The Best Internet Filters

Thursday, March 20th

2025 Internet Filter Reviews

Aura

• All-inclusive price of $99/year
• All-inclusive coverage and monitoring
• All major mobile apps included
• Extras for personal security and identity
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• Gaming monitoring
• 14-day free trial
• 4.7-star average from app stores
• "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB

Newly acquired by Aura, the tech company formerly called Circle is considered a leader in online security and internet filters. Shifting over to the Aura website, this solution now includes blocks and filters for tons of popular sites including YouTube, Roblox, Snapchat, Discord, and more. Developed with award-winning technology, Aura currently supports over 100,000 parents. The actual controls for the internet filter are still considered "powered by Circle”, but most of the company materials are titled "Aura Parental Controls” or something similar. Don't worry, though - it's all the same technology either way. Praised by Mom's Choice Awards, Trustpilot, and TechRadar, Aura is a favorite with parents and tech professionals alike.

Block sites and apps and monitor history

There are plenty of helpful features offered by Aura Internet filters: time limits for online and device usage, internet pausing, and a browser history and usage monitor are all included. Currently, Aura has blocked 11 billion different malicious and questionable websites and 176 million sites with adult or NSFW content. You'll find content filters for apps like TikTok, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, WhatsApp, Venmo, Steam, Instagram, Slack, and more. Basically, anywhere your loved ones can access videos, chats, or games, Aura will help manage access. You can also see spending habits, set a "bedtime” for devices, and "focus time” for homework periods where you want to restrict internet access on a mobile device.

Blocking through app access

As the parent or administrator, you can manage mobile devices across any network from anywhere in the world with the Aura app. When you click on the Free Trial button on the Circle site, you'll be redirected to Aura where the app is available for download. The app can be downloaded to any device that you want to monitor. This works on mobile and desktop devices to protect your kids from toxic gaming communities or cyberbullying through social media or text messaging.

All-inclusive price of $99/year

There's only one all-inclusive plan available for Aura. The Aura app costs $99 per year and includes:

• Protection for unlimited devices
• Mobile device management
• Filter and blocking for sites and apps
• Screen time limits
• Internet pausing
• Online history view
• App usage and site usage tracking
• Custom settings for each family member
• Bedtime scheduling
• 24/7 gaming monitoring
• Threat alerts for predators, scams, and cyberbullying
• Weekly gaming activity reports
• Antivirus for 10 devices
• Dark web monitoring and alerts

14-day free trial

Aura offers a 14-day free trial which provides ample time to test out the program. You won't have to pay anything for the app until the 14-day trial is complete, and you'll be able to cancel for free anytime within that period without worry. As an added bonus, the Aura app is backed by Robert Downey Jr. as his chosen app to protect his family. Plus with praise from USA Today, Forbes, and The View, Aura is one of the fan favorites online.

Additional protection includes financial and identity theft

Aura is one of the best apps out there for total protection. On top of the parental control and internet filtering services, you can get access to identity theft protection and financial protection with up to $1 million in insurance for your security. While this isn't the same as a money-back guarantee for the internet filter, it's great to see this site stands behind its services completely.

Ideal for families and gamers

One of the best features of Aura is its specialized protection for gaming sites and apps. You can be sure that even on games where you kids are interacting with other children through video or text chat, they'll be protected through Aura from cyberbullying or unwanted NSFW/inappropriate content. This makes Aura the most ideal internet filter for families and those who want a cleaner gaming experience.

Top scores from reviews and mobile app users

Aura has a top-tier "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Further, Aura has an impressive 4.5-star average rating on Trustpilot. Reviewers praise the customer service and helpful walk-throughs for signing up and getting the internet filters going on home devices. Customers note this is one of the most comprehensive suites for personal and family security on the market. Further, users on the Apple Store give Aura a 4.7-star average rating with over 41,000 individual reviews. Most users leave comments about how easy Aura is to use, and the transition from Circle didn't affect the coverage and security at all.

Top pick for the total package

Despite Circle moving over to a new name, it's got the same top-notch reputation and impressive reviews for its safety and security features. Aura covers every primary social media and texting app or website and protects your family and children from NSFW content and unwanted security concerns. With extra features like bedtime and pausing your wifi, you have ultimate control over what devices on your Aura network can access. With highly positive reviews and an all-inclusive price, Aura stands out as the top pick in our review with a full 5-star rating.

Qustodio

• Prices from $54.95 to $99.95 per year
• Annual payments optional
• Free trial
• YouTube and app monitoring included
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• Block specific sites and filter online searches
• Data reports on device usage
• Demo available on request

Qustodio is an internet filter and parental control app that offers all-in-one security and digital well-being. With over 6 million customers already on board Qustodio's platform, you can join other happy parents using it - to keep your child safe with secure and balanced screen time on every device. Qustodio is available on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, iOS, and Kindle platforms, and with top ratings from third-party review sites, this app allows complete flexibility and monitoring across your child's entire device usage.

