Filtering software review

They promise to complete responses by the end of the next business day. If you want to try self-help options, there are plenty, with separate FAQ sections on the website for every operating system, passwords, downloads, business solutions, and returns.

Their helpful knowledge base is a good tool to use when researching problems. There is also a newsletter if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings with the software and filtering in general. A review of the complaints and ContentWatch's responses shows that they are responsive and are handling the complaints in an acceptable manner, including refunds, when the software doesn't meet the needs of a user.

NetNanny continues to top the heap of internet filtering products available today. The price is both affordable and competitive and it has good support and robust features. The NetNanny product name has longevity and brand recognition that shows it has made critical improvements over time. You may recognize the name McAfee from the familiar anti-virus software installed on most new computers.

You may have even purchased and configured the Safe Eyes software McAfee publishes to help you filter and monitor your kids' activities online. Mac OS devices seem to have been left out of their offering at this time, which is unfortunate since Mac is becoming a more popular platform than Windows for family computing.

The difference in name and price and which platforms were available at each price was a little baffling. There is a day money-back trial available if you want to see whether it will work for your family. Safe Eyes lets you see each device's activity, including websites and applications accessed as well as the device's current location and places where the child used its check-in feature.

So, for example, if your child is away from home going to the movies with friends, you'll get an alert when they arrive. If you have a need to set rules and timeframes for access on a device, website, or app, you can use pre-defined age-based rules and customize them based on each child's needs.

If there is any kind of exception needed for a particular rule, you can allow your child to request extra app time or access blocked apps or websites. Don't be surprised if you're confused as you try to figure out what Safe Eyes offers. When we reviewed the website, we found a three-column list of features which said the ones common to all platforms include:.

However, we found that some of the iOS-only features it lists are "checked" on the three-column list. A link on the page specifically for iOS devices noted that the experience on Windows and Android devices differs from iOS because iOS is more advanced.

For example, on iOS you can use "geofencing" to define "places" to send automatic notifications when your child arrives at or departs from the geofence. But those features are also listed for Android and Windows. On iOS you can be alerted in an activity feed when a child tries to uninstall Safe Eyes or disable features, but Windows and Android also show a list of installed apps for each device.

The truly iOS-only features seemed to be reports of time usage limit violations on texting, phone or other apps that aren't blocked by Safe Eyes and seeing the last known location of your family member's device. Support is available only via a McAfee general support portal website for all its products and not just for Safe Eyes.

That site presents a lot of self-help and community-based options up front, but buries the contact Support button below the scroll line. On the direct contact page there is yet another list of categorized support options, now including social media, but, again, the "submit a case online" link is buried below the scroll line. That link only leads to a simple contact form where you submit your description and then wait for the page to refresh showing you a button to initiate chat.

We were able to connect with chat in about 2 minutes. But an inquiry into the confusion of features on different platforms took about 20 minutes to complete, with the representative having to check with a higher-level team twice to get the correct answer.

McAfee has three listings with the Better Business Bureau, two of which are the same, but only one customer review, no accreditation and no rating. The one customer review was a complaint about not having authorized automatic billing. There was no response or resolution from McAfee. On iTunes, the iOS app enjoys a 4. Another major review site gave it lower marks for being expensive, not available on Macs, and no web-based interface. Due to the confusing nature of the features list, a long support chat with an unknowledgeable support person, and problems with kids being able to hack the app and turn it off, our rating is lower than the overall iTunes Store rating.

But the software might still be of good use for most users who already have McAfee products and want the convenience of adding Safe Eyes to that subscription set. Qustodio software is for families, schools, and businesses. It provides internet filtering protection, time limits, and reporting on user activities. There is a day trial. The administrator can set time limits on every device for how much time on the internet is allowed every day.

Location tracking capabilities ensure you can see a map of where your child's Android or iOS device is iOS only. If a phone call comes through that is on a filtered list, it will be blocked, and you can track who your child calls most often Android only. The extended reporting module shows you a full usage history over the past 30 days of activity.

