While Internet filtering isn't something you should cut corners with, we appreciate that services vary wildly when it comes to price. Kaspersky Safe Kids 2021: Best value internet filter app The biggest drawback of Net Nanny is that some important tools, such as social media monitoring, chat message capturing and text notifications for parents, require you to purchase a separate program that works alongside the Net Nanny internet filter program.ģ. Because you can set up an account for each child, older children can be given longer time limits for school projects, online games or streaming videos. Net Nanny includes time controls to block kids from the internet when they should be asleep, at school, doing homework or chores. Net Nanny sends a notice through the parent reports when profanity was typed or blocked from being seen. You can set it to change the funny words or symbols as they’re typed, or the program can completely erase the word. It also prevents children from typing these words into search fields and chat messages.

One of the most unique features of Net Nanny is the profanity blocker that masks swear words on websites so your child can’t see or read them. The program sends an email alert if your child enables a proxy or privacy server to hide their internet searches. There are 18 filter categories to help you quickly restrict access to websites about pornography, drugs and alcohol, suicide and gore. Net Nanny is one of the cheapest internet filter programs we tested, but still includes the most important protection tools to block dangerous content online. You can also tag words and phrases, such as 'come alone' or “don’t tell your mom,” so if someone sends a message with these phrases, you will know.Ģ.

While other programs simply tell you when your child has accessed their email account or chatted with someone through an instant messenger program, Qustodio captures the whole conversation. Qustodio records a lot of details about what your children do online and provides a detailed report.

For example, if your kids are allowed online between 6pm and 9pm on school nights, you can set Qustodio to kick them off after an hour or two, controlling overall screen time. The time management controls let you control timeframes for internet access (so your child can’t get online when they are supposed to be asleep or at school), and they also let you control how long kids can stay logged on during allowed times. Qustodio has 29 filter categories to quickly and easily block websites and content children don’t need to see. You can access each child’s profile from your phone and adjust their access and time allowances you don’t have to be at a computer or on the device itself to adjust the settings. Qustodio is our top pick for internet filters in part because it is easy to install on both computers and smartphones.

Free internet filtering software