Impressively flexible protection

Whether you want to filter content, monitor activity, set screen time limits for devices or specific apps, locate your family, or track calls and texts, Qustodio is the place to look. The filters block everything from games to apps to entire websites, and with auto-block enabled, Qustodio will keep your child's device from accessing potentially harmful sites too. You can log in and see real-time activity including how much time your child has spent on individual apps, their browsing history, and screen time across all usage. With time limits and routines, Qustodio helps prevent screen addiction, encourage healthy sleep schedules, and put time limits on some apps (like social media) but not others (like learning or school apps). Some levels of Qustodio and add-ons include personalized assistance and phone support to advise you on the best steps for caring for your children's online well-being.

Blocks sites you didn't even know were bad

To get started on Qustodio, you just need to sign up for a free account. You can decide what level of paid coverage you want later. Then, you'll want to install Qustodio on your child's devices and the parent app onto your device to begin monitoring your child's internet usage in real-time. You won't be able to use the features until you have your subscription, but you can download the app to see how the program works for free. The Qustodio software works by blocking both websites and apps you select outright, alongside blocking potentially harmful apps and websites as they pop up, so you get a mix of proactive and pre-selected protection.

Prices from $54.95 to $99.95 per year

There are two subscriptions available at Qustodio: Basic and Complete. Here's what you can expect:

• Basic
• Blocking games and apps
• Daily time limits
• Web filtering
• Location monitoring
• Pause internet access
• Up to 5 devices
• Cost: $54.95/year
• Complete
• All of the features of Basic
• Custom routines
• AI-powered search alerts
• Custom alerts
• Game and app time limits
• Calls and message monitoring
• Unlimited devices
• Phone support included
• Cost: $99.95/year

Free trial, but we're not sure how long

When you sign up for Qustodio the first time, you'll be notified that you're going to get a free trial. The website doesn't say how long the trial is before you sign up. We completed the signup process and were unable to see any specific timelines for the free trial, but the site did not ask us to pay up front before downloading the apps.

30-day refund policy

Qustodio offers a 30-day refund policy for its app and software. If you buy your subscription directly from the Qustodio website, you can contact the customer service team within 30 days and get a full refund. However, if you pay via an in-app purchase after downloading the app from Apple or Google, you will be under the app store's policies rather than Qustodio directly.

Best for families who are looking for all-in-one security

This app is an all-around great choice for families of any size or age. Designed to keep kids safe online, Qustodio hits all the key points, with help that includes even modern apps (like Snapchat and TikTok) and AI technology to proactively block concerning websites without you adding them to the list (on the higher-paid subscription). If you're looking for an easy way to connect your family's security, this app is designed to be an all-in-one approach to internet filtering.

Qustodio has long-term fans

Qustodio is missing a rating on the Better Business Bureau at this time, but it has impressive reviews from parents on app stores. Currently, Qustodio has a solid 4.2-star average rating on the Apple Store. Most customers who have downloaded Qustodio have been using the software for multiple years, preferring the simplicity and all-in-one approach over apps by competitors. Reviews are a little more mid-tier on third-party review sites like Trustpilot where Qustodio only has 3.1 stars out of 5. Many customers say that the Complete Package isn't worth the money and it has more issues than the Basic in terms of usability. However, customers do agree that Qustodio is easy to set up across all review sites.

A solid choice for all-in-one filtering

There are some great features at Qustodio, and its all-in-one approach and standout reviews on app sites make it a solid contender for internet filtering. With a lack of transparency on the length of the free trial and some issues with the tech in the highest-tier subscription, Qustodio isn't quite our top pick. However, it's still a top contender overall for its impressive app security and features as well as its 30-day refund policy. For this reason, Qustodio earns a solid rating in our review.

Norton Family

• $49.99 per year for all features
• YouTube monitoring included
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• Block specific sites
• 60-day refund policy
• 4.4-star average rating
• "A+” rating from the BBB

A lot of us may know the name Norton from the popular internet security features and anti-virus software that earned the company a household name in tech. Outside of spyware and virus protection, Norton also has the Norton Family software for protecting children as they browse online. Norton's online safety tools include filters and parental limits to help you keep your loved ones safe from inappropriate online content. Available on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac devices, you can easily protect your child on mobile devices at home and away.

Most features are review-based and data-driven

The primary features of Norton Family include filters that skim websites, videos, and mobile apps, supervision capabilities to view and manage the apps on your child's devices, web browsing blockers to keep your child from specific content, video supervision so you can review a child's YouTube history, data on your child's search history, and location supervision with a 30-day history. Notably, Norton Family doesn't offer specific supervision on chat apps, though you are able to choose which apps your child can and can't download.

Blocks the site before you visit

The filtering system works primarily by blocking your child from accessing a specific site or app. There are two ways to block. First, you can totally block a site by Norton Family. This is a blanket block and the site can't be accessed. The other option allows you to choose to give your child a warning when entering specific sites, but allow them to enter after seeing the warning. Unlike other apps or software that use keywords, the total block of a specific site maintains your child's safety on their device no matter what they search or browse online. You can also schedule or block access to the device to create offline time for your child as needed.