Facebook monitoring is available to see which photos are being uploaded, what status updates say, and who their friends are. If apps and games are a problem, you can decide which ones will not be allowed and which can be used and when. If a child experiences any sort of trouble while away from you, they can tap an "SOS" button on an Android phone that sends a location-based alert. To see who a child texts the most you can see their Android phone contacts list, read the SMS messages they send, and create a list of blocked contacts.

To get support, just click the "Help" link on the website to search by keyword or access categories of typical help topics. To contact the support team about a problem you need to log in and provide the issue information. It does not work on Chromebooks or Windows phones. One user who reviewed the software after using it stated that the iOS premium version doesn't offer any further functionality than the free version does and that it does not limit how much time a child spends playing non-internet games.

On the positive side, another user stated that it is great for moms, especially if they're single or divorced, just for the peace of mind that comes with child tracking capabilities alone.

The developer has responded to only a few concerns people have expressed. Qustodio currently has an unaccredited profile and an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau because of failure to respond to 3 complaints users have filed against them. We can only rate Qustodio with three stars at this time. Even though the screenshots and reports seem very intuitive and the software looks to be easy to use, the low rating of the iOS app and unanswered complaints at the Better Business Bureau and in iTunes App Store reviews caused us to rate them lower than we otherwise would have.

Verity Parental Control software, available for Windows PCs only, is able to block programs or websites that you designate as potentially or actually harmful. You can track usage of all websites visited and applications used and take screenshots at various intervals to see what is going on with your child's usage. Verity also includes monitoring online chatting via screenshots , setting daily time limits for the whole computer, an application, or a website, and customizing restrictions for each user based on their login.

You can access usage reports via a password-protected online portal or through automated emails. The trouble with the Verity setup is that it's not a named website, but an IP address of the machine, with Verity installed, that is being monitored.

You have to enter its IP address and port number in a browser to access that computer's monitoring. It's not very intuitive for the average user to figure out the first time, but the URL can be bookmarked for later. Managing the screenshots and log data is also not intuitive as you need to log into the monitored machine and traverse its Windows folders to deal with individual files.

Verity has the ability to count keystrokes and mouse clicks per application, though it's not made clear on the vendor's website the purpose of counting keystrokes and mouse clicks.

Verity is only available on Windows, but is supported on XP up to Windows But, even though NCH appears to be addressing its customer complaints, its customer reviews could be better at only 3. Our opinion of this software is that the way it is built is out-of-step with modern applications, requiring the user to know how to use Windows directories and remember where files are stored, as well as using obscure, difficult-to-remember IP addresses and port numbers to access the monitoring interface.

The software could use a good modernization before it will qualify for a higher rating. PC Tattletale markets itself as computer monitoring software that is simple to install, records everything a user does, and lets you view their activity in detail, even remotely.

PC Tattletale seems to cater to two types of purchasers: employers and families. For employers, the draw would be to watch every detail of every activity the employee does on the computer, without the employee being informed of the monitoring.

This way, an employer can see whether the employee is looking for another job, stealing, following instructions, taking longer breaks than usual, browsing unapproved websites, playing games, or watching videos when they ought to be working.

For family users, PC Tattletale lets parents monitor their kids to see if they're being cyberbullied, playing too many video games, watching violent or pornographic YouTube videos, starting secret profiles and sharing inappropriate photos, as well as seeing who they're chatting with and sending email to. The approach PC Tattletale takes is reactive. It has nothing to do with filtering to prevent inappropriate activities before they occur and only focuses on catching someone in the act and addressing the problem after the fact.

While this may be the preferred approach of some families and employers, the approach is rather fear-based. There are a lot of good reasons to choose internet filtering and monitoring software that is not based on fear alone.

Net Nanny includes time controls to block kids from the internet when they should be asleep, at school, doing homework or chores. 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.

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. 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 is the lowest cost provider that we recommend, as it packs in the essential features and offers very detailed reports, but doesn't cost the earth.

In terms of social media monitoring, it covers the big providers like Facebook and YouTube, and it'll happily track your family's usage across all the major iOS and Android devices.

