Best Reviewed
Parental Control Software
- Best parental control software Net Nanny *Est. $40
- Most versatile parental controls CyberPatrol Parental Controls *Est. $40
- Best web-based parental controls OnlineFamily.Norton *Est. $0
- Best parental controls for Macs Safe Eyes *Est. $50
Get info about new reports and updates
Best parental control software
- Excellent user interface
- Can set controls for multiple users
- Good for social networking, games
- Subscription required
- Only one license included
- Time control not good for multi-computer households
Reviewers agree that Net Nanny is very easy to use. Despite its intuitive interface, Net Nanny is also rated one of the most effective parental control programs -- it analyzes and blocks content in real time, and is just as secure from outside threats as it is from kids' tampering. Net Nanny blocks peer-to-peer networks, allows remote management and provides effective filtering, too. Critics are also impressed with how Net Nanny deals with social networking sites and online gaming. Reports for parents are detailed and interactive -- in fact, some find Net Nanny's tracking too intrusive. Net Nanny comes with only one license, so installations on other computers cost extra (*Est. $20 each). There's also a loophole in multiple installations, allowing savvy children to circumvent time limits by switching computers. A Mac version of Net Nanny is available, though reviewers say it isn't as robust as the Mac version of Safe Eyes (*Est. $50 per year) for up to three computers, a program that works especially well in situations where the buyer has both Macs and PCs.
Net Nanny gets the most balanced and current coverage at PCMag.com, but it is also reviewed very favorably at ComputerShopper.com, TopTenReviews.com and Child-Internet-Safety.com. However, the latter sites' reviews aren't as comprehensive as PCMag.com's evaluation, and some are not quite as up to date.
Our Sources
PCMag.com names Net Nanny an Editors' Choice, beating out 13 other parental control programs for the honor. Reviewer Neil J. Rubenking says that Net Nanny "does everything you'd expect," and excels at real-time web, social networking and game analysis. He feels some of the tracking functions are intrusive, and says it's possible to get around some of the time controls.
Review: Net Nanny 6.5, Neil J. Rubenking, Feb. 22, 2010
An earlier version of Net Nanny gets an Editors' Choice award from ComputerShopper.com. David English is impressed by Net Nanny's ability to block proxy servers, though he finds its reporting of Facebook activity slightly flawed. Price is also cited as a concern.
Review: Net Nanny 6.0 Review, David English, May 2009
Box.net earns the Silver Award from TopTenReviews.com, which puts it in second place on this list of the 10 best online backup services. Editors say Box.net is easy to use and they're impressed with the data security.
Review: Box.net, Editors of TopTenReviews.com
Net Nanny ranks first in TopTenReviews.com's newest roundup of parental control software. The program gets a very high rating in the full review, which rates feature set, installation and other categories separately. Reviewers here say user interface and filtering are the best; if anything, the software over-blocks a little.
Review: Net Nanny Parental Controls 6.5, Editors of TopTenReviews.com
Child-Internet-Safety.com reviews 10 parental control programs in this roundup, with Net Nanny being the top choice. The site's reviewers like some of Net Nanny's advanced features, such as game management and protection from online bullying. Although the roundup is dated 2010, the full review of Net Nanny here is an earlier version.
Review: Net Nanny Review, Editors of Child-Internet-Safety.com