$49.99 per year for all features

Norton Family is all offered at one simple price. There are no separate plans or upgrades. If you want Norton Family, it will be $49.99 per year with access to all features. You can also access Norton Family if you already have a Norton 350 Premium or Deluxe membership for security, but for just Norton Family, there is a separate subscription option.

Refunds within 60 days

There is no free trial offered by Norton Family. Instead, Norton offers a full refund within 60 days if you get an annual plan, so you can try out the app for approximately two months before you need to make a final decision. This is one of the longest terms for a return policy that we've seen, offering a little more protection despite no free trial.

Best for families who know what to block

Norton Family is best for those looking to block access to certain sites. While there are other features offered, this is the primary way that Norton Family offers internet filtering. This is an app designed for families, not businesses. You'll need to proactively block anything you're worried about, which may take more work than other internet filters.

Solid scores and praise for blocking

Most of the reviews online for Norton are for its LifeLock subscription or the general Norton service. We found a few tech review sites that reviewed Norton Family, specifically, and these were generally around 4.4 out of 5 stars with praise for the real-time alerts without being too invasive. Norton itself has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, and the app store shows an above-average rating of 3.1 stars on Google Play and 3.9 stars on Apple. In general, customers like that the app is great for blocking out unwanted content after you get the entire thing set up. Some users felt that the learning curve for Norton Family was a little high, but in general, the praise is over 70% 5 stars.

Great blocking software to try

While the features may seem a little more slim on Norton Family, this is a good internet filter if you know what to block. By stopping your kids from accessing sites that are dangerous (or potentially dangerous), Norton Family allows access to the internet and social apps without "over blocking” with keywords. For an app that offers you complete control and data as well, Norton is a great choice to check out. While we'd love to see a free trial in the future, it still comes in with a solid rating.

Mobicip

• Prices from $35.88 to $95.88 per year
• 5-10 devices at low costs
• All major mobile apps included
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• 7-day free trial
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB

Mobicip is an internet filter that is designed as a parental control app for "busy parents”. Designed to be used on iOS, Android, MacOS, Windows Chromebook, and Kindle, this internet filtering app's primary goal is to provide a way to monitor and protect your children. Currently, more than 2 million people are using Mobicip. With software that's been featured on CNN, PC Magazine, TechRader, and The New York Times, Mobicip is an effective app to help instill healthy limits on screen time and protect children from NSFW content online.

Blocking apps, monitoring, and data summaries

The primary features offered by Mobicip include limits for internet and screen usage, app limits, and schedules for online time. You can also expect an internet filter and app blocker for sites and apps that you don't want your children to have access to. Mobicip offers monitoring for a variety of social media sites, live location services, and an activity summary of your children's devices.

Block before they download

The blocking features allow you to filter out specific apps or websites. Mobicip will block all "17+” apps by default for child users. The blocking works in advance so your kids can't download anything you don't want them to. You can also limit access to types of apps or websites like "social media” or "entertainment”, depending on if you only want your child using a device for a specific purpose. These are all editable in the parent portal, so you can change and update access as necessary.

Prices from $35.88 to $95.88 per year

There are three plans to choose from on Mobicip: Lite, Standard, and Premium. For the Lite plan, you can expect to manage up to 5 devices and access the app blocker, web blocker, screen time limits, and activity schedules. There's also a family locator and you can remotely lock devices. This plan costs just $2.99/month but is billed annually for $35.88/year. The Standard plan offers the exact same features with up to 10 devices instead of 5. The price is $4.99/month billed at $59.88/year. Finally, the Premium membership includes all of the features of the Standard and Lite but also adds a social media monitor, app timers, and parenting expert tips. This covers up to 20 devices. This costs $7.99/month billed at $95.88/year.

7-day free trial

Mobicip offers a 7-day free trial. You can sign up and see the premium features before committing to your annual fee. You won't be charged for 7 days, though you will need to put in your credit card information to get started. If you cancel the service before the 7-day period ends, you won't be charged for using Mobicip.

30-day money-back guarantee

Mobicip also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on top of the free trial. If the app doesn't meet your expectations, Mobicip allows you to ask for a full refund within 30 days. This helps you get a longer look at the app and its services before needing to decide on a full commitment. While you will be charged after 7 days, you can get your money back within 30 days if you aren't satisfied.

Best for parents concerned about bullying and sexting

Mobicip is ideal for families with children who want to help prevent cyberbullying and sexting. With access to "17+” apps automatically restricted, and reports on other app usage (even safe apps), you'll always know what's going on. Plus, with blocking and time limits on apps, you can manage how long your child spends on social media, to mitigate the opportunity for bullying.

Some issues with updates

Mobicip currently holds an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. However, users on mobile app sites aren't as impressed with Mobicip. Currently, Google Play shows a 2.4-star average for Mobicip and Apple shows just 3.4 stars on average. Reviewers stated that they were having trouble with Mobicip after updates. Apps that were chosen to be allowed were still blocked, and there were a range of technical issues with getting parent and child versions of the app to connect. Further, customers complain that it takes a long time to hear back from Mobicip's customer service.

