s activity in certain applications, such as Tinder, WhatsApp, Kik and Viber. You can also set time limits and even take screenshots of your child’s phone screen. Because it is essentially iPhone spyware, it must be installed outside the official app store. You will have to grant him some considerable security permissions.
Advantages:
- Phone Call recording
- Phone Call interception
- VoIP Call Recording
- Spy on iPhone text messages
- Monitor child’s iPhone without them knowing
Disadvantages:
- Higher price
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
- Mac
Most iPhone parental control apps require an annual subscription payment based on the number of devices you monitor. However, there are some exceptions where some services, operate free of charge although there are some limitations to features while the paid version comes to include all of those features. Keep on reading for free parental control apps for iPhone.
6. Find My Kids
Free parental monitoring apps for iPhone, Android and Smart Watches!
Find My Kids does not have a high rating from nowhere! This free iPhone parental control app and GPS watch tracker is the best at what it does. With the most accurate GPS location signal you’ll find in parent apps, you can be sure that you’ll always know where your children are.
Another reason why Find My Kids stands out from the rest of the package is that it is available not only for your child’s phone and tablet, but also for their smart watches. But it is not just a GPS tracker, this application is also the best ally of parents. From sound recording to application security, battery control and even an SOS panic button available for your child, the peace of mind is immeasurable.
Advantages:
- Accurate GPS Tracking
- Geo-fencing
- SOS panic button
- Free parental control app for iPhone
Disadvantages:
- Minor problems with device connection
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Most smart watches
7. Find My Friends
Free real-time location tracking app for both Android and iPhone.
This app can track both iPhone and Android phones. If people share their location with you on the map, you can track them. Your phone contacts and maps are synced with this app.
Advantages:
- Location-based notifications help you to easily track children and loved ones.
- Free parental control app for iPhone
Disadvantages:
- There is no monitoring of social media.
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
8. Screen Time
Free iPhone monitoring software for screen time control
As the name implies, the purpose of this application is to keep track of the time and behavior your children have when using a smartphone. Screen Time is free, but it also offers a Premium plan that gets quite interesting features.
In addition to the basic functions, such as monitoring the activity of the device when receiving daily reports that include the search history and web history, when you hire the Premium plan you can manage the use that your children give you , because it allows you to put the device Pause instantly, manually approve applications and set schedules.
Advantages:
- Screen time control
- Block iPhone remotely
- Free parental control app for iPhone
Disadvantages:
- Lacking to prevent calling and sending SMS.
- Web Filtering only works on specific browsers.
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
9. Locategy
Free parental monitoring for Geo-fencing
The Locategy free Parental Control app for Android and iOS monitors your child’s activities and location, but web filtering capabilities only work with some browsers.
Advantages:
- Track iPhone location
- Set screen time control on iPhone
- Free parental control app for iPhone
Disadvantages:
- No support for Mac and PC.
Supported platforms:
- iOS
- Android
How to Monitor Kid’s iPhone using mSpy
mSpy helps you monitor your children and protect them from pornography, online predators, cyberbullying and other threats. You can monitor iOS devices and store call logs, messages, social activities and more. Here is steps about how you can monitor your child’s iPhone using mSpy.
1. Create a mSpy account and get a premium subscription.
You will need the account to access the control panel. It is better to use an authentic email address to get the necessary keyword alerts and any other important information to monitor the iPhone.
2. Complete a simple setup process to monitor an iPhone.
Right after registration, there is a Configuration Assistant to go through. You should enter the iCloud ID and password linked to the target iPhone and click verify. Make sure that the iCloud backup and synchronization service is activated on the target device.
3. Start iPhone parental monitoring.
After the configuration process (and after the iCloud ID has been successfully verified), you will enter the control panel and the data of the target iPhone will be synchronized in a matter of seconds or minutes. Each time you log in to the account, the latest data will be sent. Of course, it should be mentioned that if the target phone is turned off or disconnected from the Internet, the monitored data will not be updated in this case.
What do parental controls on iPhone really do?
Parental control applications serve many different purposes according to the classification of their main functions. Some applications simply monitor your child’s iPhone activity and give you a summary of their general use.
Other parental control apps for iPhone can track, record and alert you in various situations (for example, when your child exceeds their time limit, when accessing an inappropriate site or when inappropriate word is detected in texts, publications and comments).
Some applications even give you the ability to control your child’s device from your own device. And let’s not forget the GPS tracking where you get real-time updates of where your child is and where he has been.
- Most parental control apps can monitor both Android and iOS.
These iPhone monitoring apps usually allow you to manage settings and view reports from the phone or tablet itself, although some do not have this capability.
- Filtered websites
A distinguishing feature of any parental control app is its ability to prevent children from accessing inappropriate or dangerous websites. The quality of Web History reports also varies from service to service.
- Block apps and time restrictions for use
One area where iPhone parental monitoring solutions excel is their ability to prevent children from using some specific applications. This can be useful for parents looking to prevent their children from using social media apps, hard-to-monitor messaging services, or browsers that outperform specific web filters. However, it can be difficult to track every new app your child installs.
- Time constraints are another major feature of parental control apps
Some applications, such as mSpy and Qustodio, allow you to specify the number of hours (or minutes) of the day your child uses a smartphone, as well as a schedule of when to use them.
There are still other applications, such as Qustodio and FamiSafe, that offer a different mixture where you can limit the number of hours to use specific apps or use the phone itself.
- Track your child’s location
iPhone parental monitoring should at least be able to track a child’s current location. It is also important to provide notification control and frequency reporting service, to avoid giving the parent unhelpful data. A geo-fence is a digital border around a physical location that helps parents track the time a child arrives or leaves a particular place.
- Communications and additions
The best iPhone parental control apps allow you to record and monitor who your child is communicating with and also see the conversations mentioned. This feature varies from application to application, of course. mSpy, for example, copies the entire SMS text message and call history for children for parents to review.
FlexiSpy helps you record all conversations. If you want to know what your child is actually saying during a phone call, then there is no better way than through the call recording feature with FlexiSpy. Still others, such as Locategy, only display phone call history.
- Stay in touch with your children
Although the range of features supported by the iPhone parental control software is impressive, there is no perfect system. If your children want to bypass the restrictions that they impose, they will probably be able to do that either by using unattended devices or finding ways to make their devices clean from control apps.
Therefore, it is helpful to talk to your child about why the monitoring software was installed in the first place.
Now that you have an idea of which parental control applications are our favorites and which ones are worth seeing, you are on track to regain control as a parent. Of these 9 best free parental control apps for iPhone, we recommend downloading the Find My Kids application above all. It offers the most necessary and reliable functions necessary for parental control for free, without having to worry about the subsequent update. If you need a more comprehensive parental monitoring application, you can try downloading and using mSpy.
Make sure to have open and ongoing conversations with your children about the importance of using these applications, so that they do not immediately plan to get rid of any application you install, or find some clever solutions.
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