Aura Review: Internet Filters

We've analyzed the best Internet Filters to help you find the right solution for your needs.

2026 Internet Filter Reviews

What is the Best Internet Filter?  Ever worried about all the crazy stuff online and wish there was a safer way to browse without running into unwanted content? If you're on the internet today, you know there's plenty to avoid. Whether you're dodging explicit content floating around on "X" or just trying to keep your socials from overwhelming your busy life, filtering out sites and tags that you (and your family) want to avoid can be a weight off your shoulders.

5.0

EXCELLENT

1

Best Option

  • 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

EXCELLENT

5.0

On the Aura website

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.

Best Internet Filters

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.

Best Internet Filters

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.

On the Aura website

Continued from above...

What is the Best Internet Filter?

Ever worried about all the crazy stuff online and wish there was a safer way to browse without running into unwanted content? If you're on the internet today, you know there's plenty to avoid. Whether you're dodging explicit content floating around on "X" or just trying to keep your socials from overwhelming your busy life, filtering out sites and tags that you (and your family) want to avoid can be a weight off your shoulders.

The primary purpose of internet filters is to help users avoid and prohibit access to NSFW content. However, schools often use internet filters to promote focus and help students avoid unnecessary time on social media sites. You can use them however you want, but the main goal is limiting the world wide web for safer and happier browsing.

Internet filters are a great way to create a more secure browsing experience for you and your family. Internet filters are most popular with parents who have little ones. Whether you're trying to ensure your child's favorite Roblox YouTuber is safe or keep your kids using only age-appropriate online games, there are tons of ways to protect your family. Plus, many companies and businesses use internet filters too. Whether your desire is religious, based on productivity, or just keeping inappropriate content out of your home, there's an internet filter out there for you.

There are two kinds of web filtering that are most popular. The first type is a block list. This allows you (or the administrator) to manually enter websites that should be blocked by the filter program. All sites are immediately blocked on the web browser connected to the filter. You can also do this in reverse and create a master block with certain "allowed" lists for sites that are available on your browser.

The second type is based on keywords. For this method, the software allows you to input select filters or keywords to the software and it will prevent access to sites or content that contains those keywords. You'll have to be specific for this broader approach to work. For example, entering "NSFW" as a keyword means the software will only block things tagged or directly mentioning the exact word "NSFW". If you want to avoid any contact with adult content, you may find a range of tags related to specific areas are more effective. Some newer apps also use AI technology to do regular sweeps of online sources to keep your little ones safe if they stumble onto a questionable site by accident.

The best part? You don't need to be a tech whiz to get proper web filtering on your personal or home PCs. Some go through software on your specific device (with apps or cloud-based downloads) while others work on your entire internet router. There are plenty of options and different levels to choose from. Plus, the best modern services will help you every step of the way with solid tech support and download tutorials.

If you're ready to add that extra sense of security to your browsing experience, but aren't sure where to start, check out the factors below. These should help you narrow down your options. There are plenty of internet filters out there, and we want you and your family (or your business) to have the best. Here are some helpful criteria we found:

Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the top internet filters online today. No matter what you're filtering for, there's definitely a solution for your systems, whether you need a home PC protected, your entire internet connection filtered, or just want to check in on your kids' social media usage. Now, you can browse safely and enjoy a more curated online environment designed just for you.

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Internet Filter FAQ

Who should get an Internet filter?
Internet filters are useful for anyone who wants to ensure that illicit content is not available to users of their Internet connections and services. Customers of Internet filtering solutions tend to be parents, with the remainder being libraries, religious and community organizations, and businesses.
Is internet filtering more for individuals or businesses?
Internet filtering solutions are more commonly designed and implemented on an individual basis, particularly for parents who are concerned about their children accessing problematic content online. However, businesses are also customers of Internet filtering software companies because they have specific liabilities they want to avoid when it comes to employees accessing pornography, gambling, or engaging in other online activities that are not part of their job descriptions.
How much does internet filtering software cost?
Internet filtering software costs differ depending on the pricing and subscription models each vendor follows. They can range from under $10/month per device to $70-$150 for multiple computers. Cost will also vary depending on the number and complexity of the features involved in the software.
How does internet filtering software work?
There are many different kinds of filters: software, hardware, DNS, proxy, and Virtual Private Network (VPN). Each of these has a different way of detecting and blocking access to sites known to contain or link to undesirable content. Some rely on "allow lists" of good online resources and block lists of bad online resources. Others have sophisticated programming that scans and analyzes a site prior to allowing or blocking access to it on screen.
How long does it take to set up an internet filter?
Setting up an Internet filter should only take a few minutes if the software is designed well. The best Internet filtering software typically has a configuration "wizard" routine that will walk you through all the default and recommended settings to get you started right away. Once the software is set up, it shouldn't take any further configuration or intervention beyond the occasional adjustment for newly problematic websites.
Can users get around internet filtering software?
No internet filtering solution is perfect. Users have been able to successfully interfere with almost every internet filtering software solution in existence. They often get "cheats" and special code or passwords from friends or online resources where such things are published. It is important for the administrator of the software to regularly review access logs and determine whether a particular user is abiding by the rules and agreements around the devices and use of the internet connection they have access to.
What are some features of good quality internet filtering software?
Internet filtering software should include such features as remote and local administrator controls, time management, profanity masking, alerts and notifications, reports about a user's online activity, individual user profiles, and controls to fine tune the specific websites that might have been blocked but that the user should still have access to. It should also have good support from the software vendor, the very least of which should be email and chat with a customer service representative at extended hours.
What are some of the downsides of internet filters?
At times, internet filtering software can be either over or under aggressive in blocking specific types of content. For example, information about the human body, which may include reproductive organ descriptions, could be blocked when a student is doing a science report for an anatomy class. That would be an example of overblocking. An example of underblocking is when a website for a video game is mainly graphical and changes often, thus not providing enough current information in a textual format that is easy for the software to interpret and execute a blocking routine on.

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Thomson Reuters ...

OpenNet: Global Internet filtering in 2012 at a glance

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation. April 3, 2012 By ONI Team The OpenNet Initiative (ONI) has been documenting Internet filtering ...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012

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Filtering the Internet

Many school districts are at work developing policies that comply with the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act, or CIPA. This legislation requires districts that use E-rate funds to put in ...

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Documentation of Internet Filtering Worldwide

A variety of organizations, institutions, companies, and countries seek to restrict Internet access from within their premises and territories. For example, companies may seek to improve employee ...

Thu, 23 Oct 2003

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Harvard Medical ...

Empirical Analysis of Internet Filtering in China

The authors are collecting data on the methods, scope, and depth of selective barriers to Internet access through Chinese networks. Tests from May 2002 through November 2002 indicate at least four ...

Wed, 19 Mar 2003

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bianet

"Decision for Internet Filter Should be Withdrawn Immediately"

Massive criticism on the internet filter system to be enforced on 22 August was voiced in a meeting on the matter at Bilgi University on 25 May. The participants demanded to withdraw the decision. The ...

Fri, 27 May 2011

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CNET

Why filtering laws just won't work

In the wake of a federal court's unanimous decision declaring the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) unconstitutional, supporters of the mandatory Internet filtering law have not only appealed ...

Wed, 31 Jul 2002

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