I am happy to share with you that there are FREE parental control apps available. As we watch our budget, we still may want to monitor the activities our young people returning to school are engaging in on their phones, particularly in this digital age where smartphones have become such a dominant part of our lives. In addition to this, monitoring how much time they spend on their devices can help foster a healthier balance between their online and offline activities. Setting daily device time limits not only aids in managing their screen time but can also positively influence our own device usage as adults.

These parental control apps can provide peace of mind by allowing you to oversee app usage, track screen time, and even filter inappropriate content. This is essential, especially as children navigate the vast and sometimes risky online environments. Furthermore, the availability of these resources at no cost means that budget constraints do not have to compromise the safety and well-being of our young people.

To assist you in making an informed choice, I have compiled a list of some effective and user-friendly free parental control apps. Below are some useful links, which will give you a detailed description of the features available, how to set them up, and what options are best suited for your family’s needs. Feel free to explore these resources to find the perfect solution for monitoring device usage and ensuring a safe digital experience for your children.

Google Family Link is simple to set up and use. Parents can manage their child’s devices, check privacy settings, block apps, track their location, set daily time limits, monitor usage, lock devices from afar, and filter web content on Google Chrome.

Over the years I have often checked PC Magazine for technical advice and best deals. I was happy to see that they remain a useful resource. This post includes a link to an article featuring several free parental control apps from PC Magazine. As your kids go back to school, these options can help them use their phones safely. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/apple-vs-google-vs-microsoft-who-has-the-best-free-parental-controls
Mashable has some suggestions and describes parental control apps, some of which are free. No worries, these are listed as a convenient compromise. Read the link below about parental control apps for the iPhone. https://mashable.com/roundup/best-parental-control-apps-for-iphone

It doesn’t matter what age your kid is: Whether it’s their very first phone or their fifth, parents are going to worry about what’s behind that scrolling and tapping. Parental control apps have come to be a convenient compromise between kids who really don’t want to hand over their phone and parents who really don’t want to have to confiscate it.