Best Apps to Monitor Kids' Phones and Ensure Their Safety

Safety for children in the digital age does not stop with face-to-face interactions – there are online friendships, web searches, and apps. There are so many kids’ phone monitoring apps out there that no one can live without (including me). With a large range of applications available, selecting the right app is tricky. But don’t sweat it — I’ve looked up and tried the best. Let’s see which are the most useful apps to monitor kids’ phone without going overboard.

Top 5 Best Apps to Monitor Kids’ Phones

1. FamiSpy

First of all, my favorite app, FamiSpy. As a parent who’s used other monitoring apps, I have to say FamiSpy beats them all. This app has everything you need in order to watch your kid’s smartphone usage in real-time.

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This is what I love about FamiSpy:

Real-time location tracking: I can check exactly where my child is at any given time, which is super reassuring when they’re out with friends.
Call and SMS monitoring: See who they’re calling and texting — all without them knowing.
App usage tracking: FamiSpy will display which apps my child is using the most, so I can see if there is too much use of apps such as social media.

It’s intuitive and I didn’t have to be a computer geek to install it. Plus their customer service has been excellent any time I have had a question.

2. Bark

Bark is another popular option for parents who want to keep tabs on social media. It’s not just for text and phone calls, but also Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. Bark screens for negative posts, like cyberbullying, foul language, or depressive episodes. If the app finds anything harmful, it sends a notification to the parents.

Why I like Bark:

Social media coverage: If your child is active on various platforms, Bark helps keep you informed. If your child has social channels, Bark keeps you updated.
Automated notifications: You don’t have to go through everything and check. Bark does all the heavy lifting for you and alerts you only when there is something of concern.

3. Qustodio

Qustodio is a very robust app with a ton of functionality, if you need more control over your kid’s online usage. This app is great for parents who want to be more involved with their children’s screen time and use of apps.

Here’s what makes Qustodio stand out:

Time management: You can limit the time your child spends on certain apps or on the internet generally.
Content filtering: If you’re worried that your children are going to inappropriate websites, Qustodio can let you filter out certain sites/content types.
Detailed activity reports: You get a detailed activity report for your child’s online activities each week.

For parents who are more hands-on with how their child uses technology, Qustodio provides excellent tools to manage and limit access.

4. Net Nanny

Net Nanny has been around for a while and is a powerful content filter. If you want to make sure that your kids are not accessing anything inappropriate, whether intentionally or by accident, Net Nanny is one of the best kids’ phone monitoring apps.

Here’s why I think it’s great:

Content filtering: Net Nanny is very good at filtering unwanted or adult material out of your child’s device.
Screen time management: Just like Qustodio, it lets you restrict how much time your child can spend on their phone.
Real-time alerts: Get notified when your child searches or visits restricted content.

It’s a solid app for content control, but it doesn’t offer the same level of social media or call monitoring as FamiSpy or Bark.

5. mSpy

If you want an easy app to follow that gives you exactly what you need, mSpy is a reliable option. It covers all the basics: tracking calls, messages, and even GPS location.

Here’s why mSpy makes the list:

Ease of use: mSpy is easy to download and use even for non-tech-savvy parents.
Monitoring key features: You can track calls, text, and GPS location, and access Facebook and Instagram.

How to Use FamiSpy to Monitor Kids’ Phones

Using FamiSpy on your kid’s phone is not very complex and you don’t need much technical expertise. I’ll walk you through it from installation, to monitoring options in the app.

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You first have to sign up for a FamiSpy account. Follow these steps:

Visit the FamiSpy website from a computer or smartphone.
Create an account using your email address and password.
When you open an account, you will be asked to select a subscription plan. Choose the plan that is right for you, depending on what features you need.

Step 2: Install FamiSpy on Your Child’s Device

Now that you have an account, the next step is to get the FamiSpy app on your child’s phone.

Step 3: Start Monitoring

After you have installed FamiSpy on your child’s phone, you can start tracking their movements through your FamiSpy dashboard. Here’s what you can do:

Login to your FamiSpy account on the website or app from your own device.
Access the dashboard: On the dashboard, you can see all of your child’s activities in one place such as:
- Real-time location tracking: Know the whereabouts of your child, 24/7.
- Call and text monitoring: Monitor calls and read text messages to see who they are talking to.
- Social media monitoring: You can spy on WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, etc.
- App usage: See what apps they are running and how much time are they spending on them.

Step 4: Review Data Regularly

View what your kid is up to on the FamiSpy dashboard regularly.

Important Notes:

FamiSpy operates discreetly: When you turn on stealth mode, the app runs silently on your child’s phone so they will not notice that they are being watched.
Open communication: Monitoring tools are great, but open communication with your child about phone and internet safety is vital too.

You’ll have everything you need to get started with FamiSpy and help keep your kid safe online after reading these tips.

How to Choose Apps to Monitor Kids’ Phones

If you’re looking for apps to keep an eye on your kid’s phone, there are a few things you need to think about to ensure you’re getting one that’s right for you, and that delivers the features you want. Here’s a guide on how to make the right choice:

1. Identify What You Want to Monitor

Before you install an app, determine what you want to track. There are some apps that only focus on certain categories, so you have to know what’s important to you:

Location tracking: If you want to know where your child is, get an app that has good GPS location tracking.
Social media monitoring: Social media monitoring services like FamiSpy or mSpy monitors social media interactions like Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook chats.
Calls and messages: If you want to track who is texting and calling your child, choose SMS & call log tracking apps.
App usage: If you are a parent that needs to control screen time or know which apps your kid uses, consider apps that give reports on app usage.

2. Compatibility with Your Child’s Device

Make sure the app is compatible with your child’s device:

For Android: Many monitoring apps offer a broader range of features on Android devices because they allow easier access to system-level data.
For iPhone/iOS: iPhone monitoring apps can require iCloud ID or other authorizations, and some features may not be supported (due to Apple’s privacy policy).

Before making a decision, check the app’s website or documentation to ensure it works on the device you need to monitor.

3. Ease of Installation and Use

You don’t want a complicated setup process. Try to get applications that are easy to install and set up. FamiSpy or mSpy are user-friendly apps, and anyone, even non-tech-savvy parents, can set up and begin monitoring in no time.

4. Stealth Mode Options

If you need the spying app to be inconspicuous, check if the app has a stealth mode. This ensures the app runs in the background without your child knowing. Most apps like FamiSpy offer this feature, but it’s always good to confirm before purchasing.

5. Privacy and Security

Because you’ll be getting your child’s data, make sure to choose an app from a reputable company with good privacy. Be sure to read the privacy policy of the app and make sure the data is encrypted. Data from your child should never be accessed by any third party.

6. Customer Support

With monitoring apps, you may encounter technical problems and therefore you need to opt for an app with good customer support. Tools such as FamiSpy have an on-call team that can assist you any time you have questions or queries.

Conclusion

How you decide which app to use to track your kids’ smartphones is up to you. And whether you’re looking to track where they are, or what they’re posting on social media, or just trying to reduce screen time, there’s an app for that. Regardless of which app you’re buying, always take into account your priority, ease of use, and confidentiality requirements. If you get the right app like FamiSpy, then you can not only keep your child safe, but give them freedom to explore the online world.

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