Great except when you update

While the issues with updates are a little worrying, the overall price and features offered by Mobicip make it a still-competitive solution for internet filters. The minimum cost covers 5 devices. However, we'd love to see more technical support, clean updates, and features that don't glitch on Mobicip's end. If you're curious about the features, we highly suggest you check out the free trial.

Canopy

• Costs $9.99 to $15.99 per month
• Cover up to 10 devices
• Monitors with AI technology
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• 7-day free trial
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 4.1-star average from app stores

Promising a "safer internet with AI-powered protection”, Canopy is a filtering solution that monitors your entire family with one simple app. Canopy currently serves over 200,000 families with its real-time filtering and blocking systems. You can find support for Apple, Android, Windows, and Google Chrome devices. The goal is to block any explicit or NSFW content as well as help you and your children build a healthier relationship with technology.

Site, device, and content blocking

The primary features of Canopy include smart content filtering for unwanted NSFW content, blocking specific apps and websites from a particular device, location monitoring, prevention of sexting, screen time management, and removal or prevention of certain downloads. The entire app works on all operating systems and includes full personalization by the administrator (or parent user).

Shield app monitored by the Canopy app

Canopy's system is simple and only requires a quick download to get started. The entire system is based on a few separate mobile apps. The main app is the Canopy App which is where you manage protection settings and complete setup of your plan. This is only necessary on the administrator's (or parent's) device. For protecting your kids, you'll also want to download the Shield app (which is the user version) on every device that you want to protect.

Prices from $9.99 per month

There are three plans to choose from at Canopy: the Individual plan, the Duo plan, and the Family plan. On Individual, you can protect up to 3 devices. The Duo plan allows up to 5 devices, and the Family plan includes up to 10 devices. All plans come with the same features like content filtering, app blocking, screen time management, and location alerts. So, the only change in plans is based on the number of devices that you want to protect. Each plan offers monthly and annual prices. Here's what we found:

• Individual
• Duo
• Family

7-day free trial

Canopy offers a free trial for 7 days. You can sign up by downloading the app or making an account directly on Canopy's website. The free trial includes all of the features of Canopy and lasts for a full 7 days. It is possible to cancel any time within the 7-day trial before you get charged for a full membership.

30-day money-back guarantee

On top of the free trial, Canopy also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're unhappy with your Canopy membership, you can let its service team know within 30 days to get a full refund. Whether you paid for a 1-month plan or an annual plan, you'll get a 100% refund (even after the free trial is complete).

Good for families and individuals

This is a great app for families who want to protect their kids, or for individuals looking for a little more control over their browsing habits. You can protect a minimum of 3 devices no matter what plan you choose. However, the protection is limited to devices with traditional operating systems (Windows, Google Chrome, Apple). You won't find support for gaming consoles with this program, since supported devices need to be able to download the Canopy app.

Mixed reviews, but good app feedback

Canopy does not have a page on the Better Business Bureau. The only page on the BBB currently is for a company that offers air purification systems (under the same company name), but this listing (and its "F” rating) has nothing to do with the Canopy app. On third-party review sites, Canopy does just "ok”. Trustpilot shows a 2.5-star average rating for Canopy, but this is only across only 7 reviews. Some customers complained that the NSFW filters weren't stringent enough with "medical” pictures of nudity being allowed by Canopy's filters. On app store reviews, the scores for Canopy are much better. On the Google Play store, Canopy holds a 4.1-star average rating. Many users noted that they felt the app kept their family safe, and they liked that they could pause protection if needed. While there were still some concerns about the app not working on some operating systems, the customers who could use it were impressed with the filtering.

Middle tier option

We'd like to see more reviews for Canopy overall. While the ratings are solid on the Google Play store, the lack of a rating from the BBB and concerning reviews on Trustpilot balance out the positive feedback somewhat. Given that Canopy is a little limited in its device compatibility, it comes in as a mid-tier internet filter. There's nothing super impressive about Canopy, but it may be worth checking out for its free trial and money-back guarantee. For this reason, it earns a middle-range score overall.

PureSight

• Prices from $7.50 to $9 per month
• Annual payments optional
• YouTube and app monitoring included
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• Block specific sites and filter online searches
• Data reports on device usage
• Demo available on request

Puresight is an internet filter that bills itself as your "digital parenting toolbox.” Focusing on two main areas of protection, Puresight keeps an eye on your kids' privacy while also protecting them from digital threats, inappropriate content, and unwanted NSFW materials. Unlike other apps and software that rely solely on blocks or AI, Puresight has a team of analysts that are watching out for trends and threats to keep you informed. Want to know the next TikTok trend and make sure your child doesn't join in on something dangerous in an attempt to be cool? Puresight is going to keep you in the loop. Available on Google and Apple devices, you can protect your child's mobiles and tablets at all times.

Puresight covers all the major features

With Puresight, you'll get access to advanced internet filtering which includes changes based on your child's age, what you want to restrict, and total blocking if necessary. Puresight also offers social media monitoring so you can see what's going on via chat and media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Viber, and Facebook. You'll be able to see time spent on each app, plus chats and private messages too. Puresight will send alerts to your parent app, offer 24/7 monitoring across all devices, set screen time limits, manage apps and games, and locate your child at any time.

