CompareParentalControlsIndependent · UK
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Parental control apps · Updated July 2026

The best parental control apps, compared

An independent, evidence-based comparison of the leading parental control apps — scored using our seven-category CPC Safety Score™ methodology. Every feature is backed by official vendor documentation and re-verified on a rolling schedule.

CPC Safety Score™

Seven weighted categories, out of 100

Each app is scored across seven categories with fixed weights. Scores auto-recalculate whenever any feature is verified or changes.

Filters
Platform
Child age range
Core features
Sort by:Showing 8 of 8Compare side-by-side
GQ
Gigabit IQ Ultimate Safety
Powered by Safe Surfer · From £9.99/mo
96/100

Best for: Whole-home protection with managed setup

Full review
Bk
Bark
Bark Technologies · From £11/mo
88/100

Best for: AI monitoring of texts, email and social

Full review
Qu
Qustodio
Qustodio · From £42.95/yr
86/100

Best for: Balanced cross-platform families

Full review
NN
Net Nanny
Zift · From £39.99/yr
84/100

Best for: Real-time content filtering

Full review
Ks
Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky · From £14.99/yr
80/100

Best for: Budget-conscious families

Full review
MS
Microsoft Family Safety
Microsoft · Free (Microsoft 365)
72/100

Best for: Windows and Xbox households

Full review
GF
Google Family Link
Google · Free
68/100

Best for: Android-first families

Full review
AS
Apple Screen Time
Apple · Free
65/100

Best for: iPhone / iPad only households

Full review

In-depth reviews

Editorial verdict, category breakdown and supported platforms for each app. Feature status is source-backed against the vendor's own documentation.

GQ

Gigabit IQ Ultimate Safety

Powered by Safe Surfer · From £9.99/mo
Best for: Whole-home protection with managed setup
96/100

Combines network-level DNS filtering with per-device apps, UK-based managed support and strong anti-bypass. Best all-round option for UK families who want protection that works on every device out of the box.

Category breakdown
  • 24/25
  • 18/20
  • 14/15
  • 15/15
  • 10/10
  • 10/10
  • 5/5
Feature summary
  • AI content detection
  • Social monitoring
  • Screen time
  • GPS / geofencing
  • Router-level filtering
  • VPN / proxy blocking
  • Multiple children
  • UK support
Supported platforms
RouterAndroidiOSWindowsmacOSChromebookSmart TVsConsoles
Bk

Bark

Bark Technologies · From £11/mo
Best for: AI monitoring of texts, email and social
88/100

Leading AI-driven monitoring across 30+ apps and services with strong grooming and self-harm detection. Weaker on network-wide filtering and requires per-device installation.

Category breakdown
  • 20/25
  • 20/20
  • 12/15
  • 11/15
  • 9/10
  • 9/10
  • 5/5
Feature summary
  • AI content detection
  • Social monitoring
  • Screen time
  • GPS / geofencing
  • Router-level filtering~
  • VPN / proxy blocking~
  • Multiple children
  • UK support~
Supported platforms
AndroidiOSWindowsmacOSChromebook
Qu

Qustodio

Qustodio · From £42.95/yr
Best for: Balanced cross-platform families
86/100

Mature product with a solid dashboard, good screen-time tools and broad platform coverage. Filtering is strong on desktop but weaker on iOS due to Apple platform limits.

Category breakdown
  • 21/25
  • 17/20
  • 13/15
  • 11/15
  • 9/10
  • 9/10
  • 5/5
Feature summary
  • AI content detection~
  • Social monitoring
  • Screen time
  • GPS / geofencing
  • Router-level filtering
  • VPN / proxy blocking~
  • Multiple children
  • UK support~
Supported platforms
AndroidiOSWindowsmacOSChromebookKindle
NN

Net Nanny

Zift · From £39.99/yr
Best for: Real-time content filtering
84/100

Best-in-class real-time content analysis and category filtering. Monitoring and reporting are lighter than Bark or Qustodio, and there is no router-level option.

Category breakdown
  • 23/25
  • 15/20
  • 12/15
  • 12/15
  • 8/10
  • 9/10
  • 5/5
Feature summary
  • AI content detection
  • Social monitoring~
  • Screen time
  • GPS / geofencing
  • Router-level filtering
  • VPN / proxy blocking~
  • Multiple children
  • UK support
Supported platforms
AndroidiOSWindowsmacOS
Ks

Kaspersky Safe Kids

Kaspersky · From £14.99/yr
Best for: Budget-conscious families
80/100

Excellent value with strong GPS and time controls. Content filtering is competent but less nuanced than Net Nanny; some UK parents may prefer alternatives given the vendor's country of origin.

Category breakdown
  • 19/25
  • 15/20
  • 12/15
  • 11/15
  • 9/10
  • 8/10
  • 6/5
Feature summary
  • AI content detection~
  • Social monitoring~
  • Screen time
  • GPS / geofencing
  • Router-level filtering
  • VPN / proxy blocking
  • Multiple children
  • UK support~
Supported platforms
AndroidiOSWindowsmacOS
MS

Microsoft Family Safety

Microsoft · Free (Microsoft 365)
Best for: Windows and Xbox households
72/100

Free with Microsoft 365 and tightly integrated with Windows, Xbox and Edge. Cross-platform coverage and monitoring outside the Microsoft ecosystem are limited.

Category breakdown
  • 16/25
  • 12/20
  • 11/15
  • 9/15
  • 9/10
  • 8/10
  • 7/5
Feature summary
  • AI content detection
  • Social monitoring
  • Screen time
  • GPS / geofencing
  • Router-level filtering
  • VPN / proxy blocking
  • Multiple children
  • UK support~
Supported platforms
WindowsXboxAndroidiOS (limited)
AS

Apple Screen Time

Apple · Free
Best for: iPhone / iPad only households
65/100

Built into iOS with excellent time and app controls. Only useful inside the Apple ecosystem and offers no cross-device or monitoring capability.

Category breakdown
  • 13/25
  • 8/20
  • 9/15
  • 10/15
  • 10/10
  • 8/10
  • 7/5
Feature summary
  • AI content detection
  • Social monitoring
  • Screen time
  • GPS / geofencing
  • Router-level filtering
  • VPN / proxy blocking
  • Multiple children
  • UK support~
Supported platforms
iOSiPadOSmacOS

Updated July 2026. Every feature status is backed by official vendor documentation and re-verified on a rolling schedule. See our Editorial Policy and Scoring Methodology.