SentryPC Review: Internet Filters

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.

Learn More  ➜

On the SentryPC website