Puresight keeps everything centralized

Whether you're blocking websites, filtering out keywords, or keeping an eye on your child's social media or app access, Puresight lets you do it all. It works by downloading the app to any device you want protected and setting up a child's profile in the parent or administrator app. The Family Safety Dashboard is something only you see, and you can view your children across all devices in one centralized dashboard.

Prices from $7.50 to $9 per month

There are three packages to choose from, and the only difference between them is the number of devices offered in the plan. All plans allow you to choose a monthly or annual subscription. Here's what we found:

• 5 Device Plan
• $7.50/month
• $79.90/year
• 10 Device Plan
• $8.50/month
• $89.90/year
• 20 Device Plan
• $9/month
• $99.90/year

Limited access before you pay

You can download the parent app for free and start browsing to get an idea of how the software works. To start using it with your child's app, you'll need to pay for the subscription plan, but there is some wiggle room to explore without paying. Puresight also offers a demo through its website if you want a more robust walk-through. Refunds are determined by the app store rather than a policy through Puresight itself.

Best for families looking for age-flexibility

This app is a great all-around protection option for families with children of various ages. Since you can use different profiles for each child, Puresight allows tailoring for what your children do and don't have access to. With impressive flexibility, Puresight can grow as your family does, avoiding being too restrictive in cases where it isn't warranted.

Many of the features have glitches

Regrettably, there aren't many reviews online for Puresight to gauge its effectiveness. The site does not currently have a page on the Better Business Bureau, and we couldn't find any reviews on third-party review sites like Trustpilot. We did find some reviews on the app stores, but these weren't great news. For Apple users, Puresight only showed a 2.9-star average rating. The Google Play store showed better ratings with a 3.6-star average instead. In general, customers disliked the GPS feature as it was glitchy and gave false reports of children leaving home. Other customers praised the real-time monitoring, but found the other features needed updates or had similar glitches to the GPS.

Has a little room to grow

While Puresight looks great, the lack of reviews from app stores and complaints about functionality bring down the internet filter's rating. We'd love to see Puresight put in some work to clean up its app to address customer concerns and work on its review presence in the future. For now, Puresight gets a middle-ground rating. It has potential, but without a real free trial, it isn't one of our top picks.

ClevGuard

• All-inclusive price of $99/year
• Coverage on most devices
• Popular texting apps included
• Plans for businesses and employees
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• Demo available for some operating systems

ClevGuard is a tracking and monitoring app with internet filters designed to protect your child's devices. ClevGuard promises 360-degree control including history of calls, texts, screen time, and real-time location. On top of uses for kids, you can grab a version of the software for work monitoring. Whether you're looking for a way to monitor social media usage or keep track of your employees' time, this award-winning software could be a place to start. The app promises to block over 60,000 explicit websites and has already protected over 1 million children.

Monitoring for kids and employees

Depending on which type of ClevGuard you choose, you can get slightly different features. All together, ClevGuard offers features like text history, screen time reports, location monitoring, and alerts for keywords and calls. You can also see all WhatsApp chats, documents received on a device, and media files including photos and videos. For those looking at the business side of things, you'll be able to keep an eye on performance through user activity, any files added or changed (and the timestamps), web history reports, and keystroke recording on Windows computers.

May not block or skim all major apps

ClevGuard is a subscription-based software. Managed by an app, all you need to do to get started is buy now. You get a parental control app and an app that downloads to your child's phone or device. The software works with Apple, Android, Windows, and Mac. ClevGuard will monitor apps including Line, WhatsApp, Kik, WeChat, Safari, Notes, and more. However, there are many modern apps notably missing: major apps like TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and more aren't on ClevGuard's list. While you will be able to see screen time usage for these apps through the reports on the device, the actual detailed reports may not work for the apps that you're worried about most.

Prices from $9.99-245.99 per month

The plans and pricing for ClevGuard are a little difficult to understand. There are 11 total download options for ClevGuard on the website. Some of these are for business or anti-spyware programs, but it can be difficult to know what exactly you need to download. For internet filters, there are five main packages to choose from:

• KidsGuard Pro Lite: This plan is for monitoring Android phones and iPhones (and tablets running Android and Apple operating systems). It includes one or two devices and offers coverage for:
• Text messages
• Calls
• Browser history
• Location tracking
• App library
• Website blocks
• Keylogging
• Price: $1.33/day or $39.99/month
• KidsGuard Pro Premium. This includes one or two devices and offers coverage for:
• All the features of Lite
• Screen recording
• Live listen
• Call recording
• Camera
• Microphone access
• Audio calls
• Price: $1.67/day or $49.99/month
• KidsGuard Pro Family. This includes 5 devices and is otherwise identical to Premium.
• Price: $8.20/day or $245.99/month
• KidsGuard for Children:
• This includes all of the features of KidsGuard Pro Lite except it is only for Android Devices according to the listing page. This costs $9.99/month or $59.99/year.
• MoniVisor: This program is ideal for those looking to add employee monitoring. The features include:
• Screenshot capture
• Live screen
• Software usage
• Keystroke logging
• Microphone and camera access
• File and device activity monitoring
• Online communication monitoring
• Email monitoring
• Price: $49.99/month, $79.99 every three months, or $129.99/year

Preview the app with their demo

There is not a specific free trial for ClevGuard. Rather, you can find a demo version of the software on the main page. To use the demo, you'll need to tell ClevGuard which device you will use (Android or iOS) and try out the program. You'll see a demo dashboard, and demo details (though you can connect your own device to see exact details and data). This can be used on the desktop or phone to test out the functionality, though there doesn't appear to be a demo for Windows.

