CyberPatrol Parental Controls

CyberPatrol Parental Controls scores well with reviewers thanks to its wide range of customization options. Parents can block access to entire websites or just to objectionable content within web pages, and each user profile is highly customizable. This Windows-only program can restrict access to programs on the computer's hard drive, such as games or finance software, but reviewers say remote management options are weak. Experts like the fact that, despite its billing as parental control software, CyberPatrol can be used effectively in other settings, such as schools, libraries and offices. CyberPatrol Parental Controls can be installed on up to three computers; extra licenses are available (*Est. $20 each). That makes CyberPatrol an economical choice for computers with more than one computer -- as long as they are all PCs. For homes with both PC and Mac computers, Safe Eyes (*Est. $50 per year) is nearly as well rated, and its Mac version is more robust than most third-party parental control programs. It, too, can be installed on up to three computers, and extra licenses can be purchased (*Est. $17 each).

PCMag.com has the most comprehensive review of CyberPatrol Parental Controls. We also found helpful summaries at TopTenReviews.com and Internet-Child-Safety.com, although these sites are less transparent in their testing and aren't kept as up-to-date as PCMag.com.