You get a very generous devices per license, so you won't run out of these any time soon. Kaspersky Safe Kids has many of the standard tracking tools too, like geo-tracking alerts for when your kids leave a certain safe zone, or they visit an area you've designed as 'off limits'.

Handily, it'll also alert you when their phones are switched off or they run out of battery, including a last known location. The downside is that some of the major social media platforms are not covered by this software, like Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat. It also lacks for some features on iOS that come as standard on Android and PC, so if your family exclusively uses Apple products, you may want to consider something like Net Nanny instead. Surfie is compatible with both Android and iOS cellphones and tablets, plus it has a Windows computer version.

It comes with 18 filter categories that make it easy to block related websites under each category, including pornography, violence and online gaming. On top of web filters, Surfie lets you control when your child has internet access and how long they can be online, even on cellphones. One of the best features of Surfie is its keyword monitor that alerts you if someone sends your child a test, email or instant message with words or phrases that tend to be red flags.

It also works in reverse to monitor what your child sends, prohibiting them from using your tagged keyword and from sharing personal information online. All email, instant messages and text transcripts are recorded for you to read. If social media is your biggest concern and we suspect it is for most , then you have two great options. Net Nanny is good, and Bark also has a great range of features for keeping tabs on your kids across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

It's perfect for keeping track of the conversations your kids are having, and with who. It not only monitors the obvious trigger words, but also has an AI-powered learning system that detects upcoming threats and topics that kids shouldn't be exposed to. It also monitors behavior patterns, to prevent your kids from slipping too deep down rabbit holes, which is a brilliant feature in the current social media climate. There are loads of other features like alerts, weekly reports, and the ability to prevent certain new apps from being downloaded to phones.

The downsides are that it is expensive, and Bark isn't the best at deciding what's important and what isn't, so you'll find yourself with a lot of alerts to check through.

For Mac computers we highly recommend ContentBarrier by Intego. It does not matter what age your child is, or whether they are using a mobile device, Windows or a macOS computer. In this roundup, you will find the perfect choice of the best free parental control software to lend you a vigilant hand. The best parental control software right now is: Qustodio Qustodio's premium parental control tools are the best around.

YouTube monitoring, the ability to see time spent on social networks, time limits for games and call tracking are just some of the options available. These tools aren't free, but they'll provide an extra layer of protection to keep your kids safe. Keeping your children safe on the internet is becoming a more difficult task every day, but it has never been more important.

The amount of inappropriate content online is troubling and without some form of parental control software, there is little way of knowing what your child is looking at.

The free version is one of the most comprehensive parental control apps around, enabling you to set rules and time schedules, block pornography and other unsuitable content.

If you go for the paid-for version, you'll also get SMS monitoring, social media features and per-app controls. Its raft of features and support for a wide range of platforms make Qustodio the best free parental control software, but there are some other excellent free programs available, some of which may be better suited to your individual needs as a parent.

Read on for the rest of our our top choices. Read our full Qustodio parental control software review. One of the big pluses here is that while FamilyShield can run on PCs and mobile devices, you can also apply it to your network router and filter all the traffic that passes through it — it's just a matter of changing the DNS server numbers in your control panel.

By filtering everything at the router level, every device on your network benefits from the filters. For more options, there's also a premium service available. Nothing gets past Kidlogger. This free parental control software not only tracks what your children type and which websites they visit — it also keeps a record of which programs they use and any screengrabs they take.

If you're concerned about who your kids might be talking to online, there's even a voice-activated sound recorder. If your children are a little older and more responsible, you can pick and choose which options to monitor and give them a little privacy.

The free software only covers one device and lacks some of the sneakier features of the premium editions including silent monitoring of WhatsApp conversations and the ability to listen to Skype calls , but it's still a well-rounded tool if you're concerned about your kids' safety. Read our full KidLogger review. Keyloggers have something of a bad reputation online, as they're often used by crooks hoping to capture passwords and bank details, but they can be a force for good too, and Spyrix Free Keylogger enables you to see what your children have been up to.