Best Free Parental Control Apps in 2026

The best free parental controls in 2026 are already on your family’s devices: Google Family Link for Android and Chromebooks and Apple Screen Time for iPhone, iPad and Mac. If you need more, Qustodio Free is the best free third-party app, and several paid apps offer free trials.

Free tools handle the basics well: time limits, app approvals, content filters and location. Paid apps add detailed reports, cross-platform dashboards and alerts about messages. Details were checked in November 2026.

Quick summary of the best free parental control apps in 2026

See numbers 6 to 12 of the best free parental control apps

Kaspersky Safe Kids Free

6. Kaspersky Safe Kids Free: Best free plan outside the US

Generous free version, but not available in the US.

ESET Parental Control

7. ESET Parental Control: Best free basic plan for Android

Free basic Android controls from a trusted security brand.

Norton Family

8. Norton Family: Best free trial

Try full-featured supervision free for 30 days.

Bark

9. Bark: Best free trial for message monitoring

Try Bark’s AI alerts for cyberbullying and predators free for a week.

FamilyTime

10. FamilyTime: Best budget upgrade

Low-cost screen time and location after a free trial.

ClevGuard

11. ClevGuard: Most detailed monitoring (paid)

Very detailed monitoring for serious concerns; no free plan.

SentryPC

12. SentryPC: Best for family computers (trial)

Computer filtering and time limits after a free trial.

Best free parental control apps compared

How the 12 picks compare on the details that matter most.

Product	Free option	Free limits	Platforms
Google Family Link	Yes, completely free	Fewer reports than paid apps	Android, Chromebook (parent app on iPhone too)
Apple Screen Time	Yes, completely free	Apple devices only	iPhone, iPad, Mac
Qustodio Free	Yes, free plan	One device, basic features	iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Chromebook, Kindle
Mobicip	Yes, free basic plan	One device, basic filtering	iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Chromebook, Kindle
KidLogger	Yes, free basic plan	Limited history and devices	Windows, macOS, Android
Kaspersky Safe Kids Free	Yes, free version	Basic filtering and limits	iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
ESET Parental Control	Yes, free basic version	Fewer features	Android
Norton Family	30-day free trial	Trial only	iOS, Android, Windows
Bark	7-day free trial	Trial only	iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Chromebook
FamilyTime	Free trial	Trial only	iOS, Android, Kindle
ClevGuard	No free plan	Demo only	Android, iOS (limited)
SentryPC	Free trial	Trial only	Windows, macOS, Chromebook

1. Google Family Link: Best free parental controls for Android

Google Family Link is free and built into Android and ChromeOS. You can approve app downloads, set daily limits and bedtimes, filter Chrome and see your child’s location.

It is the best place to start for any Android family before paying for anything.

Google Family Link key features

• App approvals and limits.
• Bedtime and daily limits.
• Location sharing.
• SafeSearch and Chrome filtering.

2. Apple Screen Time: Best free parental controls for iPhone

Screen Time is built into iOS, iPadOS and macOS. It lets you set app limits, downtime, content and privacy restrictions and approve purchases with Ask to Buy, all through Family Sharing.

Pair it with Find My for location.

Apple Screen Time key features

• App limits and downtime.
• Content and privacy restrictions.
• Ask to Buy.
• Communication limits.

3. Qustodio Free: Best free third-party app

Qustodio’s free plan covers one device with web filtering, a daily time limit and activity reports, using the same easy dashboard as its paid plans.

Upgrade if you need more devices, app limits or location.

Qustodio Free key features

• Web filtering.
• Daily time limit.
• Activity summary.

4. Mobicip: Best free plan for young kids

Mobicip’s free basic plan gives you age-based web filtering on one device. Premium adds app blocking, schedules and location.

Good for younger children.

Mobicip key features

• Age-based filters.
• Simple setup.

5. KidLogger: Best free activity logger

KidLogger’s free plan records app and website use and time spent, so you can see patterns before setting rules.

It focuses on logging rather than blocking.

KidLogger key features

• Activity logs.
• Time tracking.
• Website history.

6. Kaspersky Safe Kids Free: Best free plan outside the US

Kaspersky Safe Kids has one of the most generous free versions, with web filtering and app management. Kaspersky software cannot be sold in the US since 2024, so this is only for readers elsewhere.

Kaspersky Safe Kids Free key features

• Web filtering.
• App management.

7. ESET Parental Control: Best free basic plan for Android

ESET Parental Control’s basic version offers app and web limits on Android, with a web portal for parents. Premium adds location and more reports.

ESET Parental Control key features

• App and web limits.
• Web portal.

8. Norton Family: Best free trial

Norton Family is not free long term, but its 30-day trial gives you every feature, and it is included in Norton 360 Deluxe if you already have it.

Norton Family key features

• Web and search supervision.
• School Time.
• Unlimited devices.

9. Bark: Best free trial for message monitoring

Bark’s free trial lets you test its AI monitoring of texts, email and social media before paying. Bark Jr is a cheaper plan focused on screen time and filtering.

Bark key features

• AI risk alerts.
• Unlimited devices.

10. FamilyTime: Best budget upgrade

FamilyTime offers a free trial and then one of the lowest prices for screen time, app blocking, geofences and SOS alerts.

FamilyTime key features

• Screen time.
• Geofences and SOS.

11. ClevGuard: Most detailed monitoring (paid)

ClevGuard has no free plan and is far more intrusive than the others. Keep it for serious safety concerns, on devices you own, and talk to your child about it.

ClevGuard key features

• Message and call monitoring.
• Location history.

12. SentryPC: Best for family computers (trial)

SentryPC focuses on computers, with content filtering, time schedules and activity logs. It offers a free trial.

SentryPC key features

• Content filtering.
• Time schedules.

Free vs paid parental controls

	Free tools	Paid apps
Screen time and app limits	Yes	Yes
Web filtering	Basic	Advanced
Location	Yes (built-in tools)	Yes, with geofences
Message and social media alerts	No	Some apps, such as Bark
Cross-platform dashboard	No	Yes

Start free, then upgrade if you need more. See our full list of the best parental control apps.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a completely free parental control app?

Yes. Google Family Link and Apple Screen Time are completely free. Qustodio and Mobicip have free plans for one device.

Can I use Family Link on an iPhone?

Parents can manage from an iPhone, but the child’s device must be Android or a Chromebook. For a child’s iPhone, use Apple Screen Time.

Are free parental control apps safe?

Built-in tools from Google and Apple and well-known apps such as Qustodio are safe. Avoid unknown free apps that ask for excessive permissions.

Final thoughts

Start with the free tools you already have: Google Family Link on Android and Apple Screen Time on Apple devices. Add Qustodio Free if you want a cross-platform dashboard, and use the free trials of Bark or Norton Family before paying.