30-day refund with lots of limitations

ClevGuard offers a 30-day refund policy. According to the website, if the product fails to work on your device within 30 days of purchase and the IT team at ClevGuard can't solve the problem for you, then you'll be able to get a refund for your purchase. There are a lot of things that will nullify this policy, though. If you don't reinstall the software after updates, you won't qualify for a refund. You will also not receive a refund in instances where the issue is not under ClevGuard's control, like if your device is not compatible, if you completed a factory reset or operating system upgrade, if your carrier network is having a problem with connectivity, or if you don't follow setup instructions correctly.

Best for those looking for usage data

This internet filter software is designed to serve both parents and employers. In both cases, there are robust opportunities for monitoring with keystroke recording as a particular feature that hasn't been offered at some other sites in our review. If you want to know timestamps and device usage data, this is going to be a site to check out.

Mixed reviews on effectiveness

ClevGuard appears on the Better Business Bureau under the KidGuard name rather than ClevGuard. Regrettably, the company holds a "D-” rating and no accreditation. The company has a slightly better reputation on other third-party review sites. On app stores, the KidsGuard internet filter app holds a mid-tier 3.2-star rating. Customers complained about unwanted charges and noted that the app is rarely up to date and doesn't provide the level of in-depth security and monitoring that they were promised.

Needs to work on its customer service

While there are some solid features offered by ClevGuard, the complexity of finding the plan you need alongside the difficulties some users have had with actually getting the features to work or update on their devices brings down the app's potential effectiveness. Regrettably, with a refund policy that has so many exclusions, ClevGuard doesn't come across as a site that really puts customer service first.

SentryPC

• Prices from $69.95 to $9,995 per year
• PC and mobile filtering
• Block specific sites and filter online searches
• Monitors all activity in real-time
• Data reports on device usage
• Demo available

Designed more for professional use than for families, SentryPC is a remote monitoring, filtering, and browsing control software that is 100% cloud-based. This means you can monitor users on devices using SentryPC from anywhere in the world. While it is designed more for businesses and employee monitoring, SentryPC can also be used as a parental control internet filter. With real-time reports, free updates, and a host of clients including families, businesses, and schools, SentryPC is one of the most popular internet filters out there. The software offers compatibility with Android, Windows, Chromebook, and Mac devices.

Tons of features for families and businesses

Since SentryPC is used for a variety of administrative and parental control purposes, it has a cleaner UI (easily usable by employers) than some of the more family-oriented designs. Whether you want to monitor real-time activities, filter content from games, websites, and keywords, or completely block content or sites for each user, SentryPC can do the job. The full list of features includes:

• Real-time viewing of user activities
• Operate in stealth so users don't know you're watching
• Central management of multiple devices
• Activity alerts for any attempts at blocked activity
• Usage reports
• Visual charts for quick viewing
• 24/7 remote access

Blocks access and filters by keywords

The filtering system on SentryPC works by filtering out apps, games, keywords, and websites, and you can determine the exact blocks and filters for each individual user. SentryPC allows for scheduling days and times that users can access certain apps or sites, and keyword filters will block access to any content including those keywords. The content filters also have action options like enabling and disabling filters, alerting the device user that they're on a restricted site, or force-closing browsers if an unwanted site is accessed.

Prices from $69.95 to $9,995 per year

There are six different plans at SentryPC. The names are designed for business owners, but know that you can use these plans at home with your family too. You may want to stick to the Basic Plan, however, to avoid overpaying for devices you won't need. You'll get all of the features listed above in each plan. The only difference in price comes from how many devices and screenshots are included in the package. Here's what we found:

• Basic Plan
• Manage one device
• Store 500 screenshots
• Cost: $69.95/year
• +$29.95 for each additional device
• Business 50
• Manage up to 50 devices
• Same features as Basic
• Cost: $1,495/year
• +$29.90 for each additional device
• Business 100
• Manage up to 100 devices
• Store up to 1,000 screenshots
• Cost: $2,495/year
• +$24.95 for each additional device
• Business 250
• Manage up to 250 devices
• Same features as Business 100
• Cost: $4,995/year
• +$19.98 for each additional device
• Business 500
• Manage up to 500 devices
• Store up to 2,000 screenshots
• Cost: $7,495/year
• +$14.99 for each additional device
• Business 1,000
• Manage up to 1,000 devices
• Same features as Business 500
• Cost: $9,995/year
• +$9.959 for each additional device

Demo the software before you buy

While SentryPC does not include a free trial, you can use a demo account to try the software before making a purchase. The demo shows you an example dashboard that includes dummy data and live updates like you'd see during your own usage. The previews include all of the features like activity alerts, content filtering, and security options, so you can play around with the system and see if you like it.

