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.
Average
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:
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.
Continued from above...
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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