Children using smartphones can access various online content, including potentially harmful ones. They can be exposed to dangerous websites, damaging information, and online predators without supervision.
Parental guidance has become more crucial as kids access smartphones and the Internet. Many parents have begun taking safety solutions to safeguard their children’s online activities.
Statista’s 2021 survey reported that 48 percent of global parents use parental control tools to keep their children digitally safe. Others have taken measures, such as limiting videos and games, restricting sites, and checking digital history.
Cloud-based parental control tools offer simple and efficient solutions to monitor your kids’ digital activities. If you’re not using one yet, this post will help you learn what they are, their importance, and the best software available.
What are cloud-based parental controls?
Cloud-based parental controls use cloud computing to track and monitor kids’ online activities. Cloud computing is the process of delivering content and services to various tools and applications through the Internet. These deliverables include servers, databases, and data storage.
Through cloud computing, cloud-based parental controls can provide a database of children’s online history, block access to specific websites and apps, filter content, monitor device and internet use, and set time limits.
Using a home Wi-Fi network or a mobile service provider like the Consumer Cellular family share plan, you can access these solutions on mobile devices, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and desktop and laptop computers.
The Importance of Cloud-Based Parental Control Tools
Besides online activity monitoring, cloud-based parental controls provide the following benefits:
- Cyber safety – You can protect your kids from scams, frauds, malware attacks, ransomware, and other cyber threats that can compromise personal information.
- Time management – You can help your children establish time management by setting time limits. These limits can reduce prolonged screen time.
- Data backup – Since cloud-based parental controls use cloud technologies, data can automatically be backed up in remote servers. You may use these backup servers for data recovery and creating offline copies.
- Building online safety habits – Using cloud-based parental controls, you can help your kids develop online safety habits, including turning privacy settings on, looking out for pop-ups and browser warnings, and avoiding talking to strangers.
- Prevent cyberbullying and the development of destructive behaviors – Social media may cause cyberbullying that can impact your child’s mental health. It may also result in destructive behaviors that can harm other children. With parental controls, you can block cyberbullies so they will never interact with your children again. You can also help them develop proper cyber etiquette that extends offline.
- Real-time remote tracking and monitoring – Cloud-based parental controls are equipped with real-time integrations to track and monitor your children’s digital use. This real-time tracking and monitoring function show you what needs to be removed, blocked, and filtered. Remote tracking also allows you to access the software anytime and anywhere, as long as there’s Internet and data available.
Top Cloud-Based Parental Control Software for Parents
Not all cloud-based parental controls are created similarly, so finding the best one that suits your needs is essential. You want to look for features with value-added pricing that won’t hurt your savings. Don’t worry because we’ve got you covered.
Here are the top cloud-based parental control solutions for ensuring your children’s online safety.
1. KidInspector
KidInspector is among the best cloud-based parental control tool available. This software can provide an overview of your kids’ online and offline activities. Real-time and remote tracking is also one of its significant features. It works on macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS devices.
Other key KidInspector features include the following:
- Social media monitoring tracks what your children are texting on platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, Viber, WhatsApp, Twitter, and Instagram. This feature can help you block cyberbullies and online predators.
- Browsing trackers and URL blocking prevent access to inappropriate content, including gambling, adult materials, and suspicious links.
- Application use management shows how much your children spend using gadgets and the Internet. When they’re screen-addicted, you can set time limits.
- Hidden modes can make specific applications invisible to your children.
- Real-time tracking can record search queries and visited websites.
KidInspector offers a one-day free trial. Its pricing ranges between $59 to $89.
2. Actual Keylogger
Actual Keylogger is a straightforward parental control software that offers real-time and remote tracking features. It’s available on desktop and browser versions.
Other key features include the following:
- Multimedia management system manages your kids’ social media messaging. This feature identifies unwanted contacts and prevents dangerous conversations from going further.
- Website blocker blocks access to gambling, violent games, dating and adult sites, and online shopping platforms.
