Cyber Safety Reviews

Below is a list of technology resources that we have researched and believe to be the best currently available to help with protecting your family in the digital world. Although these can be very helpful tools, none of these will address the problem of sin at the heart level. We need to be intentional and talk to our family and children about the importance of sexual integrity BEFORE it becomes a problem.

Note: If you would prefer to not take the time to read through all the different choices, just skip down to the Summary to read our recommendations!

Accountability

Accountable2You  (iOS, Android, Chromebook, Amazon Fire, Windows, macOS):  $7 - $12 /mo

Instant Text/Email Alerts sent to accountability partner(s) which can monitor texting (Android only), browsers, and apps for more than just pornography; No blocking or filtering; Compatible on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook. Social Media and YouTube apps are limited (e.g. A2U will not send an alert if viewing explicit content on Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, etc; Alerts will only be triggered by keywords from a search).

Click here for a 30-day free trial!

Account Level Monitoring and Control

Bark  (iOS, Android, Chromebook, Amazon Fire, Windows, macOS):  $14/mo

Monitors texts, photos, and videos on the device (Android only), and it stands out from the crowd by allowing you to monitor 30+ social media platforms and apps at the account level. This means that once you link the account, it will monitor that account for suspicious activity regardless of what device they are logged in with. The Bark app also includes web browser and app filtering, time scheduling for certain apps, location tracking, and reports. However, Bark's web browser and app filtering both require the use of a VPN which is fairly easy to disable. For this reason, we recommend using Qustodio or Kaspersky for filtering and time management control and using Bark as a companion tool for account-level protection. 

Click here for a 30-day free trial!

Filtering / Parental Control

Qustodio (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Chromebook, Kindle): FREE or $4.58 - $11.50 /mo

Includes robust web and app filtering, time limits, scheduling, location tracking, YouTube and text monitoring, as well as activity reports. Alerts are also sent to partner if user attempts to access a blocked website (although not as quickly as A2U). The only feature missing is an in-app option allowing the user to request extra screen time or to ask for a restricted site to be unblocked (like Microsoft Family Safety does with Windows).

The free version includes Web Filtering, Time Limits, Scheduling, Screen Time monitoring, and Activity Reports. The paid version includes the addition of App Filtering, YouTube Monitoring, Call/Text monitoring, and Location Tracking.

Canopy (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS): $7.99 -$15.99 /mo  depending on # of devices protected

Canopy has strong blocking/filtering software that is unique to its competitors. It blocks inappropriate images and videos in web browsers, replacing them with harmless white rectangles. Canopy filters all websites, but does not filter inside apps (like Snapchat and Instagram). However, no other parental control app can filter within apps either. Canopy does give parents the power to block any app they think isn’t right for their family. Additionally, you can set healthy limits on screen time by easily creating daily or weekly rules for when your child can go online.

Additionally, Canopy helps prevent sexting because it automatically scans and analyzes photos taken on the device, as well as photos that are downloaded. Before the child device downloads or sends a photo, it will need to be approved by the parent.

Enter Promo Code CYBERS20 for a free 30-day trial and 20% off forever!

Kaspersky Safe Kids (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS): FREE - $14.99 /year

Includes excellent web and app filtering as well as many parental control features (time limits and scheduling) that help you keep the user safe both online and offline. However, the time limits and scheduling features are not compatible or extremely limited with iOS devices, so we recommend Qustodio for iOS users. The Kaspersky Safe Kids free version includes Web/App filtering, Time Limits, and YouTube/Google Safe Search. For $14.99 per year, you receive device and app Time Scheduling, Location Tracking, and Real-Time Alerts.

Download the App in the Google or iOS App store. Then choose if parent or child account. Also Available on Windows.

Microsoft Family Safety (Microsoft Windows, Very Limited Android/iOS); FREE

Combines parental controls for all of your Microsoft devices, primarily Windows computers and Xbox consoles. This includes setting time limits and schedules, very basic filtering, app usage, and web activity reports (sent daily or weekly). A very limited set of features can also be enabled on Android phones and Apple devices but not recommended for this purpose. Our favorite feature is that the user can send a time request from their Windows computer. Requests for apps or websites can also be made. And best of all, this app is FREE!

See this excellent YouTube video to learn how to install and use Microsoft Family Safety.

Google Family Link (Android, Chromebook, Very Limited iOS): FREE

For Android and Chromebook users, features include very basic web/app filtering, enforcing YouTube/Google Safe Search, limiting usage and screen time, as well as location tracking. Google Family Link also lets you restrict what apps the user can download from Google Play and approve or deny their Google Play purchases. You will NOT find any precise web filtering and screen time limiting tools or the ability to monitor the user's texts. Additionally, you will lose all functionality once the user turns 13 years old (you can set up the user with an incorrect age as a workaround), as they’ll be given the ability to turn off your supervision. If you are an iOS user, the only feature here is the option to enforce YouTube Safe Search at an account level and the app is not required. For these reasons, we recommend Qustodio if you have an iOS device or if Android users need additional web filtering and parental controls.

See this excellent YouTube video to learn how to install and use Google Family Link.

Hardware Level Monitoring

Hardware-level filtering and monitoring allows you to protect EVERY device on your network. There are fewer options in this department with Bark Home being a little more robust than Disney Circle. Both of these devices plug into your router to offer protection. If you are looking to purchase a router, the Gryphon AX router has built-in parental controls and filtering. None of these however protect your mobile devices when they connect outside of this network. For this reason, we would instead recommend that software be installed to all mobile devices.

Location Tracking

Life360: FREE

Although many of the apps above include location tracking, Life360 is our recommended location tracking app to determine where your child is at. However, this app can be uninstalled, so if this is a concern, we would recommend Qustodio, Bark, or Google Family Link (Android only).

 Additional Resources

Best phones for pre-teen kids (Gabb, Pinwheel, Troomi)

Whatever It Takes (WIT) Ministries

ACCFS Sexual Integrity Course

Finally Free Book by Heath Lambert

Four Streams (previously Rtribe) App for iOS and Android

Summary

For ALL devices, we recommend Accountable2You for instant alerts, coupled with Bark as an additional layer for account-level monitoring. For advanced Filtering and Parental Controls that are easy to use on a single app, we recommend Qustodio. Consider Canopy instead of Qustodio if you would like to stop inapropriate images rather than blocking websites - although the parental controls are not quite as fully featured. 

If cost is a concern and you are an Android user and don't mind installing two separate apps, for a free alternative to Qustodio, you can alternatively use Kaspersky Safe Kids with Google Family Link (or Microsoft Family Safety if a Windows user) and get close to the same features. Although more limited and difficult to set up and manage, iOS users can use the Apple ScreenTime as a free alternative.

Note: For most Smart TV's and some other electronic displays that are unable to install the above-recommended apps, hardware level control would be your only option to protect these devices.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This helps to fund continued site development.

This website is a work in progress and I am actively working towards developing this site into a full comparison of the different filtering and accountability software and hardware available. Stay tuned!

Feel free to reach out to me at connect@cybersafetyreviews.org with any suggestions or questions!