No guarantee offered

SentryPC's terms of use state that the products are distributed and licensed on an "as is” basis. This means that there are no warranties or guarantees for the software offered by SentryPC. You won't be able to score a refund if you don't like the program, so you may want to pay special attention to the demo.

Best for business owners

While families can use SentryPC, the program is clearly designed for businesses rather than home and family use. The UI is cleaner and more business-focused, and designed to help employers monitor their employees during working hours. This is an ideal solution for a large business with security concerns, but for families, you can find a better app for internet filtering that targets your needs more directly (and for a lot less money).

Not a popular product

Currently, SentryPC does not have a page on the Better Business Bureau. We did find some feedback on trusted third-party review sites like Trustpilot. SentryPC holds an average of 3.6 stars out of 5, but this is only across a mere 2 reviews. One reviewer says the software is the best they've ever used. The other said that the product doesn't work. Outside of third-party reviews, some online tech blogs have rated SentryPC with just 2.3 stars. While the reviews praise the low prices (which we assume is in a business context, since it's awfully expensive for families!), SentryPC's lack of a free version and poor customer service cause it to rank below other business-focused software for internet filtering.

Best only if you want a business monitoring system

Without much buzz and very few extras to recommend it, SentryPC is a mediocre choice for families and an okay choice if you're a business owner. Without a real free trial or refund policy, we have some concerns about customer service (concerns that are shared by review bloggers). Since there are better sites out there for internet filters in general with more targeted chat apps and games, SentryPC may be best if you really want a business-focused monitoring service only. Otherwise, check out our higher-ranked internet filters instead for more family-focused options.

Net Nanny

• Prices from $39.99 to $89.99 per year
• 1-20 devices protected
• YouTube filtering included
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• 14-day refund period

Owned by SafeToNet, Net Nanny is another internet filter program designed for parents who want to protect their children online. Net Nanny is backed by AI to block dangerous content, and you can find monitoring, limiting, and protective features. Whether you have a Windows or Apple operating system, Net Nanny will work with your devices. The software is great for families with young kids, and Net Nanny claims to have one of the top-rated NSFW content blockers in the world. With experience protecting families since 1996, Net Nanny is also one of the oldest sites in our review.

Basic features for blocking and filtering

The primary features of Net Nanny include parental controls for access, internet filters, a top-rated NSFW content blocker, screen time management, app blockers, and website blockers. You can use Net Nanny on Windows PCs as well as iMacs and Mac laptops. However, the only app-based protection is on iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. Compared to other apps with previews, detailed approaches, and demos, Net Nanny takes some extra digging into parts of the site that seem unclockable at first to get the real details. Transparency is a place where Net Nanny could level up.

Blocks specific sites and monitor activity

Net Nanny works primarily by blocking specific websites and apps from a device while giving you data on your child's online activity. You'll be able to see a Family Feed, which shows you an overview of your child's internet use including screen time and which apps and websites are their "most visited.” The app/software will send instant alerts to your phone if your child does view something they shouldn't, and there is an additional YouTube monitoring feature so you can see video names and go and rewatch videos your child accesses, to be sure they are appropriate.

Prices from $39.99 to $89.99 per year

There are two plans listed on the main page, but when you get to the checkout, you'll actually see three options for Net Nanny's subscription plans. Here's what you can expect:

• Net Nanny for 1 Device: $39.99/year
• Filtering and blocking
• Schedule access to the internet
• Block apps and see all apps
• View all screen time
• Net Nanny for 5 Devices: $54.99/year
• All of the features of the previous package but for more devices
• Net Nanny for 20 Devices: $89.99
• All features are the same except the number of devices

14-day refund period

Net Nanny offers a 14-day trial, which is also the same as its return policy. There is no separate satisfaction guarantee or refund policy here. You can try Net Nanny for 14 days and return it for any reason. However, you do have to actually pay for the software before you get started. The trial period isn't actually "free” unless you decide you want to return your Net Nanny subscription for a refund. This will only work if you buy directly from Net Nanny: if you download the app or software from a third party, you'll have to use their refund policies instead.

Best for parents worried about NSFW content

This internet filter is best for parents with small children and those who are worried about running into NSFW content online. It is not the most robust protection program, with limited details on how its award-winning NSFW blocker works. Plus, if you're looking for something for a business or employer, this program won't be ideal for you.

Poor reviews for the actual execution

Regrettably, users also feel that Net Nanny isn't ideal. Reviews are decidedly lukewarm. Currently, Net Nanny doesn't have a page on the Better Business Bureau, and neither does its parent company SafeToNet. On third-party review sites like Trustpilot, Net Nanny has a 2.1-star average with a similar score on app stores with a 2.7-star rating on the Apple Store. Customers note that there are a lot of technical issues with the app, particularly with alerts. Parents noted that when they were alerted to bad links or sites on their child's phone, the Net Nanny app didn't show the actual links and details correctly with "failure” pages popping up frequently. Most of the reviews call the app "awful”.