- Search engine tracking records what your kids are searching on the Internet.
- Keyloggers capture keystrokes.
- Program hiding allows you to hide programs using passwords or hotkeys.
Actual Keylogger only works for Windows and macOS devices. Full license pricing ranges between $69 to $7889, depending on how many PCs you use it on. Prices are also subject to change as they are currently discounted on Actual Keylogger’s website.
3. Spyrix Personal Monitor
Spyrix Personal Monitor boasts a smooth installation and easy-to-use dashboard. You can use its software version at home and the browser version remotely. This platform can also send reports to your email. The good thing about this tool is that it provides a money-back guarantee for technical issues.
Other key features of Spyrix Personal Monitor include the following:
- Social network activity tracking monitors your kids’ online activities and interactions on social media platforms such as Facebook, Viber, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Search engine monitoring tracks search queries in Google, Yahoo, and Bing. It allows you to blacklist suspicious URLs and websites.
- Screen capturing provides screenshots of your children’s online activities (e.g., window changing and right-clicking).
- Screen recording records your kids’ activities. This feature is purchased separately.
Spyrix Personal Monitor operates discreetly, so your children won’t know they’re being monitored. It only works on Windows and macOS devices. Pricing ranges between $69 to $659, which are subject to change as they are currently discounted. An Android version called EvaSpy is also available for purchase on their website.
4. Qustodio
Qustodio is an all-rounder parental control software. It is available on most operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chromebooks, and Kindle. It features a simple dashboard designed for parents’ ease of access.
Its key features include the following:
- Automated web filtering blocks inappropriate content even in private browsing mode.
- Time limits can help prevent screen addiction and promote time management.
- Social messaging monitoring tracks conversations and manages time spent on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Games and apps blocker blocks violent games and inappropriate apps.
- Multi-device support provides access to logs on other family devices in one database.
Qustodio’s pricing is $54.95 yearly for the basic plan and $99.95 yearly for the complete plan.
5. mSpy
mSpy is a mobile parental control software available for Android and iOS devices. It doesn’t require root or jailbreaking to access your children’s smartphones. As a cloud-based platform, you can access it remotely.
mSpy’s other features include the following:
- Contacts monitoring identifies your children’s interactions through their contacts.
- Location tracking helps you know whether your children are in safe locations.
- Web tracking monitors what your children search and view on web browsers.
- Background mode hides the application on the device, ensuring your children are unaware of its presence.
- Data encryption protects the security and privacy of the monitored data.
- Multilingual support offers support in multiple languages for user convenience.
mSpy is designed to be user-friendly and doesn’t require you to be tech-savvy. Its price starts at $1 per day. It also offers a demo.
6. Norton Family
Norton Family is an award-winning parental control software. It offers screen time limits, search query controls, video monitoring, lock mode, and location tracking. This platform is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS devices.
Norton Family offers a 30-day free trial, allowing you to test its suitability for your needs. It costs $49.99 yearly. It is also included in the Norton 360 Deluxe and Norton 360 Premium plans.
7. OurPact
OurPact is a parental control tool for iOS devices. Its features include app monitoring, location tracking, website blocking, automatic screenshots, and real-time GPS monitoring. You can also use it to block messages on iMessage.
OurPact offers a 14-day free trial. Prices are $6.99 monthly ($69.99 yearly) for Premium and $9.99 monthly ($99.99 yearly) for Premium+. Although it’s the best for iOS, it also has an Android version.
Bonus Cloud-Based Parental Control Tools: Google Family Link and Cocospy.
Keep Your Children Digitally Safe With Cloud-Based Parental Controls
Cloud-based parental control solutions are convenient and flexible ways to keep your children digitally safe. With their help, you won’t need to worry about your children’s online activities. In choosing one, consider factors such as device compatibility, comprehensive features, value-added pricing, and developer reliability. By prioritizing these aspects, you can protect and secure your family’s data.