Not worth paying to try it

Regrettably, this app doesn't really compete with the other internet filters out there. With limitations on devices and issues actually running the NSFW blocker the way it's meant to, there aren't a lot of impressive features at Net Nanny. Without solid reviews, it might be better to stay away from Net Nanny, especially considering you have to pay without getting a free trial first.

Bark

• Costs $14 to $89 per month
• Full home coverage offered
• Monitors with AI technology
• Includes phone and desktop monitoring
• 7-day free trial
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• "A-” rating and accreditation from the BBB

Bark is an internet filter service designed as a parental control app.. Usable on Apple, Android, Windows, Google Chrome, and Amazon, you can easily integrate this app into your tech. Bark currently protects 7.1 million users and has reportedly helped save children from both self-harm situations and bullying online. Featured on major news sites like CNN, Forbes, CNBC, and more, this AI-powered program offers safety alerts for a wide variety of elements online, including video and audio threats to your children.

AI-driven protection for your children

The main focus of Bark is to monitor your child's device. You can keep an eye on text messages, 30+ social media applications, browsers, emails, and tons of relevant online activity. The AI technology included in the app constantly scans texts, socials, videos, and audio for elements of cyberbullying and NSFW content. Bark also offers features to help manage screen time (for healthy online boundaries), totally block websites and apps from your child's device, and provide location tracking with live GPS alerts.

Block from the device or from an app

You can choose from two methods to protect your family: a Bark Phone that protects your child at the device level or the Bark App to protect an existing device. This is primarily for mobile devices but the app can also help protect your desktop devices (like Chromebooks, computers/laptops, and gaming consoles). Getting started with the Bark Phone requires a quick check to see if the Bark wireless service is available in your area. Next, you'll choose between a phone that is limited to text and calling only, or a phone that can access approved apps. If you choose to go with the app experience rather than an entire phone, you'll be asked to sign up with an email and password. Then, you can select which issues you're most concerned about from the following list:

• Gaming
• Drugs, Alcohol, & Tobacco
• Location Alerts
• Self-harm/Suicide
• Sexual Predators
• Violence
• Anxiety/Depression
• Cyberbullying
• Pornography
• Sexting
• Screen Time & App Limits

Next, you'll be able to make a profile for each child on the Bark App and fill out what kind of device your child will be using. You'll also be asked to provide your child's email address and social media. Currently, Bark monitors two web browsers, Chrome and Microsoft Edge, and the monitoring includes incognito mode.

Prices from $14 to $89 per month

There are a variety of plans depending on the direction you choose. The phone device itself costs $9 and you can choose between a black or white phone. If you want a plan that doesn't include any apps or browsing, Bark offers the Starter package for $39/month which only offers talking and texting with the location tracking and monitoring included. If you go with the Advanced Bark Phone that offers browsing and apps, you can choose between:

• Wifi only: $49/month
• 4GB data: $59/month
• 8GB data: $69/month
• Unlimited data: $89/month

Now, if you prefer to just go with the Bark App, the cost is $14/month. Bark also offers the option to bill $99 annually at a discount of 41% per year. Plus, if you'd like to extend your protection coverage to your whole home (including gaming consoles, TVs, and anything connected to your home wifi), you can grab the Bark Home plan for an additional $49/year.

7-day free trial

Bark offers a 7-day free trial for its Bark App service. You won't be charged for your monthly or annual plan until you've had a chance to try out the features for yourself. You will need to put in your credit card information to confirm your subscription, but there will be no charge at the time of sign-up if you've never used Bark before.

30-day money-back guarantee

Bark currently offers a 30-day money-back guarantee as well. This applies to any physical items ordered from Bark to help support the internet filter. Items like Bark Phones fall under this category or any Bark Home devices that you order. The guarantee also only applies if you order directly from Bark. If you order through a third party, that company's return and guarantee policies will apply.

Ideal for parents with young children or teens

This program is ideal for parents who have young children - or teens if you're worried about them having unrestricted access to the internet. Since Bark covers all the primary facets of media including major apps like TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and even gaming sites like Steam or entire gaming consoles, you can hit the major touchpoints of middle- and high-school connectivity by using Bark.

May not be a safe place to trust your child's details

Bark holds an "A-” rating and full accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, but the feedback on third-party review sites is deeply concerning. On Trustpilot, the average rating is just 1.9 stars out of 5. Many reviews are calling this app "spyware” that actually takes the details of your child's apps and logins and stores them without consent. Some reviews even accuse Bark of selling that data. Further customers complained that the customer service is also AI-based, and chatting with an actual human is pretty difficult.

Warnings from reviews make it a poor competitor

While this seems like a great place to cover all your bases, Bark customers warn potential subscribers to stay away. With concerns about this app as spyware and almost zero positive reviews for Bark at all, this app/phone combo doesn't stand out as a place where you want to trust your personal details (or those of your children). With other apps and sites out there that you can really trust, you may want to set Bark aside for now.